Former Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum will be joining former Republican Florida Governor Jeb Bush on the speaking stage of the Republican National Convention in Tampa later this month. Santorum advisers have confirmed that the former Pennsylvania Senator, who was a bitter rival of Mitt Romney in the primaries, has confirmed he is speaking.
The adviser told Fox News ,
“He is certainly looking forward to sharing with America the reasons President Obama must be defeated, and inspiring conservatives all across the country to help elect Mitt Romney,”
Santorum and Bush have been touted as possible Vice-Presidential candidates but their acceptance of speaking slots pretty much shows that they will not be on the ticket. Sources also confirmed to Fox News that Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin and Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky will also speak.
Pundits are speculating who Romney plans on selecting for his Vice-Presidential running mate and are deducing the probability of his choice by who plans on speaking. The following seven confirmed speakers are considered out of the running. South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez, Florida Governor Rick Scott, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Arizona Senator John McCain, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee and Ohio Governor John Kasich.
Those who are still considered possible Romney running mates are Florida Senator Marco Rubio, Wisconsin Representative Paul Ryan, former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, Ohio Senator Rob Portman, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, New Hampshire Senator Kelly Ayotte, Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell and Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal.
Reuters is reporting that Romney was skeptical of Santorum speaking at the convention because he may go rouge and start criticizing Romney from the stage.
