Michael Barone on the Veepstakes

Michael Barone has a Washington Examiner column exploring the possibilities for Mitt Romney of what "opponents might call a double-vanilla ticket, with another white male as vice presidential nominee." He names Paul Ryan, Rob Portman, Mitch Daniels, and Virginia governor Bob McDonnell as possibilities. Of these Mr. Daniels and Mr. McDonnell, both former private-sector health care executives, have more of the successful private-sector experience that Mr. Romney has touted as his unique selling proposition, though Mr. Portman grew up in an entrepreneurial family. One other thought: if what Mr. Romney is really seeking is someone who can do well in affluent suburbs, as Mr. Barone suggests, he could do worse than to take a look at George Pataki, who is a Romney — Northeastern Republican governor who managed to win election in a state where Democrats have a big advantage in part registration — without the private sector success.