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Mitt Romney: ‘Only Beth Myers and I know who is being vetted’

UPDATE: Marco Rubio is being thoroughly vetted

By: Dan Spencer (Diary)  |  June 19th, 2012 at 05:45 PM  | 

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Have you been following all the reports about whom Mitt Romney is considering for his running mate?

There have been press reports that the list includes:

  • Former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty
  • Ohio Senator Rob Portman
  • Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan
  • Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal
  • New Jersey Governor Chris Christie
  • Florida Senator Marco Rubio
  • New Hampshire Kelly Ayotte
  • Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels
  • Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell
  • South Dakota Senator John Thune
  • Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush

And every once in a while there are reports that certain candiates are not being vetted. For example this morning, Jonathan Karl of ABC News reported that Senator Marco Rubio was not being vetted.

Don’t read too much into it, but after all the speculation surrounding the ABC news “scoop” about the campaign’s VP vetting process and Florida Senator Marco Rubio, Mitt Romney told Sean Hannity that only he and Beth Myers know who is being vetted. Here’s an excerpt of this evening’s Mitt Romney interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News:

Hannity: “What did you make of the ABC News report this morning that said Marco Rubio was not being vetted but Governor Tim Pawlenty was being vetted? Any comment on that story?”

Mitt Romney: “I get a kick out of some of the speculation that goes on. 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.”

Hannity: “Does that mean Ann Romney doesn’t know?”

Romney: “Even Ann doesn’t know. We talk about the possible people that I might select. But in terms of actually who is being vetted, that is something only two people know. And Beth Myers doesn’t talk.”

Hannity:“Is there a shortlist?”

Romney: “There are a number of people who are being vetted and that is obviously the group we are considering most seriously.”
(Fox News’ “Hannity,” 6/19/12)

Perhaps all the speculation is the result of the fact that picking a running mate is often described as a nominee’s first presidential act, a window into his mind and personality. Whatever the reasons, take heed, only two people know who is on the list.

UPDATE: Mitt Romney made it very clear:

“There are only two people in this country who know who are being vetted and who are not, and that’s Beth Myers and myself, ” he told reporters, referring to the close aide in charge of his vice presidential search. “I know Beth well. She doesn’t talk to anybody. The story was entirely false. Marco Rubio is being thoroughly vetted as part of our process.”

You can watch a video of Romney’s clarification here.

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COMMENTS

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  • Trubador

    And it’s not Rubio (keep him in the Senate, and have him run for Governor of FL in six years).

    Only Jindal and Ryan excite me.

    Hell no to Jeb and Christy.

  • ctredstater

    is the best choice. the theory is that Mitt likes “safe” – and that he wants the candidate to pass the immediate “threshold” test, but there is no risk-free choice.

    Jindal is brilliant, conservative, steeped in policy, would have Biden tied up in knots in a debate – and a good voice to have in the new administration.

    I like Ryan also – but Jindal gets my nod. I was a full-out Perry supporter in the Presidential nominating process.

    • renl57

      In 2008, Louisiana voted for McCain over Obama by 19 points. Putting Jindal on the ticket doesn’t gain Romney any additional state.

      Romney should choose a running mate who will help him win states he might not otherwise win.

      Portman and Pawlenty can help Romney win Rust Belt states. Jindal won’t. He’s not well known up there.

      • basokla

        Has it ever been proven that a VP choice made a difference in a state? That counts?

        I know Bobby can govern. From day 1. That’s all I care about.

  • AndrewHyman

    I noticed somewhere that Cathy McMorris Rodgers might be under consideration. She’s a congresswoman from Washington State. If Dick Cheney isn’t available, then Rodgers might be worth a look. :-)

  • PowerToThePeople

    Mia Love on his serious list. She is a rising star and someone worth looking at.

    • zachv

      On the national scale. Remember: She has only been a small town mayor so far. I think 2020 or 2024 would be just perfect timing!

