Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) was the most preferred GOP vice presidential candidate among Republicans polled by CNN/ORC. The poll, released on Thursday, of 419 Republicans and “GOP-leaning independents” had a margin of error of +/- 5 points. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Rep. Paul Ryan came in second with 16 percent of the vote apiece:

Sen. Marco Rubio (FL) 28%

Gov. Chris Christie (NJ) 16%

Rep. Paul Ryan (WI) 16%

Gov. Bobby Jindal (LA) 8%

Gov. Bob McDonnell (VA) 6%

Sen. Rob Portman (OH) 6%

Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty 4%

The Obama campaign is taking a potential Rubio pick seriously, as the Obama campaign sent out an email on Thursday encouraging Floridians to dig up dirt about Rubio and share it with the Obama campaign.

Romney may make his vice presidential selection next week, and Rubio would help him cut into Obama’s lead among Hispanic voters. 

On Thursday, in an interview with NBC News, Romney was vague when asked about the vice presidential search process. 

"I certainly expect to have a person that has a strength of character, a vision for the country that adds something to the political discourse about the direction of the country," Romney said. "I happen to believe this is a defining election for America, that we're going to be voting for what kind of America we're going to have."