The Wall Street Journal's Rhodes Cook, writing on July 3, has the idea of the day, er, week:

After Adlai Stevenson was formally nominated for president by the Democrats in 1956, he stunned the convention by announcing that he was leaving the choice of his running mate to the delegates themselves. What followed was some of the most compelling political theater ever, and a convention that overnight was transformed from dull to electrifying.

As Cook notes, the McCain campaign seems unenergized at the moment and the choice of opening up the VP nomination to the delegates would instill immediate vibrancy to the campaign.

If McCain announced in early August, say, that he would let the convention decide his running mate, the ensuing contest would ensure Republicans a hefty dose of media coverage for weeks to follow. It could intrigue portions of the electorate that have been left cold by the GOP campaign thus far. It also could introduce to voters a new generation of Republican leaders. For good measure, an open vice presidential fight would guarantee the Republican convention more than the measly three hours or so of prime-time network TV coverage that it currently is slated to get.

But is getting media coverage better than picking the best running mate? Probably not. And allowing the delegates to decide could split the GOP just when it needs to be united. Still, to Cook's larger point, the delegates would likely -- repeat likely -- pick an unabashed conservative for McCain who would generate some much-needed excitement for the ticket.