Newt Gingrich tells Newsmax the GOP has a number of “first-rate talents” to choose from in selecting presumptive presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s running mate.
But when asked what Gingrich would do if Romney tapped him for vice president, the former House speaker says in an interview with Newsmax TV:
“I would ask him to think long and hard about why he was doing that.
“I think he’s probably going to tap someone who’s younger, somebody who brings significant ability to help win the election this fall, and we have a number of very exciting people, whether you’re talking about Senator Marco Rubio in Florida, Senator Rob Portman [in Ohio], Senator Kelly Ayotte in New Hampshire, people like Condi Rice, former secretary of State. We have a lot of talent in the Republican Party.
“You ask three things about a potential vice president. One, could they be president? Two, are they philosophically broadly compatible with the nominee? And three, can they help you win the election? You ask them in that order. There are a number of first-rate talents he could pick that would strengthen the ticket and our chances of winning this fall.”
Asked if Rubio would make a good vice president, Gingrich responds: “Sure. I think he’d make a good president someday. He’s a very very smart, very competent person.”
Gingrich also says there are no potential candidates who would concern him if selected as Romney’s running mate.
He adds: “I’m assuming they’re going to pick somebody who is pro-life and I assume they’re going to pick somebody who believes marriage is between a man and a woman, because those are the two key issues that would lead to a genuine rebellion in the party.
“But given that those are both Romney’s positions, he shouldn’t find any difficulty having somebody who agrees with him on those two issues.”
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