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Running with Romney: Sen. Rob Portman

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    Would swing state senator deliver Ohio?

  • Duration 8:57
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Tonight we continue our series running with Romney profiling the possible GOP vice presidential candidates.

This evening a swing state senator who concedes.

He's not that flash.

I have going to be watching colder.

Couple nights ago I was on and I was with my son who.

Has been pushing me for years to going to of course I never had the guts to go on Ohio senator Rob Portman did not need to see -- cold air show.

To know how many people described him.

Nothing fires up the base like or -- you guys.

Romney doesn't want somebody who's gonna upstage him and just look at these two together it's like the bland leading the -- May -- Romney should go with something Lander like headless Joseph A bank manic -- Writes hey correct -- of white bread.

My kids love that so how do you respond well I'd I'd I'd like to think I'm a serious legislator and trying to get things done that's you know that's my goal in life is to get things done and it's it's not about sizzle for me you know and so.

I I think he.

It's fine to me.

American made a decision 2008.

To go with the president.

Who did -- sizzle and look he he he was kind of a celebrity.

He also had a very compelling message which was -- this I'm gonna bring people together to solve problems.

Didn't happen and didn't happen because he didn't have -- experience.

He didn't have the record.

Didn't have the policies to do it so 2012 is the anti sizzle election I don't think.

Mitt Romney has -- -- don't -- him there on I think he's a dynamic guy.

And again Romney is dynamic I think he you know he's he's going to be well like -- think that knowing better I think about Romney did at the Olympics only comes in.

The thing is rife with scandals and huge financial problems turns it around not by having a big ego and making it about him about working as a group to get things done.

And you know that's we need to do in this country right now.

Experience is something Portman has as well he's been around the block in Washington.

From a lawyer in the White House Counsel's Office and the Office of Legislative Affairs to congressman from Cincinnati.

To US trade representative.

And then budget director under president George W.

Bush.

Many analysts -- Portman as the safest of safe picks for Mitt Romney.

-- you can govern he gets along well Romney and his from Ohio vital states when my field at a point or two there could mean a lot of very close general election.

He's also budget wonk in Romney's a budget one so you have come about compatibility there -- Robin's very well.

Versed on economic issues and he's somebody in the press knows and has vetted so you don't get the shock and surprise -- -- Portman was seen as a budget hawk in congress and in the Bush Administration reappearance of nicknames from President Bush and some of them were revealed as Portman stepped down from the Office of Management and Budget although.

My title is director of on the other titles sometimes came my way.

Doctor know thanks.

Tightwad.

Budget hawk.

Penny Pincher.

And some not suitable for a television audience.

Critics in and out of the Republican Party aren't laughing.

Charging that the Bush Administration.

Is definitely not a good example of fiscal restraint.

This is a Bush Administration that also ballooned.

The national debt and is some C that is that a negative thing being part of the bush administration and to bring up the bush years.

In the in the current environment what he said of that.

Well I was.

Fortune I guess to have to be part of you know some good fiscal discipline the Bush Administration I -- -- -- 20062007.

And the budget that I proposed -- was a balanced budget can you believe that.

A five year balanced budget and it was hard to put it together as -- -- I've put together budgets I know it's hard.

But that's really doing in congress is putting together a budget and one that over time balances.

So the year that I it was the year 2007.

The deficit was about 18 of the deficit today 261 million dollars.

I'd love to have those times it had unemployment was about four and a half percent.

I did lead to go home prior to the financial crisis.

And you know that's when frankly.

Revenues went down.

And spending went up so when you hear president.

Obama refer to the bush years and refer to what was handed to him.

And the fact that -- was much worse than anyone projected and that.

Democrats often point back to the bush years saying this is why there -- so many problems now.

What do you say to that.

Facility he inherited a tough economy no question about it questions what do you do with it.

You were living through the week is recovered since the Great Depression.

Were five and a half million jobs -- where we were.

Before the recession began so four years after we're five and a half million jobs down.

In 1981 we had a tough recession.

At this point four years after we had gained six million jobs.

So instead of losing five and half -- -- back all the jobs we lost -- -- six million jobs.

And that was because Ronald Reagan frankly took some tough steps.

To be able to provide us tax relief to get the economy moving again I think.

Gosh three and a half almost four years later it's kind of tough to say you know it was the other guy that other guy.

Still gets blamed for this -- US economy according to recent polls including a Fox News poll.

So some C a serious vulnerability for Portman.

With his direct ties to president George W.

Bush that's something that Romney probably wants to Maureen I mean you want people not to be talked about George Bush wanted to be talking about Mitt Romney -- -- -- Youngstown welcome Mitt Romney.

Most political watchers we'll tell you Portman has a midwestern appeal on the stop.

And he can get down into the weeds of economic policy whenever prompted -- He also sits on the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee goes -- the biggest international challenge -- for the -- -- -- -- terrorism you know if you look at what's happening.

In Syria today if you look at what's what's happening.

Around the world in terms of the threat of global terrorism it's it's still very much there Portman says the scheduled second round of across the board pentagon budget cuts.

-- sequestration.

-- -- top fear of his as well.

The secretary of defense has said would be devastating to our military he said that it would hollow out the force.

Unfortunately we live in a very dangerous world.

And we cannot afford to.

Make those kinds of cuts Portman has three kids he met his wife Jane on a blind date it didn't go that great actually she -- I talk too much.

And she -- that.

Letter to -- would be great senator because I'd be able to filibuster.

This -- -- religious guy.

I am yeah I'm a Methodist.

I was a presbyterian before I got married.

Jane was a Democrat we have married him.

I was Republican of course.

So is pretty good trade for me McCain became -- Republican I became a Methodist.

He was a Methodist.

Does faith factor and dear life.

Every day and in you know the very fundamental way.

I prayer everyday and it helps me.

Network for everybody but it -- works for me.

And you know -- this is just part of who I am and you know part of what.

Motivates me and then hopefully his middle direction -- what something.

Surprising that maybe somebody would know about you -- they found politics I have.

Broken my collarbone mountain biking and dislocated my shoulder on the last year and a half.

Kayaking.

So you know -- out and our vikings yeah I love that stuff and and -- I like to hunt I like to fish which brings us back to sizzle.

Does it matter -- -- nicest people you'll ever meet in public life is good but not a flamboyant figure likely didn't jump into the public.

Consciousness yeah.

I gotta say now that I see them side by side -- -- of Portman might have too much charisma.

Blue shirt red tie those all our colors in the visible spectrum here.

The key question is.

Does it matter to Mitt Romney it's about what is in the Mitt Mitt Romney campaign's head in terms of how they're looking at this race if they think it's.

Riskier race.

Obama's got oh lead financially demographically.

In the Electoral College.

Sort of wedged up against them.

They're gonna pick -- to try to close that -- so.

If they think it's close it's gonna be safe probably important because he helps you with Ohio but it's he's not to -- you you know what you're gonna get.

You can see all of the senator for -- interview on our website at foxnews.com.

Slash special report to see the running with Romney playlist.

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