Why Isn't Marco Rubio Getting Vetted for Vice President?
As Mollie noted, this morning ABC News reported that Sen. Marco Rubio is not getting vetted for the vice presidency by the Mitt Romney campaign. The news comes the same day that Rubio's autobiography is coming out, which makes the whole thing seem a little petty. I have a theory as to why that is, but first, here's Josh Kraushaar on why Rubio was always an unlikely choice despite his strong conservative fan base:
In retrospect, the biggest clue that Mitt Romney wouldn't be looking to Rubio took place Sunday, when the Republican presidential nominee awkwardly batted away questions about Obama's executive order on CBS' "Face the Nation." It was clear that immigration was the last thing Romney wanted to talk about. Selecting Rubio would only underscore the divide in the Republican party between immigration reformers and restrictionists...
On his bus tour this week, Romney spent time in the white, working-class Rust Belt, hitting small towns without much of a Hispanic presence. It's becoming as important for Romney to win over white voters in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin as it is to appeal to Hispanics in Florida, Nevada and Colorado. As Ron Brownstein noted last week, Romney could win the election even if he loses the vast majority of minorities, thanks to Obama's Mondale-like standing among non-college educated white voters.
That's the electoral politics rationale, yes. But there's possibly another reason Romney was always unlikely to select Rubio: the sheer number of former Charlie Crist staffers on his payroll, who have already conducted opposition research against Rubio and know what it would turn up. And according to more than one consultant still engaged with the relevant parties, there's still a good deal of animosity at the staff level between these camps.
Does staff animosity toward a potential vice presidential pick sink their chances? No, but it does result in a staff more likely to point out a potential choice's defects to the candidate, which can help shift a once promising selection toward the bottom of the list. And now that it seems clear Romney's path to victory in 2012 runs through the working class of the Rust Belt, young Senator Rubio seems like a riskier choice with a higher upside... which has never been the type of approach Romney has made in his political career.
Update: A Rubio associate has now accused one former Crist consultant on Team Romney of leaking the information.
Late in the day, Romney himself insisted that Rubio is being fully vetted.
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Comments:
Feb '12
Re: Why Isn't Marco Rubio Getting Vetted for Vice President?
In an interview with Jim Geraghty a few months ago. Sen. Rubio said he wasn't interested in the VP slot and wouldn't bother going through the vetting process.
Feb '11
Re: Why Isn't Marco Rubio Getting Vetted for Vice President?
I like Marco Rubio. That said, he's only been in the Senate less than two years. Yes, he had 8 years in the Florida House as well, but that's not much time in office with no executive experience. We've seen how well an unqualified candidate has done as President these last 3+ years.
Strategically, I think it would hurt Romney to nominate someone who will be portrayed as inexperienced due to length of service by the dominant liberal establishment mass media. Of course, the argument that length of service means that one is knowledgeable is disproved by Joe Biden; however, Romney needs no distractions and focus laser-like on the economy, pure and simple.
Re: Why Isn't Marco Rubio Getting Vetted for Vice President?
As I noted a while back, he's been consistent on this point.
May '12
Re: Why Isn't Marco Rubio Getting Vetted for Vice President?
Rule #1 for Gov. Romney when selecting a VP candidate: Do Not select someone with more charisma than yourself.
This could take a while.
May '10
Re: Why Isn't Marco Rubio Getting Vetted for Vice President?
I expect Romney to choose someone who shares his focus on fiscal conservatism; perhaps not to the exclusion of social conservatism, but with little attention to it. Rubio is too broadly focused for him.
Apr '11
Re: Why Isn't Marco Rubio Getting Vetted for Vice President?
Given the Rubio is new to the Senate and that he has repeatedly said he is not interested, this shouldn't be news. That said, it would be nice if everyone could get their staffs to play nice and not let this become a sideshow, however minor.
Nov '11
Re: Why Isn't Marco Rubio Getting Vetted for Vice President?
BrentB67: Rule #1 for Gov. Romney when selecting a VP candidate: Do Not select someone with more charisma than yourself.
This could take a while. · 35 minutes ago
I wouldn't say the VP can't be more charismatic than Romney, just a personality that can be effective in a supportive, rather than dominant, role. (i.e. -- not Chris Christie). No need to be flat.
