BuzzFeed Veepstakes: No Running-Mate Yet

Politico: Place your bets: GOPers start speaking up on veeps

"House Speaker John Boehner is “partial” to Ohio Sen. Rob Portman and thinks he’d be a “great asset.” Jeb Bush and Rudy Giuliani think Florida Sen. Marco Rubio would be the most exciting. And Gov. Scott Walker thinks “there’s nobody better” than Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan."

The Hill: Head of Romney VP search on hand for rally with Jindal, McDonnell

"The aide in charge of the Mitt Romney's vice presidential search is traveling with the presumptive Republican nominee in Colorado Thursday as he campaigns with some prominent GOP governors rumored to be on the running-mate shortlist."

Los Angeles Times: Marco Rubio's goofy Olympic tax giveaway

"It can be a little tough for people from blue states to understand the refusal by conservatives to tax those who can best afford to pay, but Sen. Marco Rubio's self-aggrandizing Olympic Tax Elimination Act seems to explain the basis for the philosophy. To wit: Special people are special. So they deserve special treatment from Uncle Sam."

New York Magazine: Obama Gives Olympians a Congratulatory Phone Call; Rubio Offers Them a Tax Break

"Today Michael Phelps and the five members of the U.S. women's gymnastics team got a treat when President Obama called them from Air Force One to commend them on their Olympic victory and make awkward small talk. ("I told these young ladies as I was congratulating them, how do you not bust your head every time you're on that little balance beam?" Obama said. "I couldn't walk across that balance beam.") However, the most exciting news came later in the day, when the Olympians learned that thanks to some grandstanding by Senator Marco Rubio, they might get to save a few thousand dollars on their taxes."

Harvard Political Review: In 2012, Is Boring Better?

"Exciting, radical tickets on both sides. History bound to be made. Virtual fireworks echoing across the country. So four years ago. And Governor Mitt Romney’s vice presidential pick will probably show it."

ABC: ‘Boring White Guy’ VP Contender Content with One Beer at a Time

"Senator Rob Portman, R-OH, isn’t taking the familiar criticism that he’s a 'boring white guy' lying down anymore.

To prove it, he sent a 12 oz. bottle of Bud Light as a gift to Hamilton County Commissioner Greg Hartman’s office. Hartman, who has known Portman for over a decade, was recently quoted in the senator’s hometown paper saying, 'Rob Portman has had one beer in more places than any man in America.'"

Huffington Post: Rob Portman Distances Himself From Bush Budget Work

"Potential Republican vice presidential pick Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) attempted to walk a fine line this week in an interview with the Hill, when he tried to tout his hawkishness on the deficit while explaining his work as budget director in the heavy-spending Bush administration."

New York Daily News: Vice presidential contender Rob Portman says he was ‘frustrated’ at times in Bush administration job

"Ohio Sen. Rob Portman, who is considered a top contender to become Mitt Romney’s running mate, is putting some distance between himself and his former position in the Bush administration, saying he was 'frustrated' at times in the job."

Hot Air: Why Pawlenty would be the best pick for Veep

"Naming Tim Pawlenty as the best choice for Mitt Romney’s running-mate will sound crazy to some, but bear with me for a bit. Most of the media pieces about Mitt Romney’s veepstakes are geared to figuring out who Romney will pick. That is mostly a fool’s errand, especially for GOP VP picks. It may be more revealing to project ourselves to the moment after the pick is made to examine what the pick might say about how Team Romney sees the race."

Going Viral on BuzzFeed's Partner Network:

Fox News: Virginia sets example with another budget surplus, as McDonnell burnishes VP profile

The Atlantic Wire: Marco Rubio Wants Tax Reform for Olympians