Let's say Mark Sanford avoids his infamous 2009 Appalachian Trail scandal. He doesn't misuse public funds when purchasing a ticket to Argentina and divorces his wife for Chapur in a more low-key and private fashion.
In the 2012 GOP field, Sanford would stand out as the ideal Tea Party candidate, albeit very outside the GOP mainstream on a number of GOP issues (Foreign Policy being the most obvious).
As for a running mate, a midwestern like Paul Ryan, Mitch Daniels, or Rob Portman would be one possibility. Given his marital issues, a female running mate like Martinez (good with Latinos) or Ayotte (good for New Hampshire and suburbia in general) might work. If there's a drawn out Sanford-Romney primary, maybe Mitt gets the pick.
In the 2012 GOP field, Sanford would stand out as the ideal Tea Party candidate, albeit very outside the GOP mainstream on a number of GOP issues (Foreign Policy being the most obvious).
As for a running mate, a midwestern like Paul Ryan, Mitch Daniels, or Rob Portman would be one possibility. Given his marital issues, a female running mate like Martinez (good with Latinos) or Ayotte (good for New Hampshire and suburbia in general) might work. If there's a drawn out Sanford-Romney primary, maybe Mitt gets the pick.