  • rapskins

    Throwing out names, that nobody knows is not going to hack it.
    It will be John Thune. First senator to endorse Romney. From a small state, but Biden is from Del, and Cheney from Wyo. Not a factor. Been in the house and senate for fourteen years. Sliced and diced the biggest Dem in the form of Daschle in 2004. He will be more than enough to handle Biden. Only 51 and stands 6’4, and has that Lincoln/Kennedy look about him.
    Ran unopposed in the 2010 South Dakota US senate race, from a state that gave us Daschle, McGovern, Humphries, etc….
    Not going to be a governor. Last Republican governor that was selected/elected was Agnew in ’68. It will be a Washington insider, just like the last six VPs in the past 36 years.
    It will be Thune……

    • http://lukos.com Ed54

      nt

  • septembergurl

    I’d prefer Jindal myself but I’m very happy with Ryan too.

  • melbedewy

    all up, no down. She would help with women EVERYWHERE not just Ohio or any one state. Sharp as a tack. She would not have any “Palin” issues.

    • gekster

      The MSM would create Ayotte issues she can call her own.
      Have you been paying attention.
      They would make it up as they go along,
      just like they did with Palin, who they practiced on.

  • willopine

    needs to include Allen West

    • clintonformccain

      I can’t really come up with any calculus that has Allen West helping Romney beat President Kardashian in November. I don’t think the socialist/communist accusations (whichever it was) caused West’s stock to rise. If anything, you want a VP who is not going to make headlines for saying outrageous things.

    • http://lukos.com Ed54

      Less than 2 years in the House? That doesn’t pass the giggle test.

      • stumpy

        I like West, but we need more experience, particularly executive. I realize Lt. Col. West has a lot of real world experience, but some executive experience in government is a plus for P/VP candidates. Plus West has a tendancy to unnecessarily create a ruckus. I like that for a congressman, but not VP, especially with thin experience.

  • jude68

    Fact is we are all guessing. I trust NOTHING from ABC, NBC, MSNBC, NYT, WaPo or even Fox. There is misdirection constantly! Romney calls Karl report FALSE….of course the idiot Karl…sticks by his story…well DUH Jonathan like you have any real idea!! Can you say EGG on the face!!

    We all have our wish list….I like Martinez out of New Mexico….I like Condolezza Rice, Jindal is great and I like Ayotte!!

    But sorry Pawlenty is a DUD…..I know some say he would help with Minnesota or Midwest…..NOT!!…Walker could but that poor guy is spent! He just finished with a brutal re-election. But I like him as well! Ryan needs to keep pushing the GOP in the House!

    Rubio is pretty good….but he needs more time to formulate himself!

  • http://lukos.com Ed54

    To let Mitt float his name as a trial balloon.

    Being from FL, I’m a big Rubio fan, but am starting to think Ryan is the better choice. While Rubio is more inspirational, Ryan is a policy powerhouse and would definitively signal that Romney is serious about fixing the budget.

    Also, for all the talk about Hispanic voters, this election is going to be fought and won over working class whites in the rust belt. As Ohio goes, so goes the nation.

    • zachv

      Of the Republican party in the House of Representatives. Can we afford to have him tapped as VP?

  • willopine

    He lead combat troops as a Lt. Col. so he brings leadership skills .
    He brings military experience that Romney lacks. The world is in more turmoil than it was even 4 yrs ago and West understands the threat of Islomofacism.
    He may tip the scales enough in Florida to put it in the Romney column.
    As much as I dislike identity politics,with West on the ticket, the black vote may be significantly nulified to put Romney over the top.
    He helps with appealing to the Tea party.
    The only lack of qualification is he doesn’t have political experience.
    It’s about time we stop electing polititons, and start electing leaders.
    I’ll ask again,
    Why not West?

    • mikeymike143

      and please not christie or ayotte. we dont need any northeast RINO’s on the ticket. we need a southern conservative

    • http://lukos.com Ed54

      and very little political experience.

  • barleycorn

    Mitt Romney says:

    “But in terms of actually who is being vetted, that is something only two people know. And Beth Myers doesn’t talk.”

    Mitt Romney says:

    “Marco Rubio is being thoroughly vetted as part of our process.”

