In a Monday interview with WJHL-TV in Bristol, Va., Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell demurred on endorsing either Texas Governor Rick Perry or Mitt Romney for president. McDonnell, who has himself been floated as a potential vice presidential nominee, did not rule out the possibility but denied actively seeking it.
“I just have not made a decision on who I would endorse, but I really like Perry and Romney because of their records of success. These are guys who know how to balance budgets and create jobs,” McDonnell said in the televised interview.
Both Perry and Romney have been vying for the governor’s attention. After Perry gave the keynote address at a sold-out Wednesday Republican fundraiser in Richmond — an event which McDonnell hosted — Romney called the governor to make sure he hadn’t formally endorsed anyone yet.
“I’ve told Mitt if he’d like to come we would have an event centered around him and introduce him to business people,” McDonnell said, leaving the door open for the former Massachusetts Governor.
McDonnell recently became chair of the Republican Governors Association, and enjoys a 64-percent approval rating in his own state, according to a September Quinnipiac University poll.
As for the vice presidential nomination, McDonnell has indicated in several interviews that he would serve if asked. But for now he’s playing his cards close to the vest: “I’m not looking for it, I’m not campaigning for it, I’m not asking for it.”