Santorum, Jeb Bush, Rand Paul added as RNC speakers, out as veep possibilities

[morningfog]

Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, a chief rival of Mitt Romney and a favorite of social conservatives, will join former Florida Governor Jeb Bush as a speaker at the Republican National Convention.

Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, founder of the U.S. Senate’s Tea Party Caucus and son of another Romney rival, Representative Ron Paul of Texas, will also address the delegates, as will Governor Mary Fallin of Oklahoma, who was the first woman elected to Congress from that state since the 1920s.

The announcement came in a statement today by Republican Party Chairman Reince Priebus, who yesterday listed speakers that included Senator John McCain and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. The convention where Romney will be nominated as the party’s presidential candidate will be held in Tampa, Florida, Aug. 27-30.

“As our party unites around Governor Romney, these four great leaders will lend their voices in support of his vision to get America back on track,” Priebus said in today’s statement.

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-08-07/santorum-joins-jeb-bush-as-republican-convention-adds-speakers

Portman, Pawlenty and Rubio still floating

[democrat_patriot]

1. Where's Palin? RP said he hopes she'll speak. Were you lying, you dirty liar?

Or maybe she's VP pick. (Just kidding).

[hifiguy]

2. And the (s)hits just keep on coming...

[Warpy]

3. Santorum is there to throw red meat to the fundies.

Rand Paul and Jebbie are scarier, they are being groomed to run in 2016.

Yes, they really think we'll have forgotten Stupid by then and they really think we won't notice Paul is crazy.

[DefenseLawyer]

4. Shaping up to be '92 all over again.

If you'll recall, the Republicans let all the right wing nuts speak at that convention and Pat Buchanan and company proceeded to scare the crap out of normal people. Rand Paul? Really?

[RZM]

5. Rand as VP might have been an interesting gambit

But probably wouldn't have worked out well, especially if Romney won. He'd be too hard to keep under control.

Most people seem to think T-Paw and Portman are likely because they won't outshine Mitt if he wins and that's apparently what he wants. Those seem to be 'in office' choices while Rubio is more the 'getting elected' choice. But the VP nominee really doesn't have much effect on voting nowadays, so it makes more sense to go with an in office pick.

[DefenseLawyer]

6. Looking at the numbers and the state of the Romney campaign

I don't think an ambitious guy like Rubio or anyone who thinks they have a future in politics wants to get anywhere near this trainwreck. Paul would eat it up, because he is, like his father, just interested in publicity in order to raise money any way he could get it. But I don't think he brings anything to the table to bring out middle of the road voters in the general for Romney.

[Erose999]

7. Paulbot 2.0 would have a Palin effect though. His supporters are neo-nazzies and headstompers. He'd

be their albatross.