Byron York‘s latest Washington Examiner article probes Florida Sen. Marco Rubio’s statements that he has no interest in becoming the Republicans’ 2012 vice presidential candidate.
Now, with Rubio’s “the answer is going to be no” statement, Republicans need to consider the possibility that Rubio’s answer is actually going to be no. So far, though, there’s no sign the presidential candidates have gotten the message.
“Sen. Rubio is respected conservative from a big, important state and will certainly continue to be in the mix whether he wants to be or not,” says a spokesman for Texas Gov. Rick Perry. “From our standpoint, it’s too early to be discussing running mates, but Sen. Rubio is certainly a energetic conservative with a very bright future.”
Current GOP front-runner Mitt Romney also says it’s too early to talk vice presidential picks but calls Rubio a person “anyone would be proud to be associated with.”
There are plenty of other Republican vice presidential possibilities, among them Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez, Sen. John Thune and the two governors who declined to run for president, Christie and Indiana’s Mitch Daniels.
But Rubio, with his personal story, compelling speaking style and Tea Party credentials, will likely stay high on the list. And he could always change his mind. Yes, he would take some flak for it, but remember that some Republicans were begging Christie to run for president even after he said repeatedly he wasn’t ready for the job. A Rubio walkback wouldn’t be that hard.
On the other hand, the candidates know Rubio has time to wait. He just turned 40 this year and, if all goes well, can take his pick of campaigns in 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024 and 2028. But for the next Republican presidential nominee, the question is more timely: Does Rubio’s “no” really mean “no”?
For a reminder of why so many Republicans would like Rubio to say “yes,” consider his first major foreign-policy address, delivered Sept. 13 at Wingate University.
