Condoleezza Rice a potential VP for Romney?
The Romney campaign has yet to deny a piece published in The Drudge Report last night claiming that former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice had made it onto the short-list to become presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney‘s vice president.
The exclusive report states that the short-list has now been narrowed down to a handful of potential candidates, which is not surprising since Mr. Romney is expected to announce the identity of his running mate before he travels to London for the Olympic Games at the end of the month.
The Drudge Report claimed on Thursday that Condoleezza Rice was on Mitt Romney's VP short-list.
Photo: Rogelio V. Solis / AP.
Potential candidates are believed to include Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Ohio Sen. Rob Portman, Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, and New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte. In mid-June, the former Massachusetts governor confirmed that Sen. Rubio was being “thoroughly vetted” after ABC News reported that he had not made it onto the short-list. Earlier that month, former Florida governor Jeb Bush officially ruled out becoming Mr. Romney‘s running mate.
Whether or not the former governor announces his choice before his European trip, Mr. Romney only has six weeks left before the GOP National Convention is held in Tampa, Fla., at the end of August.
The former governor is undoubtedly aware that his campaign will start benefiting as soon as he picks his running mate, as the announcement is bound to boost fund raising significantly. He is therefore likely to end the suspense sooner rather than later.