With the 2012 presidential election nearly a year away, talk of possible vice presidential candidates has begun to heat up, including speculation about whether Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell will run. His official answer is no, but speculators seem to think otherwise.
"By becoming chair of the Republican Governors Association and traveling widely, McDonnell has made himself as national as possible, and positioned himself well to be on the short list for VP, depending on the presidential nominee," Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics, said in an email. "[But] that doesn't mean he'll get the second spot on the ticket. There are plenty of others who also will be considered."
McDonnell was elected as Virginia's 71st governor in 2009, receiving nearly 59 percent of the vote, more than any other candidate for governor in Virginia history. His popularity was in part a result of his outspoken commitment to serving the entire four-year term as governor.
"The governor has said that he is focused on finishing his term as Virginia's chief executive," McDonnell spokesperson Jeff Caldwell said.
In general, Virginia gubernatorial elections receive widespread national attention because they always follow presidential elections; Virginia and New Jersey are the only states that elect a governor into office the year after a presidential election. The 2009 Virginia gubernatorial election received particular attention because it followed President Barack Obama's election, which marked the first time in 44 years that a Democratic presidential candidate won the state of Virginia.
As a result of his victory and popularity, talk arose of McDonnell being nominated as a potential candidate for the Republican national ticket in 2012.
During his first few months as governor, McDonnell continuously assured his commitment to serving his full four-year term.
In February, McDonnell sat down for an interview with WWBT, Richmond's NBC affiliate. During the interview, McDonnell acknowledged that he would "probably" have a difficult time turning down a candidacy offer from his party's presidential nominee.
The interview raised questions about McDonnell's commitment to Virginia, but Caldwell asserts that the governor not have any plans to cut his term short.
"What he has said about speculation for a vice presidential invitation is that if he, or anyone, were to receive a call from one of the candidates who said, 'I need you to join me for the betterment of the country,' that it would be difficult to turn that down," Caldwell said. "He has maintained that he is not lobbying for the job nor actively seeking it, but that he does hope in the future to play an active role in national dialogue about the issues that are important to him and the country."
Although McDonnell does plan to serve for the entire four years, people continue to question his actions.
"Governor McDonnell is a politician, and even though he's governor of Virginia, he'd take the VP nomination in a New York minute, " Sabato said. "Any politician would. Always watch what politicians do, not what they say"
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