Without actually naming his choice for McCain, Rick Santorum, in today's Philly Inquirer, gives the campaign some advice:

Here is a quick screen his team should apply: Does the potential running mate have a connection to President Bush? Is he or she not ready for prime time, because that's the GOP's main charge against Obama?

Does the man or woman have meaningful government experience - long-serving governor or member of Congress, because the public understands that running a company and knowing how to govern are not the same thing? Is the potential running mate a lightning-rod conservative or, conversely, a selection that threatens to turn off the GOP's conservative base?

Santorum's overall message for McCain is to "play it safe." All of which would seem to point toward someone like Gov. Tim Pawlenty, long seen as a safe bet for McCain.

All in all, it's good advice. McCain isn't going to "out Obama" Obama no matter whom he picks as his running mate, so that right there gets rid of a lot of exciting choices like Bobby Jindal or any of the CEO candidates like Meg Whitman, Fred Smith and Carly Fiorina. I would keep Sarah Palin in the mix if Obama doesn't choose a woman.