Hey all, been doing some more thinking about the potential VP choices. As you know in the past I did a more detailed look at Romney, Huckabee, and Condi, and I wanted to list some of the other contenders and my thoughts.

CURRENT GOVERNORS -- There are a handful of governors that could appear on McCain's shortlist. They are:

Tim Pawlenty -- Minnesota
Sarah Palin -- Alaska
Mark Sanford -- South Carolina
Bobby Jindal -- Louisiana

Out of these, there are two that are appealing -- Palin and Sanford. Palin has Jindal's problem though of not being in office that long, and I think she could use more time to build her stock. Down the line, I think she will be a presidential candidate, maybe in 2012 even. Pawlenty has been in office 6 years but I am not that impressed with the guy and I dont think he brings Minnesota. Sanford is appealing because he is a rock ribbed conservative, a bit of a maverick in his own right, and I think would help lock in the south. However, in the end, I would not pick any of these.

FORMER GOVERNORS/SENATORS

Mike Huckabee -- Arkansas
MItt Romney -- Massachusetts
Fred Thompson - Tennessee

Huckabee and Romney, though former governors, are more national figures due to their presidential runs. I dont think Huckabee would be wise becuase he isn't a conservative and McCain coudl get the social conservative vote elsewhere, and Huckabee really stepped in it with his comment the other day about shooting Obama. His record in Arkansas is full of gaping wounds and I think McCain knows that and picking Huck would also bring back the pastors question that McCain is trying to dodge.

Fred Thompson would be the best choice in my view, as he would bring national experience, the south, and a following of conservatives. He's also presidential. However, he has made it clear he doesn't want it, and has made himself newly available to acting jobs, and is also now commentating on townhall.com, which he wouldn't do if he was interested. That said, I th ink Fred will be a key advisor to McCain, which is a good thing. I'm still a FredHead deep down, and I hope one day Fred can serve our nation in an elected capacity again.

Romney on the other hand brings a lot of things to the table. He would represent an olive branch to conservatives. Secondly, it would give the Republicans a successor in office for when McCain was done. Third, he has knowledge on the economy and with executive experience, something McCain doesn't have. And he's not extreme right, which I think is also key. Romney I think has to be a very attractive choice.

SENATORS

Lindsey Graham -- South Carolina
Sam Brownback -- Kansas
Joe Lieberman -- Connecticut
George Allen -- Virginia

Actually, the perfect choice among these would be George Allen, who in my view would be the nominee now if not for his macaca comment. Allen would still be a great choice I think, as I think enough time has passed and McCain badly needs Virginia, which is looking like a real battleground state. Brownback brings you nothing and is going to run for Governor here, and Lieberman can be helpful without bringing the difficulties that come with having a D on the ticket. McCain needs Graham in the Senate, I think, should he win because he'll need key allies there and Graham would be one. So, I think Allen represents the most attractive possiblity here.

NATIONAL FIGURES

Condi Rice
Carly Fiorina

Condi Rice and Carly Fiornia are the wild card picks and don't be shocked if McCain goes this direction. If Bush's rating were at 45% instead of 31%, I think Condi would be a slam dunk. I think conservatives would get over it because they like Condi and it would be historic. Fiornia would be a heck of a pick too, but I think in the end she will be his Treasury Secretary, should he win.

So, who should be the choice? Ill get to that in another thread.