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The Republicans who are informally auditioning each would bring different strengths
-- and drawbacks -- to the ticket. Ohio Sen. Rob Portman supported Romney early, has a solid rapport with the candidate and hails from a critical battleground state that could decide the election. But he wouldn't necessarily appeal directly to Hispanic or women voters. Jindal, the Louisiana governor, could help Romney turn out the religious right and would add diversity to the ticket as an Indian-American, but he struggled during a national debut rebutting the 2010 State of the Union address. Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell appeals to social conservatives but signed a controversial state law that requires Virginia women to have an ultrasound test before an abortion. New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte, who's campaigned frequently with Romney, could help with female voters and in her swing state of New Hampshire. But she's from New England, the same region of the country as Romney, while Christie, a conservative favorite who can work a crowd, is from New Jersey. Rubio could bring Florida, always a deciding factor in a general election, and appeal to Hispanics, a fast-growing voting bloc, but he's run into some trouble over a foreclosed home and possible misuse of an official credit card. Ryan is a serious, leading policy mind with a bright future. But while Romney has endorsed the Wisconsin congressman's controversial budget, picking Ryan could shine a brighter spotlight on a plan that would make major changes to Medicare. As deliberations and the informal auditions continue, potential candidates are perfecting their non-denial denials about providing any information to the Romney campaign. "The Romney campaign has a policy, and I'm a national co-chair of the campaign, that we don't talk about the vice presidential policy in terms of timing whether it relates to me or anyone else or the aspects of that," former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, another possible pick who was featured in a new ad Romney released Thursday, told MSNBC last week when asked if he'd agreed to be vetted. "That's just the campaign policy. We don't discuss the details of that process."
"I'm not getting into that. I'm not changing any of my answers," Ryan told the Washington Examiner's editorial board recently when asked about the process. "I get asked this every time I walk down the street. I'm not giving you any answers." Or they're not saying anything at all. After a speech at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, reporters questioned Rubio about whether he was being considered for vice president. "Senator, would you like to answer any questions about vice president?" one reporter asked. Rubio, smiling, turned and walked away.
[Associated
Press;
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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