[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_Ci4cwVis8&w=560&h=315]
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor floated Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan and Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell as picks he would like to see get the nod to be Mitt Romney’s running mate Thursday at Politico’s Playbook breakfast.
But Cantor seemed particularly excited about what McDonnell could bring to the table by delivering states like Virginia and North Carolina, as well as key suburban swing areas around the country.
Cantor has a long personal connection with McDonnell dating back to when they served together in the Virginia House of Delegates.
“He is a father, he is a family man, businessman,” Cantor said. “He is somebody who understands what the independent voters want, and they want results.”
Asked by Politico Chief White House correspondent Mike Allen, the event’s moderator, whether recent controversies in Virginia over abortion would harm him, Cantor expressed admiration for the governor’s track record.
“If you look at the public polling in Virginia, Bob McDonnell is still very popular,” Cantor said. “He’s a results-driven conservative. He’s been able to manage the budget. We’re a state whose unemployment numbers are much lower than the national average”
As for Ryan, Cantor described him as “a great leader” who he would have liked to have seen run for president.
“Paul’s demonstrated the ability to lead on matters of budget and has a clear of a grasp on the budget as anybody I know who is serving in Congress and understands the import of our getting our fiscal house in order with the experience to boot,” Cantor said.
The majority leader also affirmed the House GOP’s solid support from Mitt Romney shrugging aside questions that certain caucus members such as Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, are more anti-Obama than pro-Romney.
“I can tell you our conference is excited about coalescing behind Mitt Romney as the candidate who is the standard for economic freedom, for entrepreneurialism and for small business,” Cantor said.
Cantor’s comments come two days after members of the conservative Republican Study Committee, which has consistently been a thorn in his side politically, publicly endorsed Romney and after Speaker John Boehner did as well.
“Mitt Romney is a true results-driven conservative,” Cantor said. “He’s got a proven track record in the one area where voters are most interested to see results, and that’s jobs and the economy.
“He’s the only one out there who’s got a proven track record vis-à-vis the president. His record stands and towers over the president’s in terms of job creation.”
Cantor also expressed optimism about retaining the majority in the 113th Congress and about expanding the Republican caucus.
