With oil and gasoline prices likely to be the big issue, McCain should ignore favorite-son calculi and pick Sarah Palin. She’s the most vocal pro-drilling elected official with the necessary stature, and would likely turn the PUMAs who planned to stay home into one-time GOP voters.
A lot more pro-drilling than McCain, who still opposes drilling in Alaska's ANWR. So, McCain would be highlighting his weakness with the Pro-Drilling Palin.