Republicans might as well stop looking at Marco Rubio as Donald Trump's vice presidential running mate. The Florida senator doesn't want the job.
Writing Monday night on his Facebook page, Rubio removed any question of can-he-or-can't-he-be-persuaded. "While Republican voters have chosen Donald Trump as the presumptive GOP nominee, my previously stated reservations about his campaign and concerns with many of his policies remain unchanged," he said.
"He will be best served by a running mate and by surrogates who fully embrace his campaign. As such, I have never sought, will not seek and do not want to be considered for Vice President. Instead, I will focus my attention on representing the people of Florida, retaining a conservative majority in the Senate and electing principled conservatives across the country."
If Rubio -- considered an obvious, even a best choice -- is out, what about other of Trump's defeated challengers for the Republican presidential nomination?
Most haven't shown much interest either. Some have been emphatic.
“Never,” said Chris Schrimpf, a spokesman for Gov. John Kasich of Ohio, when he still was running against Trump. “No chance.”
“Hahahahahahahahaha,” Sally Bradshaw, a senior adviser to Jeb Bush, wrote when The New York Times asked her if he would consider it. Since then, Bush penned an op-ed vowing not even to vote for Trump.
“Scott Walker has a visceral negative reaction to Trump’s character,” said Ed Goeas, a longtime adviser to the Wisconsin governor.
Or, as Senator Lindsey Graham put it, “That’s like buying a ticket on the Titanic.”
A remarkable range of leading Republicans, including Gov. Nikki Haley of South Carolina and Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona, have been emphatic publicly or with their advisers and allies that they do not want to be considered as Trump’s running mate.
Said the Times, a recoiling amounts to a rare rebuke for a front-runner: Politicians usually signal that they are not interested politely through back channels, or submit to the selection process, if only to burnish their national profiles.
A cross section of leading Republicans agree that if Rubio turns down the call to come aboard -- as he just has -- Trump's most sensible choice would be an experienced female governor or senator, given that he will most likely face Hillary Clinton in November and need support from a majority of white women to offset her strong support among blacks, Hispanics and women.
Reach Nancy Smith at nsmith@sunshinestatenews.com or at 228-282-2423. Twitter: @NancyLBSmith
