marco rubio says rob portman's your guy. i don't know who that is. t's see what he has to say about it. >> romney/portman, does it have a ring to it? >> i think rubio has a better ring. >> why does being romney's vice president now seem like a dare nobody wants to take? >> like in high school. dares go first. of course denying your interest is pretty much pro forma these days. so what is mitt romney looking for in a running mate? many of the names they're tossing around seem to help with some of his biggest problems. be it latinos or young voters or his own conservative base. possible veeps with chuck todd and major garret, the white house correspondent for the national journal. gentlemen, let's start with you, sir, chuck. let's start with the one here. >> the only true gentleman on the show. >> i keep hearing this from the right. i don't hear it from mainstream journalists like yourself. they say rubio. i keep hearing it from the right wing guys, they say rubio. where do you stand? how does it look? >> i tell you i think he excites the base. the inte

very smart and conservative. >> rob portman leaves the save and solid category. >> rob portman, a seasoned though not scintillating washington veteran of congress. >> romney is better served with a portman, somebody not as exciting. >> go boring. put portman on the ticket. >> yes, nothing fires up the base like boring. because romney doesn't want somebody who's going to upstage him and just look at these two together. it's like the blabd leading the bland. (laughter) although i've got to say now that i see them side by side i wonder if portman might have too much charisma. i mean, blue shirt, red tie. those are colors in the visible spectrum. (laughter) maybe romney should go with something blander like a headless joseph a. bank mannequin or a rice cake or a heel of white bread. no, they're all too fascinating. damn it. who can mitt romney find who won't overshadow him? wait! that's it! the perfect ticket! romney/romney shadow 2012. (cheers and applause) and the best part is it will change positions every time he does! (applause) now, folks, you watch the show, you know i do not believe te

the problem with rob portman is bush. director, trade negotiator, and i don't think you want washington on your tickets. >> last word. see you next week.

i think the guy he wod like is rob portman.d of guy. >> pawlenty, mitch daniels, john thune? >> all saf it would be a complpletely anti- charismaicket. [laughter] it mht work considering 2008. i think itould be marco rubio. there are a lot of people on that campaign working on his past. if he passes the cleanliness test, he is the perfect candididate. hispic florida is a itical state, and he has a grt story. >> romney is gone on hispanics. remember how romney ran against recovery. -- rick perry. he said he had been too compassiate because he wanted the dream m act inin texas. somebody who has been here against their will, joined the military, went to college. he did the same thing against newt gingrich. the problem with what portman -- rob portman is bush. bush's budget negodirector tre notiator, and you don' want washington on your ticket. >> last word. see you next week.

the problem with rob portman is bush. to director, a trade negotiator, and you don't want washington under ticket. >> see you next week.

marco rubbio says rob portman is your guy. i don't flow who that is. e what he has to say about it. >> romney portman. >> i think rubio has a better ring. (laughter) >> jon: why does being romney's vice president now seems like a dare nobody wants to take. eat a plate of my own [bleep] blooep. >> no no you eat it. here comes the peer pressure. >> i think marco would be among many great candidate force vice president. i think marco's probably the best. >> jon: rubio passes to portman, portman back to rubio, bush also packs back to rubio, rubio in the lane he is driving, he is standing flex to the basket and -- >> that is very nice of jeb, i hope he'll say yes if the future president romney asks him. >> i think he would be a fantastic vice president. >> jon: passes back to bush! doesn't anybody want the rock in crunch time. >> if your cell phone rang because mitt romney has your number and said herman, i need your help. >> i would say let's talk. (cheers and applause) >> jon: herman cain, with the alley-oop, slam-dunk. >> it's not a slam-dunk. >> jon: wel

, rob portman and rob portman with paul ryan if he wants to throw a long ball, but paul ryan would be much more controversial. i think port man is the overall best fit. >> the portman is clearly, he's the kinds of insider pick. he's very steady, served in the bush administration. he ran a terrific attest, a terrific senate campaign in 2010. he's steady. he wouldn't overshadow romney in a way that rubio or chris christie might. they're all right now practicing the art of misdirection which is tried and true in politics. when asked about it, defer and mention someone else. we all know at least history would suggest, if you're offered this job, you almost always take it. there are very few stories in which someone demurs and backs away. so i think the best way to show interest right now is to show no interest at all. these are conversations that happen in private, not in public. those who are talking about being interested are almost certainly people who will not be seriously considered. >> and to all those who say it's not important that geography doesn't matter that all kinds of other

maybe that's why almost every gop insider you talk to says ohio senator rob portman would be a greatice to be mitt romney's running mate. he got a ringing endorsement from someone many conservatives say should get that number two spot. >> senator rob portman would be phenomenal choice for vice president. that's where i would encourage them to look. >> is romney portman the right ticket? does that have a good ring to it? >> i think rubio has a better ring. maybe ryan. >> now, the process has started. a lot of people say the traditional school was get someone who locks you up a state, and they think rob portman would lock up ohio. no president has won without winning ohio. smart pick, right? >> would help in ohio. i think he is going to win ohio because the top issue in ohio is jobs and the economy. it is true in lorraine county, where there is 8.7% unemployment, people are looking around for some leadership. i think mitt romney has a good opportunity to win. broemd won last time. >> would he have a better chance with portman on the ticket? >> i don't think so. i am going to help him a

