Rubio avoids departing Florida to join Trump ticket, but mentions discussing VP hurdle

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) on Wednesday told the Washington Examiner that he’s discussed the constitutional limitations to having presidential and vice presidential candidates on the same ticket from the same state.

The revelation comes as the Florida Republican is on former President Donald Trump’s short list as a running mate, fueling speculation that Rubio is considering a change in residency.

The Constitution states that Electoral College electors cannot cast ballots for two people on the presidential ticket from the same state.

“I imagine there are people that are looking at — I mean, people talk to me about the topic of the constitutional ban, what Cheney had to do and others,” Rubio said in a brief interview.

Rubio was referring to former Vice President Dick Cheney, who in 2000 exchanged his Texas residency for that of Wyoming because then-presidential candidate George W. Bush was also from Texas. Cheney was a former Wyoming congressman.

Rubio neither confirmed nor denied that he was considering a similar move.

“When there’s something to talk about, we’ll talk about it,” Rubio said. “Right now, it’s just what you guys — I know you guys have to write about stuff because the primary’s over and the general is six months away.”

Rubio and other VP contenders attended a recent Apprentice-style competition at Trump’s South Florida Mar-a-Lago estate for a three-day GOP donor retreat. In leaked audio from the event reported by Axios, Trump said Rubio’s name “is coming up a lot for vice president.”

Rubio said he was unaware of reports that he’s weighing leaving the Sunshine State and joked that he’s “glad there’s reporting on that because now I know. Now I’ve got to catch up to you guys.”

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Rubio cited the “ability to influence policy at the executive level” as an appeal of being vice president and predicted that Trump would be elected in November regardless of his running mate.

“Donald Trump’s going to win no matter who he picks. He’s going to get elected,” Rubio said. “I think the criteria he said publicly is the right one, which is someone who’s ready to be president.”