(CNN) – GOP presidential front-runner Mitt Romney on Monday dropped a name for a possible running mate should he secure his party's nomination.
"There are probably 15 names of people, including (New Hampshire Sen.) Kelly Ayotte," Romney said in an interview on Fox News. "I mean, there are terrific Republicans in the Senate, in the House, in governors' offices."
Programming note: GOP presidential candidates face off at 8 p.m. ET Tuesday, November 22, in the CNN Republican National Security Debate in Washington, D.C.
Ayotte, who was sitting next to Romney at the time of the interview, threw her support behind Romney this weekend in a highly coveted endorsement.
The first-term senator was elected in 2010 with 60% of the vote and is seen as a strong conservative on issues of finance and defense. A former state attorney general, Ayotte voted against the debt deal hammered out in Congress this summer.
Asked who she thinks Romney should consider for vice president, Ayotte pointed to names already floating around in GOP circles: Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan and Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell.
She also pointed to Gov. Susana Martinez of New Mexico as a strong candidate.
While Romney has been criticized from the right for being too moderate, Ayotte said her main focus was electing a Republican who could oust President Barack Obama from the White House.
"(Romney) is the person who can lead our country, change the direction, bring those conservative principles that we need to the White House and most importantly make sure that Barack Obama is a one-term president," Ayotte said in the interview.
The former Massachusetts governor has remained steady in the top tier of the GOP presidential field, but a new CNN/ORC International Poll this week showed Romney falling slightly behind former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
And while Romney was hesitant to list any more possible VP contenders, the candidate said there's no short list of potential names.
"You've got extraordinary men and women," Romney said. "We have a very deep bench."
– CNN's Rachel Streitfeld contributed to this report.
Also see:
Cain signs anti-abortion pledge
Cain, Paul crossed off for Iowa group's pres. endorsement
Who can make a difference in New Hampshire?
From CNN Politics
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Martinez is a gun toting fascist
Thank god, non of these GOP candidates have a chance in 2012.
How many fool women will vote for this Loser just because he makes them wet and he's choosing a woman to be his lapdog.
Obama is a closet Muslim, please: the GOP Curia wants to run every aspect of your private life because they feel they have a vision from God telling them so. Between Romney and Ayotte, you have a total of 21 months of experience in dealing with DC: what sort of mandate do you really think Mittens and his handmaiden will really get in this election? The GOP will lose the House and the WH, and might pick up the Senate ONLY through an act of God, and Mittnes does not have the Almighty on speed dial. Defend the Wealthy? Ask the GOP: they always know what's best for us, since we clearly are too stupid to pick it up for ourselves.
Anyone who lays their cards on the table early in this race is not running an effective campaign.
We all know–or at least should know–that the Vice President is supposed to be the person you're throwing out into the spotlight as your possible successor. Republicans better get with the picture: As it so happens, the only kids on the block for 2016 are Chris Christie and Marco Rubio, and possibly even John Huntsman. That's it. They are the only hope for the Republican Party's survival.
Now, lets not be naive...There is no hope for the Republican Party.
Eight years of damaging policies and three years of Tea Baggers has defamed the Republicans and the effects will last for a loooong time. Democrats will control the White House at least until 2024. Our future will wind down to whether Americans can sacrifice their ideologies–put their country before their ideologies–and vote Democrat. Unless we have Democrats holding majority in the House and Senate for the next twelve years after next year's election, no problems will be resolved.
FIELD1stSGT= Nutty NAZI from AZ
in GOP speak "realism" is in English the equivalent of "Liar"
All the GOP has is lies ... lies, lies. and more lies, which is why the only adds Mitt are putting out are just simply
Tea Party bloggers, brought and paid for by the top 1%.
If you are not in the top 1% and still vote Republican, you are a foll and an idiot.
"Finally, the Mitt has come back to New Hampshire!!!! He reminds me of a pro wrestler dropping the town where the show is in his trash talk."
And just like that pro wrestler Mitt is going to drop the Peoples' Elbow on all you left-wing candy asses!
She looks much too intelligent to be a republican. Then again, under his skin Romney is a democrat. The smart people
in the GOP have figured that out a long time ago. That is why they hate him. All his flips before the flops were democrat.
That is also why he will never win a general election. A management consultant will never be President.
Back to Bain.
