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        The suspense is killing most of us political spectators.  Who will Barack Obama and John McCain choose to be their respective running mates? 

        This is an interesting question with a bizarre twist. 

        I think that Barack Obama realizes what a disaster Tim Kaine will be for the ticket, so he will be eliminated much to our chagrin (bummer…I was going to start production of the Unibrow ’08 T-Shirt for some extra $$$…(I had bipartisan takers for this as well)).   I guess it will be Evan Bayh or Mark Warner, unless Hillary hijacks the DNC Convention (this is the REAL Audacity of Hope).

         As for the Republicans, McCain has several names on his wish list, including Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), Former Homeland Security Secretary and Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, Mitt Romney and Virginia Congressman Eric Cantor. 

       There was a particularly interesting article on Real Clear Politics by Rich Lowry of National Review that discussed the possible implications of McCain selecting either Lieberman or Ridge as his running mate. 

Selecting Ridge, who is at least a Republican, would be a more cautious choice, but also a foolish one. Whatever help he might give in Pennsylvania would be overwhelmed by the disappointment of the evangelical voters who have of late been rallying around McCain. Although Lieberman is more heterodox than Ridge, he makes more sense — if McCain is willing to follow through on the radical logic of his selection.

Despite being an independent, Lieberman still caucuses with the Democrats in the Senate and has a standard liberal voting record. In 2007, Lieberman and his fellow Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd — sometimes talked about as a vice-presidential possibility for Barack Obama — had identical 70 percent ratings from the liberal Americans for Democratic Action.

       Both of these two would have the capacity to drive the conservative vote away.  Face it, many conservative voters would rather stay at home than vote for a liberal tyrant like Lieberman.  Ridge is better, but his pro-choice stance would cause many social conservatives to sit this one out as well.

       Logistically, the best choice for McCain’s selection would be Rep. Eric Cantor.  Cantor is a solid fiscal and social conservative, whose youth would be a definite asset to the ticket.  If the predictions are true that McCain would be a one-term President, then Cantor would be a natural for the Presidency.

       Needless to say, the suspense is killing us, political spectators, decision time…please!