No hints from Rubio on VP nomination

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., April 1 (UPI) -- Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., didn't give much guidance about the possibility of running for vice president in a speech to Republicans in St. Petersburg Saturday.

Rubio is on some political analysts' short list of potential running mates for GOP front-runner Mitt Romney, however he gave no hints in his address that he was expecting an offer to join the party's 2012 presidential ticket.

The Tampa Bay Times in St. Petersburg, Fla., said Rubio gave a basic speech bemoaning government spending and defense cuts. Although he recently endorsed Romney, Rubio made little reference to him and repeatedly referred to "our nominee."

The conventional wisdom in political circles is that Rubio would inject some verve into the Romney campaign and would appeal to both Hispanics and the conservative Tea Party faction. The Times, however, said a recent McClatchy-Marist poll found former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush having more public appeal as a Romney running mate than Rubio, even among Hispanics.