Mitt Romney: Republican ATM machine

If McCain passes over Pawlenty in favor of the former liberal Republican Mormon governor of Massachusetts it will be for two and only two reasons.

Published July 28, 2008 4:34PM (EDT)

Take a look at this great post from data-mensch Nate Silver of fivethirtyeight.com.

It tracks the potential fundraising windfall that John McCain stands to benefit from should he tap Mitt Romney as his running mate. Given the obvious distaste McCain showed for Romney during the Republican primaries -- in Iowa, McCain's campaign ran a tough but sarcastic push poll about Romney's shifting social issue positions in order to help Mike Huckabee defeat Romney -- there are two and only two reasons McCain would put him on the ticket, neither of which has to do with Romney’s gorgeous hair.

The first is that Mormon-based ATM cash card for which Romney holds the four-digit pass code. And the other is Michigan.


By Thomas Schaller

Thomas F. Schaller is professor of political science at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and the author of "Whistling Past Dixie: How Democrats Can Win Without the South." Follow him @schaller67.

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John Mccain R-ariz. Mitt Romney Tim Pawlenty