Veep Beat: GOP Problems for McDonnell in Va.?
VA GOP TROUBLE FOR McDONNELL? Could Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell's own state Republican Party be causing problems for him down the road? The Washington Examiner's Steve Contorno reports on McDonnell's potential need to distance himself from Virginia Republicans, who "forced McDonnell to deal with thorny issues like abortion, defeated many of his budget amendments and, in a move that generated negative national attention, rejected a judicial nominee because he's gay."
THE CHRIS CHRISTIE ROADSHOW: New Jersey's Star-Ledger newspaper reviewed Gov. Chris Christie's travel records and found that the governor is always on the go. Christie has traveled out of the state 54 days in the past eight months since he assumed his position as vice chairman of the Republican Governors Association. But the frequent travel raises questions about whether he's trying to boost his national profile to curry favor with Romney, who might consider him as a VP pick.
CHRISTIE'S SPOOF VIDEO 'EMBLEMATIC' OF BIPARTISANSHIP: Christie kicked off a town hall Wednesday touting his viral collaboration with Democratic Mayor Cory Booker, telling the crowd it's "emblematic" of the bipartisanship with which he governs the state, the Star-Ledger reports. "The reason why I bring that up to start off today, is it's kind of emblematic of the way I've been trying to govern in the state over the last two and a half years," Christie said in East Hanover, N.J.
MEETING OF THE MINDS: A few potential VP candidates will gather in Charlotte, N.C., today for Republican Governors Association meetings. The lineup includes Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, chair of the RGA, S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal.
VP CONTENDERS WITH SPEED: Two VP possibilities - Sen. John Thune of South Dakota and Sen. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire - ran a three-miler Wednesday morning in honor of the Wounded Warriors Project, and they each won their categories in the ACLI Capital Challenge. Thune placed first among male senators, clocking in his 3 miles at 18:57, while Ayotte came in first among female senators with a time of 24:41
BIDEN DECRIES ROMNEY'S INABILITY TO RELATE If Republicans are looking for an attack dog, they'll face a fierce opponent on the left. Vice President Joe Biden gave a fiery speech Wednesday, animatedly explaining why Romney and the GOP fail to understand the struggles of the middle class, ABC News' Devin Dwyer reports. "They don't get us. They don't know who we are," Biden shouted at a stop in Youngstown, Ohio.
CAIN OPEN TO SPOT IN ROMNEY'S ADMIN: Former GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain finally threw his support behind Mitt Romney Wednesday (after formerly endorsing "we the people" and Newt Gingrich), but indicated he'd be open to a spot in Romney's administration, but probably not as VP, NBC News' Andrew Rafferty reports. "'Romney-Cain does have a ring to it, but I don't have stars in my eyes or this little voice in the back of my head saying 'You want to be vice president," Cain said. 'No, I want to help save America, and I don't need to be president or vice president to do that.'"
KASICH ON VP SPOT: 'YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME?' Republican Ohio Gov. John Kasich laughed at a question about whether he might be asked to join Romney's ticket during an interview on CNN Wednesday. "I have not interest. I'm not even going to express no interest because that indicates interest," he said. "You've got to be kidding me." "Are you kidding me?" An alternative? Kasich suggested his home state's senator, Rob Portman.
VEEP TWEETS
@KellyAyotte Honored to run in ACLI Capital Challenge this AM to benefit wounded warriors. Congrats @ SenJohnThune - fastest Senator!
@SenJohnThune Everything I know about politics that is good I learned from Abdnor. A mentor & friend & will be missed greatly.
@GovChristie Hey . @Springsteen, how was brunch w/ @corybooker? http://youtu.be/wHN0ZeS5c-4 # IveGotThis # Booker !
@robportman Congrats to # Cavalier Kyrie Irving for winning the NBA rookie of the yr award. Looking fwd to another solid draft year for the wine & gold!
@bobbyjindal After Obamacare, then what?
