VEEPSTAKES 2012 : WHO IS ROMNEY LIKELY TO PICK AS HIS RUNNING MATE ?............

With the Republican Presidential Nomination assured, Mitt Romney's campaign is now vetting potential vice presidential running mates.  The most highly touted choice for several weeks now, is Ohio U.S. Senator Rob Portman, a former member of the House of Representatives and Federal Budget Director and U.S. Trade Representative in the Administration of President George W. Bush.  Other likely picks being talked up as strong possibilities include Florida U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, a Cuban American, Tea Party favorite; Wisconsin U.S. Representative Paul Ryan, Chairman of the House Budget Committee, and author of the Ryan Budget Plan; and New Mexico Governor Susanna Martinez, another one popular with the Tea Party.  At today's C-PAC, Conservative Political Action Committee gathering in Chicago, a straw poll found the following preferences for Romney's selection of a vice presidential running mate :  Marco Rubio, 30%;  Chris Christie, 14%;  Paul Ryan, 9%;  Rand Paul, 8%;  Bobby Jindal, 7%;  Rick Santorum, 5%; .  New Jersey Governor Christie, is not very likely for the same reason he took himself out of seeking the presidential nomination, his work as Governor.  Kentucky U.S. Senator Rand Paul, son of presidential candidate Ron Paul, is thought to have future White House ambitions and is affiliated with the Tea Party movement.  Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, brings youth and his Indian heritage to the selection.  Former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum brings his current presidential nomination conservative credentials, and being chosen would reflect Ronald Reagan's selection of rival George HW Bush, in 1980.  Whether it is one of these potential choices, or another as yet unidentified candidate, whoever is selected by Governor Romney is certainly going to be a conservative with a consistent record; as Romney running this year as a true blue conservative, sought election as U.S. Senator in 1994, as a liberal leaning candidate, and served as a rather moderate Governor of Massachusetts, from 2003-2007.  Thus, he needs to reinforce his conservative bonafides, even as the General Election campaign will cause him to run to the middle to appeal to Independents, who will determine who is the next President............Fr.  Troy