Last month I sent out numerous emails to key Republicans in Indian River, St. Lucie and Martin counties. My mission: to put together a quick roundup of who prominent Republicans think would be Mitt Romney’s best pick for vice president.

I expected a big response. Many politicians like to play pundit.

I was wrong. Among the people I emailed, only the leaders below mustered the courage to send back a response.

Perhaps politics was at play — were some local politicians uncomfortable recommending someone other than Marco Rubio or Jeb Bush? Was there genuinely no interest? Were some far-right members of the party I emailed loathe to suggest someone such as Ron Paul or Rick Santorum, because they do not support Romney?

Who knows?

To me, there are several great candidates for the vice president slot. How many of them would accept the challenge? That’s a different question.

Clearly, there’s a reason why Marco Rubio’s name comes up quite a bit. Florida’s junior U.S. senator is a younger, charismatic member of a rapidly growing demographic in a must-win state. Some people who know him articulate his pluses far better below.

Will Romney find the surefire answer or will he plummet in the polls by picking a dud? In the next several weeks we’ll find out.

Here are the nominations submitted to me and made by GOP leaders …

U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., By Timothy Benson, Jensen Beach,  a member of the Martin County Republican Executive Committee. He writes a periodic column for Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers (TCPalm.com)

I would urge Gov. Romney to pick Congressman Paul Ryan as his running mate. Democrats have already been after Ryan since he released his Path to Prosperity budget last year, and because Romney has endorsed most of the substance of that plan, Ryan will continue to be an issue during the campaign. So, if he’s going to be an issue, you might as well put him on the ticket.

We live in a world where Senate Democrats haven’t bothered to pass a budget in over three years. Meanwhile, President Primo Carnera’s three “proposals” have been as follows: 1) Shot down 97-0 in the Senate. 2) Nothing more than a few talking points on an index card. 3) Shot down 414-0 in the House.

Ryan, on the other hand, presented the American people a serious proffer. He has gambled that the American public understands the reckoning that awaits us all if our entitlement programs are not reformed. I believe he is correct.

The conversation is worth having on the main stage, and no one knows how to frame and debate the argument better than Ryan. The die has already been cast, the Rubicon already crossed. Reward Paul Ryan for his courage.

Bush, Rubio, others, by Carole Jean Jordan, Vero Beach, Indian River County’s tax collector. She is former chairwoman of the Republican Party of Florida.

Like many of his admirers, my first thought for Gov. Romney’s VP would be former Gov. Jeb Bush. That said, the former Florida governor has made it very clear he continues to pursue his passion for a first-class education for all children, speaking and working around the world and enjoying his family (first grandchild).

Gov. Bush all but nominated U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, and I agree.

Others come to mind — former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, Congressman Paul Ryan, U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, but the bottom line should be what he or she brings to the table, the person Gov. Romney is most comfortable with and, for America, who would be the best second in command.

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., by state Rep. William Snyder, R-Stuart, who is running for Martin County sheriff.

Marco Rubio was speaker of the Florida House of Representatives during my first two years in the Legislature. I had the privilege of watching Speaker Rubio from my position as vice chairman of the Criminal Justice Committee.

Speaker Rubio led through the two years after the bursting of the housing bubble and Wall Street meltdown. He never wavered in his belief that redemption would come from the strength and determination of working Floridians and not from the government.

It is Sen. Rubio’s inner moral compass that I came to trust and it is that character trait that makes him the best choice for vice president.

Marco Rubio would play a pivotal role if he had the bully pulpit of the vice presidency. He would sound a clarion call for a return to American exceptionalism and to the values of personal responsibility, liberty and hard work.

Mitt Romney and this country would be well served by Marco Rubio as vice president.

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., by state Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart.

Gov. Mitt Romney should select Sen. Marco Rubio as his running mate. There are three reasons Marco Rubio is the right choice.

1. Without Florida’s 29 electoral votes, game over; Romney loses. In 2008, President Barack Obama won Florida by only 3 points. Marco is worth at least 5 points in South Florida alone.

2. Marco Rubio not only defeated a popular incumbent governor to win a U.S. Senate race, he chased the governor right out of the Republican Party before the election. If you’re keeping score at home, this never happens. Marco is a phenom.

3. As a senator for nearly two years, Marco Rubio has capably performed his duties in a thoughtful and unassuming way. He represents the future of Florida and the United States.

Condoleezza Rice, by former state Rep. Ralph Poppell, Vero Beach

I don’t claim to have inside information as to what Gov. Romney will be doing as to choosing a vice president/running mate; however, I believe that it may not be any of the individuals being touted in the news media today, even though most are certainly qualified.

When considering the dilemma that our nation is facing with the lack of financial and foreign policy leadership, at least one excellent choice comes to my mind, and that is Condoleezza Rice.

When you consider Gov. Romney’s experiences of private sector economics and job creation, coupled with understanding government as the governor of Massachusetts, Condoleezza Rice is not only knowledgeable in foreign policy, but her professionalism would be an asset to our country. When you couple Condoleezza’s knowledge of foreign policy and of the world’s leaders, the benefits could be tremendous for our president while he is dealing with economic prosperity and getting our country back on track.

I believe the Romney/Rice ticket would immediately bolster our standing on the world stage and start the United States on a positive and faster economic recovery.

Reisman is editorial page editor of Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers. Contact him via email, laurence.reisman@scripps.com

http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2012/jun/12/laurence-reisman-local-gop-leaders-weigh-in-on/

Tags | Carole Jean Jordan, Condoleezza Rice, jeb bush, Joe Negron, marco rubio, Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, Paul Ryan, Ralph Poppell, Ron Paul, Tim Benson, William Snyder