Forget Huck and Mitt: Who will be the next GOP VP?
The Republican Party is more interested in the next vice presidential candidate than whoever will head up the ticket, says Alexander Burns at Politico

A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
Thank you for signing up to TheWeek. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
Although pundits are spilling ink forecasting the GOP's likely presidential candidates, writes Alexander Burns at Politico, the party is more fired up by its "unprecedented" range of potential VP nominees. It's a different story than 2008, when John McCain "plucked Sarah Palin from political obscurity" in the absence of persuasive options. Next year, the GOP will be "flush with talented, fresh-faced officeholders" ready to support a more experienced presidential nominee. "Forget about Mitt, Huck, and Newt," says Burns. Republicans are buzzing about Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, and New Mexico Gov. Susan Martinez. Here, an excerpt:
It’s almost as though there is more excitement over the deep pool of vice presidential prospects than over the emerging roster of presidential candidates, which is largely composed of white, male, former and soon-to-be-former governors, none of them from the biggest battleground states. On the vice presidential level, Republicans already are gushing over the sheer diversity of the candidates — unprecedented in terms of race, gender, geography and political experience — who could fill out the 2012 ticket...
The talent pool could even present a political dilemma for the [Republicans'] eventual nominee, who will be faced with the quandary of deciding between a more conventional choice—perhaps one of his vanquished primary rivals — or an out-of-the-box pick whose selection could alter longstanding perceptions about the party and have far-reaching implications for the GOP’s future.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Read the entire article at Politico.
Continue reading for free
We hope you're enjoying The Week's refreshingly open-minded journalism.
Subscribed to The Week? Register your account with the same email as your subscription.
Sign up to our 10 Things You Need to Know Today newsletter
A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
-
6 new horror novels to read this fall
These upcoming releases will have you on the edge of your seat — or hiding under the covers
By David Faris Published
-
6 bucolic homes in New Hampshire
Feature Featuring an island house in Meredith and a private pond in Lee
By The Week Staff Published
-
Etaf Rum recommends 6 empowering reads centered around women
Feature The author suggests works by Zora Neale Hurston, Sylvia Plath and more
By The Week Staff Published
-
Trump surrenders in Georgia election subversion case
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries chosen to succeed Pelosi as leader of House Democrats
Speed Read
By Brigid Kennedy Published
-
GOP leader Kevin McCarthy's bid for House speaker may really be in peril
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Are China's protests a real threat for Beijing?
opinion The sharpest opinions on the debate from around the web
By Harold Maass Published
-
Who is Nick Fuentes, the white nationalist who dined with Trump and Kanye?
Speed Read From Charlottesville to Mar-a-Lago in just five years
By Rafi Schwartz Published
-
Jury convicts Oath Keepers Stewart Rhodes, Kelly Meggs of seditious conspiracy in landmark Jan. 6 verdict
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
A look at the White House's festive and homey holiday decor
Speed Read
By Brigid Kennedy Published
-
Bob Iger addresses 'Don't Say Gay' bill, says inclusion is part of Disney's values
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published