Romney, in final stages of "veepstakes," is weighing when to pick running mate Sen. Marco Rubio (Fla.) is jetting to Boston this week to raise money for Romney in the candidate's hometown, while Rep. Paul Ryan (Wis.) is headlining a Romney fundraiser in Illinois. And two weeks ago, when Romney campaigned in New Jersey, it was Gov. Chris Christie who gave the presumptive nominee some juice and bragged about having endorsed him earlier than most other Republican governors. With the prospective vice presidential candidates fanning out as campaign trail surrogates, Romney and his closest counselors have entered the final stages of selecting the ultimate surrogate - a running mate. There are seven weeks remaining until the Republican National Convention in Tampa, and Romney has a few important strategic decisions to make before then: not only who to name as a vice presidential nominee, but also when and how to do so. Will Romney follow the precedent of both parties in 2008 by waiting until a few days before the start of his convention to announce his pick? Or will he elect to name a running mate sooner to effectively double the Republicans" ability to raise money and campaign against an incumbent president and vice president? And if Romney goes the early route, will he make the announcement over the next two and a half weeks before he departs to Europe to begin a foreign trip? Or will he wait until he returns from overseas in early August, when the campaign will be competing against the London Olympics for media attention? Romney campaign officials would not comment on the confidential vice presidential selection process but said nothing has been determined. "No decisions have been made about decisions," one adviser said. When Romney was asked by CBS News last week when he might announce his choice, he said, "I can't tell you that. I have an idea in mind, but that's something I'm keeping - close with my team. Romney said he would make the decision with Beth Myers, his longtime senior adviser who is leading his search. Myers, campaign manager Matt Rhoades and chief strategist Stuart Stevens were seen meeting with Mitt and Ann Romney on Tuesday during their family vacation in Wolfeboro, N.H. In the CBS interview, Ann Romney left little doubt that she, too, will have a say. She said she wants a running mate who is "competent" and "capable," and who has "the same personality type" as her husband. Asked whether she thinks her husband should nominate a woman, she said, "We've been looking at that, and I'd love that option as well." Ann Romney did not name names, but one woman who has generated considerable buzz recently within Romney's campaign is former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice. At a private retreat for Romney's top donors in Utah, Rice delivered a luncheon speech that garnered two standing ovations and left many fundraisers openly touting her for the ticket.