Building on our previous post reporting Bobby Jindal and Bob McDonnell stumping in Iowa Thursday, MSNBC’s “First Read” provides a comprehensive rundown on an impressive array of surrogates storming the Battleground states while Romney is overseas:
NBC News has learned at least eight surrogates will make campaign stops in the key battleground states over the next six days. Some of those names are believed to be under heavy consideration to be named Romney’s vice presidential running mate in the coming weeks. While speculation was rampant last week that the former Massachusetts governor could make his VP pick before heading off to London, at least one benefit of delaying his pick will be on display this weekend. Instead of having just one running mate to campaign in the states while Romney is abroad, he’ll instead have a team spread throughout the country, most of which will be getting attention as the potential next vice president of the United States. Voters in six battleground states — Iowa, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, and Wisconsin — will see Romney campaign buses traveling the state and hearing the politicians on the stump.
- Thursday Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal head to Iowa
- Thursday and Friday, South Dakota Sen. John Thune will be in Virginia where he will bracket President Barack Obama’s visit to the Old Dominion state on Friday
- Friday, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani heads to Florida, where during his 2008 presidential run, he spent the majority of his time and campaign resources in the Sunshine State. He’ll even host a “Cafe Con Rudy” to reach out to Hispanic voters
- Saturday, former Minnesota governor and one-time presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty will make an appearance in Raleigh, North Carolina
- Saturday, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio will spend in Las Vegas, Nevada, the city where he spent a majority of his youth. There he will hold a rally in the elementary school he attended as a child, marking his first solo public appearance on Romney’s behalf
- Saturday, Jindal hopscotches to Florida to hold an event for the presumptive nominee
- Sunday, Republican National Committee chair Reince Priebus will be traveling on a bus through Wisconsin. Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin may also join
- Monday, Ohio Sen. Rob Portman will take his act on the road to campaign in Pennsylvania. It will mark the second time Portman will hit the Keystone State in hopes of turning the traditionally blue state to red.
- South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who has not campaigned for the GOP nominee for months, will also hit the trail in the coming days. She will travel to Michigan on Romney’s behalf
