5e83e334eda77dd40114f6ae4d80a8ee

This ABC News report is interesting:

Even before the Republicans chose a presidential nominee it was widely assumed that Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., would be at the top of anybody’s list of vice presidential candidates. The reasons are obvious: Not only is he young, charismatic and wildly popular with conservatives, but he could also help Republicans win a key state (Florida) and make inroads with Hispanics.

But knowledgeable Republican sources tell me that Rubio is not being vetted by Mitt Romney’s vice presidential search team. He has not been asked to complete any questionnaires or been asked to turn over any financial documents typically required of potential vice presidential candidates.

Although it is possible that Rubio may yet be asked to go through the vetting process, it has been nearly two months since Romney named his long-time aide Beth Myers to run his vice presidential search. The fact that Rubio has not been asked to turn over any documents by now is a strong indication that he is not on Romney’s short list of potential running mates.

I don't particularly care who Romney picks for Vice President (I'm sort of sick of the Republican Party trying to throw a bone to more principled voters via the Veep pick), but shouldn't Rubio at least be vetted?

Comments:


DocJay
Joined
Jul '11
DocJay

Deception is still part of the game until the convention and ABC is the enemy. Who knows what is real?

Edited on June 19, 2012 at 5:08pm
The King Prawn
Joined
Dec '10
The King Prawn

Although I can't find the story, I remember him stating that he would refuse to be vetted. While some believe he should be honored and give it honest consideration, I'm more pleased with a principled "no" than a "maybe" set in jell-o.

Mel Foil
Joined
Jun '10
Mel Foil

Moving from US Senator, to Vice President, is more like a step sideways than a step up. It's also less secure.

Edward Smith
Joined
May '12
Edward Smith

I've heard often enough that Rubio might be better off staying where he is right now.  He has a lot of seasons left to play, and maybe a VP nod might be too soon.

Leigh
Joined
Nov '11
Leigh

Ed Morrissey argues that it's early enough that the ABC report doesn't really mean anything.  But if they're vetting other people at least it would indicate he's lower down on the list.

I've read that one of Romney's priorities for VP selection is someone who could take on the top job immediately if necessary, not "grow" into office.  On those grounds, he might rule out a first-term senator, however talented and influential.  (If so, that would likely eliminate some other 2010 names -- Kelly Ayotte, Nikki Haley, etc.)

Unless the immigration debate shakes up the Southwest in some unpredictable way, or he picks McDonnell to try to pull along Virginia, I'm guessing a Midwesterner.  Portman, Pawlenty, maybe Ryan.


Joined
Jul '11
Bob Weldin

I think he is just too young and inexperienced.   Two years in the Senate and eight years in the state legislature is not enough.  Sounds way too much like the current occupant of the White House, the Amateur-in-Chief.  Maybe he should continue to serve in the Senate and consider running for governor of Florida.  Then he might have the experience that will propel him into the White House in 2020 - when he will still only be 49.

Edited on June 19, 2012 at 5:00pm
John Murdoch
Joined
Sep '11
John Murdoch

I think Marco Rubio makes an attractive addition to the Romney campaign whether he's on the ticket, or just on the team. And Marco Rubio in the Senate over the long haul helps build the conservative cause. 

And given the abuse he's taken from Telemundo already, it may be that he's not willing to put his extended family through the prolonged, er, enhanced interrogation techniques that a hostile media will adopt.

Western Chauvinist
Joined
Dec '10
Western Chauvinist

Bob Weldin: I think he is just too young and inexperienced.   Two years in the Senate and eight years in the state legislature is not enough.  Sounds way too much like the current occupant of the White House, the Amateur-in-Chief.  Maybe he should continue to serve in the Senate and consider running for governor of Florida.  Then he might have the experience that will propel him into the White House in 2020 - when he will still only be 49. · 8 minutes ago

Edited 6 minutes ago

I think that's about right. One of Romney's primary points of attack is how amateurish Obama is, even after three years in office. Obama's in over his head and Romney can't afford to taint his ticket with the same charges.

Herkybird
Joined
Apr '11
Herkybird

Marco Rubio, a less than one-term senator, has no more experience at governing than did Barack Obama.  And I say that as one who actually voted for him for Senator. Better he should run for Governor of Florida and get some executive experience before seeking the top job. Luckily for him, since Florida imposes a two-term limit on its governor, there will be an opportunity for that slot in the not too distant future.

Mitt Romney, has a pretty limited political resume himself, having served only a single term as Governor of Massachusetts.  We've seen examples in the Obamacare and Porkulus abominations of what happens when an inexperienced executive cedes to Congress full authority in shaping legislation.  A President Romney will need a second-in-command who understands how Congress works, how to craft legislation and get a bill passed, and how to present the package to the public in a clear,  compelling, and understandable way.  I would suggest there would be no better candidate for that role than Newt Gingrich.

Dave Carter
Mollie Hemingway, Ed.  ... (I'm sort of sick of the Republican Party trying to throw a bone to more principled voters via the Veep pick) ...

