Romney camp: No VP yet, despite reports

AP Photo/Charles Dharapak

Updated 2:47 p.m. ET

(CBS News) Mitt Romney's presidential campaign on Monday knocked down reports that the presumptive GOP candidate has chosen his running mate.

Early Monday, the New York Times reported that "Mr. Romney has reached a decision, his friends believe, and he may disclose it as soon as this week."

However, after a fundraiser in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Romney adviser Eric Fehrnstrom told reporters that no decision has been reached.  He later told the Associated Press that Romney could make "a final decision in the coming days."

Romney hosted the fundraiser with one of his potential running mates, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, but Fehrnstrom said that Jindal and Romney did not talk today about the vice presidential slot.

By announcing his vice presidential pick before the Republican National Convention, Romney could generate new excitement for his campaign. The move could also provide a distraction from the scrutiny he's received recently over his tenure at Bain Capital and his refusal to release more than two years worth of tax returns.

The window of opportunity for Romney to announce his running mate ahead of the convention, which starts in Tampa Bay on August 27, is narrowing: Romney is traveling to London to attend the opening ceremony of the Olympics in just 11 days. After that, he is stopping in Israel to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Announcing his running mate weeks before the convention could cause headaches for Romney, since it opens up the campaign to new scrutiny. As former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, a seasoned Republican, said earlier this year of choosing a running mate: "Never make a political decision until you have to."

Still, revealing his decision now would help Romney regain control of the political narrative at a time when the Obama campaign appears intent on continuing its hard-nosed attacks on Romney's business record. The right running mate could serve as an effective attack dog against the Obama campaign and help generate more campaign donations.

Along with Jindal, handful of prominent Republicans reportedly remain in the running for the VP slot, including New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, Ohio Sen. Rob Portman, South Dakota Sen. John Thune and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

AP Photo/Bruce Smith

As the Times notes in its report, Pawlenty has become a strong advocate for Romney on the campaign trail, bucking his reputation as a dull politician unable to excite a crowd. Romney and Pawlenty have reportedly developed a good rapport on the trail, moving past their GOP primary feuding, when Pawlenty coined the term "Obamneycare." Furthermore, Pawlenty's working-class upbringing and evangelical Christian faith would help the Romney campaign.

Like Pawlenty, Jindal would also help Romney improve his standing with evangelical Republicans and bring executive experience to the table. He's won over conservatives with his handling of the 2010 BP oil spill, as well as state budget issues, the Washington Post reports. The governor has been a fierce surrogate for the presidential candidate thus far.

Thune, meanwhile, told the Hill that he has met with Romney's senior advisers and Beth Myers, the trusted adviser running the vice presidential search process. The South Dakota senator could help Romney in midwestern states like Iowa and could excite conservative activists. He would, however, be called to defend his 2008 vote of support for the Wall Street bailout and his past support of earmarking.

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Condoleezza Rice has generated buzz since delivering what was described as a commanding speech at a retreat the Romney campaign hosted in Park City, Utah. The former diplomat today received an endorsement from the Boston Herald editorial staff, which wrote, "Romney needs the kind of foreign policy gravitas that Rice would bring to the ticket... Condi Rice would in many ways be a breath of fresh air on the campaign trail -- her grace, her presence and, wow, can she play a concert grand. The choice of Rice would be bold but without being risky -- really, what's not to like?"

Political commentators have noted many things that Romney supporters might find not to like, however. Chief among them: The fact that Rice has called herself "moderately pro-choice."

Another choice that could generate some buzz would be Chris Christie, the unabashedly outspoken New Jersey governor. Perhaps to prove his buzzworthiness, Christie's office recently released a list called "Chris Christie by the numbers," which shows that the governor has generated 5 million YouTube hits and has raised taxes a grand total of zero times. Christie, however, could be an especially risky choice. He's engaged in some confrontations that have raised eyebrows, and the New York Times reported last month that his tardiness to events may have made a bad impression on the Romney campaign.

Rob Portman, meanwhile, could be a safer -- if blander -- choice. The senator's strongest asset is his organization in Ohio, a must-win state this year. Portman will campaign for Romney in Lebanon, Ohio today just hours before President Obama campaigns in Cincinnati. According to CBS News White House correspondent Mark Knoller, the president has made more trips to Ohio than any state other than New York, a fundraising mecca, and Washington's neighboring states of Maryland and Virginia.

[Jahzera]

Ann Romney will let America know once she's made a decision. Or so she comes across.

