1. Rob Portman - 31%
2. Tim Pawlenty - 18.4%
3. Marco Rubio - 9.9%
4. Bobby Jindal - 6.3%
5. John Thune - 5.2%
6. Paul Ryan - 4.5%
7. Condoleeza Rice - 3.5%
8. Kelly Ayotte - 3%
9. Chris Christie - 2.5%
10. Cathy McMorris Rogers - 2.3%
There's a clear first and second place. I think Rubio's stock has taken a hit with the is-he-or-isn't-he story of his vetting. He just seems too young. He might help with some Latino voters, and he'd be a stark contrast in a debate with Joe Biden, but he looks like he's 32. Too young, I say.
Portman and Pawlenty is a battle between vanilla and white bread. The Romney camapign thus far seem to be a taking a Hippocratic path in vice-presidential consideration. First, let the nomination do no harm. Portman should help clinch Ohio, a swing state, but then what? Also, Pawlenty, who in hind-sight dropped out of the presidential race too early, may be able to help in the north, but really, it's so early.
I don't think Jindal's going to get it for similar reason to Rubio. Nice, ethnic, but too young. Thune and Ryan also seem like safe guys to partner with Romney. Rice would be risky but interesting. Risky in that she bridges back to the Bush Administration, but interesting in that she could help shore up Romney's foreign cred, and Rice is one of the few Bush Admin people who still has decent approval ratings. Plus in politics, symbolism matters. History-making matters. She could be not only the first female vice-president but the first black female in either of the top two posts in the nation.
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