Jeb Bush: Romney should pick Sen. Rubio as running mate

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R), who endorsed Mitt Romney for president on Wednesday, wants Romney to pick Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) as his running mate if the former Massachusetts governor wins the nomination.

Bush, speaking to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, said that the junior Florida senator is "dynamic, joyful, disciplined and principled."

"He is the best orator of American politics today, a good family man. He is not only a consistent conservative, but he has managed to find a way to communicate a conservative message full of hope and optimism," Bush said, according to a report in a Pittsburgh newspaper published Thursday. 

A day earlier, the former Florida governor endorsed Romney for president.

Rubio has repeatedly said he has no interest in running in the No. 2 spot on the 2012 Republican presidential ticket. Nevertheless, his name has remained high up on speculative shortlists of people who could be selected to run with whoever wins the nomination.

Bush is the second member of the influential Bush family (which includes two former presidents) to endorse Romney. Former President George H.W. Bush, the former governor's father, endorsed Romney in December.

Also on Thursday, Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), another name commonly mentioned as a possible vice presidential pick for Romney, albeit not as frequently as Rubio's, said he had no interest in running on the ticket.

"Look, I'm happy where I am," Portman said on CNBC.

The Ohio senator has endorsed Romney. 

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