RUBIO SAYS HE HASN’T THOUGHT ABOUT “A SPECIFIC JOB IN POLITICS”

Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) is often mentioned as a potential vice presidential choice for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, and when asked if he was being vetted for the job, he did not deny it.

“Well, I'm not going to discuss the process – and that shouldn't be taken it as a yes or a no,” Rubio tells CBS News Chief White House Correspondent Norah O’Donnell in an interview to air on CBS SUNDAY MORNING.

Asked if he wants to be president someday, Rubio says, “I’ve never thought about wanting to be a specific job in politics.” Pressed further by O’Donnell, Rubio responds, “No, seriously.”

Rubio, 41, has been in the Senate a year and a half. O’Donnell reports that he’s been hailed as a new hero for conservatives because he is personable and might help boost the Hispanic vote. Rubio also tells O’Donnell the Republican Party has “work to do” when it comes to reaching Hispanic voters.

In the wide-ranging interview, O’Donnell also touches on religion.  Rubio explains how he grew up Catholic, was affiliated with the Mormon Church for three years, came back to Catholicism and now attends both a Catholic Mass and a church affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. “We go to Mass every Sunday and we also go to Christ Fellowship, quite regularly,” he says, “We go to both.  And again, I'm a Roman Catholic.”

Rubio reflects on missteps in his public life, as well, admitting that he would have done some things differently.  For example, he says he would not have used a Florida State Republican Party credit card to pay for personal expenses. “Now I have to spend all my time explaining how I used the card instead of talking about public policy,” he says, “So it's my fault, you know?  And obviously I learned that lesson.”

The full interview will air June 17 on CBS SUNDAY MORNING WITH CHARLES OSGOOD (9:00-10:30 AM, ET) on the CBS Television Network. Rand Morrison is the Executive Producer.

Follow CBS Sunday Morning on Twitter and Facebook.

#  #  #

Press Contact:  Richard Huff                  212-975-3328                    HuffR@cbsnews.com