NBC News is reporting that Mitt Romney and Gov. Tim Pawlenty will not be chosen by John McCain to be on the Republican ticket.

DENVER – Two of the leading candidates to be John McCain’s vice presidential pick — Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney — appear to be out of the running, NBC News reported Friday.

Pawlenty has been told he won’t be chosen by McCain, according to NBC’s David Gregory. And Romney won’t be at today’s Dayton, Ohio, rally with McCain, NBC’s Chuck Todd reported. Romney spent Thursday courting donors in California.

New speculatiuon centers on Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.

Stay tuned.