Romney: I want a VP with 'vision for the country'

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NBC's Chuck Todd spoke exclusively with presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney on Thursday.

By NBC’s Domenico Montanaro

Mitt Romney says he wants a vice president with “a vision for the country, that adds something to the political discourse about the direction of the country.”

He made the comments in an interview with NBC’s Chuck Todd, part of which aired Thursday on NBC’s Nightly News.

Romney would not say if he is any closer to making a decision or if he had made a decision. Influential conservative writers Paul Gigot, of the Wall Street Journal editorial page, and Bill Kristol and Stephen Hayes, of the Weekly Standard, have called for Romney to pick Congressman Paul Ryan, R-Wisc., the House Budget Committee chairman.

Ryan’s budget has become a lightning rod for Democrats, who have attacked it for wanting to “end Medicare, as we know it.” But for conservatives, Ryan adds credibility and a distinct choice against President Barack Obama andJoe Biden.

Romney’s comments about “vision for the country” and adding “to the political discourse” certainly fit the mold of what the conservative writers have called for. Someone like Ohio Sen. Rob Portman would be seen as a governing pick. But there was no mention of governing.

Of course, Republicans have said for a year that this is “the most important presidential election in our lifetimes.” And President Obama has also called this election a stark choice.

Here’s more of the exchange on picking a vice president.

CHUCK TODD: What do you want your running mate to say about you?  What do you want your selection to say about what kind of president you're going to be?

MITT ROMNEY: I don't think I have anything for you on the V.P. running mate. Other than I-- I certainly expect to have a person that has a strength of character, a vision for the country, that, that adds something to the political discourse about the direction of the country. I mean, I happen to believe this is a defining election for America; that we're going to be voting for what kind of America we're going to have.