Will Mitt Romney Make a Game-Changing Vice Presidential Pick?

Will Romney play it safe when choosing a running mate?

Now that Rick Santorum has dropped out of the presidential race, Mitt Romney seems almost certain to be the Republian Party’s 2012 nominee. Now people are asking, who should fill the number-two spot and should Romney, considered by many to be too buttoned-up and stiff, pick someone safe or go rogue.—Joyce Jones\r \r(Photo: AP Photo/Steven Senne)

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Now that Rick Santorum has dropped out of the presidential race, Mitt Romney seems almost certain to be the Republian Party’s 2012 nominee. Now people are asking, who should fill the number-two spot and should Romney, considered by many to be too buttoned-up and stiff, pick someone safe or go rogue.—Joyce Jones\r \r(Photo: AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Condoleezza Rice\r - Earlier this year, former Virginia Gov. Doug Wilder suggested that Romney and Rice would make a dream team, and according to a Chicago Sun-Times report, the former secretary of state, now a public policy fellow at Stanford University, is on the short list. Such a choice would indeed be a bold move. Rice is African-American, female and has the foreign policy experience that the former Massachusetts governor lacks. But is she ready and willing to be this year’s game changer?\r \r(Photo: UPI/Bill Greenblatt /LANDOV)

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Condoleezza Rice\r - Earlier this year, former Virginia Gov. Doug Wilder suggested that Romney and Rice would make a dream team, and according to a Chicago Sun-Times report, the former secretary of state, now a public policy fellow at Stanford University, is on the short list. Such a choice would indeed be a bold move. Rice is African-American, female and has the foreign policy experience that the former Massachusetts governor lacks. But is she ready and willing to be this year’s game changer?\r \r(Photo: UPI/Bill Greenblatt /LANDOV)

Allen West\r - Rep. Allen West is the top choice of former White House contender Herman Cain, who said on the conservative Steve Gill Show that West would provide a big boost in Florida, a key swing state. Cain clearly has forgotten West’s verbal attacks on fellow Florida congresswoman and Democratic National Committee chairman Debbie Wasserman Schultz as well other fiery statements, which would send shivers up Romney’s risk-averse spine.\r \r(Photo: Ron Sachs / CNP/DPA /LANDOV)

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Allen West\r - Rep. Allen West is the top choice of former White House contender Herman Cain, who said on the conservative Steve Gill Show that West would provide a big boost in Florida, a key swing state. Cain clearly has forgotten West’s verbal attacks on fellow Florida congresswoman and Democratic National Committee chairman Debbie Wasserman Schultz as well other fiery statements, which would send shivers up Romney’s risk-averse spine.\r \r(Photo: Ron Sachs / CNP/DPA /LANDOV)

Marco Rubio\r - Florida’s freshman Sen. Marco Rubio, a Latino and Tea Party favorite who represents a key swing state, has the makings of a triple threat. But according to a poll released by the National Journal on April 3, support for a Romney-Rubio ticket is cooling, in part because he’s not been tested nationally. In addition, there are fears that such a choice would be viewed cynically, and unflattering comparisons would be made between Romney and the party’s 2008 nominee, Sen. John McCain’s choice of Sarah Palin.\r \r(Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)

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Marco Rubio\r - Florida’s freshman Sen. Marco Rubio, a Latino and Tea Party favorite who represents a key swing state, has the makings of a triple threat. But according to a poll released by the National Journal on April 3, support for a Romney-Rubio ticket is cooling, in part because he’s not been tested nationally. In addition, there are fears that such a choice would be viewed cynically, and unflattering comparisons would be made between Romney and the party’s 2008 nominee, Sen. John McCain’s choice of Sarah Palin.\r \r(Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Bobby Jindal\r - Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal is reported to be on some short lists. But like Rubio, he probably is not yet ready for the national stage. His Republican rebuttal to President Obama’s 2009 State of the Union address was widely panned and he doesn’t carry any regional heft. He also endorsed Rick Perry before the Texas governor dropped out of the race.\r(Photo: Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

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Bobby Jindal\r - Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal is reported to be on some short lists. But like Rubio, he probably is not yet ready for the national stage. His Republican rebuttal to President Obama’s 2009 State of the Union address was widely panned and he doesn’t carry any regional heft. He also endorsed Rick Perry before the Texas governor dropped out of the race.\r(Photo: Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

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Nikki Haley - Once a Tea Party darling, Nikki Haley is the first woman and first minority to be elected governor of South Carolina. Her state also was the first in 20 years to have the Department of Justice reject its new voting rules. Haley endorsed Romney before South Carolina’s January primary, but says she’s not interested in being his number two.  (Photo: Richard Ellis/Getty Images)

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Nikki Haley - Once a Tea Party darling, Nikki Haley is the first woman and first minority to be elected governor of South Carolina. Her state also was the first in 20 years to have the Department of Justice reject its new voting rules. Haley endorsed Romney before South Carolina’s January primary, but says she’s not interested in being his number two.  (Photo: Richard Ellis/Getty Images)

Susana Martinez - Elected governor of New Mexico in 2010, Susana Martinez is the state’s first female governor and the nation’s first female Latino to serve in the role. Like Haley, she wants to finish the job she’s started. "I can't do this halfway and jump into something else. It would distract from what we have to do here," Martinez said.  (Photo: EPA/LARRY W. SMITH /LANDOV)

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Susana Martinez - Elected governor of New Mexico in 2010, Susana Martinez is the state’s first female governor and the nation’s first female Latino to serve in the role. Like Haley, she wants to finish the job she’s started. "I can't do this halfway and jump into something else. It would distract from what we have to do here," Martinez said.  (Photo: EPA/LARRY W. SMITH /LANDOV)

Paul Ryan - Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, architect of the House Republican budget, is a rising star on Capitol Hill. His working class roots and die-hard conservatism would be appealing to members of the GOP’s right wing base who’ve been slow to warm to Romney. (Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images)

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Paul Ryan - Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, architect of the House Republican budget, is a rising star on Capitol Hill. His working class roots and die-hard conservatism would be appealing to members of the GOP’s right wing base who’ve been slow to warm to Romney. (Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Chris Christie - Republican voters at one point hoped the bombastic New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie would throw his hat into the presidential nomination race partly because unlike Romney, Christie is unequivocal about where he stands on policy and political issues. He rejected the notion, saying that he’s not ready to be president, and endorsed Romney last October. He has, however, hinted that he might be open to the number-two spot.\r(Photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

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Chris Christie - Republican voters at one point hoped the bombastic New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie would throw his hat into the presidential nomination race partly because unlike Romney, Christie is unequivocal about where he stands on policy and political issues. He rejected the notion, saying that he’s not ready to be president, and endorsed Romney last October. He has, however, hinted that he might be open to the number-two spot.\r(Photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Bob McDonnell - Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell has the conservative bona fides that Republican voters have been looking for and also heads a state that will be key in November. But he may be too conservative, at least for women voters. Last month he signed a law requiring women to have an ultrasound before undergoing an abortion. (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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Bob McDonnell - Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell has the conservative bona fides that Republican voters have been looking for and also heads a state that will be key in November. But he may be too conservative, at least for women voters. Last month he signed a law requiring women to have an ultrasound before undergoing an abortion. (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)