bob mcdonnell's national profile a national profile that scuttled any chances he had of being picked as mitt romney's vice president. a washington post column back in february talking about how he fell off the short list for vice president because of the ultrasound fight he got himself into in virginia. assuming that the republican presidential candidate is mitt romney, it would be much harder for him now to tap governor bob mcdonnell as a running mate. they would have to devote time to defending the ultrasound bill. the ultrasound controversy was probably very unhelpful to the calculus that romney will make at the convention. bob mcdonnell in virginia made the mistake of becoming nationally famous for his stance on his state's ultrasound bill. that made him politically untouchable and toxic on the national stage. do you want to know who co-sponsored the national version of the bob mcdonnell forced ultrasound bill? congressman paul ryan of wisconsin.