Rep. Eric Cantor of Virginia has always been in the background of McCain's VP chatter. But it's only been in the last couple weeks that he's risen to the top tier -- or so the rumors would have us believe. A bit late, but on Saturday, the Politico's Jonathan Martin and Mike Allen reported that Cantor is now under all the all-important rubric of being "Vetted."

John McCain's presidential campaign is vetting Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.) as a potential vice presidential candidate, a campaign adviser told Politico on Saturday.

Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine is a top running mate prospect for Barack Obama, opening up the possibility of an all-Old Dominion, Kaine vs. Cantor vice-presidential debate.

Cantor, 45, has provided records to McCain's running mate search team the adviser said.

With a Southern lilt and a talent for raw politics, Cantor is one of the nation's most prominent Jewish Republicans; he has impressed the McCain team by becoming a prolific fundraiser for the campaign.

A young fiscal conservative who could help keep Virginia from tipping blue, Cantor could also be an asset in battlegrounds such as Florida, Pennsylvania and Ohio. He has shown appeal to the party's base as well as to independents, and would be an unconventional choice at a time when McCain is looking to add excitement to his campaign.

Cantor is certainly less conventional than Tim Pawlenty or Mitt Romney -- the VP du jours of last week -- but much more than a Bobby Jindal or Sarah Palin. He would be a conservative pick certainly, but would he excite the moderate and independent voters?