Cain open to VP offer from any Republican candidate except Perry

Herman Cain said Thursday that he would consider an invitation to join an eventual Republican presidential nominee as a vice presidential candidate — unless the nominee is Rick Perry.

Cain, who has tied for first or second in the latest round of national polls, said that while he continues to fight for the party’s nomination, he would definitely consider an invitation to join a national ticket in the No. 2 spot.

“I would not say no to being vice president of the United States,” Cain said. “But it would depend upon who got the nomination. I will support who gets the nomination. I know I have said that there are some people right now who I cannot support, but I wouldn’t say no to it. I could say yes. But it has to be someone who I believe I can complement them in their job by being able to bring my skills to the table.”

But, Cain told the National Journal, “Quite frankly, based upon Governor Perry’s position on some issues, I would not be comfortable being his vice presidential nominee.”

Cain said that while he hasn’t “totally gone through all of [Perry’s] positions, but a lot of positions I have questions with” including “being soft on the border, issues relative to tuition for children of illegal aliens.”

Cain criticized Perry earlier in the week for a racial epithet painted on a stone outside a hunting ranch the Texas governor used to attend.

Fellow GOP candidate Newt Gingrich said earlier Thursday morning that he would “seriously” consider a vice presidential offer.

“I would say to anybody, you owe it to the nominee to at least consider it seriously if they approach you,” Gingrich said on Fox News. “It’s not about your personal ambition. What is your duty as a citizen to the country?”

But, he added: “I am running to be president. I hope to be the presidential nominee. I hope to be offering the vice presidency to somebody as the nominee, not having it offered.”

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