Romney 'vetting' Marc Rubio for VP

BY KASIE HUNT AND STEVE PEOPLES

The Associated Press

HOLLAND, Mich. -- Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said Tuesday that his campaign is "thoroughly vetting" Marco Rubio as it searches for a running mate despite reports that the Florida senator is not being considered.

ABC News and The Washington Post cited unnamed advisers in reporting that Rubio (R-Fla.) wasn't on the short list for the No. 2 spot on the GOP ticket.

"I can't imagine who such people are, but I can tell you this: They know nothing about the vice presidential selection or evaluation process," Romney told reporters in Michigan. "The story was entirely false. Marco Rubio is being thoroughly vetted as part of our process."

Earlier in the day, Romney had refused to comment on reports that Rubio, a rising star in Republican politics, wasn't under consideration.

The presumptive GOP nominee initially told Fox News only that "a number of people are being vetted" but that only two people, he and a senior adviser, know who's on the list. He repeated that statement in the evening but clarified Rubio's status as a potential vice-presidential pick.

The statement was an unusual departure from the secrecy that has surrounded Romney's process in selecting a running mate. But it speaks, in part, to Rubio's political influence among the Republican base and Hispanic voters.

The flap came on the day Rubio released a memoir and Romney concluded a six-state bus tour. The Florida Democratic Party blasted a message to reporters titled: "Rubio fails preliminary review in Veepstakes." Asked about the reports during an appearance on Fox News, Rubio also refused to weigh in.

"I'm not commenting on the vice-presidential process," he said. "That's been basically what we've said the whole time because, out of respect for Gov. Romney, the last thing he needs is to have to be addressing questions about this."

Rubio's exclusion from Romney's short list would disappoint some conservatives, but would not come as a complete surprise. While he offers obvious political benefits as a Hispanic leader from the swing state of Florida, Romney advisers have consistently said Romney would give preference to candidates with the greatest experience and ability to lead the nation on Day One.