Who's in the Republican Veepstakes?

CONS: No significant foreign policy experience. Untested and not fully vetted on the national stage. Weak reelection win in 2006 raises questions about whether he could help carry his state.

CONS: Skewered McCain during primary season, with quotes that would be thrown back at the ticket. Has little personal relationship with the candidate. Will offer no help in carrying his home state. History of liberal-to-moderate positions could haunt him with GOP base.

CONS: Doesn't solve McCain's problems with conservatives, particularly on immigration and environmental issues. Has served less than two years as governor.

CONS: Doesn't add a state that isn't already in the GOP column. Stayed neutral during tightly contested South Carolina primary, even though he endorsed McCain in 2000. Has had a tense relationship with Republicans in his home state.

CONS: Home state is among the safest Republican states in the country. Mormon faith could present challenges similar to those faced by Romney.

CONS: Would further tie McCain to Bush administration. Represented conservative district and may not necessarily help McCain win Ohio, a key swing state.

CONS: A two-senator ticket would have trouble running as Washington reformers. Geographical diversity would not add states to GOP column.

CONS: Has never run for public office. Has been off-message several times in discussing McCain's positions.

CONS: Would provide little help in carrying California, the state he represented in Congress. SEC leadership has been criticized by conservatives who favor freer-market approaches.

CONS: Newly installed governor is untested on the national stage. Would face questions about his ability to take over in a crisis.

CONS: Still votes with the Democrats on most issues not connected to the war, and supports abortion rights. Could prompt a conservative revolt. Probably wouldn't help carry his heavily Democratic home state.

CONS: Has never held elected office. Would ensure more than ever that McCain's fate would rest on outcome of Iraq War.

CONS: Minimal national profile or foreign-policy experience.

CONS: Has tangled with home-state Republicans on tax issues, and for pursuing a small-bore agenda. Stayed neutral during most hotly contested portion of primary campaign.

CONS: No experience in elected office. Early and enthusiastic supporter of former rival Mitt Romney.

CONS: Lingered perhaps a few weeks too long in the presidential race, serving as a reminder of conservative discontent with McCain. Light foreign-policy credentials. Mistrusted by fiscal conservatives. Just signed with Fox News Channel as a political commentator, which could leave him out of politics for a while.

CONS: Would complicate efforts for McCain to separate himself from Bush on war policy. Describes herself as "mildly pro-choice." Has shown little interest in pursuing elected office, despite reports that she's lobbying for the job.

CONS: Agreement with McCain on immigration reform could further enrage conservatives. Last name is almost certainly a liability in a general election.

CONS: Has passed up previous chances to seek elected office. Could create uncomfortable relationship with other former Bush administration officials. Has provided foreign-policy advice to Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama.

CONS: Abandoned Republican Party in 2007. Also likely to be considered for a spot on a potential ticket with Obama. Supports gay marriage and abortion rights, and stricter gun laws. May disagree with McCain on more big issues than he agrees with him on.

CONS: Skewered McCain during primary season, with quotes that would be thrown back at the ticket. Has little personal relationship with the candidate. Will offer no help in carrying his home state. History of liberal-to-moderate positions could haunt him with GOP base.

CONS: Doesn't solve McCain's problems with conservatives, particularly on immigration and environmental issues. Has served less than two years as governor.

CONS: Doesn't add a state that isn't already in the GOP column. Stayed neutral during tightly contested South Carolina primary, even though he endorsed McCain in 2000. Has had a tense relationship with Republicans in his home state.

CONS: Home state is among the safest Republican states in the country. Mormon faith could present challenges similar to those faced by Romney.

CONS: Would further tie McCain to Bush administration. Represented conservative district and may not necessarily help McCain win Ohio, a key swing state.

CONS: A two-senator ticket would have trouble running as Washington reformers. Geographical diversity would not add states to GOP column.

CONS: Has never run for public office. Has been off-message several times in discussing McCain's positions.

CONS: Would provide little help in carrying California, the state he represented in Congress. SEC leadership has been criticized by conservatives who favor freer-market approaches.

CONS: Newly installed governor is untested on the national stage. Would face questions about his ability to take over in a crisis.