Like Ann Romney -- her charisma and likeability are an asset to her husband.
Jun '10
Re: Why Isn't Marco Rubio Getting Vetted for Vice President?
BrentB67: Rule #1 for Gov. Romney when selecting a VP candidate: Do Not select someone with more charisma than yourself.
This could take a while.
Believe it or not, the young Richard Nixon had more charisma than President Eisenhower. It didn't seem to hurt Ike. That may be a matter of interpretation, but I think the young Nixon understood the 1950s pretty well. It was the 1970s that he had trouble with.
May '10
Re: Why Isn't Marco Rubio Getting Vetted for Vice President?
David Rivera. He has problems, and is too close to Rubio. Sad, because otherwise Rubio is outstanding.
It is not because of immigration, nor is it because Stuart Stevens is running a lefty conspiracy.
Edited on June 19, 2012 at 9:20pmMar '12
Re: Why Isn't Marco Rubio Getting Vetted for Vice President?
The items above about Rubio's length of service and relative youth are probably reliable. However the last Republican campaign found that Palin was much more popular than McCain. I suspect that the same could be said about Rubio being much more popular than Romney.
I suspect that most GIs voted for Ike. Nixon had little to do with those electoral victories, personality pizzazz or not.
Romney won't want a VP who outshines him. I'd look for Mr Colorless or Mr Bland. Those two are up for consideration.
May '10
Re: Why Isn't Marco Rubio Getting Vetted for Vice President?
Charlie Crist has moved on to a back-of-the-Yellow-Pages law firm in Florida, yet still manages to screw things up. That's talent, folks.
Re: Why Isn't Marco Rubio Getting Vetted for Vice President?
Ben, I do not find it reassuring that Mitt Romney is relying on people who worked for Charlie Crist. What does that say about Romney?
Sep '10
Re: Why Isn't Marco Rubio Getting Vetted for Vice President?
Until reading this, I was slowly becoming more hopeful about Romney. Now I'm pessimistic again. Why are these morons making petty, ill-advised leaks to the press? And to echo Paul Rahe, what kind of candidate hires them--from the Charlie Crist camp, no less?This campaign team reminds me more and more of McCain 2008. That's depressing.
May '10
Re: Why Isn't Marco Rubio Getting Vetted for Vice President?
As Rumsfeld infamously (and correctly) observed "you go to war with the Army you have," we're going into the election with the candidate we have.
There will be ample time for picking and b*tching after November 6. Our stark choice is Obama or Romney.
Instead of jumping to the ramparts to critique every micro-facet of his campaign that doesn't perfectly suit us, we should be working to get him elected (or to de-elect Obama, whichever works for you).
Sep '10
Re: Why Isn't Marco Rubio Getting Vetted for Vice President?
Wrong. Dead wrong. Keeping quiet about idiotic tricks his campaign staff are playing won't help us defeat Obama. Quite the contrary. Not only should Romney not tolerate this behavior from his staff, but he should know that his supporters won't stand for it.
I'll do my best to defeat Obama. But it won't be by letting childish Romney staffers get away with petty stuff that undercuts the candidate and distracts attention from issues that will help us win--such as the economy.
Edited on June 20, 2012 at 2:40amDec '11
Re: Why Isn't Marco Rubio Getting Vetted for Vice President?
He wants to win Florida and Crist survived far longer in this state than he deserved to; his 'people' know their stuff.
Would hope to see a Rob Portman VP candidacy and those 18 electoral votes along with it.
Dec '10
Re: Why Isn't Marco Rubio Getting Vetted for Vice President?
I've always thought Rubio was THE choice because he would help attract the Hispanic vote and help win Florida, besides his obvious talents and conservative cred's. If he's out that's disappointing.
How about Nikki Haley? Is she seasoned enough? Would she help with any swing states? Where is there a reliable (albeit speculative) short list of those under consideration?
May '10
Re: Why Isn't Marco Rubio Getting Vetted for Vice President?
Michael, I speak as a Nikki Haley fan and a South Carolinian, and the answers to your questions are "no" and "no."
Apr '11
Re: Why Isn't Marco Rubio Getting Vetted for Vice President?
Marco Rubio is not constitutionally eligible for the presidency. He has said he is, but nonetheless, maybe he has come to realize bringing the natural-born citizen issue out in public would be too messy.