RUBIO'S SWING-STATE BOOK TOUR: Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., will hit a number of swing states and South Carolina this summer as he tours the country to promote his new book, "An American Son," which will be released June 19.  Rubio will kick off his book tour the weekend before the Fourth of July holiday in his home state of Florida and will travel up the East Coast to Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and end in Virginia.

CHRISTIE PUSHES FOR SPORTS BETTING:  "New Jersey will defy a federal ban and let people bet on the outcomes of football, basketball and other games this fall, Gov. Chris Christie said Thursday," the AP reports. "Speaking at a news conference highlighting efforts to reinvigorate Atlantic City, Christie said the regulations his administration will issue next week make no attempt to overturn a 1992 federal law that limits sports betting to four states. "We intend to go forward," the Republican governor said. "If someone wants to stop us, then let them try to stop us. We want to work with the casinos and horse-racing industry to get it implemented.'"

GINGRICH'S VEEP SUGGESTIONS: In an interview with MSNBC's Chris Matthews Thursday, Newt Gingrich weighed in on who he thinks could help Romney as a running mate."Virginia is a key state both for the governor and for the senate, and Bob McDonnell is a terrific governor.  Do you use him and does that seal off the South?" Gingrich said.  "If you want a guy who helps you in the industrial Midwest, Portman helps across the whole region. … I would look at Rubio very seriously and I think they will." Gingrich threw out additional names like New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez and Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels. And what about John Thune?  "I think John Thune is extraordinarily attractive and very articulate," he said of the junior South Dakota senator. Watch the video here.

VEEP TWEETS

@govchristie: Kicking off the summer season down the shore with a stop in AC at The Irish Pub. ? # MeetMeInAC? ? # HowIDoAC?

@robportman: Pleased to announce that Mansfield C-27J planes & ? # jobs? are safe for another year.

@jebbush: RT @ excelined : Applauding Mississippi Gov @ PhilBryantMS as he signed A-F Grading bill into law yesterday!

@govmaryfallin: @ GovMaryFallin Signs Bill Creating State Policy to Respond to Blue-Green Algae Outbreaks

@johnthune: The Hill's @ flooraction discusses my bill demanding details on Obama plan for looming budget cuts.  ? # transparency