CONS: Still votes with the Democrats on most issues not connected to the war, and supports abortion rights. Could prompt a conservative revolt. Probably wouldn't help carry his heavily Democratic home state.

CONS: Has never held elected office. Would ensure more than ever that McCain's fate would rest on outcome of Iraq War.

CONS: Minimal national profile or foreign-policy experience.

CONS: Has tangled with home-state Republicans on tax issues, and for pursuing a small-bore agenda. Stayed neutral during most hotly contested portion of primary campaign.

CONS: No experience in elected office. Early and enthusiastic supporter of former rival Mitt Romney.

CONS: Lingered perhaps a few weeks too long in the presidential race, serving as a reminder of conservative discontent with McCain. Light foreign-policy credentials. Mistrusted by fiscal conservatives. Just signed with Fox News Channel as a political commentator, which could leave him out of politics for a while.

CONS: Would complicate efforts for McCain to separate himself from Bush on war policy. Describes herself as "mildly pro-choice." Has shown little interest in pursuing elected office, despite reports that she's lobbying for the job.

CONS: Agreement with McCain on immigration reform could further enrage conservatives. Last name is almost certainly a liability in a general election.

CONS: Has passed up previous chances to seek elected office. Could create uncomfortable relationship with other former Bush administration officials. Has provided foreign-policy advice to Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama.

CONS: Abandoned Republican Party in 2007. Also likely to be considered for a spot on a potential ticket with Obama. Supports gay marriage and abortion rights, and stricter gun laws. May disagree with McCain on more big issues than he agrees with him on.

CONS: Doesn't add a state that isn't already in the GOP column. Stayed neutral during tightly contested South Carolina primary, even though he endorsed McCain in 2000. Has had a tense relationship with Republicans in his home state.

CONS: Home state is among the safest Republican states in the country. Mormon faith could present challenges similar to those faced by Romney.

CONS: Would further tie McCain to Bush administration. Represented conservative district and may not necessarily help McCain win Ohio, a key swing state.

CONS: A two-senator ticket would have trouble running as Washington reformers. Geographical diversity would not add states to GOP column.

CONS: Has never run for public office. Has been off-message several times in discussing McCain's positions.

CONS: Would provide little help in carrying California, the state he represented in Congress. SEC leadership has been criticized by conservatives who favor freer-market approaches.

CONS: Newly installed governor is untested on the national stage. Would face questions about his ability to take over in a crisis.

CONS: Still votes with the Democrats on most issues not connected to the war, and supports abortion rights. Could prompt a conservative revolt. Probably wouldn't help carry his heavily Democratic home state.

CONS: Has never held elected office. Would ensure more than ever that McCain's fate would rest on outcome of Iraq War.

CONS: Minimal national profile or foreign-policy experience.

CONS: Has tangled with home-state Republicans on tax issues, and for pursuing a small-bore agenda. Stayed neutral during most hotly contested portion of primary campaign.

CONS: No experience in elected office. Early and enthusiastic supporter of former rival Mitt Romney.

CONS: Lingered perhaps a few weeks too long in the presidential race, serving as a reminder of conservative discontent with McCain. Light foreign-policy credentials. Mistrusted by fiscal conservatives. Just signed with Fox News Channel as a political commentator, which could leave him out of politics for a while.

CONS: Would complicate efforts for McCain to separate himself from Bush on war policy. Describes herself as "mildly pro-choice." Has shown little interest in pursuing elected office, despite reports that she's lobbying for the job.

CONS: Agreement with McCain on immigration reform could further enrage conservatives. Last name is almost certainly a liability in a general election.

CONS: Has passed up previous chances to seek elected office. Could create uncomfortable relationship with other former Bush administration officials. Has provided foreign-policy advice to Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama.

CONS: Abandoned Republican Party in 2007. Also likely to be considered for a spot on a potential ticket with Obama. Supports gay marriage and abortion rights, and stricter gun laws. May disagree with McCain on more big issues than he agrees with him on.

CONS: A two-senator ticket would have trouble running as Washington reformers. Geographical diversity would not add states to GOP column.

CONS: Has never run for public office. Has been off-message several times in discussing McCain's positions.

CONS: Would provide little help in carrying California, the state he represented in Congress. SEC leadership has been criticized by conservatives who favor freer-market approaches.

