2011 Irish presidential election party was unlikely to run a candidate both for financial reasons and also because it was unlikely that a Fianna Fáil nominee could be successful. In early August 2011 there was press speculation that RTÉ broadcaster Gay Byrne might seek a nomination. On 6 August Micheál Martin rang Byrne at his holiday home to indicate that Fianna Fáil Oireachtas members would facilitate his nomination. Byrne indicated that he had yet to make a decision on whether to put his name forward, but said that if he did so he would not run under the Fianna Fáil banner but as an
2012 Republican Party vice presidential candidate selection fundraising, but this proved untrue. Romney stated that he would select a pro-life vice presidential candidate. According to the book "", Romney's campaign narrowed down his list of potential nominees for Vice President to eleven individuals in April 2012: The list was later further narrowed down to five individuals: Christie, Pawlenty, Portman, Rubio, and Ryan. According to "Double Down", many on Romney's campaign favored Ryan because he was "young, telegenic, Irish Catholic, with blue collar appeal," and could potentially help the campaign in his competitive home state. Romney also personally liked Ryan and felt comfortable campaigning with him. Christie was