if Romney doesn't win FL

[Gina]

I have read that Romney could win this election but it's very narrow.  The article said that he would have to win about 9, I think, states that Obama won in 2008.  If in early numbers coming back FL doesn't go to Romney than that could basically be the end of the election.

What says you?  school me

[debk]

Could be one of the reasons for wanting Rubio as VP.

I like Rubio, and I think he would be as asset to the GOP ticket, but he keeps saying that he won't accept if asked.

[Porfiry]

I remember coming to the conclusion in 2004, 2008, and 2012 that Florida would basically decide the election.

In my not-too-educated opinion, whoever wins Florida this year will win the White House.

So I really hope Romney wins FL.

[Gina]

I remember coming to the conclusion in 2004, 2008, and 2012 that Florida would basically decide the election.

In my not-too-educated opinion, whoever wins Florida this year will win the White House.

So I really hope Romney wins FL.

I am hoping that since Obama has pissed on the Jews so much that they will turn Florida over to Romney.

[Zeus]

Florida is no more or no less an important state than any of the others with a large electoral count. It just gets the press because of the 2000 election debacle.

[Lacarnut]

Romney is a fool if he does not pick Rubio. Rubio would accept, and it will ensure a victory in FL and other border states. Picking him would be the Democrats worse nightmare. Plus, it would balance the ticket and they would make a good team. Older vs young...Yankee vs southerner...white vs hispanic...white shirt/stuffy vs energetic & charismatic.  

[delilahmused]

Romney is a fool if he does not pick Rubio. Rubio would accept, and it will ensure a victory in FL and other border states. Picking him would be the Democrats worse nightmare. Plus, it would balance the ticket and they would make a good team. Older vs young...Yankee vs southerner...white vs hispanic...white shirt/stuffy vs energetic & charismatic.  

Rubio has said he doesn't want it. I just hope he doesn't pick another middle aged white guy. Everyone I hear about on the "short list" is some middle aged governor. I'd really like to see him pick Allen West...leadership skills up the wazoo, military experience, brutally honest & fearless and pretty much the exact opposite of Romney. But the Republican elite will never choose someone like that (I think they still see Palin as a mistake even though she was the only thing that energized the election). And I still think McCain would have won (thanks mostly to her) if he hadn't gone all schizophrenic during the TARP meltdown.

Cindie

[Kyle Ricky]

I heard he might even pick Paul Ryan. That would be interesting. I hope it is either Rubio or Christy.

[Eupher]

Rubio has said he doesn't want it. I just hope he doesn't pick another middle aged white guy. Everyone I hear about on the "short list" is some middle aged governor. I'd really like to see him pick Allen West...leadership skills up the wazoo, military experience, brutally honest & fearless and pretty much the exact opposite of Romney. But the Republican elite will never choose someone like that (I think they still see Palin as a mistake even though she was the only thing that energized the election). And I still think McCain would have won (thanks mostly to her) if he hadn't gone all schizophrenic during the TARP meltdown.

Cindie

Has Rubio said that recently? I know he did a thumbs-down when his name was first broached last year, but today might be another animal altogether....

[Chris_]

Christie needs to keep his ass in New Jersey.  No way I would vote for him.

[Zeus]

I don't think Romney is going to pick one of the flavor of the day politicians IE Rubio , West, Christy etc. I would like to see him pick someone along the lines of John Kasich. Former House member current Gov of Ohio.

[Lacarnut]

Rubio has said he doesn't want it. I just hope he doesn't pick another middle aged white guy. Everyone I hear about on the "short list" is some middle aged governor. I'd really like to see him pick Allen West...leadership skills up the wazoo, military experience, brutally honest & fearless and pretty much the exact opposite of Romney. But the Republican elite will never choose someone like that (I think they still see Palin as a mistake even though she was the only thing that energized the election). And I still think McCain would have won (thanks mostly to her) if he hadn't gone all schizophrenic during the TARP meltdown.

Cindie

If Romney wants Rubio, I do not think he will have to twist his arm very much for him to accept the VP spot. I am with you on his pick of some white middle aged Gov. or politician that has been in politics for many, many years. Need to get some new blood in there that has new ideas. I like West but I am not sure what he would bring to the ticket in terms of convincing independents, women and hispanics to vote for a Repub. Most blacks are going to vote for the Magic Negro. On the other hand, Rubio could help win the state of FL and other border states.  

[FiddyBeowulf]

Rubio has said he doesn't want it. I just hope he doesn't pick another middle aged white guy. Everyone I hear about on the "short list" is some middle aged governor. I'd really like to see him pick Allen West...leadership skills up the wazoo, military experience, brutally honest & fearless and pretty much the exact opposite of Romney. But the Republican elite will never choose someone like that (I think they still see Palin as a mistake even though she was the only thing that energized the election). And I still think McCain would have won (thanks mostly to her) if he hadn't gone all schizophrenic during the TARP meltdown.

Cindie

^5 for the part in bold. Palin could have won the election for him if McCain hadn't tried to out Maverick himself.

[Ballygrl]

It's absolutely insane! the fact that a President that has resided over such a crap economy can even win the election? WTF? we should be talking a Reagan like sweep YET because the takers have outnumbered the givers? there's actually a chance this fool could win.