" piece, portman portrayed gore during some mock debates with bush, quote, ohio represent touch rob portmanoticed in a previous debate gore left his stool and approached bill bradley during a question and answer, seeming to try a little physical intimidation to rattle him. what's that portman says. portman did the same thing with bush during a prep session. so it was little surprise when gore pulled the same move on governor bush during their final debate. that's "hardball" for you. coming up next, "your business" with j.j. ramberg. economy than the chevy equinox? no, sorry, sir. we don't. oh, well, that's too bad. [ man ] kyle, is that you? [ laughs ] [ man ] still here, kyle. [ male announcer ] visit your local chevy dealer today. right now, very well qualified lessees can get a 2012 equinox ls for around $229 a month. [ male announcer ] want your weeds to hit the road? hit 'em, with roundup extended control. one application kills weeds, and stops new ones for up to four months. roundup extended control. blast of cold feels nice. why don't you use bengay zero degrees? it's the one you sto

senator rob portman making an appearance on the jong king program, of course asked about the potential of being a running mate and as the dance continues, the candidates saying they're not interested, they're interested in their current job. senator marco rubio making a slip whether he referred to himself as a vice president and asked about the position and in an interview being reported on at real clear politics and marco rubio, the senator from florida i would have a chance to contribute to that as a united states senator. i am excited about that prospect, three, four, five, six seven years from now if a do a good job as vice president, i am sorry, as senator i will have the chance to do all sorts of things. those comments from marco rubio. essentially anything you say or sdoo is being fodder for speculation along the cable chatter programs about being the running mate. a new survey looking at who potentially would have an impact on mitt romney and clearly governor chris chrissy among the choices that could help mitt romney as he secures the republican nomination and goes after presi

rob portman might be that person.omeone you thought would be the republican presidential nominee. he's going goat a serious look too. he did not run a great presidential campaign. there's no question marco rubio is going to get a look. joe scarborough in fact is right, i think that marco rubio would have a hard time passing the smell test of someone who would be president. he's not too young, and i'm not sure he does some things that people might think. mexican-american immigrants and hispanics in western states are not quite sure of that as much. >> let me go with what you've done so far, i completely agree with both you and joe scarborough on marco rubio. tim pawlenty, he's already been vetted for it. one thing about all these candidates is usually there's a negative. and pawlenty to me has the fewest possible negatives on this list. and portman, i think a lot of democrats are hoping for portman, the thing you mentioned about ohio is the scariest part of them. if rob portman is on the ticket, biden gets to spend all

dana, let's go to rob portman first. he was the u.s.o he negotiated all these deals with china that romney really hates. and no one outside of those people who just heard me say the words rob portman know who he is, right? >> and he was also bush's budget director, and we know that went very well. but in fairness, he is from ohio, which is a crucial state, and he's very highly regarded. he's a serious man. he's the kind you'd actually want to have involved in government and politics. the problem is, he's extraordinarily boring and when you have a guy like romney who's got this sort of lack of charisma going to add somebody like that to the ticket could be problematic there as well. but he's a serious guy and i've been touting him for some time. in fact, i call him mr. vice president whenever i see him and he doesn't seem to mind. >> okay. vice president marco rubio, who didn't actually win a majority vote in the state of florida. he got that seat with 49% of the vote. >> this is one of those picks, lawrence, that looks good on paper, be

going out with nicki haley and hang out with susanna martinez, rob portman doesn't seem that exciting glasses without frames. but, yeah, i think you'll see this tango happen until he actually has to decide on a pick. >> you know, i want to go back to your book, nancy, because what's interesting is that we focus on the vice presidential selection so much for about a three-month period and it's so clear from reading your book, that vice presidents matter so little once you actually get to governing. >> except for the fact that a lot of them end up becoming presidents after becoming nominees, so in that sense the choice matters. but cheney reminds us the last few weeks how different the rules are, the same week that he's calling obama's presidency an unmitigated disaster, the president he served is very explicitly saying it undermines our country to be criticizing the president and i don't intend to. so, vice presidents play a very different role. >> yeah, but -- yes, she's absolutely right. it can be a road to the white house but actually only 14 former vps actually went on to become pr

the way he makes decision, tells me it will be rob portman. it emphasizes the central message of the campaign. an expert on taxes and budget. he's not exciting. there will be no surprise stories if you pick a guy like rob portman and the essence of mitt romney's message is i need an acceptable alternative and that is rob portman. i said it will be square is squared. >> there's also talk that mitt romney does -- not that you don't want someone with surprises, he needs something to get the energy going as we see president's approval rating now up above 50%. >> the president is in a good position. good position nationally and good state by state in crucial swing states. the president is the odds on favorite. is this economy terrible enough? i don't think it's terrible. most americans don't think it's terrible. they are not satisfied. it's going to be that question, what is your level of satisfaction and belief in the future? mitt romney is going to try to crystallize that message. you can't graph charisma on a party nominee. they'll rise or fall

