Romney Shows Up On CNN for McCain

Former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney made an appearance on CNN this morning on behalf of his former rival, Sen. John McCain. The ex-Massachusetts governor added his voice to the echo chamber by repeating the GOP talking point that Sen. Obama blundered in announcing he would meet with America’s enemies:

Romney was one of the three potential veep candidates who reportedly visited McCain’s Sedona, Ariz. ranch a couple weeks ago. It seems an unlikely choice on paper, given Romney’s primary troubles in reconciling some of his recent conservative positions as a presidential candidate with his liberal positions as governor. Another possible issue is his Mormonism, which at least in theory could turn off some Christian conservatives McCain needs to court.

But it’s possible Romney could help deliver his home state of Michigan, a key battleground that the Democrats carried in 2000 and 2004, where Romney’s father was governor. Recent polling shows Obama and McCain are running neck-and-neck in the Wolverine State. McCain has also been adopting Romney’s more compassionate tone in addressing the economic woes of midwestern states, like Michigan and Ohio, that have been hit hard by the loss of manufacturing jobs that have moved overseas. And at a young-looking 61-years-old, Romney could help assuage voter concerns about McCain’s age.

Yes, Romney as McCain’s running mate may be unlikely, but it might not be crazy.