With successes in the Iowa and New Hampshire polls, presidential hopeful Mitt Romney looks increasingly likely that he will be nominated as the Republican candidate for the 2012 presidential race.

With strong polling and an expected win in the upcoming South Carolina primary, Romney’s next issue will be the selection of a vice-presidential running mate.

Ron Paul seems more content in eyeing delegate numbers for more of a say in the Republican party administration and August convention, the question is who will Romney choose? Newt Gingrich has been stinging in his criticism of Romney, whilst Jon Huntsman has said too little too late.

A balanced and a more favourable choice would be Rick Santorum. He will carry appeal to the true conservative sector, whilst Romney will be deemed as a “moderate”. One feels the US electorate is seeking a “balanced” unit and the Romney / Santorum ticket is a perfect fit.

Santorum has surprised many, but as we observed at the Iowa straw poll, he appeared unshaken in his belief. He told crowds “We are like the little engine that could”. His campaign has chugged along nicely not taking any backward steps.

Interestingly on the day we saw Santorum speak  (directly after a set from 1950’s rockers Buddy Holly’s Crickets) Rick said the media hadn't given him a chance (we did!) and on the whole they hadn't. His pro-family, pro jobs theme has rang true with many voters seeking a solution to the awful mess Barack Obama has brought to the US people.

The challenge for Romney / Santorum (if the ticket is created), will be the ability to come across as a balanced package which will offer solutions for all within a solid conservative framework.

Romney has been a steady performer in the primary season thus far. He began shakily in Iowa with upstart Rick Perry looking to take all before him. Perry faltered with gaffe after gaffe, whilst  early Iowa straw poll winner Michelle Bachmann found out that there was more to a campaign than simply providing free food and tickets to a country & western show. Her campaign finished in tatters and embarrassment, with Bachmann stating in her final speech that husband Marcus had been out the night before the Iowa poll shopping for “doggie glasses”. Hardly a ringing endorsement.

The Bachmann campaign deserved to be dispatched. Their shameful attempts of trying to muzzle well intended media (including us, who were told by the Bachmann camp to stop filming in a public place) was plain stupid. Lesson number 1: Never turn away any media, particularly conservative media.

Amidst all the challenges and absurdity, Romney has looked to remove his 2008 “attack dog” approach and appeared measured and calm.

As in the Santorum instance we aren't surprised in Romney’s latest success. We saw him at a healthcare forum in Iowa in 2008. with sleeves rolled up, his delivery clear, concise and humorous. Romney came across that day as a can-do kind of guy. In 2008 Romney became tangled up in fighting with fellow candidates such as Rudy Giuliani and his stocks suffered as a consequence. An angry Romney will not wash with the American public. He seems to have learnt his lesson staying cool in debates and delivering solid stump speeches, keeping the attack solely on President Obama.

If Mitt Romney choses Rick Santorum to be at his side, the Republicans will have an excellent chance of dispatching a totally inept Obama administration in November 2012.

Mitt Romney in Iowa during the 2008 primary season giving an impressive talk on healthcare

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