  • willopine

    Sec. of State-John Bolton
    Sec.of Defence-David – Petraeus
    Atty. General- Andrew McCarthy
    Press Sec.-Dennis Miller

    • gekster

      He would be almost as good as Toney Snow.

    • colton341

      Mark Levin should be the first man nominated by the Romney administration. Imagine the “Great One” on the bench just hitting people in the nose with the constitution. Some of us here at RS should start a “Levin for Supreme Court” movement once Romney is elected.

  • willopine

    The first appointment to a Supreme Court vacancy would be Dr.Thomas Sowell.

    • barleycorn

      But Sowell is a national treasure.

    • Bat1

      The first SCOTUS vacancy should go to Judge Janice Rogers Brown.

      • barleycorn

        A great choice except she will be in her mid-60s or older by the time of the next appointment.

        55 should be the upper limit on appointments now days. mid-40s would be even better, a la Clarence Thomas.

  • Bat1

    I believe one of those actually being considered is former Alabama Governor Bob Riley.

    • Melody Warbington (rwm52)

      Nice man, decent governor, but not nearly strong enough, and I doubt he’d pull many votes from outside the state.

    • stumpy

      Riley’s first big act in office was to push the largest tax increase in AL history. Luckily it failed. Riley and his minions claimed prisoners would be set free, old people will die in the streets, schools will shut down, etc., all the usual tax raising lies. None of it happened. Most people didn’t realize any cuts had been made. Within a few years, the budget had surpluses and they were passing out COL raises and starting new programs. Riley is friend of the small government conservative. Plus he has baggage that will weigh homeowner, especially being from Alabama.

  • http://itsaboutliberty.com/index.php kralizec

    …Thune is solid, but little known across the country…the rest do not excite me or in fact make me ill.

  • http://jhowell.net jameshowell

    I suspect, he will tap McDonnell. Right now, FL and OH are leaning Romney. VA is leaning Obama. Putting McDonnell on the ticket probably paints VA red and could help with Allen’s down ballot race. If he gets FL, OH, and VA (along with the other red states), he only needs one more state (any state) from a list that includes NH, CO, NV, IA, WI, and MI (PA or NM would just be cream). I think solidifying VA would be his play.

    • cbartlett

      It’s a shame that we have to pick a VP simply because they are from the “right” state. Jindal is the smartest, well-spoken, most qualified leader and is not “Big-Government, Washington-tainted”. We need to elect more true leaders and less big government, establishment people across the board.

    • acat

      helps “bring Virginia into the Romney camp”.

      Mew

      • barleycorn

        Theoretically there is a favorite son effect where the Republicans here in Virginia will be more excited and some independents in the mushy middle might decide to vote for Romney out of hometown pride. I don’t know how much any of that really plays out.

        The single state Mondale won in ’84 was his home state of Minnesota (by less than 1/4 of 1%!) . In ’72 South Dakota didn’t support McGovern. In ’64 Arizona did support Goldwater.

        On the Veep level Bentsen probably helped Dukakis a point or two in Texas for all the good it did them. Clinton/Gore barely carried Tennessee and then Gore lost it in 2000.

        Bottom line, who knows. I think McDonnel would probably marginally help Romney in Va and in a very close race it might make the difference.

        This is pure speculation on my part but I suspect the favorite son effect is more pronounced in smaller states that don’t get a lot of national exposure than it is in larger states with mega-media markets.

        • acat

          i.e. someone who has won multiple statewide races with high margins.

          IIRC, McDonnell has won statewide races, but not with huge margins.

          Mew

          • barleycorn

            McDonnell was elected AG by a tiny margin (less than 500 votes) and then beat the same opponent four years later for Gov by 17%. But I think your point stands.

  • Change Jar Conservative

    The best combination for Republicans would be a Romney/Jindal presidential/VP combination with Ryan still spearheading things in the house and Demint pushing the Senate to the right.

    However, I don’t see it happening too much since Jindal is not one of the common Romney surrogates out on the campaign trail.

