Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., is dropping plans to introduce legislation that could grant work visas to some young people brought to the U.S. illegally, according to his spokesman.

Rubio, a potential running mate to Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, is suspending his plans after President Obama announced Friday that the U.S. will immediately stop deporting some illegal immigrants brought to the U.S. as children. Obama said they would be eligible for work permits, in an election-year action with appeal to Latino voters.

"The president's executive action takes a lot of momentum out of Sen. Rubio's push for a consensus, legislative solution," said Alex Conant, Rubio's spokesman, in an emailed statement Monday. "The president's action undermines the urgency to pass something before the election — a hard enough prospect even without the newly inflamed politics surrounding the issue."

Rubio's proposal would grant work visas to some young people brought to the U.S. illegally as children, if they later served in the military or pursued an education.

"Rubio was working hard to find a permanent solution to this issue," Conant said. "We were not briefed, let alone consulted" before Obama made the announcement, he said.

Kerry gets Romney

role in debate prep

WASHINGTON — The role of Mitt Romney in President Obama's practice debates will be played by another Massachusetts politician: John Kerry.

A Democratic official said Monday that Obama's campaign has tapped Sen. Kerry, who was the 2004 presidential nominee, to stand in for Romney. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because the choice had not been formally announced.

Role playing in debate preparations is a key that helps candidates anticipate likely rebuttals and charges.

Obama used attorney Greg Craig to play Republican rival John McCain in 2008.

Republicans since 1996 have turned to Rob Portman — now a senator and a rumored vice-presidential pick — to play the Democratic nominees.

Romney's campaign would not comment on who would play Obama during Romney's debate preparations.

Dem superdelegate

to skip convention

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Democratic West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin says he won't attend the party's national convention, citing serious problems with President Obama.

A Tomblin spokesman, Chris Stadelman, said Monday that the governor has serious problems with Republican Mitt Romney, too.

Tomblin is an automatic superdelegate to the Democratic National Convention. He says his time is best spent working in West Virginia, not attending the four-day political rally in Charlotte, N.C.

In West Virginia's presidential primary, Tomblin refused to say whether he voted for Obama.

Tomblin isn't alone in sitting this one out — West Virginia's Sen. Joe Manchin and congressman Nick Rahall say they don't plan to attend the convention, either.

Each of the three faces a Republican opponent in November.

Seattle Times news services