Portman has tried to paint himself as center-right but thinking a Tea Party extremist like Ryan proves he's in the same boat. But what's interesting is Portman is also considered a Presidential contender but he doesn't sound incredibly psyched about the idea:Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), a possible presidential contender, said Friday that he thinks Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) would be a "great" president.Appearing on CNN, Portman was asked for other potential Republican candidates that excited him.
"Well, there are a lot of candidates — Paul Ryan would be one — that would be great candidates and help our country to move forward," Portman said. "He would be a great president."
"Mitt Romney is another one," Portman said when asked for another choice. "I think he would be a good president. I think he would have been a president who would have handled some of these issues we've seen in the last several months much better, whether Ebola or ISIS or how we deal with our economic problems. So I think there's an opportunity here for the right Republican to step forward in 2016." - The Hill, 11/7/14
It's hard to say right now how vulnerable Portman is. He had a big victory in 2010 but with a Presidential election coming up and both parties will be fighting hard to win Ohio. We're still waiting to see which Democrats step forward to take on Portman. Hopefully we'll find out soon enough. Stay tuned.Portman acknowledges that he’s now considering running for president himself in 2016."I am concerned about the country, and I want to see who else jumps in,” said Portman, who is also planning to run for another term in the Senate in 2016. “I think it's a pivotal election so I am concerned enough that I am taking a look at it.”
Prior to being elected to the Senate, Portman worked in the executive branch, serving as U.S. Trade Representative and Budget Director for President George W. Bush and before that, represented Ohio's 2nd District in Congress. But he has flown largely under the national radar as a potential 2016 contender – something Portman admits probably has to do with the fact that he’s a better legislator than he is a campaigner.
“I can give a speech and I can do a rally and I do them but that's not what I like to do,” Portman said. “Our country needs people who are maybe a little less focused on themselves and on the flash and a little more focused on how do we actually create a better environment for success for our young people, how do we get people back to work, how do we regain our standing internationally.”
He also didn’t rule out the possibility that he might end up working for another President Bush, when asked about rumors that former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush might also mount a bid for the White House.
“It's an intensely personal decision,” Portman said of Bush. “He's got to make that decision. I know he's talking to his family about it and trying to decide whether he's gonna do it or not. I do think it will be a spirited Republican primary, a spirited debate, and lots of folks in it.”
Another personal decision that Portman made for himself last year – and caused waves across the GOP in so doing --was becoming the first Republican in the Senate to openly support gay marriage.
“It's actually been a very emotional issue,” said Portman. “I hadn't thought about it deeply until my son came to me and surprised Jane and me at 18 years old and said, ‘You know, dad, I'm gay and have been as long as I can remember.’”
“[I] thought about it more deeply and thought about that the fact that this is not a choice and that my son deserves to have the same happiness Jane and I have had, and the joy and stability that comes with marriage. We want to encourage that as Republicans,” he continued. “It's a position that I feel very comfortable with, and I'm glad I made it.” - Yahoo News, 11/7/14
