Mitt Romney promotes himself as a chief executive fit for the White House. He has now begun the process of making his most consequential management decision yet: choosing a vice president.
Romney's search for a running mate is officially under way. His campaign appearance yesterday with Florida Senator Marco Rubio, a Cuban-American whose popularity with Republican voters and Hispanics has earned him a top spot on the list of prospective picks, only drew attention to a process that is as secretive as it is closely watched.
What is known is that Romney, who was vetted for the No. 2 spot in 2008 by party nominee Senator John McCain's campaign, has named longtime aide Beth Myers to head the process, tapping a trusted adviser whose experience assisting the former Massachusetts governor four years ago will inform her effort this time.
The former Massachusetts governor also refused to say whether Rubio is experienced enough to serve as his No. 2. Romney often criticizes Obama, who was a first-term senator when he was elected president, as a "nice guy" who is "in over his head," implying that the Democratic incumbent didn't have the experience he needed for the job.
Meanwhile, Romney embraced a student loan proposal that Obama is selling on the campaign trail.
The policy position signaled an effort by Romney to move to the political center as he works to court critical general election swing voters — including young voters and Hispanic voters — after a brutal primary fight.
"I think young voters in this country have to vote for me if they're really thinking of what's in the best interest of the country and what's in their personal best interest," Romney said as he stood next to Rubio, R-Fla.
Romney answered reporters' questions for the first time since effectively securing the GOP presidential nomination.
Romney's language on loans was distinctly different from the answer he gave when he was last asked about the issue. Prior to the Illinois primary on March 20, he told a young woman concerned about student debt to "get ready for President Obama's claim."
"I know he's going to come up at some point and talk about how he's going to make it vanish. And that's another, 'Here, I'll give you something for free.' And I'm not going to do that," Romney said. During that same answer, he said he wanted to keep interest rates low.
House Republicans have said the estimated $6 billion annual cost of extending low-interest rates for student loans isn't affordable without offsetting cuts but that they are still deciding whether to support a temporary extension. Obama has started pushing Congress for the extension and planned a three-state tour this week to warn students of the potential financial catastrophe they will face if Congress fails to act.
Interest rates are set to double on July 1, from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent, on a popular federal loan for low- and middle-income undergraduates.
Romney's search for a running mate is officially under way. His campaign appearance yesterday with Florida Senator Marco Rubio, a Cuban-American whose popularity with Republican voters and Hispanics has earned him a top spot on the list of prospective picks, only drew attention to a process that is as secretive as it is closely watched.
The former Massachusetts governor also refused to say whether Rubio is experienced enough to serve as his No. 2. Romney often criticizes Obama, who was a first-term senator when he was elected president, as a "nice guy" who is "in over his head," implying that the Democratic incumbent didn't have the experience he needed for the job.
Meanwhile, Romney embraced a student loan proposal that Obama is selling on the campaign trail.
The policy position signaled an effort by Romney to move to the political center as he works to court critical general election swing voters — including young voters and Hispanic voters — after a brutal primary fight.
"I think young voters in this country have to vote for me if they're really thinking of what's in the best interest of the country and what's in their personal best interest," Romney said as he stood next to Rubio, R-Fla.
Romney answered reporters' questions for the first time since effectively securing the GOP presidential nomination.
Romney's language on loans was distinctly different from the answer he gave when he was last asked about the issue. Prior to the Illinois primary on March 20, he told a young woman concerned about student debt to "get ready for President Obama's claim."
"I know he's going to come up at some point and talk about how he's going to make it vanish. And that's another, 'Here, I'll give you something for free.' And I'm not going to do that," Romney said. During that same answer, he said he wanted to keep interest rates low.
House Republicans have said the estimated $6 billion annual cost of extending low-interest rates for student loans isn't affordable without offsetting cuts but that they are still deciding whether to support a temporary extension. Obama has started pushing Congress for the extension and planned a three-state tour this week to warn students of the potential financial catastrophe they will face if Congress fails to act.
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