Natalie
Flippin' Mittens picks a TeaCrazy....big surprise! The guy doesn't even know what side of the fence he's standing on from day to day. Who could trust that?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
I suppose Natalie that your idea of dedication to values is Obama? Ironic. On the same day the Supercommittee bailed out because they could not get the $1 trillion tax increase he begged for he signed a bill to give tax breaks to businesses for hiring veterans. These are tax breaks for the same filthy rich business owners he complains get too many tax breaks. He has a tough time staying on-message, doesn't he? Or maybe he has no message...
MItt needs to worry about why run of the mill republicans are constantly polling ahead of him every week.
Hey XYZ, hate to remind you, but the last time there was a president from the northeast a southerner assassinated him. Everyone since has either been from the south or from California.
" and most importantly, making sure Obama is a one term president "...and that my friends amongst the list of traits that are listed in this Article shows what the priority is in our GOP field of contenders. Leadership, balancing the budget and conservative values have all taken a back seat. Right out of the horses mouth.
Look very closely at Bob McDonnell before buying the hype. Things are getting very bad in VA and much of that has been brought on by the policies, tricks and actions of this governor. The state is falling apart and the retirement fund was raided to make it look like there was a surplus. All to set the stage for his national debut. Far right wing in moderate clothing.
Noise. The article should have been about the endorsement.
Four and The Door wrote:
On the same day the Supercommittee bailed out because they could not get the $1 trillion tax increase he begged for he signed a bill to give tax breaks to businesses for hiring veterans. These are tax breaks for the same filthy rich business owners he complains get too many tax breaks.
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I believe that only actual small businesses are eligible for the tax credit. There is a ceiling that defines gross sales.
Democratic Presidents sign tax credits for business for hiring unemployed vets out of work for extended periods.
Republican Presidents sign tax breaks for businesses that let them deduct foreign taxes off of their US obligations.
it is so funny to see the almost virulent and irrtional hatred towards mittens, which just shows some people just cannt get any love. People are attacking Mitt for just giving out all possible names of VP he'd consider, hahahhahahaha. and he was sitting right next to her, so he was doing the polite thing and called her name out too. take a chill pill people.
Four/Door: "These are tax breaks for the same filthy rich business owners he complains get too many tax breaks."
The tax breaks the President and the majority of Americans are the ones that reward American companies that ship American jobs overseas. Providing incentives to American companies to hire American vets is completely in keeping with the President's commitment to better our country.
BTW, over 61% of millionaires and billionaires in this country WANT to pay more in taxes, because not only do they know they've been enjoying the lowest tax rates in 50 years, but that paying their fair share would greatly help our country.
But do the "will of the people" Repubs listen? Heck no, because they are serving a select 400 few (including the Koch brothers) who are putting party and their own interests ahead of our nation's well-being.
Mitt.......WAIT.........I hear Palin is still available..........
Now we know why she endorsed him ...
"I suppose Natalie that your idea of dedication to values is Obama? Ironic. On the same day the Supercommittee bailed out because they could not get the $1 trillion tax increase he begged for he signed a bill to give tax breaks to businesses for hiring veterans. These are tax breaks for the same filthy rich business owners he complains get too many tax breaks. He has a tough time staying on-message, doesn't he?"
NOBODY asked for an immediate $1T tax increase. Rather, short-term spending measures and tax relief followed by long-term revenue and tax increases is what has been called for. Of course, give that you have an overly simple mind, I am not suprised to find your oversimplifying it in a very poor attempt at selling the perception of hypocrisy.
"The Family Leader" An influential social conservative group in Iowa has crossed off Mitt Romney, Ron Paul and Herman from consideration for its presidential endorsement.
@ Four and the door: maybe it's called INCENTIVE you know, so our veterans who are having such a hard time to get a job after defending the good US of A. Common knowledge is not hard to come by.
"he signed a bill to give tax breaks to businesses for hiring veterans. These are tax breaks for the same filthy rich business owners he complains get too many tax breaks. He has a tough time staying on-message, doesn't he? Or maybe he has no message..."
The better statement would have been to question WHY businesses needed the extra "tax break" boost to be coaxed into considering hiring of our veterans in the first place.
and i thought Sarah is showing age, yikes
Romney should of had this nom wraped up a long time ago-Does he not understand the country doesn't want a mormon. How about he picks his false prophet joe smith as his running mate–That should seal it up–no pun intended...Obama 2012 talking point,"i know i screwed up but hey atleast im not a nutcase mormon"