Former GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain said Wednesday he would be willing to consider becoming the vice presidential nominee.
"I would say: 'Let's talk,' " he told "Fox and Friends" when asked how he would react to a request. "It's not a slam-dunk."
Cain has speculated in the past about who should be the second name on the GOP ticket this year. Cain's own suggested shortlist consists of two Florida Republicans: Rep. Allen West and Sen. Marco Rubio. Rubio has said he does not want to be on the ticket, while West has expressed more openness.
Cain rejected several other names under public discussion as likely vice presidential nominees, including New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie — who he said was too similar to Romney, as a Northeastern governor — and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.
"It's just too soon for another Bush," he said. "Unfortunately perception is everything in politics."
Cain said former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (Ga.), whom he has endorsed as the presidential nominee, could "step into the role" of vice president but expressed doubt that he could be Romney's running mate.
"I believe that is 50 percent of the decision. The other 50 percent: who is going to bring some excitement to the ticket," Cain said. "With all due respect, I don't think Newt would bring that excitement, because he has been one of the candidates and because of where he is right now."
Cain, who acknowledged that Romney looks to be the inevitable Republican nominee now that Rick Santorum has dropped his White House bid, went on to urge the former Massachusetts governor to integrate some of the ideas of the former GOP candidates into his platform in order to help rally the conservative base.
Cain has toured the country since dropping out of the race late last year, advocating his own tax reform plan.
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