While the Democratic presidential candidates continue to bludgeon each other in the proverbial race to the left, Republican attention is now shifting to the number two slot: vice president.  

Although Sen. McCain may be keeping a tight lid on his search process, that doesn't mean the rest of us can't play the tables!

One name consistently atop the list of contenders is Florida Governor Charlie Crist.  A Southerner, he is overwhelmingly popular in the nation's fourth most popular state.  While the handicappers are looking elsewhere, the smart money just might be on Crist.

To wit:

The election won't be won without Southern states.  Florida will need to trend decisively Republican (it is also home to 27 electoral votes).  South Carolina, home to another widely-talked about veep contender, Governor Mark Sandford, by contrast offers an electorate with only eight electoral votes.

Yesterday's California Supreme Court ruling notwithstanding, the electorate won't divide on the same lines as in 2000 and 2004; McCain's camp will argue his populism will be needed to pick up the kind of voters that supported Sen. Clinton over Sen. Obama in places like Indiana, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.  These voters are the Reagan Democrats.  Crist has a record of bucking the party and swimming upstream (on global warming, voting rights for felons among other issues, all while being a "law and order" prosecutor).  It could be argued some of these views would be valuable in attracting a broader GOP coalition in November.

McCain is enigmatic and will look for the same in his running mate--the political decision must also fit with his pragmatic and "maverick" approach to politics.  Crist's politics are reflective of McCain's.

Finally, winning republican votes and winning them solidly is what is important. 

Locking up Florida with a candidate who might appeal to prairie progressives, northeastern and western independents and still bring along a good portion of GOP voters starts to look like an effective strategy especially when viewed opposite the likely (very liberal) Democratic nominee.

But don't take my word from it--ask Gov. Crist for yourself!

He'll be in Orange County at the County GOP annual Flag Dinner June 13.

I know I'm not the only one looking forward to learning how he handles the inevitable question about being a dark horse or remaining governor.

(For the record, I don't have a horse in the race and have not worked for or supported any of the GOP (or any other!) contenders during this cycle)