(CNN) - As chatter amplifies surrounding Mitt Romney's choice for running mate, one potential pick confirmed Monday he had spoken with the Romney aides responsible for leading the all-important search.
Sen. John Thune of South Dakota confirmed with The Hill that he had met Beth Myers, who is leading Romney's search for a vice presidential pick. However, a transcript of the interview released later Monday indicated Thune told the newspaper "it wasn't a meeting about what you think it's about."
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The full transcript also notes that Thune added he had not been to Boston "recently" to meet with Romney's team.
In interviews over the past several months, Thune has not ruled out joining Romney on the Republican presidential ticket.
In May, he said on Fox News, "You never rule out opportunities or options when you're involved in public life and you say you want to make a difference. If you're serious about that, obviously you don't foreclose options."
And speaking at an insurance industry event in April, Thune said he would be happy to remain at his post in the Senate.
"I don't expect to be there, but I do expect to be in the Senate, hopefully working with a new president to take on big issues because in order to solve big problems, you gotta have presidential leadership," Thune said. "I always tell people that, you know, we have 535 members of Congress, there's only one president. There's only one person who can sign a bill into law. There's only one person who has the capacity to lead the country, to engage with the Congress on solutions to the big issues."
Ever since Thune backed Romney in November 2011, his name has been mentioned as a potential No. 2 for the former Massachusetts governor. He backed Romney at a time when seven other candidates were still in the race, and voters were still deciding in key early voting states like Iowa and New Hampshire.
Thune, who represents South Dakota, would provide geographic balance on a potential Republican ticket, though he would not offer a large degree of ideological disparity with the likely GOP nominee. Thune is well respected among social conservatives.
Thune decided against making his own presidential bid in February 2011, but is considered a GOP hero for toppling incumbent Tom Daschle, the top Democrat in the Senate, in 2004. Thune chairs the Senate Republican Conference, which controls the party's message in the Senate, and is often mentioned as a presidential contender down the road.
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I would think the surest indication that someone is not being vetted and won't be the VP is them "admitting" that they are being vetted. Certainly if that were the case, the vetting would end at that point and the person would be disqualified.
We are now tied of Romney with this kind of show. It is Condi Rice, no, it is Bobby Jindal, no, it is now Thune. Oh! please , stop being coward and tell people who you want!
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. A real dynamic duo these two would be....
Mr. Thune, precisely how many years of tax returns did you release to the Romney campaign, assuming you are under SERIOUS consideration rather than serving as a distraction to shift attention away from Mr. Romney`s inconsistent Bain representations.
Beyond the SEC fillings, Rachel Maddow has reveiled evidence that, while running for Massachusetts governor, Mitt claimed that he had Bain-related business dealing that kept him a "resident" of the state. Sink Mitt using his own words. Don`t fall for the Thune distraction.
This is all part of Mittler's attempt to deflect attention from his job outsourcing at Bain and whatever horrors are hidden in his tax returns. Last week, it was "Condi Rice might be the VEEP", and this week it's Thune. We knew Rice wouldn't be it, since she's pro-choice. Smoke screen time in Rob-money Land.
"Let all the evil that lies in the mud hatch out."
Now who would want this creepy looking guy as VP?
It really doesn't matter whom he picks, with everything finally coming out about Mittens Robmey, he would need Jesus Christ himself to win. And I doubt Joseph Smith would like that. Ha ha Robmey, YOU started the negative attacks during the primaries. I remember a top republican telling you that wouldn't work on President Obama but once again, you didn't listen so stand up and take it like a man. He reminds me of the playground bully that bullies everyone around until he runs up on the wrong one and gets his butt spanked. Then runs off crying to the teacher.
Stop your whining Mittens and show us those taxes.
OBAMA 2012!
MR:Mitt Romney for president/ vp Mr:Jhon Boehner the speaker of the house thanks.
Thune + Romney = perfect!
Another possible "VP pick story" leaked by the Romney campaign to distract attention from Romney's refusal to release his tax returns.
Shhhhhhhhhh, be quite, he is tossing coin, to choose vp. Shhhhhhhe is also seekin from Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Donald Trump weather to take Marcio, Cuban, peeyuush, or sanatorium etc, shhhhhhhh! Be quite!!!!
one potential pick confirmed Monday he had spoken with the Romney aides responsible for leading the all-important search.
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Shouldn't the question be who HASN'T spoken with Robmey aides vis-a-vis the VP slot?
When I see Sen. Thune, I'm reminded of the obstructionists republicans in Congress. He would not be a good pick. Besides, he's just as dull as Willard.
this is the guy who thinks that it would be a great idea to allow guns in bars-
You might want to start running from Rmoney unless you want to help him carry the "Bain Baggage."
Ah yes, Thune. A member of The Family the fasco-christian groupp that makes the Masons look like the Rotary Club. I'm always amazed at how these uber-christians want to do away with health care and other social services. Where is the "feed the hungry, heal the sick etc?"
I say pick Sarah Palin she is a brilliant politician and so darn smart
"Shhhhhhhhhh, be quite, he is tossing coin, to choose vp. Shhhhhhhe is also seekin from Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Donald Trump weather to take Marcio, Cuban, peeyuush, or sanatorium etc, shhhhhhhh! Be quite!!!!"
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When I read this comment, I'm so grateful the author has a masters degree... otherwise I don't think I'd understand a word of what was said.
The VP pick thing irks me. This is an important position and the person is never voted upon by the public in the process of getting to be the VP candidate, only in the general election.
Who would want to be a part of the sinking ship that is the Romney campaign??? Smh...
Does Thune think that speaking with Romney's people about being VP makes him a better senator or person? Right now Romney has raised a bunch of cash and is limping along with ineffective advertising and a so-so campaign. A lot of republicans are calling for changes (rightfully so) and Romney is so egotistical that he can't hear them. Does Thune really want to be the VP with this guy? There really is only one opinion in the room. That's Romney's opinion.
Besides, Thune is probably smart enough (maybe not) to know that the nutjob side of the republican party is going to dictate who Romney picks (just like they did in 2008). That will doom Romney.
Wondering how long it will take "Retro Mitt" to announce that the search team to deny this? Makes me smile as I remember them announcing that someone was not being vetted, and then saying... wait, we might be vetting him, and that all people were still on the table.. but not even Anne knows who is on that list... Well until the interview and she talked about the great people on her husbands list.
Mitt and Company have got to do a better job at keeping their lies straight. Just how many "retroactive" statements can they take back?
It won't matter who the VP pick is , Gov Romney is not made of presidential material. His tax issues will over shadow his campaign until election day.
>Al-NY,NY - zzzzzzzzzzzzzz. A real dynamic duo these two would be....
i agree. romney wouldn't be the 7×24 class warfare attacker and demonizer that obama is and thune wouldn't be the senile gaffer that biden is. the country would have to settle for and be satisfied with competence and getting the job done.
There is no way R-money is going to pick someone who cant help him win Ohio or Florida.
/Perhaps he can just ship the job of VP to some over seas country and keep the difference.
Why in the He11 should I care about what Romney did with his money. We should be caring about what the administration is now doing with our money.