Sorry, Utah — Mitt won't be GOP running mate

By Bob Bernick Jr.
Deseret Morning News
Published: Friday, March 28, 2008 12:49 a.m. MDT
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GOP presidential soon-to-be nominee Sen. John McCain came to Utah this week and did what all presidential candidates do here: raise money.

Didn't hold a public meeting. Didn't walk a neighborhood or talk to any regular Joes. But raised money from rich people.

And McCain also met with (trumpets and hallelujahs) MITT ROMNEY.

Excuse me for capitalizing ROMNEY'S name. But he is so beloved in Utah, it only seems appropriate.

And, of course, when McCain meets with ROMNEY, many Utahns and news reporters get all a-twitter. Because there, standing right before you, is the Republican Dream Team.

Or at least, it is as close as Utahns and members of the LDS Church and other ROMNEY supporters can get this year to the Dream Team.

And who could be a better vice presidential pick for McCain than ROMNEY?

Well, I hate to disappoint all those who are a-twitter. But in fact, for McCain there are many other better vice presidential picks than ROMNEY (boos and shouts of incredulity).

Here are just a few reasons as seen by this reporter (and general bad-guy-who-throws-water-on-everything) on why McCain will not pick ROMNEY.

First. McCain doesn't like ROMNEY. I know. I know. Who couldn't like ROMNEY? Hey, I was certainly impressed by him, both through several personal interviews when ROMNEY headed the Utah Olympic effort and through watching him operate in Utah from afar.

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And I've read the letters to the editor where ROMNEY is praised by Utahns, and that scoundrel McCain is criticized for not liking ROMNEY and saying poopy things about ROMNEY during their primary fights (which McCain won and ROMNEY didn't).

Second. ROMNEY is not what McCain needs this year. What? Are you nuts? ROMNEY is nearly a perfect v.p. candidate — good looking, relatively young, one smart cookie. Someone who actually seems to understand the American economy. Not right for McCain?

Yep. You see, McCain needs to win some big states in November. He needs to win some Southern states. It would be great if McCain could even win some Northeastern states this year. And ROMNEY does little to help any of that.

It will take more than Utah and Mormon voters to win the national election for McCain — hard as that may sound to some Utahns and Mormons.

ROMNEY, while having family roots in Michigan and being elected governor of Massachusetts, is almost Utah's favorite son — being a faithful member of the LDS Church, graduate of BYU and savior of the 2002 Utah Winter Olympics.

But ROMNEY couldn't be elected dog-catcher in Massachusetts now. Michigan residents are worse off economically than those in any other state; a very unhappy lot. And a Utah favorite son on the ticket does little for geographic balance for an Arizona senator.

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