Rubio: 'I'm not going to be the vice president'
(CNN) - Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, widely speculated to be a top pick for the Republican presidential running mate, once again firmly denied he would join the GOP ticket.
"I'm not going to be the vice president," Rubio said Friday in an interview with CNN en Español's Ismael Cala. "I'm not."
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Last month, Rubio rolled out a big endorsement for Mitt Romney, adding fuel to the fire in talks over whether Rubio, whose parents emigrated from Cuba, would possibly be tapped for the Republican veep spot. Rubio, however, has repeatedly shot down the notion.
With Latino-Americans becoming a more influential voting bloc, politicians are increasingly growing more aggressive in their efforts to court their votes. But the junior senator argued Friday that choosing him as a running mate would not do the trick.
"I'll tell you, the Hispanic vote has to be earned," he said. "You can't just put somebody on there and say, 'This is gonna deliver it.' You've got to earn it, and primarily I think you earn it through economic policies."
Elected in 2010, Rubio was dubbed early on a rising star in GOP. He's known for bucking popular policies within the Latino community, such as the DREAM Act, a proposal that would grant a path to citizenship for minors in the country illegally, providing they served in the armed forces or attended college.
Instead, he sides with positions more inline with the Republican platform on immigration.
"I think a better approach is the one I've talked about, and that is providing these kids some sort of non-immigrant visa status so they can continue to study and then work in the U.S.," Rubio said. "Then at some point in the future they would be able to get in line, same line as everybody else in the world."
Asked if he was setting aside a vice presidential spot in hopes of aiming for higher office in the future, Rubio said: "Well I haven't thought about that in that way. I don't know what the future holds. I want to do a good job as a U.S. senator.
"I think if I do that, I'll have opportunities to do different things in future."
Also see:
Former AG Gonzales: Rubio not a wise VP pick
Obama talks taxes, Republicans energy in weekly addresses
the lil GOPers will still be kissing those right wing nut job cubans' asses for years to come. they pander to them so much it is laughable. mittens has not quite mastered the kiss, but he's working on it.pucker up! rubie is a closet commie who more than likely is not even legal citizen.
Can you blame the guy? He wants to keep the many filtyskeletons in his closet hidden!
The rube doesn't want to have a major political loss under his belt at the age of 40. He will wait instead if being on a losing ticket with mittens.
Would CNN please report on the Bush deficits? It appears that Fox foreign owned media viewers are not aware that 'W's last budget was over $1.37 trillion, but evidently right wingnuts think his deficits never went over $460 billion, even though TARP was $775, and the wars alone that he kept off the books were well over $100 billion each year.
It will be interesting if the right wingnuts allow an anchor baby on the ticket with the lying flip flopping POS.
I haven't read anywhere that he said if Romney picked him to be VP that he would turn it down! Have you?
Reading comprehension isn't your strong point is it Sal.
@Obama
"Joe Biden is the biggest embarrassment to high office that weve ever seen. Even more embarrassing than Obama. Obama is systematically destroying the country. Biden is just an idiot along for the ride"
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Remember the Bush years? Obama inherited a failed economy, two wars, and a Republican side of the isle determined to obstruct all progress. Regardless of what you're "learning from Fox News – those are facts.
He is setting himself up for a run in 2016. Sadly I wont be voting for him then. I'm voting for Biden or Hillary.
The Republicans make policy against women, all minorities, middleclass, worker's rights, etc. etc. Then, shortly before the election they come out with all "talking points" wanting everyone to just forget what we have done, shake the etch a scetch, and start over. Basically, saying "I know we had to appeal to the crazies of the right wing during primary, but elect us and we will change". Nice try, but the wounds are too deep
Don't worry Rubio, no republican is gonna be president.
let's see the original birth certificate anyway. was he born here, are his parents citizens?