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Mitt Romney’s search for a running mate appears to have narrowed, as clues to whom Romney might select as his No. 2 begin to pile up in the media.
A campaign that prides itself on discipline had, to date, exacted tight control over the process of vetting candidates to serve at the former Massachusetts governor’s No. 2, a fact that Romney bragged on Tuesday.
"I get a kick out of some of the speculation that goes on," Romney told Sean Hannity of Fox News in an interview to air this evening. "I'm not going to comment on the process of course, but I can tell you this: only Beth Myers and I know who is being vetted."
That comment came amid new reports on Tuesday that Marco Rubio, the popular Florida Republican senator, had not been asked – yet, at least – to submit the materials typically associated with vetting a vice presidential candidate.
Sen. Marco Rubio, (R-FL), discusses the housing market in Florida; how the US can profit from free trade agreements in Latin America and why the nation needs to update its immigration laws.
ABC News initially reported that Rubio wasn’t being vetted, and the Washington Post followed up with indications that Rubio hadn’t made it past an initial review by Romney’s high command.
Romney’s quip to Fox served as a knowing acknowledgement, though, of what members of the media have encountered in their search for details on the veepstakes: News is fleeting, largely because the Romney campaign’s high command keeps details on lockdown.
Even some of the most plugged in advisers to Romneyworld profess genuine ignorance of the vetting process.
Myers, Romney’s former chief of staff as governor, is leading the search for a prospective vice president. She might lack some of the skills of political figures previously tasked with her job – John McCain had power lawyer A.B. Culvahouse lead his vetting in 2008 – but Myers is described as a figure whom Romney holds in high esteem. She was selected precisely because it would mean no leaks, and because she understands Romney and his desire for an experienced vice presidential candidate who won’t overshadow the top of the ticket.
Other broad contours of the process have emerged, too. A New York Times story earlier this week floated the idea that Romney could introduce his choice in July, well before the Republican convention in August. Most presidential nominees traditionally reveal their choice of a running mate shortly before their nominating convention.
Larry Downing / Reuters
GOP candidate Mitt Romney speaks at a campaign event at the Bavarian Inn Lodge in Frankenmuth, Mich.
The Times also included a kicker paragraph that suggested that the Romney campaign might be wary of selecting Chris Christie, since the bombastic New Jersey governor might threaten to overshadow Romney.
One informal Romney adviser suggested that a candidate who’s seen his stock improve is former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, in part because Pawlenty would do anything but overshadow Romney. A runner-up in the 2008 veepstakes, Pawlenty is said to be especially appealing to Ann Romney, who’s built a rapport with Pawlenty’s wife, Mary.
Ohio Sen. Rob Portman and Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan are also generally perceived as short-listers for Romney. Each of them, along with Pawlenty, joined Romney for portions of his swing-state bus tour over the last five days.
Officially, most of the Republicans thought to be candidates for the vice presidency have also declined to comment on the process.
"I won't discuss the vice presidential process, out of respect for Gov. Romney," Rubio said Tuesday on CNBC. "I know he is going to make a great choice."
That means that, until the pick is made known, observers are more likely to learn about the process through candidate attrition. Case in point: Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels agreed to become the next president of Purdue University, removing his name from the list of candidates, though he wasn’t ever seen as Romney’s likely running mate.
MSNBC's Alex Wagner and the NOW panel discuss the progress of the Romney bus tour and a new report that says that Marco Rubio has not been vetted for Mitt Romney's running mate.
The few-and-far-between details stand in contrast to the McCain campaign in 2008, which had basically broadcast publicly that the Arizona Republican wished to select his friend, the independent Democratic Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, as his running mate. With the exception of McCain’s ultimate selection of Sarah Palin as his vice presidential nominee, much about the Republican’s campaign wasn’t secret.
The Romney campaign seems determined to learn from McCain’s mistakes, maybe even to a fault. The process of vetting a vice presidential candidate can be political in its own right; look no further than a top Rubio advocate’s pushback to BuzzFeed about the Florida senator’s supposed exclusion from Romney’s short list.
But in leaking few details about their search, the Romney campaign also loses out on an opportunity to show they’ve at least made an effort to seek out various candidates whose mere consideration might be needed to placate certain corners of the party.
