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Mitt Romney moves early to name running mate

It emerged last night (Monday), as speculation mounted that the Republican hopeful could attempt to put his embattled campaign back on track with an early announcement.

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Mitt Romney could name his vice-presidential running mate as early as this week, it emerged last night (Monday), as speculation mounted that the Republican hopeful could attempt to put his embattled campaign back on track with an early announcement.

Traditionally, "Veep" nominees are not announced until the party conventions at the end of August, but Eric Fehrnstrom, a senior Romney aide, confirmed last night that a final decision on the nomination was expected in the coming days.

"Friends" of Mr Romney also say the former Bain Capital boss is preparing to disclose his decision, according to The New York Times. The timing of the announcement is being seen as an attempt to shift the focus from Democrat attacks over his record at Bain Capital and his use of tax havens and Swiss bank accounts.

After the chaos in 2008 caused by the nomination of Sarah Palin, bookmakers are predicting Mr Romney will make a "safe pick". Ladbrokes has two 50-something white men - the former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty and the Ohio senator Rob Portman - as 2/1 joint favourites. Mr Pawlenty, who ran a brief campaign for the 2012 presidential nomination, is the 51-year-old son of truck driver whose working class roots could help win over Midwest blue-collar voters. Mr Portman, the junior senator from Ohio, is considered a big electoral asset in his home state, a battleground that Mr Romney arguably must win.

Other possible picks include the 12-1 shot, John Thune, the 51-year-old South Dakota senator; Marco Rubio, the 41-year-old Florida senator; or Susana Martinez, the governor of New Mexico and the first Hispanic female governor in the US.
 

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