McCain weighs in on Romney VP pick

(CBS News) -- The 2008 Republican nominee who lit the political world on fire when he picked Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to be his running mate weighed in Wednesday on who Mitt Romney should pick to run with him in November if he becomes the party's standard bearer.

"I think it should be Sarah Palin," McCain joked when asked about a comment that the Fox News analyst said Romney should not be afraid to "go rogue" when he picks a number two.

"I think we have some very qualified candidate, obviously Marco Rubio is in the top tier, Chris Christie, there are a number of candidates we have out there, Bobby Jindal, Mitch Daniels. We have a wealth of talent out there and I am sure that Mitt will make the right choice," McCain said, referring the Florida senator, and three governors from New Jersey, Louisiana and Indiana, respectively.

"Obviously it's a tough choice," McCain said with a chuckle.

McCain also said former Senate colleague Rick Santorum should "understand it is time for a graceful exit."

Romney won Republican primaries in Wisconsin, Maryland and the District of Columbia Tuesday in his quest for the party's nomination.