In particular, few women except for New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte – a freshman lawmaker from New England with only scant federal experience – are thought to be under consideration by Romney.
"I think, unfortunately, Palin poisoned the well on that," said one informal Romney adviser, fretting that any woman selected as VP would draw inevitable comparisons to the former Alaska governor. "I would guess if I were inside the Romney mind that they're worried that any woman chosen will be subjected to a higher level of scrutiny. "
But beyond Rubio, there are virtually no candidates for the vice presidential slot who would represent any diversity on the Republican ticket, a dicey proposition given Romney’s political deficits with women and Latino voters, as well as his opponent this fall: the nation’s first black president.
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Romney wins by a country mile...
So true.............let the Landslide Begin!
In many ways the President has become a disappointment, but he is better than the alternative and intelligent enough to make the necessary amends in a second term. Democrats need to hold the Senate, recapture the House of Representatives, offer a golden parachute to one of John Roberts' minions on the Court (Clarence Thomas, anyone?), and get on with the business of exiting the Middle East, rebuilding our infrastructure, increasing taxes on the top twenty precent of income earners here at home, invest in alternative energy, create a workable expedited path to citizenship for hard-working immigrants, overturn Citizens United, and push through single-payer healthcare. If the President tries and falls short, Hillary will finish the job.
If all of that comes true, America and Americans will continue to suffer even more than they are now. No two ways about it.
Freedom & Capitalism is what made America the greatest country to ever exist.
Socialism/Marxims/communism always gets in the way and fails.
Oh please, capitalism has been bailed out time and time again by taxpayers. Get a clue.
In a Republican America, corporate profits are privatized and corporate losses are socialized.
So many "temporary embarrassed millionaires"..
In a Democrat America.....we would be right where we are now.......in the Crapper!
What Romney says:
I REALLY HATE how inefficient the OBAMA administration is compared to the Private Sector in job creation. THAT IS WHY I TAKE MILLIONS and donate to charity because some of the private sector charities I donate to have programs in job creation. I THINK they are better at SPENDING that MONEY and that IS GREAT!
How the MSM edits and twist what Romney says for a total different meaning:
I really hate Obama. That is why I take millions. I think spending money is great!
And we are supposed to believe the MSM to be unbiased. The political sections are starting to look like free advertising for Obama thanks to the Andrea Mitchell's and Ed Schultz of the so called unbiased media.
Remember it was the News media that got Obama elected.. Think about it......
You nailed it Dan!
MSNBC distorting and making up stuff again:
Happens all the time from these guys. Pitiful.
I can't post the link here yet because I'm new to the forum. However, pop on over to Fox News and read all about it. Fair and Balanced News for a change.
Go back to Fox News. There's an unbiased news media for ya. ....oh wait
You are right! Let's go with the bully, dog abusing, foreign bank account holding, ship jobs overseas, bankrupt companies and steal workers pension money Mittens Romney. Instead of having to listen to Hail to the Chief they could play the theme from Flipper for his presidential tune!
I like Rubio
He would be smart if he Would Pick Colin Powell for his VP and not listen to the dolts that run the republican party....
FYI... Mr. Powell already took Mittens apart on Shammity's show a month ago. He wouldn't go anywhere near Mittens.
I have a pretty good idea who is going to be Mittens running mate. Sarah Palin! They will rekindle the "maverick" philosophy and join hand in hand condemning everything prez Obama has/hasn't done, instead of bringing fresh ideas to the table. Then this fall we can watch reruns of Palin pardoning the Thanksgiving turkey while others in the background get their heads cut off. Mirror image of 2008. Sweet!
looking forward to it.
i can't wait... the socialist project has failed in the US
send him back to Chicago... apparently they are in need of a community organizer.
He might go with Bristol this time, she could see Russia from home too.
Who is Bristol?
You know, Sarah's daughter who took unwed motherhood off the GOP hit list.
Was she related to Monica Lewinsky?
Of course Rubio is out: he's Hispanic. The Republican xenophobes couldn't stand to have "ferriner" as VP. They would much more comfortable with someone who looks like them - white, old and privaleged. Wonder if Bob McDonnel is still in the running? But with him VP would mean "Vaginal Probe"
don't forget...
intelligent, qualified, employed, tax paying... right... a white guy
Jason: Don't get your white robe and hood in a bunch!
you decided to play the race angle.
the same played out tool class warfare is.
