New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez says she still isn’t interested in joining a national ticket as a vice presidential candidate, even if her ally New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie were to secure the Republican nomination.
“Nuh uh,” Martinez told the Washington Examiner. “I am so focused on doing what I have promised the people of New Mexico I would do.”
Martinez, a popular governor who is both Hispanic and a woman — two demographics Republicans have said they need to better appeal to — told the paper last month that she turned down the offer to be vetted for Mitt Romney’s running mate.
{mosads}”I had no intentions of leaving my state, and no intentions, vetted or not, offered or not, of that position,” Martinez said. “So it would have been a waste of their time.”
Nevertheless, Martinez was given a prominent role at the Republican National Convention, and earned high marks for her speech.
She’s also earned the effusive praise of Christie, who is a leading contender for the GOP nomination. She campaigned extensively with Christie during his reelection bid this fall.
A CNN/ORC poll released last week showed 24 percent of Republican voters favoring the New Jersey governor, surpassing Sen. Rand Paul’s (R-Ky.) 13 percent. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) rounded out the top three, with 11 percent.