Mitt Romney to Jay Leno: Rick Santorum can be my press secretary
Mitt Romney says he鈥檚 ready to have Rick Santorum serve in a Romney administration 鈥� as his press secretary.
The likely Republican nominee was kidding, of course, as he . It was Mr. Romney鈥檚 first appearance of the campaign season on 鈥�The Tonight Show.鈥�
Leno tried to draw Romney out on what he鈥檚 looking for in a running mate, but the former Massachusetts governor said he didn鈥檛 have a list. Leno was incredulous. 鈥淚t would be presumptuous,鈥� Romney said.
Romney then tried his hand at a little humor, suggesting he鈥檇 sideline Leno鈥檚 biggest competitor by giving him a new job. 鈥淚鈥檒l tell you what, I can do you a favor with this,鈥� Romney said. 鈥淚鈥檒l choose David Letterman. He could help us both out.鈥�
Haha. Then Leno threw out a serious list, and requested a one-word response for each. 聽聽
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie: 鈥淚ndomitable.鈥�
Leno didn鈥檛 sound convinced. Romney tried again: 鈥淢an of strong will, great strength.鈥�
鈥淎 man of girth?鈥� Leno suggested.
Romney didn鈥檛 take the bait. 鈥淚f you attack Chris Christie, you鈥檙e going to get more than you bargain for,鈥� he said.
Leno gave up.
鈥淚鈥檒l try for smaller words next time,鈥� Romney joked. 聽
Next up, Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida. The audience applauded.
Romney: 鈥淭he American dream.鈥�
Paul Ryan, House Budget chairman: 鈥淐reative.鈥�
Nikki Haley, governor of South Carolina: 鈥淓nergetic.鈥�
Donald Trump: 鈥淗uge.鈥�
Rick Santorum: 聽鈥淧ress secretary.鈥�
Ouch. As the likely runner-up in the GOP nomination race, former Senator Santorum鈥檚 name has come up as a possible running mate for Romney. Just a few days ago, Santorum called Romney the 鈥渨orst Republican鈥� to run against President Obama (on the health-care issue), then later said 鈥渙f course鈥� he would consider being Romney鈥檚 running mate if asked.
Romney cut him some slack, saying he understands what it鈥檚 like to run for office and be 鈥渙n鈥� all the time.
鈥淩ick Santorum鈥檚 a good guy, he鈥檚 running a good campaign,鈥� Romney said. 鈥淲e have some differences in background and differences on some issues, but basically a good guy. I鈥檓 happy with him saying he鈥檇 like to be part of an administration with me, nothing wrong with that.鈥�
