New Mexico Republican Governor Susana Martinez apparently has “no intentions” of accepting presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s invitation to be his vice president running mate if he wins the nomination.
Mr. Romney mentioned the New Mexico governor as a possible running mate during an interview on Fox News Friday, but Governor Martinez says she will not be accepting offers from any of the candidates to be their possible running mates.
“I have no intentions of doing anything different other than being governor,” said the New Mexico governor in an interview with ABC News 7 on Friday.
Mr. Romney also mentioned New Jersey Republican Governor Chris Christie and former Minnesota Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty as possible running mates in his interview Friday.
A Texas native, the 52 year old Governor Martinez is the first female Hispanic governor in the U.S., as well as the first female governor of New Mexico. She also did not offer an endorsement or any support for Mr. Romney during her interview.
Praise from the New Mexico Republican could help Mr. Romney in Florida, as he will face criticism for his plan to veto the Dream Act, an issue of importance to Latino voters. She has attended some fund raising events with the Bain Capital co-founder in the past, and said she is “honored” to be mentioned as a vice presidential candidate.
“As the governor has repeatedly said, she is committed to focusing on turning New Mexico’s economy around and providing for a better education for our kids,” said Governor Martinez’s spokesman Scott Darnell in a statement Friday. “She has no interest in serving as vice president and will not be a candidate for the position.”
According to a December Public Polling Policy poll, Ms. Martinez the most popular of all of the freshman Republican governors that were elected last fall, enjoying a job approval rating of more than 50 percent.
Both parties are aggressively courting Latino voters, but the New Mexico governor won’t be providing that for the Republican party this fall.
“My focus is right here in New Mexico, and I’m going to complete this job,” said Governor Martinez Saturday.
