Gov. Susana Martinez is among Republican politicians scheduled to speak later
this month at the party's national convention in Tampa, Fla., where Mitt
Romney is expected to be nominated for president.
Other speakers announced Monday by Republican National Committee Chairman
Reince Preibus include U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona, who was the
Republican nominee in 2008; former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice; former
Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee; South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley; Florida Gov.
Rick Scott and Ohio Gov. John Kasich.
Some commentators have noted that the selection of Martinez, Rice and
Haley is a sign that, despite speculation and rumor, none of them will be
chosen as Romney's running mate.
The Associated Press quoted Martinez saying, "The veep rumor is over,"
following a news conference in Albuquerque on Monday. "I've said it over and
over and over and over, I don't have any interest in being the vice president.
I have every interest in the world of staying in New Mexico and taking care of
New Mexico business."
Martinez, now in her second year as governor, has consistently maintained
that she isn't interested in running for vice president this year, even though
many national pundits have maintained that as a female Hispanic she might be
helpful to the ticket. A spokesman for Martinez said last week that the Romney
team wasn't vetting Martinez for the position.
Several GOP leaders who are believed to be on Romney's short list for the
No. 2 spot -- U.S. Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio, former Minnesota Gov. Tim
Pawlenty and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal -- were conspicuously absent from the
list of speakers.
A Republican news release quoted Martinez as saying, "The Republican
National Convention will give Mitt Romney momentum for securing a critical
victory for our country this fall. Americans want to work. They want to build
their businesses, compete and succeed in order to create more jobs and a
secure future for their families. Mitt Romney knows that is the formula for
our economic growth -- not more government roadblocks. We will share this
message in Tampa in a few weeks, and the American voters will make their
voices heard on this at the polls in November."
The Republican National Convention begins on Aug. 27.
