Scott Powers
Sen. Bill Nelson smiled but brushed off as “premature” the talk that Hillary Clinton could put him on her long list of possible vice presidential running mates.
While holding a meeting in his Orlando office Friday to discuss the Zika virus and Puerto Rico, Nelson was not shy about also discussing the prospect of a vice presidential run, just coy.
Nelson used the same word — “premature” — about the talk that Gov. Rick Scott might be Donald Trump‘s running mate. It’s something Scott has said he would not want. And Nelson expressed strong confidence that if Scott runs against him in 2018, he’s not worried.
Nelson’s name got dropped in an April 23 New York Times story, in which the newspaper asked various sources in and out of Clinton’s campaign for names of people who might fit in with her. Nelson, 73, is a veteran of three terms in the U.S. Senate, six terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, and several state of Florida elected offices. He is shown in many polls as Florida’s most popular statewide politician, and a moderate Democrat who could help Clinton carry Florida.
Nelson brought up the Times story himself, anticipating what a journalist was about to ask him after the meeting on Zika.
“My answer is I’m not going to answer that, it’s too premature. And it’s too premature to speculate with regard to the Republican candidate, as well,” he said.
“With regard to the ’18 Senate race? I’m not worried,” Nelson added.
Why not?
“All you have to do is look onto some of the polls and look to the question of what public servants they consider favorable, and what they consider of their public servants as unfavorable, and that answers your question.”
