Romney news conference offers few specifics

Mitt Romney took questions from the press for the first time in over a month Monday - but he avoided giving specific answers to almost every query.

Standing alongside a man some believe could become his running mate, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, Romney employed the politician's art of speaking while saying very little.

How far along are you in the search for a vice president?

"We really haven't had a discussion yet of putting together a list or evaluating various candidates," Romney said.

Do you agree with Sen. Rubio's suggestion for a modified DREAM Act, which would offer visas to some young people brought into the country illegally?

"I'm taking a look at his proposal," he said. "It has many features to commend it but it's something that we're studying."

In addition to military personnel who are illegal immigrants, are there other groups of undocumented people in this country to whom you might offer some kind of pathway to legal status?

"How we adjust our visa program to make it fit the needs of our country is something I'll be speaking about down the road," Romney said. "But I don't have anything for you on that on stage."

Romney last held a press conference on March 16 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. His Monday session with reporters came a day before a primary in Pennsylvania, as well as voting in Delaware, New York, Connecticut and Rhode Island.

Rubio appeared to be following Romney's example, keeping his remarks extremely brief and general.

Asked whether his experience qualified him to be vice president, Rubio said simply: "I'm not talking about that process anymore."

The former Massachusetts governor did elaborate on one question, from a French reporter who asked about his favorite memories of the country.

Romney, a Mormon, spent his mission as a young man in France. But instead of talking about that experience, he recounted memories from vacations spent in the country as an adult.

"I think the best memories were with my wife on vacations, from time to time in France," he said. "The last vacation we had there, walking around the city of Paris, not just in the Champs-Élysées, but also over to the Jardin of Luxembourg and around the city, as one of the most magnificent cities in the world and I look forward to occasional vacations again in such a beautiful place."

Some Democrats seized on the statement as another example of Romney's tendency to make off-handed remarks that casually reveal his wealth.

After he wrapped his talk with reporters Monday, Romney returned to the microphone to make some news. He told reporters he was now in favor of extending relief on student loans.

Previously he had said colleges would eventually be forced to compete by lowering their tuition costs.