BY OLYMPIA MEOLA

Gov. Bob McDonnell leaves for Colorado today to attend a Republican Governors Association quarterly meeting in Aspen and a campaign event on Thursday for presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney.

McDonnell will leave Virginia this afternoon and return on Friday morning, according to his office. 

This evening, McDonnell is scheduled to participate in an Aspen Institute program “A Conversation with Republican Governors,” with Govs. Chris Christie of New Jersey, Nikki Haley of South Carolina, Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, and Scott Walker of Wisconsin. The conversation will be moderated by Walter Isaacson, the Aspen Institute president and CEO.

On Thursday afternoon, McDonnell will join Romney and other GOP governors for a campaign event near Aspen. McDonnell, who is often mentioned as a possible vice presidential pick, has stumped for Romney in several states, including South Carolina, Florida, Michigan and Iowa, since endorsing him in January.

McDonnell will return to Virginia on Friday morning, ahead of two events on Saturday, including attending the opening of a 2012 Victory Center in Leesburg – two days after President Barack Obama is scheduled to hold a campaign rally there.