Just like Edwards, Portman doesn’t want to be vice president:
“I’ll be frank with you,” Portman said. “I think there are a lot of great choices out there and I think he’s got plenty of other people to call first. I just don’t think about it much because I don’t think it’s going to happen.” The former Ohio Congressman often has been mentioned as a possible candidate to complement McCain because he is very popular in his home state, which is almost certain to be a major presidential battleground once again this cycle. Some Republicans believe Portman’s relatively young age, 52, his background in budget issues and his home state could help the GOP win Ohio and turn out conservative voters across the country…
The essential difference between Edwards and Portman is that Edwards would probably trade his modest North Carolina home for the vice presidential nomination. He can’t get elected in North Carolina, and his presidential run fizzled this year. It’s hard to see any other likely route by which he can get to the White House. But he knows he doesn’t bring anything to an Obama or Clinton ticket, so he’s declaring his lack of interest before he doesn’t get asked. Portman on the other hand, has a promising political career ahead of him. A vice-presidential nomination could interfere with a run for governor in 2010.
