Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington, who delivered the first GOP response to President Barack Obama's State of the Union address Tuesday night, is getting rave reviews from her fellow Republican colleagues about her future in the GOP.
"She's one of our best messengers," Rep.
Tom Cole of Oklahoma told The Hill. "She an attractive and able spokesperson. Just look at her political skills, how far she's come."
"It's hard not to see a very bright future," he added.
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McMorris Rodgers was elected by her colleagues to chair the Republican conference in November 2012, making her the No. 4 Republican in the House and the
highest ranking Republican woman in Congress.
A former Republican aide to the House leadership said she managed to avoid the curse that others have faced after delivering State of the Union responses in the past.
"She certainly did an excellent job in her response, which is something that a number of alleged presidential contenders cannot say," the aide told The Hill. "The State of the Union response platform has been more of a trapdoor than a springboard for future political success."
Robert Costa of The Washington Post said that McMorris Rodgers' response was "largely" successful.
"The challenge for McMorris Rodgers will be whether she can seize the moment and build the national profile that so far has eluded her," Costa wrote. "It's an open playbook for McMorris Rodgers."
"With all she had to offer Tuesday for a party that is struggling to close the gender gap and rebound from back-to-back defeats in national elections, it's a wonder she hasn't appeared on the scene sooner," he added.
Some suggest that she would be a great choice as a vice presidential candidate or a top office in Washington state. According to The Hill, former presidential candidate Mitt Romney considered having her join his ticket before he decided on Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin. However, Romney did appoint her as his liaison to the House in 2012.
McMorris Rodgers is
also the first woman to give birth to three children during her five-term tenure in office.
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