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| Mitt Romney joined on stage by Marco Rubio as running mate talk intensifies | Mitt Romney joined on stage by Marco Rubio as running mate talk intensifies |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Speculation over Mitt Romney's choice of vice-presidential running mate intensified on Monday as the presumptive Republican nominee appeared at an event in Philadelphia accompanied by Florida senator Marco Rubio. | Speculation over Mitt Romney's choice of vice-presidential running mate intensified on Monday as the presumptive Republican nominee appeared at an event in Philadelphia accompanied by Florida senator Marco Rubio. |
| Rubio, the Tea Party darling of Cuban descent who was elected in 2010, could shore up Romney's perceived weakness with conservatives, as well as helping him among Hispanic voters. Romney has faced repeated questions about the vice-presidency. | Rubio, the Tea Party darling of Cuban descent who was elected in 2010, could shore up Romney's perceived weakness with conservatives, as well as helping him among Hispanic voters. Romney has faced repeated questions about the vice-presidency. |
| But on Monday, at Romney's first press conference since mid-March, both men sidestepped questions about a possible partnership. | But on Monday, at Romney's first press conference since mid-March, both men sidestepped questions about a possible partnership. |
| "The process for selecting a vice-presidential running mate is just beginning," said Romney. "We really haven't had a discussion yet of putting together a list or evaluating various candidates." | "The process for selecting a vice-presidential running mate is just beginning," said Romney. "We really haven't had a discussion yet of putting together a list or evaluating various candidates." |
| Romney was asked whether Rubio, now two years into his first term as senator, had enough experience to be vice-president. Romney declined to refer to Rubio directly. | Romney was asked whether Rubio, now two years into his first term as senator, had enough experience to be vice-president. Romney declined to refer to Rubio directly. |
| "I don't think I have any comments on qualifications for individuals to serve in various positions in government at this stage," he said. | "I don't think I have any comments on qualifications for individuals to serve in various positions in government at this stage," he said. |
| Rubio added: "I'm not talking about that process any more." | Rubio added: "I'm not talking about that process any more." |
| Rubio has been questioned repeatedly about the joining the Romney ticket. "I don't want to be the vice-president right now, or maybe ever" he said last Wednesday. | Rubio has been questioned repeatedly about the joining the Romney ticket. "I don't want to be the vice-president right now, or maybe ever" he said last Wednesday. |
| But Rubio's comments a day later may have been more telling. He referred to his current job as "vice-president" instead of senator. | But Rubio's comments a day later may have been more telling. He referred to his current job as "vice-president" instead of senator. |
| "If in four to five years, if I do a good job as vice-president — I'm sorry, as senator — I'll have the chance to do all sorts of things," Rubio said in an interview with the National Review. | "If in four to five years, if I do a good job as vice-president — I'm sorry, as senator — I'll have the chance to do all sorts of things," Rubio said in an interview with the National Review. |
| There is no shortage of horses in the race. Current favorites to serve as Romney's running mate include Ohio senator Rob Portman, a seasoned campaigner and a director of the office of the management of the Budget under George Bush; Indiana governor Mitch Daniels, a pragmatist straight-shooter with a reputation for budget hawkishness; and South Carolina governor Nikki Haley, another Tea Party favourite who breaks the white male mould. | There is no shortage of horses in the race. Current favorites to serve as Romney's running mate include Ohio senator Rob Portman, a seasoned campaigner and a director of the office of the management of the Budget under George Bush; Indiana governor Mitch Daniels, a pragmatist straight-shooter with a reputation for budget hawkishness; and South Carolina governor Nikki Haley, another Tea Party favourite who breaks the white male mould. |
| Then there are Virginia's Bob McDonnell, a former army officer and attorney general; and Jeb Bush, George W's brother and a former governor of Florida. | Then there are Virginia's Bob McDonnell, a former army officer and attorney general; and Jeb Bush, George W's brother and a former governor of Florida. |
| If Romney was elusive in his responses to the running mate question, he was expansive when it came to a topic that has proven tricky for presidential candidates in the past: France. | If Romney was elusive in his responses to the running mate question, he was expansive when it came to a topic that has proven tricky for presidential candidates in the past: France. |
| A French reporter asked the candidate about his memories of the country, where he served as a Mormon missionary. | A French reporter asked the candidate about his memories of the country, where he served as a Mormon missionary. |
| The question elicited a veritable flood of reminiscences from the politician who last held a news conference five weeks ago, although he spoke not of his missionary work in the 1960s but of more recent visits. | The question elicited a veritable flood of reminiscences from the politician who last held a news conference five weeks ago, although he spoke not of his missionary work in the 1960s but of more recent visits. |
| "I have a lot of memories of France," Romney said. "I think the best memories were with my wife on vacations from time to time in France. The last vacation we had there, walking around Paris, and walking not just on the Champs Élysées but also over to the Jardin of Luxembourg and around the city – it's one of the most magnificent cities in the world, and I look forward to occasional vacations again in such a beautiful place." | "I have a lot of memories of France," Romney said. "I think the best memories were with my wife on vacations from time to time in France. The last vacation we had there, walking around Paris, and walking not just on the Champs Élysées but also over to the Jardin of Luxembourg and around the city – it's one of the most magnificent cities in the world, and I look forward to occasional vacations again in such a beautiful place." |
| Highlighting his love of France is a risky move in US politics. When France refused to back the American war in Iraq, House Republicans voted to rename the sauteed potatoes served in the cafeteria "freedom fries". | Highlighting his love of France is a risky move in US politics. When France refused to back the American war in Iraq, House Republicans voted to rename the sauteed potatoes served in the cafeteria "freedom fries". |
| Bush's commerce secretary, Don Evans, said then-presidential candidate John Kerry "looks French." And a Newt Gingrich ad from the 2012 election cycle, called The French Connection, goes after Romney with the line "… and just like John Kerry, he speaks French, too." | Bush's commerce secretary, Don Evans, said then-presidential candidate John Kerry "looks French." And a Newt Gingrich ad from the 2012 election cycle, called The French Connection, goes after Romney with the line "… and just like John Kerry, he speaks French, too." |
| • This article was amended on 24 April 2012. The original referred to Mitch Daniels as an Indiana senator. This has been corrected. | • This article was amended on 24 April 2012. The original referred to Mitch Daniels as an Indiana senator. This has been corrected. |
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