RUBIO FACING HEAT – AT 9:09 A.M. ET:  Marco Rubio is a favorite here, and is clearly on the short list of potential vice-presidential picks for Mitt Romney.  But Rubio, now in the spotlight, is facing a buzz saw of serious questions, and a toll is being taken.

Last week Rubio agreed to pay a fine of $8,000 levied by the Federal Elections Commission for accepting improper campaign contributions in 2010.  Now he is facing questions about other possible ethics violations.  He was interviewed toughly by Bret Baier of Fox.  From The Politico:

BRET BAIER: When you were speaker of the Florida house, you charged personal expenses on this party-issued credit card. What happened with that?

MARCO RUBIO: At the end of every month, we would get those statements. We would see what was on there that was party-related, and the party would pay that. If it wasn't party-related, I would pay that directly to American Express.

Now, obviously, in hindsight, it looks bad, right? I mean, why are you using a party credit card at all? Well, some of these expenses were because a travel agent had the number, you know, the credit card number, and they billed it to that card instead of the other card. Sometimes, it was just a mistake, you know, literally just reached for the wrong card.

But it's important people understand I did not bill personal expenses to the Republican Party of Florida. The Republican Party of Florida never paid my personal expenses. Never. But look, you know, I shouldn't have done it that way. It was -- it was -- lesson learned.

BAIER: Another thing that people raise concerns about -- what is your relationship with Representative Rivera?

RUBIO: He's a friend. I mean, he's a friend I've known on a personal level even before I was elected or he was elected to office. So look, I know he's going through a tough time. And we've all read the press reports and none of us like to see that about anybody, much less a friend. And he's going to have to deal with those issues.

COMMENT:  It goes on from there.  Clearly, Romney is hoping to avoid the avalanche of attacks that came Sarah Palin's way when she was chosen by John McCain.  The questions about Rubio are building.  He's a great guy, in my view, but I'm starting to be concerned that he could become the issue in the campaign, which is what no presidential candidate wants.

Maybe that's why so much talk has turned to Senator Rob Portman of Ohio, and Senator Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire.  While I have no evidence that this chatter is being generated by the Romney people, I wouldn't be surprised if it is.  Romney wants a wide choice. 

I was also struck by the comment of Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey, who has, like Rubio, denied interest in the vice-presidential slot, that he would expect that Romney might try to persuade him.  I'm not sure.  Christie, like Rubio, is a conservative favorite, but he's a loose cannon who shoots off his mouth whenever possible.  He has never played the national circuit.  The concern for Romney:  that Christie would start making comments that would shift the focus to him, rather than to the presidential message.

Ah, choices are so difficult and men are so imperfect.

May 1, 2012