It's time to start taking bets on McCain's veep. Mitt Romney, who bowed out like a real gent, and Mike Huckabee, who hasn't, both have chips on the table at the convention. But neither are high on most pundits' lists. The Wall Street Journal speculates on the vice presidential possibilities after McCain said he doesn't need to go for regional balance.

McCain said he would look for someone who is “fully prepared to take over” and someone who “shares your values, your principles, your philosophy and your priorities. I think that’s the first and only real criteria for the selection of a running mate.”

RealClearPolitics has begun a VeepStakes! based on blog mentions. Mitt failed to make the shortlist and Huckabee is in a three-way tie at the very bottom.

Gov. Jon Huntsman, who stuck his neck out as one of the few Utah Mormons to eschew near-native son Mitt for McCain, only got one lousy mention as vice presidential possiblity. But, if McCain takes the nomination, then the election — he'll have cabinet positions to hand out, not to mention a ambassadorship to China, one of the Guv's favorite destinations.

Amazingly, a black woman is at the top of the list: Condoleezza Rice. Some conservatives say that would that take the wind out of a possible Clinton/Obama Democratic ticket.

RealClearPolitics' VEEPSTAKES! ^TM shortlist:

Condoleezza Rice (21)
JC Watts (16)
Sarah Palin (14)
Colin Powell (14)
Michael Steele (10)
Charlie Crist (9)
Bobby Jindal (9)
Fred Thompson (9)
Haley Barbour (6)
Chris Cox (6)
Rudy Giuliani (6)
Kay Bailey Hutchison (6)
John Kasich (6)
Tom Ridge (6)
Mike Huckabee (5)
Rick Santorum (5)
John Thune (5)