[Greg F]

Voter enthusiasm would depend on running mate...

_________________________

McCain would benefit by picking a conservative as a running mate with “us” conservative voters.

[JasonC]

His veep will probably be Thompson. They are friends, and Thompson is pretty clearly running for veep anyway. He'd cover the right and south a bit, reassure a lot on age concerns, and has the gravitas and steadiness people want in anyone on the ticket. That he is so laconic, even self effacing, is a liability at the top of the ticket but an asset at the bottom. From Thompson's point of view, win or lose, being on the actual national ticket once raises his eventual chances at the office itself, dramatically. He can wait.