Sorry, Utah — Mitt won't be GOP running mate
Bob Bernick Jr.
Didn't hold a public meeting. Didn't walk a neighborhood or talk to any regular Joes. But raised money from rich people.
And McCain also met with (trumpets and hallelujahs) MITT ROMNEY.
Excuse me for capitalizing ROMNEY'S name. But he is so beloved in Utah, it only seems appropriate.
And, of course, when McCain meets with ROMNEY, many Utahns and news reporters get all a-twitter. Because there, standing right before you, is the Republican Dream Team.
Or at least, it is as close as Utahns and members of the LDS Church and other ROMNEY supporters can get this year to the Dream Team.
And who could be a better vice presidential pick for McCain than ROMNEY?
Well, I hate to disappoint all those who are a-twitter. But in fact, for McCain there are many other better vice presidential picks than ROMNEY (boos and shouts of incredulity).
Here are just a few reasons as seen by this reporter (and general bad-guy-who-throws-water-on-everything) on why McCain will not pick ROMNEY.
First. McCain doesn't like ROMNEY. I know. I know. Who couldn't like ROMNEY? Hey, I was certainly impressed by him, both through several personal interviews when ROMNEY headed the Utah Olympic effort and through watching him operate in Utah from afar.
Second. ROMNEY is not what McCain needs this year. What? Are you nuts? ROMNEY is nearly a perfect v.p. candidate — good looking, relatively young, one smart cookie. Someone who actually seems to understand the American economy. Not right for McCain?
Yep. You see, McCain needs to win some big states in November. He needs to win some Southern states. It would be great if McCain could even win some Northeastern states this year. And ROMNEY does little to help any of that.
It will take more than Utah and Mormon voters to win the national election for McCain — hard as that may sound to some Utahns and Mormons.
ROMNEY, while having family roots in Michigan and being elected governor of Massachusetts, is almost Utah's favorite son — being a faithful member of the LDS Church, graduate of BYU and savior of the 2002 Utah Winter Olympics.
But ROMNEY couldn't be elected dog-catcher in Massachusetts now. Michigan residents are worse off economically than those in any other state; a very unhappy lot. And a Utah favorite son on the ticket does little for geographic balance for an Arizona senator.
While there are many Mormons in California, they won't make the difference in who carries that state — which has gone to the Democratic presidential candidate for years and is the biggest single prize each national election.
Utah and Idaho — with a high number of LDS/Republican voters — will go to McCain with or without ROMNEY.
Unfair as it may be, ROMNEY's religion is a hindrance, not a political asset, in many Southern states (read that Southern Baptist states).
Third. ROMNEY is not trusted among many of the right wing of the Republican Party. Of course, McCain isn't trusted among the right wing of the Republican Party, either. But that's just another reason for McCain not to choose ROMNEY. Who needs a guy next to you who has to win over as many party loyalists as you do?
The one thing ROMNEY could bring to the ticket is a large personal checkbook. But McCain and the national GOP will be able to raise enough money to make a race for the presidency. And how big a check would ROMNEY write to be vice president, anyway?
Now, one doesn't always have to make a logical or sensible choice for a v.p. running mate.
Remember when Bush The First picked Dan Quayle (Mr. Potatoe Head).
And Bush II picked Dick Cheney — who came from Wyoming (three Electoral College votes), an old guy who had had 500 heart attacks and whose daughter is a lesbian and made him look soft on traditional marriage.
But then how did those v.p. picks work out for the Bushes, father and son — one vice president who looked good but did little else and the other an aging Darth Vader.
Utahns and members of the LDS Church had better brace themselves: McCain won't be picking ROMNEY as his running mate.
And in ignoring that Dream Team, McCain will be losing very little politically. McCain will carry Utah. And even if he loses the votes of some unhappy Mormons across the nation, well, McCain seems like the kind of guy who will just soldier on without them.
Deseret Morning News political editor Bob Bernick Jr. may be reached by e-mail at bbjr@desnews.com
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