Related articles:

Obama and McCain on the hunt for vice presidential candidatesFinding a Veep tops summer to-do list for Obama, McCainNapolitano considered contender for Obama VP McCain, Obama face off over 'purple states' Poll: McCain now tied with Clinton, Obama Huckabee, Richardson top readers' VP poll

Administrative & Professional
Jorgensen Brooks Group
Counselor Administrative & Professional
Tucson Urban League
CEO/President Finance and Accounting
Charles E. Gillman Company
Accounting Specialist Health Care
Dependable Health Services
Physical Therapists Mechanical
Komatsu Equipment Co
Resident Field Mechanic Trades/Construction
RANCHO RESORT
MAINTANANCE POSITION Sales and Marketing
Everready Glass
Sales Reps

Presumptive presidential candidates John McCain, R-Ariz., and Barack Obama, D-Ill., must soon make the decision that will help define their presidential quests: Who will be their running mates?

Pick the wrong vice-presidential candidate and watch the election swirl down the drain.

George H.W. Bush's decision to stick with spelling-challenged Dan Quayle probably contributed to Bush-the-elder's failed 1992 re-election attempt.

While we believe the top criterion for veep picks must be their ability to assume the presidency, we also believe that a vice presidential candidate should:

● Bring qualities that augment the ticket. That could be geographic diversity, such as roping in a swing state or balancing regional interests. The VP candidate should complement the presidential candidate's weak areas.

● Have a sense of humor that recognizes the seriousness of the office and is not disrespectful.

The vice presidential candidates should not:

● Carry too much personal or political baggage.

● Have skeletons in the closet. The VP candidate must be scandal-free and willing to be transparent. Thomas F. Eagleton, George McGovern's initial vice-presidential nominee in 1972, stepped down after it was revealed that he'd undergone electroshock treatments for depression.

Some of the leading contenders to be McCain's running mate include:

● U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee: She could help McCain with conservatives and the coveted white-women-over-50 voters. She lacks national experience — she's only been in Congress since 2002 — but has plenty of state and party experience.

● Gov. Charlie Crist of Florida: Even though he's only been governor a couple of years, he is popular in the Sunshine State, a significant swing state in the last two elections.

● Mike Huckabee: The bass guitar in a rock band, Baptist preacher and former governor of Arkansas could be useful with evangelical voters. He pulled out of the presidential race in March. Perhaps he stayed in the race long enough for McCain to pick him as his running mate. Perhaps not.

● Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana: The son of Indian immigrants and a Rhodes Scholar, he's popular in his state and in line with McCain on issues such as ethics reform and investment taxes. He celebrated his 37th birthday Tuesday. He may make an exceptional candidate for national office in the future, but because of his youth and inexperience he's probably not ready to be commander in chief.

● U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut: McCain's pal Joe Lieberman, an independent, has foreign policy chops, but zero, zilch, nada conservative credibility. Besides, he's already been candidate for vice president — in 2000 as a Democrat.

● Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota: He's a young (born in 1960) fiscal conservative who reigned in the state's huge budget deficit without raising taxes months after taking office in 2002. Pawlenty stuck with McCain through last summer's near-meltdown of the campaign.

● Mitt Romney: The former governor of Massachusetts is a wealthy businessman who saved the 2002 Winter Olympics. He could shore up McCain's economic shortcomings. However, after the charged primaries, the two don't really seem to have the chemistry to be running mates.

Some of the folks on Obama's wingman list include:

● Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York: Having come so, so close to the nabbing the top slot, there are about 18 million reasons to pick her. An Obama-Clinton ticket could help unite the party. Even though her baggage has been rummaged through, it is still heavy. We wonder, too, how a former president would shape the role of second gentleman.

● Gov. Janet Napolitano of Arizona: While it would be intriguing to see Arizona represented on both sides of the ballot, we need Napolitano to balance the Legislature. Seeking the vice presidency, she probably would not benefit Obama in a meaningful way and could enrage the Arizona Democrats because Republican Jan Brewer, secretary of state, would step in as governor. Napolitano is better suited to be attorney general in an Obama administration — in 2010 when her term as governor ends.

● Sam Nunn: The former U.S. senator from Georgia is only two years younger than McCain, but he's well-respected and has heaps of defense and foreign-policy experience.

● Gov. Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania: A prominent Hillary Clinton supporter, he would appeal to white working-class voters and Clintonites.

● Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico: A former ambassador to the United Nations, Richardson has the executive and foreign-policy experience Obama lacks. He's popular with Hispanics, a voting bloc Obama needs to take the White House. He's fairly popular in his swing state of New Mexico and could help attract Southwestern voters.

● Gov. Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas: She brings executive experience, but probably won't be able to deliver any swing states. Picking her would be a slap in Hillary Clinton's face.

● Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia: A decorated veteran of the Vietnam War, he would bring the foreign-policy and military experience Obama lacks. He could help deliver Virginia.

The hottest "game" in Washington, D.C., on TV talk shows and probably around the microwave oven in your break room is "VP-poll-ooza," in which players speculate on whom Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama will select as their running mates.

Join in the veep-guessing fun. Tell us who you believe should be on the ballot with McCain and Obama. Go to azstarnet.com/special/vp-poll-ooza and answer the following questions.

We'll frequently report your vice presidential candidate preferences and add names to the lists until the running mates are named.

Sen. John McCain's running mate should be: • Marsha Blackburn • Charlie Crist • Mike Huckabee • Bobby Jindal • Joe Lieberman • Tim Pawlenty • Mitt Romney

Why should McCain name the person you selected as his running mate?

Sen. Barack Obama's running mate should be: • Hillary Clinton • Janet Napolitano • Sam Nunn • Ed Rendell • Bill Richardson • Kathleen Sebelius • Jim Webb