JEB ENDORSES MARCO FOR V.P. – AT 10:16 A.M. ET:   Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush is pushing Senator Marco Rubio for vice president, even though Rubio has repeatedly said he doesn't want to be on the ticket:

“I think Mitt needs to stay above the fray a bit, and to offer a hopeful message that can lift people’s spirits up because after the end of this four or five months of really negative campaigning,” Bush added. “ I think people are going to be motivated by a more positive message.”

Bush called Rubio “probably the best” candidate for vice president on a list that likely includes himself — the son of former President George H.W. Bush, and the brother of former President George W. Bush.

“Well I can’t speak for Gov. Romney, and I can’t speak for Sen. Rubio, but if I was on both sides of that conversation I would ask — and I would hope that Marco would accept,” Bush said. “There’s a lot of things in between that may not make that happen, but I am a great admirer of Mitt Romney’s and I’m a huge fan of Marco Rubio’s, and I think the combination would be extraordinary.”

So do I. 

There are two new Fox News polls out that show what a tough fight this will be.  Ohio and Florida are two swing states that the Republicans are determined to carry this year.  I can't see Romney winning without at least one of them.  I can't see Obama winning if he loses both.

Yet, both states are tipping toward Obama.  In Ohio Obama leads 45-39%, a reverse from the 44-38% lead that Romney enjoyed in February.  In Florida Obama leads  45-43%.  Both polls were taken among registered voters.  Polls among likely voters generally show stronger numbers for the Republican candidate. 

The fact that both polls show Obama at a high of 45% is actually good news for Romney.  If an incumbent president can't hit 50%, he's usually considered by political experts to be in some trouble.

April 20, 2012