CONS: Newly installed governor is untested on the national stage. Would face questions about his ability to take over in a crisis.

CONS: Still votes with the Democrats on most issues not connected to the war, and supports abortion rights. Could prompt a conservative revolt. Probably wouldn't help carry his heavily Democratic home state.

CONS: Has never held elected office. Would ensure more than ever that McCain's fate would rest on outcome of Iraq War.

CONS: Minimal national profile or foreign-policy experience.

CONS: Has tangled with home-state Republicans on tax issues, and for pursuing a small-bore agenda. Stayed neutral during most hotly contested portion of primary campaign.

CONS: No experience in elected office. Early and enthusiastic supporter of former rival Mitt Romney.

CONS: Lingered perhaps a few weeks too long in the presidential race, serving as a reminder of conservative discontent with McCain. Light foreign-policy credentials. Mistrusted by fiscal conservatives. Just signed with Fox News Channel as a political commentator, which could leave him out of politics for a while.

CONS: Would complicate efforts for McCain to separate himself from Bush on war policy. Describes herself as "mildly pro-choice." Has shown little interest in pursuing elected office, despite reports that she's lobbying for the job.

CONS: Agreement with McCain on immigration reform could further enrage conservatives. Last name is almost certainly a liability in a general election.

CONS: Has passed up previous chances to seek elected office. Could create uncomfortable relationship with other former Bush administration officials. Has provided foreign-policy advice to Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama.

CONS: Abandoned Republican Party in 2007. Also likely to be considered for a spot on a potential ticket with Obama. Supports gay marriage and abortion rights, and stricter gun laws. May disagree with McCain on more big issues than he agrees with him on.

CONS: Newly installed governor is untested on the national stage. Would face questions about his ability to take over in a crisis.

CONS: Still votes with the Democrats on most issues not connected to the war, and supports abortion rights. Could prompt a conservative revolt. Probably wouldn't help carry his heavily Democratic home state.

CONS: Has never held elected office. Would ensure more than ever that McCain's fate would rest on outcome of Iraq War.

CONS: Minimal national profile or foreign-policy experience.

CONS: Has tangled with home-state Republicans on tax issues, and for pursuing a small-bore agenda. Stayed neutral during most hotly contested portion of primary campaign.

CONS: No experience in elected office. Early and enthusiastic supporter of former rival Mitt Romney.

CONS: Lingered perhaps a few weeks too long in the presidential race, serving as a reminder of conservative discontent with McCain. Light foreign-policy credentials. Mistrusted by fiscal conservatives. Just signed with Fox News Channel as a political commentator, which could leave him out of politics for a while.

CONS: Would complicate efforts for McCain to separate himself from Bush on war policy. Describes herself as "mildly pro-choice." Has shown little interest in pursuing elected office, despite reports that she's lobbying for the job.

CONS: Agreement with McCain on immigration reform could further enrage conservatives. Last name is almost certainly a liability in a general election.

CONS: Has passed up previous chances to seek elected office. Could create uncomfortable relationship with other former Bush administration officials. Has provided foreign-policy advice to Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama.

CONS: Abandoned Republican Party in 2007. Also likely to be considered for a spot on a potential ticket with Obama. Supports gay marriage and abortion rights, and stricter gun laws. May disagree with McCain on more big issues than he agrees with him on.

CONS: Lingered perhaps a few weeks too long in the presidential race, serving as a reminder of conservative discontent with McCain. Light foreign-policy credentials. Mistrusted by fiscal conservatives. Just signed with Fox News Channel as a political commentator, which could leave him out of politics for a while.

CONS: Would complicate efforts for McCain to separate himself from Bush on war policy. Describes herself as "mildly pro-choice." Has shown little interest in pursuing elected office, despite reports that she's lobbying for the job.

CONS: Agreement with McCain on immigration reform could further enrage conservatives. Last name is almost certainly a liability in a general election.

CONS: Has passed up previous chances to seek elected office. Could create uncomfortable relationship with other former Bush administration officials. Has provided foreign-policy advice to Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama.

CONS: Abandoned Republican Party in 2007. Also likely to be considered for a spot on a potential ticket with Obama. Supports gay marriage and abortion rights, and stricter gun laws. May disagree with McCain on more big issues than he agrees with him on.