Per NBC's Andrew Rafferty: "As Mitt Romney spent Thursday attempting to knock the wind out of President Barack Obama's economy-focused address, two Republican senators largely considered to be in the top tier of potential vice presidential choices did the same. Sens. Marco Rubio, of Florida, and Rob Portman, of Ohio, followed the Republican presidential nominee's lead and pre-butted Obama's speech in Ohio with appearances and statements throughout the day."

National Journal reports: "Sens. Rob Portman of Ohio and Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire will join Romney in their respective home states, and Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin will campaign with the candidate in Ryan’s hometown of Janesville, Wis., staff members for the three legislators confirmed."

RUBIO: "Sen. Marco Rubio was on the verge of dropping out of the 2010 race for the Senate, convinced that then-Gov. Charlie Crist's popularity, power and money would be too much to overcome in a Republican primary. He was also afraid any future political ambitions would be crushed by Crist's supporters, Rubio wrote in his autobiography to be released next week," USA Today reports.