Romney lists potential running mates

By Jim Davenport, Associated Press Writer | March 29, 2007

BLUFFTON, S.C. --Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney on Thursday dropped some names of potential running mates in the 2008 race, but added such speculation is a bit premature.

Among those Romney mentioned for the second slot on the Republican ticket were three Southerners: South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia, and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.

"There's some wonderful people right here in this state, as you know, Governor Sanford being one of them," the former Massachusetts governor said to a round of applause after being asked about vice presidential picks by a member of a crowd of about 400 people gathered for his campaign stop in this early voting state.

"I have to be honest with you, I haven't given a lot of thought to that, so I don't want to put any names in that hat right now," Romney said, but also gave a nod to Bush, calling him "quite a guy."

"I love him. If his name weren't Bush, he'd be running for president, I'm convinced," said Romney, who added he also was "pretty partial" to South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint.

Talking with reporters later, Romney said the names he mentioned are part of a list of vice presidential contenders that anyone winning the GOP nomination would have to consider. "When I'm in South Carolina, I'm not going to fail to mention some of the ones that are closest," Romney said.

Romney has lagged behind former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Arizona Sen. John McCain in the polls, often with support registering in the single digits. He also trails such better-known Republicans as Gingrich and former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson -- who are weighing presidential bids -- when their names are added to the mix of candidates.

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ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- Edward Cox, a son-in-law of the late President Nixon, has been named chairman of Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign effort in New York.

Polls show former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani far ahead of McCain in the state in the race for the 2008 GOP nomination.

"Senator McCain has an unwavering record of fiscal responsibility," Cox said in a statement issued by the McCain campaign. "He is the resolute leader who will ensure we spend taxpayer dollars wisely and I'm honored to serve as his chairman in New York."

Cox, a Manhattan lawyer with strong ties to the state Conservative Party, had been pursuing the Republican Senate nomination in 2006 to take on Hillary Rodham Clinton until then-Republican Gov. George Pataki endorsed GOP rival Jeanine Pirro. Cox immediately suspended his campaign.

Later, when Pirro's Senate candidacy collapsed, Cox refused to re-enter the race, leaving Clinton to win in a walk over former Yonkers Mayor John Spencer. She now leads national polls for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination.

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