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Cincinnati
Enquirer...
VP
rumors
start as Terrace Park’s Portman endorses Romney
January 23, 2012
Ohio’s
junior senator, Rob Portman of Terrace Park, endorsed GOP presidential
contender Mitt Romney in South Carolina Thursday, immediately firing up
speculation that Portman could be a potential running mate for the GOP
frontrunner.
Portman,
who attended the GOP candidates’ debate in South Carolina Thursday
night, has
the resume of a vice presidential candidate – seven terms representing
Southwest Ohio’s 2nd Congressional District, White House experience as
President George W. Bush’s trade representative and budget director,
and, most
recently as a member of the bipartisan “super committee’ charged with
finding
substantial cuts in federal spending.
In his
endorsement statement, Portman took a jab at President Barack Obama, in
addition to lauding Romney.
“Four years
ago, President Obama came to Ohio and promised to change the broken
system in
Washington and fix our economy – he has failed on both counts,” Portman
said.
“Mitt Romney has been a lifelong leader who has shown how to bring
people
together to turn around tough situations. And right now, that’s exactly
what
our nation needs.”
Romney
called Portman a “leader in the fight for a balanced budget” and said
it was
“an honor to have the support of such a committed public servant.”
Portman’s
move also highlights the key role Ohio will play as a battleground
state in the
presidential election.
But Romney
may want to pick somebody more associated with the Tea Party movement,
such as
Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., or somebody more closely associated with
social
conservatives of the party, such as former senator and GOP rival Rick
Santorum.
Ohio
Democrats quickly tried to add their voice to the story, using
Portman’s
announcement to throw a punch at Romney, who appears to be solidifying
his bid
for the nomination. The Ohio presidential primary is March 6.
“Ohioans
don’t need someone as president who puts the needs of big corporations
and the
wealthiest among us ahead of the needs of the middle class,” Seth
Bringman, a
spokesman for the Ohio Democratic Party, said of Romney in a statement
Thursday
morning.
Portman’s
visit to South Carolina to endorse Romney came two days before the
South
Carolina primary. If Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, wins
Saturday,
many Republicans believe he will be unstoppable in his march to the GOP
presidential nomination.
Romney,
among other GOP presidential contenders, came to Ohio in 2009 to help
raise
money for Portman’s successful 2010 Senate campaign.
Last week,
Portman went on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” and was hammered with questions
about
whether or not he would be interested in the No. 2 spot on the GOP
ticket.
“I’m not
interested,’’ Portman said. “I’m not seeking it.”
Four years
ago, Portman was among a number of potential running mates vetted by
the
campaign of GOP nominee John McCain.
Instead,
McCain landed on then-Alaska governor Sarah Palin as his running mate.
Read this
and other articles at the Cincinnati Enquirer
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