WI: Mitt Romney picks Rob Portman for VP

What if instead of choosing Paul Ryan, Romney had picked Rob Portman as his running mate? would this change the outcome?
No, unless Romney keeps his mouth shut about letting the auto industry fail. If he doesn't utter those words, then he could possibly flip Ohio with Portman on the ticket. I think barring a drastic turn of events, Obama still wins.
 

Wallet

Banned
Ohio is a little closer, but I don't see it flipping. Small possibility it does but I doubt it. He still would have been much better then Paul Ryan who didn't even make Wisconsin remotely close.

Would Ryan still be pushed to be Speaker 3 years later though??? Being on the GOP ticket in 2012 gave him a lot of name recognition with the general public.
 
What if instead of choosing Paul Ryan, Romney had picked Rob Portman as his running mate? would this change the outcome?

No. Even the effect of a vice-presidential nominee on the national ticket's showing in his own state has been debated, and seems to be small, especially in large states like Ohio. http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-pol-vice-president-qa-20160702-snap-htmlstory.html But even if Romney carried Ohio, he would be nowhere near an Electoral College majority.
 
Presidential elections are not won on the VP selection. In most cases, the potential veep isn't widely known outside of their own state. Unless Romney ran with the reincarnated George Washington or Abe Lincoln, his VP selection wasn't going to carry him the election.
 
Portman was vetted for VP, and told the Romney campaign that his son was gay. The campaign said it wasn't an issue, but I am guessing some on the religious right would not be happy if Portman had been picked. Indeed I understand that Portman was very reluctant to even be vetted because of it.
 
Portman was vetted for VP, and told the Romney campaign that his son was gay. The campaign said it wasn't an issue, but I am guessing some on the religious right would not be happy if Portman had been picked. Indeed I understand that Portman was very reluctant to even be vetted because of it.
Romney picked Ryan to sure up the conservative votes. Portman would alienate this group, especially advocating for gay marriage.
 
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