he you need to win ohio. >> your pick is rob portman?lated pick we've ever seen. >> who would your pick going to be? >> i was going to say rob portman as well. >> what about jon huntsman? >> i think he's wonderful. but i don't think the romney team is going to go there if i have to quote the record saying that. i think rob portman would be a safe choice. he's in a swing state, has a great record. the only problem is that he was head of bush's budget. that might cause some problems. >> the first rule is do no harm. romney has a chance to win this race. it will be a close race to the end. he's goings do something safe. it's not going to like palin in 2008. >> who is that? >> condoleezza rice. the voters have spoken. condoleezza rice. >> that's who i want. >> that's who is the person whose name you reckon this list? >> i'm really taking back support of your song now. >>> a poll that asks blacks and whites if police treat them equally. check us out on our live blog cnn.com/startingpoint. will's playlist, rolling stones. we also have zero fre

he will be conservative and go with somebody like rob portman of ohio. if he hasn't been able to get women voters or hispanics, if he hasn't been able to get the tea party lined up or the evangelicals, then he will have to do something dramatic. we don't know if that's the case. i think it's amazing given how weak a candidate romney is that he's only behind by a few points in the gallup poll and in the national polls. barack obama should be way out ahead given how weak romney is. what that shows you in the end is this is going to be a close election. i really think so. >> thanks for staying up late and joining us. >>> coming up on "the ed show." president obama details how the ryan plan will hurt the middle class. msnbc policy analyst will join me next. >>> mitt romney's unzip a new strategy to win female voters. stay with us. >>> coming up, the president explains how the ryan plan hurts the working americans. >>> what do tonight's results mean for the gop candidates? steve and richard weigh in. what happened in north dakota of all places? we'll update y

. >> another name getting a lot of buzz is ohio's senator rob portman. >> he has budget experience, he is the top fiscal executive in the bush and administration. >> several others are being considered. other big names include indiana governor midge daniels, paul ryan, tim pawlenty and louisiana governor of bobby jindal. no doubt the speculation will continue. we may not have an answer until sometime in august. sally kidd, wbal-tv 11 news. >> the word was reaching for was resignation, not resigned and. -- not resignment. winter in the middle of spring for certain parts of the state your >> will tell you which areas are under a winter storm warning. >> after a devastating fire, aharles village pub is open again. >> the ravens general manager says finding another big play for this year presents more challenges than most people realize. >> we are not done with that big storm that rolled up the eastern seaboard over the weekend. skyteam 11 shows cloudy skies and showers. 46 at x. it has been 15 months since a two-alarm grease fire practically leveled the the charles village pub. rob roblin

rob portman from the state of ohio as well. they are overshadowing the candidate like mitt romney. cristy is overshadowing them or marco rubio as well. >> romney raised eyebrows about going back to the departments that they heard outside the fund-raiser. how is the campaign responding about cutting? did you hear? >> you didn't hear anything you weren't supposed to hear and we want an across the board tax cut and we will cut spending. he said they will cut down on housing and urban development that his father ran under the nixon administration and they will shrink with the department of education or put it together if necessary. not eliminated completely. in terms of taxes, one of the things they ask is how does he pay for this across the board cut? among other things, one of the things he is likely to do is cut mortgage deductions for second homes for the wealthy. also potentially to limit or cut state income taxes. >> he was asked about possibly going on snl? jason does a great imitation of him. what did he say about appearing? >> he would be interested in him being on the show. r

senator rob portman and representative paul ryan. rubio seems to be the top pick.nt. the interesting thing is we did the same poll in october and at that point he was the consensus pick of republicans and democrats, it was at 60%, and now it's 30%, there's been a cooling off on marco rubio to be mitt romney's running mate. in his face we've seen senator rob portman, a senator from ohio as now all of a sudden sort of the chic pick for the gop. there's been a change even in the last six months on that. >> what about the issue of foreign policy. do you think that may be something that is a big issue and that may have put the downward tic in terms of marco rubio. he's only had one year object the foreign relations committee. >> if he's picked, that's immediately something democrats will jump on and point out. but i wouldn't anticipate that being their main line of attack. this election, issues number one, two, and three will be about the economy. so foreign policy, while important, is going to take a back seat. >> the running mate, can make a really big difference in g

the name that is on a lot of people's names is rob portman. very low-key guy.olid, he has got the fiscal record. that's the ohioan that a lot of people are saying should be number two on the ticket. it doesn't bring a lot of excitement or national name recognition care to marco rubio or even paul ryan, but certainly it's a solid number two pick. it fits in with mitt romney's characterization of himself, a steady guy, a guy who is dependable and looking for institutions. i want to go back to something that joel said that ohio is in play. i think romney could win ohio conceivably but there are a couple of uphill battles that would give me cause. the first is we had a big union battle there. the republicans got turned back, the governor there did not get the right to work bill that he wanted which was out of sync with the other combined states the ohio auto industry as you mentioned, eliot, is starting to come back, that is a difficult argument for mitt romney to come in and make with the agreements going on with the union bills going on over there. >> i got to te