Fox News
Expand
Browse All Video
Watch Live

You're watching...

Running with Romney: Gov. Bob McDonnell

Details

  • Description

    Can VA governor help win battleground state?

  • Duration 9:18
  • Date

Clips

Also in this playlist...

Editor's Picks

Auto-advance: ON

Auto-advance
View All

Transcript

This transcript is automatically generated

Tonight we continue our series running with Romney.

Looking at possible GOP vice presidential candidates this evening a military man who once held a world record.

Married a former Washington Redskins cheerleader and now holds the governor's job in Virginia.

Here's prepare.

At a July 2011.

Fund raiser in Virginia Beach Mitt Romney took the unusual step.

Of outlining a vice presidential short list.

People in the room said -- only mentioned three names first Virginia governor Bob McDonnell.

Then New Jersey governor Chris Christie and finally Florida senator Marco Rubio.

Some good discount the importance of the McDonnell mentioned since Romney was trying to raise money.

In Virginia the next president got to say Mitt Romney.

But nine months later Romney's back in Virginia campaigning with McDonnell.

Many believe it's part of a string of tryouts.

Testing candidate chemistry and optics.

In this case in a swing state won by President Obama in 2008 the commonwealth of Virginia is seen as crucial to Republican chances in the fall.

I since Virginia is is still.

At its core a right of center -- it's certainly a fiscal conservative state in a fiscal she's been a -- issue Brett.

I see the independent voters who control the selection statewide and nationwide.

Reverting to their national tendencies and voting right -- -- and -- Mitt Romney but it's purple.

-- that -- west.

Ten governors have had five Republicans five Democrats.

Cracking the electoral code in Virginia traditionally comes down to unlocking voter enthusiasm.

In the affluent suburbs of Washington DC.

An area that really puts the swing in the commonwealth and an area where analysts say McDonald's.

Could help.

The pluses.

He did well on the Virginia suburbs which -- the key to the state.

He's telegenic he's been a very good governor and Virginia could be the other key swing -- I think whoever puts Ohio scored her virginity -- -- win the election with the Republican Party helped bring it together.

Strong on policy.

In in very well respected governor within.

You know other governors respect him and I think -- do well.

I just don't know that he brings a whole lot to the table demographically or geographically.

If you're not winning Virginia without -- -- got some really big problems within the presidency McDonnell insists Virginia is trending read well if you look at the last election we just elected the highest number of members of the house of delegates in the history of the State's 68.

The year before picked up -- their congressman so laid out eleven congressman are now Republicans don't.

I was the only person on the Romney short list -- is a veteran.

He served 21 years in the army both active and reserve stationed at one time in Germany retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 1997.

His resume has private sector experience.

-- he was a prosecutor a state house member attorney general.

And then governor last in his campaign against Democrat -- deeds McDonnell won nearly 59% of the vote.

The most -- any gubernatorial candidate has received in the Commonwealth's history.

That led to his inauguration day itself for what by law can only be one term as governor.

If you -- socially conservative.

Absolutely.

But you ran a campaign that was really focus on Virginia's economy -- and you were credited by a lot of people is focusing in on that.

You saw that as the successful way to win this for Republicans across the country.

-- and yes people what they care about -- jobs economy taxes spending energy.

The things that they sit around with your kids and grandkids and talk about the kitchen table but that's what Virginians -- interest to do what you -- that they don't care about those social issues for sure because values do matter character does count.

What you believe about life family marriage should really does so define you as -- people.

But I'm saying that in the 2009 election what was overwhelmingly on people's mind coming out of the beginning of the Great Recession 2008.

The title I get my daughter and son back to work kind of like keep the cost of tuition -- how to we build better roads and schools.

That overwhelmingly with some people's mind listen I'm pro life I'm pro family I'm a fiscal and social conservative I believe deeply in those.

Traditional values of America but what comes to government.

People want you to fix problems and get results and all the things they care about and right now -- A recent poll puts McDonnell's approval rating with likely voters in Virginia at 58%.

