Condi Rice Top Choice For VP Slot, Poll Shows
But the survey of conservative voters makes it clear there's no clear-cut consensus.
| Posted Thursday, April 19, 2012, at 11:28 AM
Photo by Attila Kisbenedek/AFP/Getty Images.
Mitt Romney says he's nowhere close to picking a running mate, but that's not going to stop political reporters and pollsters from speculating on who he should tap as his no. 2.
A new survey from CNN/ORC International offers no clear consensus on who Republican and conservative-leaning voters want to see fill out the ticket, but among the names at the top of the list are former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Rick Santorum.
Rice, who played a high-profile role in the George W. Bush administration as secretary and national security adviser, led the way with 26 percent, followed by Santorum with 21 percent. Rice has repeatedly shut down speculation about her interest in the job. Santorum, meanwhile, has suggested he'd consider the position if offered but has yet to even endorse his former GOP rival.
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, both of whom have seen their names repeatedly surface in conversations about Romney's possible running mate, tied for third on the list with 14 percent each.
Respondents were asked to pick their top choice for the GOP vice presidential nominee among eight names, which in addition to the top four also included House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan (8 percent), Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (5 percent), Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (1 percent) and Ohio Sen. Rob Portman (<0.5 percent).
As Politico points out, respondents differed greatly in their choices depending on whether or not they identified themselves as Tea Party supporters. Those who did named Rubio (22 percent) and Christie (18 percent) as their top choices. Among those who didn't, Rice was even a bigger favorite, with 36 percent.
Check out the full poll results here. (Margin of error: 4.5 percent)
