Posted on 11/08/2014 6:33:23 AM PST by Pinkbell
Rob Portman is continuing to weigh a presidential run even as he leans toward running for reelection, he said in an interview on Friday afternoon.
The Ohio Republican senator doesn’t have a precise timeline for his decision, but with his party’s triumph on Tuesday behind him he said he’s finally got some time to think about whether to seek the presidency or commit 100 percent to running for reelection in the swing state of Ohio in 2016.
He’s currently “planning to run for reelection” but declined to rule out a run at the White House.
“I am going to take a look at the opportunity of the presidential race. But you know, right now, I’m excited about these results Tuesday night. I’ll be talking to family, talking to friends and some who’ve been encouraging me and analyze the situation. But I’m not planning at this point to change my approach, which is legislating,” Portman said in a telephone interview.
Several of his colleagues like Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Ted Cruz of Texas and Marco Rubio of Florida are also considered top 2016 contenders as is Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who was just reelected. Asked if the 2016 decisions of others would affect his decision-making, Portman said no.
“You decide, in my case, what’s in the interest of the country,” he said. “The question is: ‘What’s the most effective role that I can play?’”
Portman emerged as a deal-making Republican player over the past two years, helping hammer out a bill to extend expired unemployment benefits that passed the Senate, building a bipartisan energy efficiency bill with Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) that sputtered over procedural warfare and ultimately voting against the Senate’s immigration reform legislation after trying to receive a separate roll call vote on his amendment.
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
who?
I will fight like hell to ensure this man is NOT elected. Its a shame that he’s not running when his seat is up. Then we might be able to get rid of him.
He has obviously spent far too much time away from his family. Forget it, Rob.
I actually do like Rob Portman in a country folk sort of way...but definitely not Presidential material.
I’d rather see Kasich run.
We’re about to see the Dems get their good ole RINO buddies to flood the 2016 presidential run with tons of candidates to confuse the masses and split the vote to ensure a Dem win.
It happens every year. I could not believe the fighting on FR last time over candidates while Romney swept away with it. The same thing happened in 2008 too, and we were stuck with Juan.
No Kasich!!! He’ll give away the farm because “God said.to”!!
Hell No.
If he wants to waste time and money, so be it. I will never vote for him. I don’t know how anyone can admire a person who wavers on a position because it involves a family member. To me, Portman is a model of behaving in an unstatesmanlike manner.
Bu Bye
Oh, yeah, that’ll turn out all the social conservatives: a gay-marriage Republican who makes Mitt Romney look right-wing.
Right. The problem seems to be that many here do not support a candidate, they just oppose yours.
I will vote for a candidate that is pro-life, for strong borders, for privatized medicine, has a history of providing smaller government, and is pro-2nd amendment.
I won't vote for a candidate that isn't.
To see if this candidate has a chance of getting my vote, compare him to my list.
Romney couldn't get my vote.
/johnny
Look, lets cheer on all the RINOs to run..... (split up all the RINO votes).
JMHO
THE Rob Portman?!?
The arrogance of so many of these politicians. Portman was a very good congressman, and probably a decent Senator, but what on earth would make him think he has the ability to run a campaign of this magnitude?
Some RINO who did not stand with Cruz when it counted.
Portman is a RINO, and worse than that, a bore.
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