Romney needs a VP contender who can bolster the governor’s limited government bona fides and push back on the “War on Women” narrative coming from the White House. Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) may just be that candidate. Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference and a co-chair of the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues, McMorris would send a strong message to the Obama campaign that Republicans oppose the kind of cradle-to-grave policies the president has advanced in the name of “protecting” women. She could help articulate the message that women – and men – benefit from less government and more freedom in education, health care, entitlements, and the workplace.

Ultimately, however, this is the bottom of the ticket, which historically doesn’t usually have a serious impact on voter behavior. It’s true Sarah Palin breathed new life into the McCain campaign, but that was during an election when there was overwhelming enthusiasm for the opposition. This year, as Obama sags in the polls, this is not the case, making it less likely that the VP candidate will have as dramatic an impact on the election.