When it comes to the GOP VP stakes, voters in three crucial electoral states  - Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania - favor their home state (or regional) politicians as choices for Mitt Romney's running mate,  according to a new Quinnipiac poll released  today.

Forty percent of Florida voters picked their home state Sen. Marco Rubio, with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie following at a distant 14 percent. Notably left off  the  list was another Florida  politician who could shake up the mix - former Gov. and presidential brother Jeb Bush.

Twenty-six percent of Ohio voters went for  Sen. Rob Portman, who is Cincinnati born and raised, with both Christie and Rubio trailing, at 14 percent each.

And Pennsylvania, which doesn't have a home state contender in the Mitt Romney vice presidential competition, opted for the politician  next door, Christie, at 28 percent, followed by Rubio, at 15 percent.

Here are the vice presidential preference numbers from Quinnipiac:

FLORIDA -

Rubio 40

Christie 14

Ryan 7

Jindal 6

Pawlenty 4

Portman 4

Ayotte 2

Someone Else 3

Don't know/NA 21

OHIO - 

Portman 26

Christie 14

Rubio 14

Ryan 8

Jindal 6

Pawlenty 3

Ayotte 2

Someone else 2

Don't know/NA 26

PENNSYLVANIA -

Christie 28

Rubio 15

Ryan 8

Jindal 6

Pawlenty 4

Portman 4

Ayotte 3

Someone else 4

Don't know/NA 27