It’s either an amazing coincidence, or the talking points have been going out to some of the presumptive short-listers being considered by John McCain as his vice-presidential running mate.

Over the weekend, Rob Portman, a former member of Congress from Ohio, said flatly of his prospects, “I don’t expect to be asked, honestly.”

Back on June 18, Gov. Tim Pawlenty, offered his own version of the demurral: “The fact is, I haven’t been asked, and I don’t expect to be asked.”

And Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, asked about his vice-presidential prospects in May, offered up “Let me be clear — I do not think the senator is going to ask.”

Beating all three to the punch was former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who made many of the initial short lists, but whose name has since faded. Back in April, after he had dropped his presidential bid, Huckabee called the vice presidential position a job that no one could refuse but also one he does not expect to be offered.

Perhaps notably (or not), Google and Nexis searches don’t turn up any such modest statements by former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who remains fully in the mix of vice-presidential speculation. In fact, one report published Monday placed Romney at the top of McCain’s list.
The nutgraf:

“Romney as favorite” is the hot buzz in Republican circles, and top party advisers said the case is compelling.

Meanwhile, Pawlenty’s prospects simultaneously took a whack in the New York Observer, concluding that Pawlenty wouldn’t be all that much help to the Republican ticket.

This entry was posted on Monday, June 30th, 2008 at 5:00 pm and is filed under John McCain, Main, Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, Presidential, Republicans, Tim Pawlenty. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.