Veepstakes: 7/16 (GOP)

As most of you know, I love the "veepstakes": the process of picking running-mates for each party. Between the end of the primaries and the beginning of September, those two important selections are the only two variables in the presidential race. Today, my rankings for McCain:

10. Senator Joseph Lieberman (I-CT)
9. Former Governor Mike Huckabee (R-AR)
8. Senator John Thune (R-SD)
7. Former HP CEO Carly Fiorina (R-CA)
6. Former OMB Director Rob Portman (R-OH)

5. Governor Sarah Palin (R-AK)
Palin is young (44), conservative, and tough: three things that John McCain could use some of on his ticket. Her sky-high approval ratings in her homestate, and her image as a reformer, would also greatly boost McCain's argument. Her age, unlike Jindal's, isn't a great concern, but she's relatively inexperienced, and recently gave birth, making it unlikely she'll want to spend a great deal of time away from home.

4. Governor Bobby Jindal (R-LA)
Jindal is a conservative darling who the GOP sees as being a large part of its electoral plans in 2012 or 2016. However, his age (37) disables whatever attack lines McCain could use against Obama's age (46). He's also has a past of weird habits (such as performing exorcisms), and Jindal's hard-right stances on most issues might make him too conservative.

3. Governor Charlie Crist (R-FL)
McCain's big win in the Florida primary can be almost wholly chalked up to this man's endorsement. In November, as in January, Florida will be close, and having its governor on the ticket almost assures it stays in the GOP column. But rumors have persisted for awhile that Crist is gay, his engagement to Carole Rome notwithstanding, something that would certainly hurt him with the base.

2. Governor Tim Pawlenty (R-MN)
Pawlenty was one of McCain's highest profile supporters during the primaries, and his ability to win elections in Democratic-leaning Minnesota is certainly not overlooked by McCain's staff. And, unlike many other blue-state Republicans, he's a veritable conservative. However, Pawlenty reportedly isn't being vetted, although you can take that with a grain of salt.

1. Former Governor Mitt Romney (R-MA)
Romney, ever the opportunistic politician, has taken to doing every thing he possibly can to become John McCain's running mate this November. Although they didn't agree on much during the primaries, with the two reportedly hating each other, that gap seems to have been closed. What seemed unthinkable about a month ago seems more and more likely by the day: McCain/Romney.

Tomorrow: Barack Obama's choices