Veepstakes- Volume 5

1. Mitt Romney- former Massachusetts Governor and 2008 Presidential candidate (1)
2. Rob Portman- Former OMB Director and former Ohio Congressman (2)
3. Christopher Cox- SEC Chairman and former California Congressman (3)
4. Tim Pawlenty- Minnesota Governor (4)
5. Mark Sanford- South Carolina Governor (5)
6. Bob Riley- Alabama Governor (6)
7. J.C. Watts- former Oklahoma Congressman (7)
8. John Kasich- former Ohio Congressman (8)
9. Bobby Jindal- Louisiana Governor (new)
10. Eric Cantor- Virginia Congressman (new)

It is a new month and I do not have too much in the way of changes. I continue to believe that the top 4 names are far and away better than the others. I clearly would prefer Romney of course. It also seems apparent that Portman and Pawlenty are more likely prospects than Cox when John McCain makes his selection.

I am adding Bobby Jindal in at the number 9 spot, dispatching Governor Haley Barbour of Mississippi, simply because such a pick would greatly excite many rank and file Republicans. For a variety of reasons, I think Jindal's time will come, but this may not be the year. I am also adding Virginia Congressman Eric Cantor in at the number
10 position, knocking off Tom Ridge of Pennsylvania. I seriously doubt McCain would or should pick a sitting Member of Congress, but if he were, Cantor might be the best fit. It would certainly please many Jewish Republicans and other Jewish voters who may have concerns about Obama.

But of course, I think Romney makes the most sense in numerous ways, and there are other good options too that would be better than a Huckabee or a Crist (and certainly not a Michael Bloomberg!) and even something risky and bold like a Joe Lieberman or a Carly Fiorina.

One thing that is pretty clear though is that McCain is likely to wait to see who Obama picks first before he makes his selection.