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Rob Portman is one of the most effective conservative Republicans in the House of Representatives and someone who could have become Speaker someday had he stayed in the House. I'm sure he'll make a great U.S. Trade Representative. Here's the White House press release on the nomination: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/03/20050317-2.html

Portman was someone whom I considered a likely candidate for the Senate someday, and perhaps for the Presidency or Vice Presidency (he was one of the few House members I thought might be selected as someone's runningmate in 2008). I wonder if Portman will seek the GOP presidential nomination in 2008, since he will not be able to run statewide in Ohio until 2010 at the earliest (there are no Senate or gubernatorial election in Ohio in 2008), and since a Republican will get elected in his heavily Republican House seat later this year and reelected in 2006. The sky's the limit for Rob Portman, and I'm sure his service as U.S. Trade Representative won't be the last we'll hear of him.