(Image Credit: Mel Evans/AP Photo)

CHRISTIE NOT ASKED TO BE VP … YET: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie appeared at a fundraiser with Mitt Romney Tuesday evening, but the New Jersey governor told constituents at a town hall Wednesday that the Republican nominee didn't extend a VP offer when they saw each other, ABC News' Shushannah Walshe reported. "New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said Mitt Romney didn't offer him the number two spot at a fundraiser they appeared at together on Tuesday," Walshe wrote. "At a town hall in Mahwah, N.J., Wednesday, he said to laughs, 'I was with Gov. Romney last night. Let me announce that he did not ask me last night to run for vice president while I was with him. Listen, I have absolutely no idea,' Christie said about being Romney's vice-presidential pick. 'My view has always been that I want to stay here and that I want to do this job and I don't want to leave, but what I've also said is if the nominee of your party calls and asks you to talk about that, you take the call and you listen because you have to care about your country and listen to the guy who is one of two people who is going to be president of the United States for the next four years. So if Gov. Romney calls and asks me I'll listen. I don't expect to get the call, I don't expect to be asked.'"

McDONNELL SURPRISES CROWD: Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell surprised a crowd in Sterling, Va., Wednesday when he joined Mitt Romney at a rally there Wednesday afternoon, ABC News' Emily Friedman reported.

AYOTTE DEFENDS ROMNEY ON RUSSIA: Sen. Kelly Ayotte rose to Romney's defense Wednesday, arguing that his foreign policy stances are not backward and do not hark back to the age of the Cold War, CNN reported. "New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte, an early and ardent backer of Mitt Romney, defended the presumptive GOP nominee against accusations his foreign policy is backwards looking Wednesday, saying critics who label his views reminiscent of the Cold War were wrong. 'I've spent a lot if time with Gov. Romney. I think that he has a strong understanding of foreign policy, and he does not have a Cold War view toward Russia,' Ayotte said after delivering a keynote address to a conference examining democracy in Russia," CNN's Kevin Liptak wrote.

RYAN FACING TERM LIMIT: If not chosen as Romney's VP, Rep. Paul Ryan will encounter a hurdle come January when the six-year term limit on him as House Budget Committee chairman runs out, The Hill reported. "House Republicans face a dilemma in keeping popular and influential conservative Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) as chairman of the House Budget Committee. Under GOP rules, Ryan, who has been the committee's lead Republican since the 2006 elections, is limited to six years as committee chairman or ranking member and would need a waiver to keep his post in the next Congress. Ryan is a hero of the grassroots because of his budget expertise and conservative principles, and he's frequently mentioned as a possible vice presidential pick for Mitt Romney. Many also believe he could run for the White House one day. But if he doesn't become Romney's running mate this year - or join the Romney administration as a Cabinet member - Republicans will face a tough choice," The Hill's Erik Wasson reported.

HALEY ETHICS HEARINGS BEGIN: Ethics hearings into South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley's potential misuse of her position as a state representative between 2005 and 2010 to lobby on behalf of her employers begin today, the State newspaper reported.

Get more pure politics at ABC News.com/Politics and a lighter take on the news at OTUSNews.com.

VEEP TWEETS

@robportman: Those who gave their life in service to our country deserve an honorable burial. Our bill works to ensure that happens

@marcorubio: A four-team ? # collegefootball ? # playoff is approved, restoring balance to the universe! ? # sayfie ? # bcs ? # football ? # gators

@JebBush: Great news! MT @ ExcelinEd : NH got votes to override the Governor's veto! This is a huge win for families in NH!

@govchristie: @ DaveAustin53 Learn the facts. tax cut I agreed 2 goes 2 no one above 400k per year. "Millionaires" get nothing. Stop the class warfare bull

@bobmcdonnell: Please consider helping those affected by severe wildfires in the West - text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation to relief efforts.

@kellyayotte: RT @ FreedomHouseDC Senator @ KellyAyotte speaks on national security concerns with Russia. ? # FHevents

@SenJohnThune: Congrats @ RepHensarling & @ RepPaulRyan on reporting our bill. Public must know how ? # sequestration will affect spending.

@BrianSandoval: Check out where we've been so far on our ? # DiscoverYourNevada tour.

@GovMikeHuckabee: Learn more about my Israel trip in February by visiting my website here: