Romney hunts for a running mate

Mitt Romney has begun the search for a presidential running mate nearly six months ahead of November's US election in a bid to avoid a repeat of the disastrous appointment of Sarah Palin whose gaffes and inexperience undermined the Republicans in 2008.

After the rushed vetting of Palin failed to expose gaping holes in her knowledge of foreign and economic policy, Romney has appointed Beth Myers, a lawyer and one of his closest aides, to mount a forensic examination of potential candidates.

Myers, who served as Romney's chief of staff when he was governor of Massachusetts, has promised to provide the fullest possible files on candidates to her boss, a former management consultant who is known to make decision by immersing himself in the data.

"I'll put all the information on the table," Myers said in an interview with ABC News, "He is the decider."

The choice of vice-president is seen as doubly important for  Romney, who has proved a lacklustre performer on the stump during this year's Republican primary campaign, lacking the star quality of a Reagan, Clinton or Obama.

Mr Romney was found to be the least popular presumptive nominee of any party since 1984, according a poll by The Washington Post, whilst a CNN poll found him trailing Mr Obama by more than 20 points with women, Hispanic voters and on soft factors such as likeability and decisiveness. Religion is also an underlying factor, with Romney, a Mormon, performing consistently badly with evangelical Christians and Tea Party activists who supported the evangelical Catholic Rick Santorum until he dropped out of the race last week.

Early choices for running mate appeared to be between charismatic performers - such as Chris Christie, the Catholic governor of New Jersey, or the Catholic Florida Senator and Tea Party darling, Marco Rubio - who could both fill the gap left by Mr Romney's inability enthuse the voters, and a safer pair of hands that would not upstage him.

Among the leading candidates in the safe category is Rob Portman, a virtually unknown senator from the swing state of Ohio, who is said to have a close personal rapport with Mr Romney.

Conservative commentators have raised concerns that Romney, who has failed to fire up the Republican base, might put personal and egotistical considerations over national ones.

Jeffrey Lord, a former Reagan aide and Republican party historian, recalled George Bush Snr's decision in 1988 to pick the then little-known figure of Dan Quayle over Congressman Jack Kemp, a hugely charismatic former American football quarter back.

"Romney should not be afraid to pick someone who is his equal. Strong vice-presidential candidates - like Biden for Obama, Gore for Clinton, Lyndon Johnson for Kennedy or Bush for Reagan - say 'I want someone who is just as experienced as I am and is not my junior partner,'" Mr Lord said.

"There are people who have star power on their own - like Christie and Rubio - and Romney should not shy away from them, particularly because of his own weaknesses. If this evolves into a personality thing, and it's all about loyalty to Mitt Romney, that's not good."

The potential VP candidates

Marco Rubio, Florida Senator: the firework Would bring glamour to campaign. Could help overcome Latino poll deficit and deliver swing state of Florida. But has only been in Senate less than two years.

Rob Portman, Ohio Senator: the safe pair of hands Fought hard for Romney in Ohio. Both are moderate and said to get along but he is virtually unknown to the American people.

Chris Christie, New Jersey Governor: the bulldog Would relish change to bring fight to Obama on national stage. Unrelentingly blunt. He may overshadow Romney and is also a North-East moderate.

Paul Ryan, Wisconsin Congressman: the fiscal puritan Extreme fiscal philosophy has made him a Tea Party favourite. Telegenic young figure but is a lightning rod for Democrat attacks.