Here is something different: a poll of primary voters about who they want as Vice President. Now, I imagine that none of the four contenders will be picked as a Vice President nominee by the eventual winner. The four contenders are each toxic in their own right, and the toxic winner will need some fresh air to rehabiliate his campaign for the fall, and that means a fresh face. And yet, Santorum shockingly comes in second.
Senator Marco Rubio of Florida once again has emerged in a national poll as the favorite to occupy the slot that is a heartbeat away from the presidency.
Beating out household names such as New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, Rubio was the top choice in a new poll that asked roughly 800 registered Republican and Independent voters across the country: “No matter who is the Republican nominee for president, if you could pick the vice presidential nominee, who would it be?”
After Rubio, respondents picked GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum, former senator from Pennsylvania, then Christie, then Palin.
“Any time you place ahead of Sarah Palin, call yourself a winner,” said Peter Woolley, director of the the poll, which was conducted from Feb. 6-12 by Fairleigh Dickinson University’s PublicMind. “Her name recognition and presence are formidable.”
Methinks that once Republicans realize that Rubio wants to change the party’s tone on immigration, they will cool to him like a cup of coffee in a blizzard.
REPUBLICAN PRIMARY – PRESIDENT
MICHIGAN (Mitchell/Rosetta Stone): Romney 32, Santorum 30, Gingrich 9 and Paul 7.
MICHIGAN (We Ask America): Romney 29, Santorum 29, Paul 12, Gingrich 10
ARIZONA (PPP): Romney 36, Santorum 33, Gingrich 16, Paul 9
ARIZONA (We Ask America): Romney 37, Santorum 27, Gingrich 15 and Paul 8.
GEORGIA (Insider Advantage): Gingrich 26, Romney 24, Santorum 23 and Paul 12.
OKLAHOMA (Sooner Poll): Santorum 39, Romney 23, Gingrich 18, Paul 8
VIRGINIA (Christopher Newport Univ.): Romney 53, Paul 23
NATIONAL (Gallup Tracking): Santorum 36, Romney 26, Gingrich 13, Paul 11
GENERAL ELECTION – PRESIDENT
NATIONAL (Rasmussen): Obama d. Santorum (47-44); Obama d. Romney (46-42)
NATIONAL (USA Today/Gallup): Romney d. Obama (50-46); Obama d. Santorum (49-48)
IOWA (Selzer/Des Moines Register): Paul d. Obama (49-42); Santorum d. Obama (48-44); Romney d. Obama (46-44); Obama d. Gingrich (51-37)
TEXAS (Univ. of Texas/Texas Tribune): Santorum d. Obama (51-37); Romney d. Obama (49-36)
VIRGINIA (Christopher Newport University): Santorum d. Obama (46-42); Romney d. Obama (46-43); Obama tied with Paul (43-43); Obama d. Gingrich (45-40)
WASHINGTON (SurveyUSA): Obama d. Romney (50-39); Obama d. Paul (50-37); Obama d. Santorum (51-38); Obama d. Gingrich (56-34)