Oh my.   Mollie, if you have a moderate nominee, what kind of Veep would you choose?  Another moderate?  What principles should we advance, other than accommodation?  Should we take the "more principled voters" for granted in the same fashion as Democrats take African American voters, confident that they won't stray from the plantation no matter how often we betray them?  

Edited on June 19, 2012 at 5:30pm
Mel Foil
Joined
Jun '10
Mel Foil

I think it'll be Christie. Public hardball--private hardball is a different story--doesn't come naturally to Romney. Romney needs someone who can throw nice hard punches, and do it with a smile. That's Christie. Christie may also help win the votes from the gravity-challenged among us. God knows there's enough of those.

River
Joined
Aug '10
River

This is Leftist wishful thinking, and they may be hoping to stir up animosity to disrupt Rubio's appointment. Does anybody think that an experienced and enormously successful business titan like Mitt would require his prospects "to complete... questionnaires"? In this age of high-tech databases and mining, the profile of a public figure like Rubio is already out there. The same is also true for financial reports. He's a U.S. Senator, and his privacy is long lost.

ABC is desperate to make news that people will watch. Their report is highly suspicious.

Edited on June 19, 2012 at 5:50pm

Joined
Mar '11
Tennessee Patriot

Having voted to sustain the ridiculous price-supports for sugar last week, which benefits  a few farmers but makes Americans pay 50% more for sugar and sugar products, I am no longer excited about Rubio. He looks like another Bush. He does not have the principles he would like us to think he has. There are VERY few politicians who are willing to do what is necessary to preserve our freedoms and prosperity. Rubio isn't one of them sad to say but if Romney isn't considering him I am sure it isn't for this reason.

Edited on June 19, 2012 at 6:10pm
Leigh
Joined
Nov '11
Leigh

Mollie Hemingway, Ed.

I don't particularly care who Romney picks for Vice President (I'm sort of sick of the Republican Party trying to throw a bone to more principled voters via the Veep pick), but shouldn't Rubio at least be vetted? · · 1 hour ago

The Vice President might be a minor sideshow, or he or she might dominate Republican Party politics for the next two decades, per the Bush family. Should we really be signalling to Romney that the VP pick doesn't matter to us?

I'd rather see him pick a longtime conservative with established influence in Washington than a newbie or a complete outsider.  Someone like Nikki Haley (an unlikely long-shot) would more likely be a token candidate; someone like John Kyl or even Paul Ryan would carry weight as VP.

Shane McGuire
Joined
Feb '12
Shane McGuire

Is the ability to deliver a state relevant anymore to the selection process? When was the last time a vp candidate really delivered a state that the presidential candidate would not have otherwise carried? LBJ with Texas? (Got a little help to do it.... but he was the puppet master, so I suppose it counts.) Who after him?

And when was the prior vp candidate who delivered a state?

BrentB67
Joined
May '12
BrentB67

Shane McGuire: Is the ability to deliver a state relevant anymore to the selection process? When was the last time a vp candidate really delivered a state that the presidential candidate would not have otherwise carried? LBJ with Texas? (Got a little help to do it.... but he was the puppet master, so I suppose it counts.) Who after him?

And when was the prior vp candidate who delivered a state? · 10 minutes ago

Gov. Romney has never been in office in DC and while I think that is positive, he would benefit from someone with established relationships in Congress. Good point.


Joined
Mar '12
Donald Todd

The politics should include Rubio.  The final decision is Romney's.  If Rubio is not being publicly considered, stupid politics on Romney's part or the part of whoever is vetting potential vp picks.

Edited on June 19, 2012 at 9:56pm
Percival
Joined
Mar '11
Percival

Dave Carter

Mollie Hemingway, Ed.  ... (I'm sort of sick of the Republican Party trying to throw a bone to more principled voters via the Veep pick) ...

Oh my.   Mollie, if you have a moderate nominee, what kind of Veep would you choose?  Another moderate?  What principles should we advance, other than accommodation?  Should we take the "more principled voters" for granted in the same fashion as Democrats take African American voters, confident that they won't stray from the plantation no matter how often we betray them?   · 7 hours ago

Edited 7 hours ago

I've been of the opinion that they take the base for granted already.

sulking dog

I'm getting tired of bones.

Mollie Hemingway, Ed.

Dave Carter

Mollie Hemingway, Ed.  ... (I'm sort of sick of the Republican Party trying to throw a bone to more principled voters via the Veep pick) ...

Oh my.   Mollie, if you have a moderate nominee, what kind of Veep would you choose?  Another moderate?  What principles should we advance, other than accommodation?  Should we take the "more principled voters" for granted in the same fashion as Democrats take African American voters, confident that they won't stray from the plantation no matter how often we betray them?   · 10 hours ago

Edited 10 hours ago

But that's sort of how I feel they treat those who care about small government as it is.

outstripp
Joined
May '10
outstripp

Rubio was raised a Mormon. Two Mormons on the ticket would be a problem.


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