[debk]

Has Rubio said that recently? I know he did a thumbs-down when his name was first broached last year, but today might be another animal altogether....

I saw Rubio interviewed one day last week (it was early in the week, so it could have been a clip from a weekend interview). He said again that he was going to stay right where he was and continue to represent the people of Florida.

As insistent has he has been about it, I'm afraid if he agrees to be the VP candidate, that the media and Dems will make him an ultimate flip-flopper. And they would have plenty of media clips -both video and print - to use.

Maybe Rubio doesn't want to be that closely associated with Romney, fearing if they don't get elected, the association would ruin his chances of running for president in the future, which I believe he will do.

[Rebel]

Christie needs to keep his ass in New Jersey.  No way I would vote for him.

I don't want him on the ticket either, but if it is him, I'm still voting ABO. A Christie/Biden debate would be fun to watch.

[Splashdown]

Florida is no more or no less an important state than any of the others with a large electoral count. It just gets the press because of the 2000 election debacle.

Disagree. It's a make-or break. Obama has a large number of electoral votes already sewn up: California, NY, Most of New England, etc. He has 161 electoral votes in the bag right now. Add Michigan, Minnesota, and Jersey to that list, and the votes start getting into scary territory.

Florida has the third highest electoral-vote count behind California (solid 0bama) and Texas (solid Romney) It'll probably come down to Florida, Ohio and Pa.
Real Clear Politics has a scary breakdown.

[formerlurker]

Three-Way Race: Romney 44%, Obama 39%, Ron Paul 13%

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2012/election_2012_presidential_election/may_2012/three_way_race_romney_44_obama_39_ron_paul_13

[Gina]

Three-Way Race: Romney 44%, Obama 39%, Ron Paul 13%

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2012/election_2012_presidential_election/may_2012/three_way_race_romney_44_obama_39_ron_paul_13

I hate Ron Paul if he ****s this up

[formerlurker]

I hate Ron Paul if he ****s this up

I hate him anyway, but agreed.

[Lacarnut]

Disagree. It's a make-or break. Obama has a large number of electoral votes already sewn up: California, NY, Most of New England, etc. He has 161 electoral votes in the bag right now. Add Michigan, Minnesota, and Jersey to that list, and the votes start getting into scary territory.

Florida has the third highest electoral-vote count behind California (solid 0bama) and Texas (solid Romney) It'll probably come down to Florida, Ohio and Pa.
Real Clear Politics has a scary breakdown.

Correct. If Obama won FL, Romney would have to carry most if not all the rest of the red states that turned blue in the last election.

FL is a big question mark but if Romney picks Rubio he will carry the state. Democraps fear Rubio more than any other VP candidate.

[NHSparky]

It's absolutely insane! the fact that a President that has resided over such a crap economy can even win the election? WTF? we should be talking a Reagan like sweep YET because the takers have outnumbered the givers? there's actually a chance this fool could win.

Don't forget that in 1980, the polls had Reagan and Carter virtually neck-and-neck until their debate.

And yeah, I remember how screwed up the country and the economy was back then, and the prospect of a second Carter term was not only not out of the question in October 1980, but very much a possibility.

[BlueStateSaint]

Don't forget that in 1980, the polls had Reagan and Carter virtually neck-and-neck until their debate.

And yeah, I remember how screwed up the country and the economy was back then, and the prospect of a second Carter term was not only not out of the question in October 1980, but very much a possibility.

This is precisely why I think Romney will win.  The independents--a big bloc of votes for Obama the first time around--are going for Romney by 10+ points.  I think that they (and the rest of the country) has seen what "Hope and Change" means.  The closer we get to the election, if Romney's numbers go way up, that's a bad sign for the Obamessiah team.

[Zeus]

Don't forget that in 1980, the polls had Reagan and Carter virtually neck-and-neck until their debate.

And yeah, I remember how screwed up the country and the economy was back then, and the prospect of a second Carter term was not only not out of the question in October 1980, but very much a possibility.

I've mentioned a couple of times how even with the country in shambles RR wasn't given much of a chance right up to the election. His Landslide victory was a total shocker.

[Splashdown]

This is precisely why I think Romney will win.  The independents--a big bloc of votes for Obama the first time around--are going for Romney by 10+ points.  I think that they (and the rest of the country) has seen what "Hope and Change" means.  The closer we get to the election, if Romney's numbers go way up, that's a bad sign for the Obamessiah team.

I feel like the hall monitor telling everyone to slow down. I hate to be the "fun vacuum," and this will probably end up earning me a BS or two.

Several things scare me. First, on a lighter note, Dick Morris hasn't been right about an election ever. He's predicting a Romney rout.

More seriously, Obama--love the guy or hate him--is charismatic. He has a solid block of at least 30-35 percent of the country who will vote for him. Nationwide polls don't matter. Then wait til the negative campaigning really starts this summer.  It's going to come down to a small handful of states, like Florida and PA. Pa. is one of the last union strongholds, especially in Philly and Pittsburgh where the population is.

Romney needs to flip PA and win Florida, and probably Ohio and another one or two of those tricky midwestern states. I'm not saying he can't do it, I'm just saying that it's going to be a nail-biter.

I really hope I'm looking at this wrong.