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    • Graph of the Week — GOP veepstakes

    By Damion Reinhardt • • 4 comments

    The 2016 presidential election is in a bit of a mid-season doldrums; nominees are all but sorted out now, and the only thing left to really wonder about is who they will pick as their running mates. Here are the most likely candidates on the Republican side of the aisle:

    MIKE PENCE

    PROS: Mainstream conservative bona fides might reassure GOP base voters.

    CONS: Has to decide between running for VP and Governor, this week.

    NEWT GINGRICH

    PROS: Name recognition, 1990’s nostalgia, hates everyone named Clinton.

    CONS: Effectively doubling down on bluster, bullying, and confidence artistry.

    CHRIS CHRISTIE

    PROS: Knows all the lyrics to “Stand By your Man,” how to shout down the media.

    CONS: We will cross that bridge when we come to it; unlikely to carry home state.

    MICHAEL FLYNN

    PROS: Bulletproof foreign affairs CV, loads of executive experience.

    CONS: Michael who?

    JEFF SESSIONS

    PROS: Looks great in a bright red ballcap.

    CONS: Too perfectly matched; doesn’t balance out the ticket in any significant way.

    TED CRUZ

    PROS: Strong with evangelical voters, who are generally lukewarm on Trump.

    CONS: Ted Cruz.

    And here is the PredictIt chart, as of lunchtime today early morning 7/13:

    legend

    SingleMarketmarketId1529

    As you can see, the safe money is on Mike Pence. I’m betting thruppence and sixpence that we’ll know for sure before the week is out.

    Category: Damned Lies and Statistics • Politics

    Article by: Damion Reinhardt

    Former fundie finds freethought fairly fab.