[Verascity]

Re his own VP pick, John MacCain says, "We thought that Sarah Palin was a better candidate than Romney." - 7/17/12

[Jahzera]

Now that says it ALL!

[nohater]

the election is just some 3 months and some days away. wonder what's taking so long to select a vp running mate. condi rice would be a great choice.

[Verascity]

Yes she would BUT: She'd make people think of W and Mitt knows better. AND: she's pro-choice.

No Mormon Bishop would let a pro-choice female anywhere near their campaign.

[Bryon_Evans]

Last time it was the VP who was the clown. Whoever he gets, even if it is Sarah Palin, it really doesn't matter much at this point. The country hates this man and for valid reasons. He is not like us, he has never been for us and every chance he has ever gotten he took from us and stashed the goods in Switzerland or Bermuda. Actually, the GOP would have better odds if he just bowed out and let Palin run.

I highly doubt that any Republicans still wonder why the entire world laughs at their party. Picking a scumbag like Romney should have been the last clue that any of them needed.

[netjunkie1]

Richest man to ever enter the presidential election and refuses to release his prior taxes...mistake?

[nohater]

the country hates both obama and romney. time will tell which is hated the most. many think of obama as a scumbag too. we will all know who is the less scumbag, the less hated, in just 3 months and some days.

[aloy69]

Oh he better find a VP soon before he gets Baned!
Romney was the CEO and put his signature on all documents for years. He claims he didn't make any decisions - who knows? If he releases his tax returns, they will perhaps show that he was on their payroll as well. That will be the last nail in his felony coffin! Ha Ha!
President Obama has lowered taxes (fact#1), since 2009 jobs have been created every month (fact #2), and under his watch the Dow has climbed up steadily (fact #3), securing our retirements and 401Ks. Let's not even consider President Obama's foreign policy achievements, his honesty, charisma, and constant concern for all Americans, If what President Obama has done to this great nation during his first term is going at a rate of dime a dozen - as the Republicans claim, Romney couldn't even buy the smell! Every day Romney turns more whiter and pale. Soon he will turn to snow on a hot summer day and disappear. I am proud to stand tall with our President. God Bless America!

[nohater]

romney has not been charged with any crime. as for his tax returns, the IRS has approved of them else the IRS would have been all over romney long ago. it appears romney has complied with state and federal laws to date. neither obama or romney are perfect men. there has never ever been a perfect potus or a perfect candidate for the office of potus. if romney does lose it might not be by a landslide like obama/biden defeated mccain/palin. obama has not lived up to his own hype, his own rhetoric of 2008 to the present day. your vote is for obama, good for you. you obviously have prospered under obama. not all of us have been so fortunate.

[Jahzera]

We already know Romney was on the Bain payroll for all 3 of those years. His wages were to the tune of $100,000 per year and paid to him not as the earned income they should have been but instead paid in the form of investment income which is taxed at a rate of 15%. Less than half the rate of earned income. Investment income during a time he supposedly had no part in their operations or.. investments.
If it walks like a duck, if it quacks like a duck, it's a duck. But in this case we're to believe it's actually a lamb. Nobody mentions under that lamb's wool lies a sly fox.

[Jaylah54200]

http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/412156/april-09-2012/searching-for-mr--right---mitt-romney---iowa-s-steve-king

[stevex47]

The birthers couldn't find a candidate with enough honor to keep his money in America?

Especially considerding those profits were made at the expense of American jobs, when America needed them the most?

He turned his back on America to build more mansions.

Great candidate teabirthers ! Your job may be next, he doesn't care.

[Faramir0028g]

Portman most likely Mitt knows no Ohio, no White House. I do not think it will help Ohio will go blue. the urban areas with auto the industry will out vote coal country, that is how I see it IMHO....

[stevex47]

If robme's is elected, he's going to outsource the VP job to China !

Much cheaper, no benefits ! Perfect !

[Jaylah54200]

This, coming from two of the people that have come up with the most derogatory names for President Obama.

Dish it out! Sure. When it comes back? Waaaawaaaa.

[RepubsAreFiscallyLiberal]

Considering that Romney is no longer a viable candidate, considering that he either lied to the SEC or the American people, it seems like a running mate would be moot.

[Jaylah54200]

I'm naming my cat to be my running mate.

When you go to vote in November, please remember to write in Jaylah and Chloe.

[Jaylah54200]

(We have a slightly better chance of getting elected than Romney and whomever is fool enough to put their name with his.)