O's done, just live with it.
Instead of asking Romney or any of the potential VP candidates...
Shouldn't FOX News just go directly to Grover NOrquist to find out who the nominee is that he chose for Mitt?
Fox doesn't need to talk with Grover, they're selecting the VP nominee.
That is so close to the truth it's terrifying.
I think they should go right to Chris Matthews, Ed Whatshisname and Rachel Madcow for some real unbiased "Walter Cronkite" type world class journalism like they did in Wisconsin (uhhhhh........for about an hour after the polls closed!)
desparation, before you start spouting off I'd suggest you get a shave. The BS coming out of your mouth is getting bunched up in your beard.
Jack - Spelling? and are you so delusional that you actually think an Avatar of old man screaming is a picture of me?.....Wow! No wonder the DEMS got their butts kicked into history on 11/210!!!
The GOP is dominated by white, socially conservative "christian" men with it's sole goal the continued concentration of wealth and power in this same "club" of white insiders. Their "big tent" was already expanded to include a Mormon this year, for VP it will necessarily retract back to a WASP.
we've asked the gangs of Chicago to give us a leader... they sent Obama.
they are so upset at his performance they are shooting anyone who look like him
These rethuglicans are laughable... wonder how many of them are gonna off themselves the day after Obama wins re-election. Can't wait so we can be about the business of picking more liberal judges, getting back the House and finally making those who have gotten rich on the backs of the middle class pay thier fair share. Obama 2012!
look like the citizens of inner city Chicago are rolling out of bed
I resemble that remark... :)
Maybe Mitt will allow you to use one of his summer homes to escape all that NYC smog... NOT!!!
Jason: you must have been one of those in that study about conservatives being so racist. Thanks for confirming that.
"... only Beth Myers and I know who is being vetted."
Really, Mitt? *no* one else? No as in zero? Not a soul? You two are doing all the work yourself. There are no other researchers, even the people being "vetted" have not been contacted? Really?
You are a liar, Mitt.
The irony/hypocrisy kills me: Romney is the same guy who, in previous elections, couldn't make it out of early season primaries because the so called 'Heartland' despised him because of his religion. They thought he was part of some crazy cult. Did they now get behind Mitt Romney because they said "Sh1t, we don't have anyone else".
Someone posted earlier that if he doesn't pick a VP for schock value, like a Christie, he will make a horse race out of it. I believe that to be true.
Santorum maybe? At least try to get the rural, white, high school educated, fundamentalist vote?
Romney will not make a choice for a running mate until Grover Norquist, Rush Limbaugh and Donald Trump tell him what his choice will be.
Exactly. Got to check with the handlers before making a decision. He's a marionette with several people tugging at the strings.
Why did MSNBC edit Romney's WAWA video? They did not present the truth to the people. It is all over the internet about what they did. I head that MSNBC stands for Mostly Shows Nothing But Crap but I think they need to change their name to MSNBS.
no one is here for news... just the blogs.
So what if they did. Etch a Sketch is a moron more then a Mormon. If there was a MSNBC producer who made Romney look like an idiot well he had an easy job. If that producer made Etch A Sketch look like someone in touch and not out for himself. Then they did something wrong, IMPOSSIBLE but wrong!
Remember Etch A Sketch outlawed assault rifles in Mass.
Not like that honest to the death Not-So-Brightbart
Rubio solves a lot of loose ends for the Mitt. and could make the difference in a close vote. It certainly would make it difficult at best for Obozo to attack Rubio without alienating Latino voters. Ideally, he or she should be a gay disabled minority veteran with an Asian wife/partner. Hard to find but out there somewhere.
Palin not only poisoned the well but she did and still does poison the entire country. If there's a way to permantly quarantine this woman I'll volunteer to be the one to lock her up.
How the heck can any of you liberals read any thing on this "news" source and really believe it?
and mittens won't leave the shadow of fox 'news'
Um, didn't Fox News take the President's "the private sector is fine" out of context and talk about it nonstop for a week? It was a true comment, but all Fox News heard were early Christmas bells.
