The Occasional Observer

OK Contributors, after MB's rousing success in the Mad Money Challenge, let's give it another shot here in round 2. It's time to play Veep Stakes!

Simply list your top 15 choices for who you think McCain will pick to be V.P., in order. (e.g. 1. Mitt, 2. Rudy, 3. Fred, etc...)

[IMPORTANT NOTE: WRITE DOWN YOUR CHOICES BEFORE CLICKING ON "COMMENTS", SO YOU DON'T SEE OTHER PEOPLE'S PICKS AND "GAME" YOUR CHOICES]

We'll crown 2 winners--first for the person who ranks the ultimate choice highest.

Then a co-champ for the person who gets the most people that ultimately land on McCain's short list. We'll award points in inverse order (15 points if your first choice gets on the short list, 14 points if your second choice gets on the short list, etc.)

It might take a while for the co-champ to be determined, because the short list won't come out until after the decision is made. Before hand there will be some blind speculation and targeted leaks, but not until a couple of weeks after the selection has been made will the dust have settled and we'll probably know who actually made the short list.

So with no further adieu, here are the possibles, and I've included anyone that I've heard any speculation about whatsoever. If you want someone who's not on this list, consider hims part of the "field" option.

Here's the long list of contenders, alphabetical by first name:

Bill Frist, Fmr Sen Maj Ldr (TN)
Bill Owens, Fmr Gov (CO)
Bob Riley, Gov (AL)
Bobby Jindal, Gov (LA)
Charlie Crist, Gov (FL)
Chris Cox, Chairman of the SEC
Condaleeza Rice, Sec of State
Duncan Hunter, Congressman (CA)
"Field" (anyone else)
Frank Keating, Fmr Gov (OK)
Fred Thompson, Fmr Sen (TN)
Haley Barbour, Gov (MS)
Jeb Bush, Fmr Gov (FL)
Jim DeMint, Sen (SC)
Jim Gilmore, Fmr Gov (VA)
Joe Lieberman, Sen (CT)
John Kasich, Fmr Congressman (OH)
John Thune, Sen (SD)
Kay Bailey Hutchison, Sen (TX)
Lindsey Graham, Sen (SC)
Mark Sanford, Gov (SC)
Michael Steele, Fmr Lt Gov (MD)
Mike Bloomberg, Mayor (NYC)
Mike Huckabee, Fmr Gov (AR)
Mike Pence, Congressman (IN)
Mitt Romney, Frm Gov (MA)
Newt Gingrich, Fmr Spkr of House
Paul Ryan, Consgressman (WI)
Richard Burr, Sen (NC)
Rob Portman, Director of OMB
Ron Paul, Congressman (TX)
Rudy Giuliani, Fmr Mayor (NYC)
Sam Brownback, Sen (KS)
Sarah Palin, Gov (AK)
Tim Pawlenty, Gov (MN)
Tom Coburn, Sen (OK)
Tom Ridge, Frmr Sec of Homeland Sec
Tommy Thompson, Fmr Gov (WI)