He's balance to budget without raising taxes cutting six billion dollars from government.

The unemployment rate in Virginia dropped from seven point 2%.

25 point 6% the lowest in three years when you hear people say that you're on a short list for possible VP.

What do you.

I'm saying I'm not looking forward are asking for -- we're sitting here in the capital designed by Thomas Jefferson in the second governor of Virginia that's a pretty good gig to have.

Trial more than what I'm doing we're making on a lot of change some head of the Republican Governors Association on interest and elected Republican governors.

And there's no list of matters other than Mitt Romney is and the other talk to me about it so I want to help him everywhere I can become the next president and I wanna see more Republican -- -- -- -- The goal of passing pro life legislation.

Is what is received a lot of press coverage.

And raise some political analysts on grounds they point to this.

Measure that you signed this fetal -- signed this sound bill in March.

Requiring women did seeking abortions in Virginia undergo an ultrasound 24 hours before an abortion procedure.

It created a lot of press you -- lot of -- -- do print a lot of for sure do you regret that what was the thought process behind it.

We've made a lot of progress -- defending innocent human life.

In Virginia reasonable people disagree we've had arguments for forty years since Roe vs.

Wade on that but -- -- what we did -- just had Virginia -- when he -- other states.

That require some offer an ultrasound procedure to a woman is part of the informed consent.

-- process for you saw what happened on the campaign trail when we had two weeks of contraception.

Coverage.

-- you do you think that -- Romney campaign could handle.

A week of trans vaginal ultrasound.

Coverage.

You know what I think America can handle -- A war by the Democrats on the taxpayer I don't think they can handle.

The Democrats continue to change the subject.

Away from the economy.

And jobs.

And debt and deficit because the record is so bad -- with -- -- -- about.

-- when you have an eight point 2% unemployment and no president's ever got reelected every percent.

And when you've got its fifteen trillion in debt heading towards 25 with a failed leadership and that.

Inability to cut spending of this administration of course -- -- change the subject in -- this.

-- this this buzz about women's rights I've got 42 years now governing people know exactly what we stand for.

I'm pro life I'm -- family but I'm also.

Pro results and getting things accomplished for the citizens on jobs.

Then -- balancing a budget without raising taxes -- what we've done.

Some analysts still see the topic is of vulnerability.

Especially when it comes to attracting independents the legislature -- and although some.

How abortion issue debates.

And so do you wanna re litigate all that for the Obama campaign wants third litigate those issues -- -- the economy.

So you know -- kind of brings you into a debate you don't really want to have I think that is his main negative what do you think the biggest foreign policy issues facing America it is.

Well that is any question.

Well that is the that's the global war on terror a nuclear Iran very problematic for nuclear North Korea also problem -- -- we've got to be able to continue to.

Focus on what can America do to make sure we're -- your home.

He married Redskins cheer when I did.

It's a good choice.

It's lot of guys think this free tickets and a great wife and if that's the real deal for me.

Very blessed five children and they all live in Virginia twenty to 31 their -- both Iraq War vet now or -- defense contractor my -- -- Twin boys at the University of Virginia in the next couple of daughters and it will have my third daughter -- her master's degree next week so.

I'm very blessed my kids have done very well and worked hard and her problem.

Even for summary of covers Virginia politics -- something that somebody might not know about you.

The -- -- -- -- -- the world records when I was in the army I organized a group of people to carry a stretcher with a 140 pound body for money for miles.

Felt through the roads of Germany and so we're in there for about four years than before we got beat by Canadian army ten.

Whether Romney chooses McDonald to help carry him over the finish line.

Is yet to be seen.

But McDonald's has clearly been warming up.

Just in case got to get people back to work Mitt -- is on that private sector and the public sector as governor of Massachusetts and he understands the greatness of America the American dream -- wants everybody to have access to that that's what we need right now.

Free tickets and a great wife but not necessarily in that order you can see the complete McDonnell interview on our website at foxnews.com.

Slash special report.

Just.

Load More