Former Gov. Jeb Bush will join some frequently mentioned GOP vice presidential possibilities — Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio, Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty — at a weekend fundraising shindig in Utah with Mitt Romney that’s being cast by some as a VP audition.

Sen. Marco Rubio, whose vetting or non-vetting for VP has been a source of drama this week, is not going. But, after reports surfaced that Rubio wasn’t asked, he told reporters he was invited but declined so he could spend time with his family.

Another notable attendee at the event: Rep. Connie Mack, the Republican Senate candidate and early Romney endorser who was a key surrogate for Romney before Florida’s Jan. 31 primary. Mack, expected to get the GOP nomination to challenge Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson in the fall, is the only Senate candidate expected.

Also expected, according to this and other published reports: Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and South Dakota Sen. John Thune.

This entry was posted on Friday, June 22nd, 2012 at 10:22 am and is filed under 2012 campaigns, Connie Mack, George Bennett, Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.