I didn't hear anything about this new Romney gaffe, what is it about?
sonmanvb, anyone who cite's Newsbusters as a source is not qualified to comment on the media. You're laughable. You'd do better reading a Third Grade primer in formulating your political views than to base them on the reporting in that roll of toilet paper.
Any one who cites liberal propaganda from msnbc as "news" should be locked up. Besides obamaBOT, you can get this info from any where on the net but here. WAKE UP! OBAMA IS DRAINING YOUR BRAIN
sonmanvb, it's obvious to me that Bush drained your brain four years ago. Keep drinking the Kool Aid bro, it's your only source of intellectual nourishment.
He needs a Harvard educated female combat wounded Army or marine veteran married to a 2nd generation Hispanic citizen.
Rachel Maddow mentioned, Dick Cheney ,think about it ! another ex gov rich kid for 'the evil one' to manipulate.
and you wonder why this Country is failing... look no further than MadCow
jason, if you ever listened to Madow (which I'm sure you haven't) you'd know that her investigative reporting is based on actual facts, not the idiotic, unsubstanitiate BS found on Fox. Either turn off your TV or turn on your brain because it's obvious you can't do both at the same time.
WOW.
Actual facts?
easy Ellen
I have watched madcow and there is NO FACTS in any think she says. But then, liberals don't understand what facts are.
Unlike with Hannity, O'Reilly, Coulter, et. al, it's easy to criticize Madow's reporting but impossible to substantiate your claims. Good try kiddies.
I know who the veep candidate is, it's so simple..... Ron Paul! :)
In reading some of these posts, it appears it is always someone else's fault for the position one is in.
What a bunch of crap!
Anyone ever hear of personal responsibility?
America still offers the opportunity for a individual to "get ahead", if one wants to.
Stop blaming others and take control of your own life!
You are correct! It was YOU who caused the Wall Street Meltdown, the housing crash, the near bankruptcy of the nation, and the murder of thousands of people at the expense of Trillions of Dollars in the Iraq and Afghanastan wars! Thanks for taking personal responsibility for that. Personal responsibility cannot overcome the huge negatives that the Cons have foisted upon us. It can help us survive but is not the reason for the current economic mess. And Romney wants to dig the whole deeper by Trillions of Dollars.
Not that obama is already doing that. . .
sonmanvb, I realize that you lack the ability to comprehend reality but the fact is that Obama has been spending money digging us out of the deep sh*t Bush II created when he gave tax cuts to the wealthiest among us and pissed trillions away with his unfunded war. Truth hurts, doesn't it.
Bush who?
Oh No, even Dems are turing against Obama
Obama Approval Index Plummeting
Obama's Presidential Approval Index rating went from +30 to -10 in 9 months.
Americans are starting to realize all Obama's flowery rhetoric was just talk, meant to
hide his Socialist agenda, which will hurt ALL Americans, liberal and conservative,
rich and poor, white, black, Hispanic, and Asian.
For the first time a major Pollster's polling data shows more American strongly
disapprove of Obama than approve of Obama.
We can expect Obama's job approval will continue to fall as is job disapproval
continues to rise.
Will we have a new Democrat presidential candidate or will we have to look at an Independent, or Republican candidate?
We hope to be supporting a new Democrat for President in 2012 but if Obama runs we will back the best candidate that runs against him. If Michael Steele ends up running against Obama as of now there is a good chance we would support Steele. From what we have been able to discover Steele and his family are all Proud Patriotic Americans, and he is both highly qualified and capable to be President of the United States.
NObamaDemocrats.com
If you love polling so much you might want to look at Mitt's numbers. They aren't pretty.
Mitt won't pick his nose if he is not told to do so by his campaign donors. He won't give a single stance on anything. His entire message is bash Obama. If he has a single thought of his own it would blow us all away. Even if this happens if called on it he will have to check with some one to tell him what to say. IF this mouthpiece gets elected he will owe every billionaire for their contributions. Nothing in this life is free, we will finally be ruled by the one percent but out in the open.
Romney is not a great decider. His staff needs to find someone that can tell him what to say and do, until his owners take over. Romney is running for election, not the office.
Than Mitt might just be the status quo?