Mitt Romney says he’d pick a VP like Dick Cheney

The Ticket

Four years ago, Vice President Dick Cheney was practically persona non grata on the Republican campaign trail, dogged by dismal poll numbers and concern among GOP candidates that his controversial tenure might alienate voters.

But Cheney's position may have changed. Campaigning in Arizona Wednesday, Mitt Romney went out of his way to praise the former vice president, telling a crowd that if he wins the nomination he wants to pick a running mate as skilled as Cheney.

"I think it was last weekend I was watching C-SPAN, and I saw Vice President Dick Cheney and he was being asked questions about a whole host of issues--following 9/11, the affairs in various countries in the world. And I listened to him speak and said whether you agree or disagree with him, this a man of wisdom and judgment, and he could have been president of the United States," Romney told the crowd, per NBC's Garrett Haake. "That's the kind of person I'd like to have--a person of wisdom and judgment."

Romney's answer was in response to a question from the audience about whether he would pick a "tea party person" as his running mate. But as NBC notes, Romney dodged the question, saying he wants to pick someone who is qualified to be president, which elicited his mention of Cheney.

Romney's answer is sure to play well with establishment Republicans, with whom Cheney remains extremely popular. The larger issue is whether Romney is angling for an endorsement from the former VP.

Cheney has been cagey about whether he'll endorse in the 2012 primary, but he's been openly critical of Rick Perry, suggesting his rhetoric on Social Security and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke has been over the top.

In an interview with Fox's Neil Cavuto Wednesday, Cheney admitted he likes Romney—though he quickly added that wasn't a show of support.

"I haven't picked anybody. I haven't endorsed anybody," Cheney told Fox. "I'm watching the race with great interest. And at some point, I will either endorse or quietly vote for a candidate of my choice."