“Many progressive donors think President Obama has it in the bag. But he doesn’t even have it in the shopping cart yet, much less in the bag.” Paul Begala, in an interview with Greg Sargent, saying Democratic donors need to step up.
To illustrate that point, Romney has gotten a post-primary bounce. All polls, even yesterday’s CNN poll shoiwng a 9 point Obama lead, show improvement for Romney.
NATIONAL–PRESIDENT (Gallup Tracking): Romney 48, Obama 43
NATIONAL–PRESIDENT (CBS/NYTimes): Obama 46, Romney
NATIONAL–PRESIDENT (Pew Research): Obama 49, Romney 45
NATIONAL–PRESIDENT (Rasmussen Tracking): Romney 46, Obama 45
FLORIDA–PRESIDENT (PPP): Obama 50, Romney 45
Jon Karl ranks Mitt Romney’s VP prospects, which looks like he assumes that Romney will steer clear of any Palinesque candidate.
Top Tier: Rob Portman, Marco Rubio, Jeb Bush
Second Tier: Chris Christie, Mitch Daniels, Bob McDonnell, Paul Ryan
Women: Kelly Ayotte, Mary Fallin, Nikki Haley, Susana Martinez
Others: John Thune, Jim DeMint, Tim Pawlenty
Susana Martinez has flat out said she would turn Mitt down since she has a special needs sister that she is responsible for. Rubio too has repeatedly said he will not run, but I don’t believe him. I cannot possibly believe that Jeb Bush will be chosen. I think DeMint will demur, he is more powerful where he is.
Out of all those names, I think the best choice is Paul Ryan. Obama will tie Romney to Ryan anyway, so we might as well make that choice official.