Northeast Ohio Republicans are high on Sen. Rob Portman as a potential running mate for Mitt Romney.

That's what they told Patch in our first survey of Republicans in our new feature, Red/Blue Northeast Ohio.

But does Portman draw the same level of enthusiasm elsewhere in the United State?

Maybe not.

A survey of influential Republicans in Missouri, another important swing state, suggests that Portman doesn't have many supporters there: Only one person said that Romney should pick Portman. (Note: The survey was conducted by our Patch colleagues in the St. Louis area.)

These Republicans preferred Sen. Marco Rubio from Florida or former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice.

But when asked who they think Romney will actually pick, Portman didn't do so poorly. He came in third, to Rubio and former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty.