As the McCain Campaign train wreck lumbers on, thoughts are turning to just who John McCain will pick as his vice presidential running mate.

Names are being bandied about like Bobby Jindal, the excorcist governor of Louisiana, Rudy Giuliani, a very long shot, Joe Lieberman, not gonna happen as he votes democrat on every domestic issue and he cannot deliver CT or the Jewish vote, Mitt Romney, another long shot as he can't deliver MA and Southern voters despise him, choosing instead to cast their vote for Mike Huckabee, who is another non-starter as VP, as he is basically a populist on domestic issues and an unknown on foreign policy, a consideration for all vp's as big mac is one beat away from the grave with that temper of his and the stress of the job...

So who do we have? Crist is in the running and would be a safe bet as he may be able to deliver FL and has solid conservative credentials, at least viewed through the lens of the RNC. However, his foreign policy credentials are also suspect and he'll work hard to deliver FL anyway, if not as hard.

There's Fiorini, the RNC Chair from Missouri, who may help deliver MO another must win for McCain, but also brings little else to the table.

Condi Rice you say? Highly doubtful as she is viewed primarily as a Bush enabler and bears much responsibility for the poor conduct of the war. She's black and a woman, but, I would venture to say she's not all that popular with blacks or women. Another non-starter.

Which brings us to Tim Pawlenty, governonr of Minnesota, another must win state for McCain but a pick who would deliver nothing else nationally, and former DHS head Tom Ridge.

Ridge largely survived with his reputation intact from his tenure in the Bush administration. He has national stature, and though he doesn't have the campaign apparatus to deliver a key state, like the governors, he brings much needed experience which should soothe the lingering concerns voters will have over the imminence of a McCain death.

So, by way of process of elimination, I am pleased to go on record with my prediction that McCain's VP pick will be Tom Ridge.

It is important to remember that McCain needs to make a very solid choice because there are reasonable assumptions he will die in office. He also has to make a pick that will actually help him get votes, because he needs every vote he can get. Obama can carry the ticket no matter who he picks. McDepends Underpants can't. It ain't fair, but it's true.

Recall that part of McCain's charm to independents is he is perceived as a "maverick" republican. this helps because the republican brand has become toxic. mccain may be able to distance himself from the republican party, but, will his VP pick be able to do the same.

In this election year, two republicans are worse than one.*

*Tom Ridge again is useful in this respect as he is Republican of national stature with a thin veneer of competence. That alone is enough to offer some insulation from the fact that he is republican.