McDonnell downplayed speculation that he will be the GOP’s vice presidential nominee. (AP Photo via DayLife)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — With national ambitions in mind, Virginia’s Republican Governor Bob McDonnell spent some time in the Kansas City area this weekend.

On the surface, McDonnell, who has endorsed for former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and recently took over the Republican Governor’s Association, was in Missouri to excite Republicans to support their candidates, particularly for governor.

But below the surface, McDonnell, a vice presidential prospect, was using the weekend to continue to raise his national profile. On Saturday, in addition to his time in Missouri, McDonell also spoke at the Kansas Republican Party’s state convention across the border in Overland Park.

In an interview with PoliticMo before speaking to Missouri Republicans at their annual Lincoln Day’s event in Kansas City, McDonnell said he “isn’t looking” for any of the vice presidential speculation.

“I’ve got a great job,” he said. “If the nominee calls you and says you can do great things for our party and our country, of course you’d listen.”

“I think I’m going to be governor of Virginia for the next two years,” he added, with a grin.

McDonnell — who endorsed Romney in late January — said though Santorum did “extremely well” in Missouri’s non-binding presidential selection primary earlier this month, said he thinks Romney has a chance to do well in Missouri’s binding selection caucuses next month.

“He not only can do well in caucuses, but he can do well anywhere in the country,” McDonnell said.

McDonnell said he doesn’t think that Missouri, or any other individual state, is make or break for Romney.

“This is going to be a marathon: it’s not a sprint,” McDonnell said. “[Romney’s] going to have the best appeal to independent voters, and that’s what’s going to win the election.”

Romney is expected to be in Missouri after March 6, ahead of Missouri’s’ March 17 caucuses.