For our May issue, the Townhall editorial team compiled a list of the hottest vice presidential contenders out there and made the case for their selection. We had a a few criteria when crafting the list: a statesman (or woman!) who has led on conservative policy, is politically viable, inherently marketable and appeals to America’s imagination.
Here's one of the top eight candidates and four honorable mentions that made the cut. Agree or disagree? Read the full article, and then voice your opinion in our veepstakes poll!
From Townhall Magazine's EXCLUSIVE May feature, "Who Will Win the Veepstakes?":
Marco Rubio: Marco Rubio, the former speaker of the Florida House, began his 2010 senatorial campaign as an underdog that would have made Rudy look favored. But Rubio persisted, and, as he campaigned, he discovered that his message of fiscal discipline, limited government and responsible leadership resonated across the state. By the time he won the election, Rubio had become one of the most buzz-worthy politicians in the country.
Now in his first term, Rubio has established himself as a leader in Congress. Fighting against excessive government waste and a federal bureaucracy that discourages—rather than supports— American entrepreneurship, Rubio’s efforts have earned him a reputation as a consistent conservative who is willing to fight for his principles on Capitol Hill.
As a Cuban, he also represents a different side of the Republican Party. His Hispanic background opens up a demographic door that could sway the outcome of this election. A recent Fox News poll found that nearly 25 percent of Latino voters said that they would be more willing to vote for a Republican if Rubio was on the ticket, “with this number rising to four-in-ten in Florida.”
Despite insistent inquiries from the press corps, however, Rubio has negated a possible vice presidential nomination, though he has endorsed Mitt Romney.
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But if there’s a downside to having Rubio on the ticket, it might be that so many reporters and liberals have tirelessly worked to undercut his positive image. Politico has even reported that Rubio’s team is working diligently to protect Rubio against the onslaught of negative attacks.
Until a vice president is nominated, it will be difficult for Rubio to ignore all the ongoing chatter about him. He is perhaps the biggest rising star in Washington, D.C.—something neither the Left nor the Right is willing to forget.
Read more about Rubio and other potential vice presidential candidates in the May isssue of Townhall Magazine.
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