Trump running mate? Not so fast, says Sen. Susan Collins

PORTLAND — Sen. Susan Collins said she’s amused to find herself thrust into the discussion of potential running mates for Donald Trump.

The Maine Republican was a supporter of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush for president, and she’s never even met the New York real estate developer and Republican presidential front-runner.

But her name came up as a potential vice president choice in a New York Times story and she’s been getting media attention about it in Maine ever since.

Collins noted that they have contrasting styles — Trump is an outspoken New Yorker while she’s a consensus builder — but her failure to rule out the idea added to the intrigue.

Collins, who didn’t endorsed a candidate after Bush dropped out of the race, told The Associated Press she doesn’t see herself being asked to join the Trump ticket.

“I don’t think this is a decision that I will be confronted with making,” she said.

Trump’s biggest GOP rival, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, won the Maine presidential caucuses and selected retired technology executive Carly Fiorina as his running mate last week, prompting speculation about who Trump might want as prospective vice president.

Collins is trying to avoid the Trump veepstakes distraction. “We can cross that bridge should we come to it, but I am not waiting by my phone,” she said.