WI: Fred Smith 2012?

Gorrister

Gorrister

I'm currently plowing through Double Down, and I've come to learn that Governor Mitch Daniels (who didn't want to run himself) was trying to convince FEDEX CEO Fred Smith to run for President in 2012. Let's say that he succeeds.

I think that Smith would be quite formidable in the primaries. He had a legitimate success story, was well liked, and could provide a credible alternative to the establishment. The only problem is that he held no political office, but considering Romney campaigned on his business experience and not his political experience, I doubt that it would matter much.

I think that he'd be able to win the nomination, or at least give Romney even more trouble than he had OTL.
 

Don Draper

The chapter about Barbour, Daniels, Smith and the other top establishment GOPers exploring the race and subsequently bowing out was definitely one of the most interesting parts of Double Down. However, candidates with zero electoral experience are often much better on paper than in practice. He would, however, be considered for VP for a non-Romney GOP nominee (Romney can't pick another ex-CEO), or failing that a favorite for Secretary of Commerce in a GOP administration.
 
Gaius Julius Magnus

Gaius Julius Magnus

Gone Fishin'
He wouldn't do well. No political office, Romney may have campaigned on his business experience but he could still claim to at least have been a governor (in a pretty dark blue state nonetheless). He would probably end up being a serious and respectable version of Herman Cain. At best a VP nomination, which is unlikely as Romney would probably want someone who is outside of his general support. Also having a ticket that is made up of two very candidate who've campaigned on business probably wouldn't look so well to the general electorate in a struggling economy. Probably a cabinet position.
 
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