A source told Politico that the three names reflect "obvious candidates," rather than Romney's personal shortlist.
Republican 2012 Presidential hopeful, former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, speaks at a news conference at a mostly-shuttered shopping center in the North Hollywood area of Los Angeles Wednesday, July 20, 2011.At a Virginia Beach fundraiser, presidential candidate and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney reportedly told donors three potential running mates for his campaign.
For anyone checking their calendars, yes, this is still July 2011 — more than a year away from the expected time for a contender to name his or her vice presidential pick.
Nevertheless, as the Virginia politics site Bearing Drift reported, Romney told donors that New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell and Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida are all on the VP shortlist.
Bearing Drift writes:
...considering that the candidate was in Virginia Beach – effectively McDonnell’s hometurf, that statement should be taken with a grain of sand. But he reiterated that the short list is “McDonnell, Governor Christie of New Jersey and Marco Rubio of Florida.”
A source later told Politico that the three names reflect "obvious candidates," rather than Romney's personal shortlist.
Still, we're a long ways away from the time when the first primary votes are cast, let alone the general election. Romney is leading the polls now, but there is a lot of time for things to change.