The Growing List of Republicans Who Are Saying No Thanks to Being Donald Trump's Running Mate
Trump's fellow Republicans are saying thanks-but-no-thanks to VP pick.
— -- Last man standing Donald Trump is now the presumptive Republican presidential nominee. But as he prepares to choose a running mate, some of his fellow Republicans have reacted with a thanks-but-no-thanks attitude.
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio on Monday became one of the latest to end speculation that he may be interested in being vice president.
Here’s a list of some of the prominent Republicans who have said they don’t want the job:
South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who endorsed Rubio during his presidential campaign and later backed Texas Sen. Ted Cruz following Rubio’s departure from the race, said that while she was “flattered” to be in the mix, her “plate is full.”
"I am flattered to be mentioned and proud of what that says about the great things going on in South Carolina,” Haley said in a statement on May 4. “My plate is full and I am not interested in serving as vice president."
The next day, Trump revealed Haley was not even being considered.
“No, not Nikki Haley. She wasn’t under consideration,” Trump told Fox News’ Bret Baier on May 5.
Despite encouraging Republicans to “come together” and support Trump, Florida Gov. Rick Scott said he would “pass” on being Trump’s No. 2.
“I'll do anything I can to make sure he wins but I'm going to stay in this job and finish this job,” Scott, who endorsed Trump back in March, said in an interview on CNN on May 4.
While New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez -- the first Hispanic woman elected governor in the United States -- could help Trump with this important demographic, she has expressed no interest in the VP spot.
“The governor has said repeatedly over the years that she isn’t interested in serving as vice president,” Martinez spokesman Chris Sanchez told The Weekly Standard. “She appreciates that such attention puts New Mexico in the spotlight, but she is fully committed to serving the people of our state.”
Count Sen. Rob Portman, who is running for re-election in Ohio, out.
“Rob is not interested in anything but continuing to serve Ohio in the U.S. Senate,” Corry Bliss, Portman’s re-election campaign manager, said in a statement. “He will continue to do what he does each and every day: wake up determined to get results for Ohio families.”
Portman did, however, offer his support for Trump on Monday during a campaign stop in Columbus, Ohio.
Retired neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson said an interview with the Wall Street Journal he wouldn’t want to be a “distraction.”
“I’m not interested in doing that [being VP] for a number of reasons,” the former GOP presidential candidate said on May 5. “I don’t want to be a distraction. I’m sure you remember how crazy the media was about me.”
Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin argued she’s been “vetted more than anyone in the country.”
But this time around she doesn’t want to “be a burden,” Palin, who endorsed Trump ahead of Iowa caucus, said on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday.
Marco Rubio
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who went head-to-head with Trump as a rival presidential candidate, wrote on Facebook on Monday that he isn’t interested in being a running mate.
“I have never sought, will not seek and do not want to be considered for Vice President,” Rubio wrote, adding: “He [Trump] will be best served by a running mate and by surrogates who fully embrace his campaign.”