    I DO like what Romney is doing — campaigning state to state with the strongest Republicans that the state has to offer a-la Wisconsin the other day.

    • Change Jar Conservative

      I should also note that the above assumes that Romney lets Jindal loose on the bureaucracy.

    • cbartlett

      We need to keep Ryan, DeMint and Rubio in place doing what they do best. Pulling some of the strongest people out of Congress and into the Exec Branch will do nothing to keep Romney’s big government spending in line. If we have to have Romney in the WH, we need REAL conservatives in the Senate and the House.

      (Working hard for Ted Cruz in Texas….)

  • porkandcheese

    Tim Pawlenty… chickened out in a debate and got beat by a girl in a straw poll and dropped out, besides his state’s not in play
    Rob Portman… Bush budget director and Romney wants to make it about the economy? Is he really ready to defend the Bush record? Portman spent more time in DC than OH, too, so not sure of his pull in that state.
    Paul Ryan… is the fourth most powerful person in the Capitol. Why would you put him in a useless position like VP when you need him most where he is right now?
    Bobby Jindal… strong possibility, love his wonkishness and conservatism, but the Dems will have fun with the exorcism.
    Chris Christie… the Flip Flop and the Pork Chop, but seriously, no rockstars no new hotness. Romney needs a reinforcer not a gamechanger.
    Marco Rubio… another gamechanger, plus ground zero is the rustbelt.
    Kelly Ayotte… they say Cuda poisoned the well, but a congressional freshman from the northeast? Why? The narrative overshadows the top of the ticket. “Romney has a woman problem, or a Hispanic problem, etc.”
    Mitch Daniels… new president of Purdue U, n’est ce pas?
    Bob McDonnell… great choice, current RGA chair with national profile, swing state, stellar economic record. Might be too conservative for Romney.
    John Thune… giant killer deserves a medal for taking out Daschle, Redford good looks will appeal to women, at ease talking to blue collar men, would play well in the Rust Belt. My first choice.
    Jeb Bush… no more Bushes. 16 years! Go away! Leave us alone! Buy an island and set it on fire, you rich ****ers! Nobody likes you!

    • http://impudent.edublogs.org/ kyle8

      I don’t think the Dems could easily go after Jindal because he has a real record of accomplishments.

      Thune would be my guy. But I would like McDonnell also.

      (Actually I would love Christie just for the entertainment factor, alas we can’t afford that right now)

      • porkandcheese

        He’s improved since that SOTU response, and he’s frightfully smart on three big topics: energy, healthcare and spending. Not sure how much Romney wants to get into brass tacks. It seems he’s being deliberately vague.

  • porkandcheese

    12 years of Bushes, since Poppy lost. But they still need to go.

  • stumpy

    ?Former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty – Nothing says safe and boring pick like TPaw, no appeal (see quick flameout), no real help in any area, no real hurt in any area

    ?Ohio Senator Rob Portman – too Washington, too connected to Bush

    ?Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan – too valuable where he is

    ?Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal – great choice, consevative, proven executive, adds some flavor without too much risk

    ?New Jersey Governor Chris Christie – entertaining, but too risky, is not the tried and true conservative people think (for New Jersey, yes; for the red states, no)

    ?Florida Senator Marco Rubio – good choice, key state, adds flavor without too much risk, relatively new to prep job (Senator, Gov., General, other high ranking offical), better left where he is

    ?New Hampshire Kelly Ayotte – too limited in national/executive experience, risks stressing the weakness arguement (ex. McCain picking Palin)

    ?Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels – will not accept, he didn’t want the press of Pres. and knows the full arm exam will presented by the media who will want to know what he wants to “hide”

    ?Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell – executive experience, lacks the flavor of Jindal, but adds a swing state (which is vastly overrated as VP’s really don’t help)

    ?South Dakota Senator John Thune – solid choice, lacks the executive appeal of Jindal/McDonnell

    ?Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush – no more Bush’s, too establishment (see his Reagan comments)

    I would place them in this order: Jindal, Rubio, Ryan, McDonnell, Thune, Ayotte, Pawlenty, Daniels, Portman, Christie, Bush