Please let it be Jeb Bush.

If they're smart, it'll be Jindall, Crist, or even Palin.  All would be tough to beat.  My guess though is that they'll go for the whack ass crazy wing of the party instead of going for the anti-corruption, moderate "I actually make sense sometimes" wing of the party.

Well, everyone has been saying it would be McCain/Pawlenty since 2006. Things have changed, but who knows. He's young and from Wisconsin, which the GOP has its eyes on.

Well Jeb is out, in NO WAY do I think he will accept or is interested in the job.

I think Crist is his best pick, Florida loves him.
I'm a democrat and I think Crist is a GREAT Governor.

He can carry swing state, and if you notice even though Florida is over Crist goes everywhere with him, and is always behind him at his victory speeches.

Plus, about a month ago, Sen. Martinez from Florida said it would be smart for the GOP nominee to take Crist as VP, a week or two later Martinez endorses McCain, and two days after that Charlie Crist.

the only other thing I can think of is if, he wants Crist as AG, to combat Obama if he pick Edwards during the campaign as AG.

Crist was the best AG Florida has really ever had.

I don't care what you hear - he's a favorite.

Jindal would be a good choice if they are grooming him for a Presidential run someday, but would he leave his Gov job after only a couple months?  What does that say to Louisianans?

Fred Thompson would be just as bad as Allen.  A McCain-Thompson ticket would be a hard sell with voters under 65...

John Thune seems like a strong pick, although he doesn't bring a state with him.  They absolutely have to have a rock-solid conservative for the #2 spot, and it has to be someone the country can envision taking over as President, meaning Huckabee is out.  They can't pick a Quayle this time because there's too much chance he'll actually have to do the job.

Mitt Romney ha!  sure.

I think Mitt is counting on McCain to lose so he can take another shot at the presidency in 2012, after Dems have raised taxes and withdrawn most troops from Iraq.

I don't know too much about him.

Whomever he picks will have to be young and vibrant.  I honestly won't be surprised if it's Huckabee.

I see where you are coming from on the George Allen thing, Jonathan.  But that's the name that jumped out at you?  That's not even close to the worst name on that list.  Mitt Romney is perhaps the worst choice i've ever heard.  He undermines McCain's biggest perceived strength (authenticity) and he's an anethma to independents.  Plus the two have been attacking each other for half a year.
   And as someone said earlier, Fred Thompson would be a disaster.  If that's the pick, then I call credit for the campaign ads against them.  We'll call them, "The Grumpy Old Men."  Mattheau and Lemon move over

Sam Brownback would be the smart choice.

Romney won Minnesota - not that it matters now - but I do think that this reduces Pawlenty's chances.

Pawlenty is the only one of those who makes any sense whatsoever-- probably puts MN in play.  

Bonus pick:  Chuck Hagel.  How do you get over people in your base hating your candidacy- pull a Clinton/Gore and make it about winning independents.

Also McCain and Hagel are buddies.

His VP choice is going to scrutinized even more than usual, since as someone else noted there is a decent chance that he will not run for a second term and might encounter some health issues even during his first term.  Satisfying the uber-conservatives while meeting the kind of scrutiny that only comes when you are 72 years old may prove difficult.  Should be interesting.  

Newt Gingrich.

It will be Sanford (to help w the base) or Crist (for FL).

Ronald Reagan or Jesus Christ will unite the party.

George Allen, that's funny.

I honestly think it's between Huckabee and Pawlenty. Also being from MN, Pawlenty is strong. He's young, been on the McCain campaign since day 1 (Didn't help in MN on the 5th though), and he has some nice dynamics with McCain's positions. He has no foreign affairs experience, but that's what McCain will run on anyway, so no worries. He did win in 06, but the Dem nominee was actually really bad.

As for Huckabee, he's really the guy the repubs want. He's charismatic to some degree, religious and is everything McCain isn't. Southern, unforgiving in his values, doesn't compromise and is popular with the evangelicals.

I have a hard time believing it's Palin, Huntsman, or Thune. They have such small followings and are from such small states. The small state argument could be used for Biden and Richardon on our side, but if one of those three are picked, people are going to wonder why.

What about Jodi Rell (Gov-CT)? Is she popular? She balances the woman/minority problem the Repub. ticket will have if McCain picks a white man. She's also from the NE, which would make McCain at least a little viable there. I don't know much about her though.

It'll be Charlie Crist. McCain is an old guard Republican who will see his only chance at victory tied to winning Florida. Crist is popular and Bro. Jeb will be sure to line up his chips with the party establishment as he anticipates 2012. The only problem I see with Crist is that both he and McCain are "silver haired devils!" What better way to show up the Republicans for what they are: Old, rich, Southern, white, guys.

I never thought about McCain's advantage with Latinos versus Obama.  I believe it will Chalie Crist as well. He basically owes Crist for the Florida win.  Thune would also be an attractive choice but I don't know what he gains McCain vote wise since his state is already a GOP stronghold.