WASHINGTON - Marco Rubio, Tea Party darling and U.S. senator from the largest electoral battleground state of Florida, holds his cards close when asked about his place on Mitt Romney's vice presidential vet list.

"I don't comment on the vice presidential process," he said with a grin Thursday in an interview with ABC News Radio White House correspondent Ann Compton inside his Capitol Hill offices.

But then, without missing a beat, Rubio did just that, insisting the running mate selection will reflect of the type of president Romney could become.

"Gov. Romney's a successful person. He's been successful at everything he's done, whether it's [as] a businessman, a father, a husband, as a member of his community or church, as a candidate," Rubio said.

"I think that Gov. Romney is successful because he's a good decision maker. He's always made good decisions," he said. "And what I have no doubt about is that he'll make another great decision. And being a good decision maker by the way is the number one quality you want in a president."

Romney is getting closer to making his decision but is not there yet, say sources, including his wife Ann Romney in an interview with "Good Morning America".

Rumored to be among the top of the list of possible picks are Ohio Sen. Rob Portman and former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty. Sen. Rubio is the only name Romney has publicly confirmed as being under consideration.

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At a town hall meeting Wednesday in Bowling Green, Ohio, one member of the crowd exhorted Romney to have his "ear to the Tea Party" in selecting a VP nominee.

"I can assure you that even though I have not chosen the person who will be my vice president, that person will be a conservative," Romney said.

Who do Tea Partiers want to see on the ticket? The nation's largest Tea Party group - the Tea Party Express - gave the nod to Rubio on Wednesday, calling him the best choice for VP nominee.

"I'm always honored by my association with the tea party," Rubio said in response.