Marco Rubio Not Being Vetted to Be Mitt Romney's Running Mate -- ABC News

[bsteadman]

Marco Rubio Not Being Vetted to Be Mitt Romney's Running Mate

ABC OTUS News
Jonathan Karl
6/19/2012

via Yahoo News

Excerpt:

"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.

Officially the Romney campaign has no comment. And Rubio has refused to make any comment when it comes to vice presidential questions. As Rubio spokesman Alex Conant told me, "We have no comment on the vice presidential search process."

The news will be disappointing to prominent conservatives - including Sen. Jim DeMint and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush - who have been openly encouraging Romney to pick Rubio.

"Marco would bring incredible energy," Bush told ABC News on June 1. "He's the most articulate spokesman for conservative principles in American today, and he is my friend, so I am a little biased. I think he would be extraordinary."
.......................................

View the complete article at:

http://news.yahoo.com/marco-rubio-no...-politics.html

[bsteadman]

Rubio Circle Puzzled By No-Veep Leak

“Either we’re being punked…or someone has an ax to grind,” says Navarro.

BuzzFeed
Zeke Miller, BuzzFeed Staff
6/19/2012

Excerpt:

"An ill-timed leak to ABC News that Marco Rubio isn't being vetted for the vice presidency has prompted head-scratching among the Florida Senator's allies, coming as it does on the day his autobiography is released.

Republican consultant Ana Navarro responded to this morning's ABC News report that Florida Sen. Marco Rubio is not being vetted by the Romney campaign, saying if the report is accurate, Rubio should stay close to his phone.

"You better believe if he wasn’t already being vetted he’s going to get a call this week," she said.

Rubio, a beloved figure among the party's conservative base, was the conventional wisdom's early pick for Romney's running mate, but that tide has swiftly turned in recent weeks.

"I think it’s interesting that the only person being singled out in this rumor is Marco," said Navarro, a Rubio-backer and an adviser to one of Rubio's strongest backers — former Gov. Jeb Bush.

"Either we’re being punked and he is being vetted and they are trying to create the element of surprise, or someone has an ax to grind with him, or he’s not being vetted and someone wants him to be," she said."
...............................

View the complete article at:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/zekejmiller/...y-no-veep-leak