Rob Portman news stories on Newser

Rob Portman's Edge: He's Dull as Dirt

Kevin Spak — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:45:36 CDT

Most media VP speculation is swirling around colorful personalities like Marco Rubio, Paul Ryan, and Bob McDonnell, but Politico has its eye on a candidate who exemplifies drab: Rob Portman. The last bill the Ohio senator introduced was a measure controlling Asian Carp in the Great Lakes—not exactly the...

VP Candidates Don't Deliver Big Home-State Boost

Matt Cantor — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 18:00:00 CDT

We've heard that as running mates, Rob Portman of Ohio and Marco Rubio of Florida could help Mitt Romney in their battleground home states—but statistics wiz Nate Silver isn't so sure. In the New York Times , he evaluates the performances of presidential tickets in the VP nominee's home states,...

Top 5 Picks for Romney Running Mate

Matt Cantor — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 15:56:05 CDT

There's no way of knowing who will join Mitt Romney on the GOP ticket—but Intrade is willing to guess. The online futures site offers odds on various contenders, and the Daily Beast takes a look at the top five: Marco Rubio, 24.9% . The Florida senator is a Cuban-American...

GOP Makes Its Debt Super-Committee Picks

Kate Schwartz — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 10:51:17 CDT

We're three-quarters of the way there. The GOP today announced its picks to serve on the debt "super committee," bringing the total number of seats filled to nine. At the top of John Boehner's list is Texan Jeb Hensarling, who will co-chair the committee with Democratic Sen. Patty Murray ; he...

These Wonky Politicians Are the GOP's Future

John Johnson — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 14:52:52 CDT

David Brooks happily declares the emergence of his kind of Republican on the national stage—members of what he dubs the "austerity caucus." They're more wonky than flashy, with more of a focus on balancing budgets and pragmatic daily concerns than grand visions of the future. He puts Meg Whitman,...

GOP Needs Its Brains Back

Kevin Spak — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 13:57:01 CDT

Republican sycophants may think Sarah Palin’s resignation was brilliant, “but don’t kid yourself,” writes Robert Eisinger in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution . “The GOP is in trouble.” The party has lost its intellectual coherence, and if it wants it back, it’s got to look beyond the Palins and Mark Sanfords of the...

Strong Candidates Give GOP Hope for Open Senate Seats

Gabriel Winant — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 10:40:00 CST

Don’t let the stories about how grim 2010 looks for the Senate Republicans fool you. The spate of retirements in swing states is no boon, to be sure, but, Politico reports, the GOP will have no trouble coming up with good candidates in Florida, Ohio, and Missouri. A state-by-state overview:

Insiders' Pick as McCain Running Mate: Portman

Jonas Oransky — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:12:11 CDT

Ex-Congressman and ex-OMB director Rob Portman has much to offer John McCain as a running mate, writes Washington Post blogger Chris Cillizza. "If Washington-based political operatives picked the vice president, Portman would have it hands down" because he's "that rare breed of politician who is equally conversant—and skilled—at...

Romney Takes Lead in VP Derby

Jonas Oransky — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:43:04 CDT

Mitt Romney is today's top candidate to fill out John McCain’s ticket, Politico reports. The ex-Massachusetts governor has conservative cred, Michigan roots, fundraising chops—and not much chemistry with McCain. McCain hopes to wait out Barack Obama and see the Democratic ticket before announcing his choice, a play one staffer...