John McCain further fueled the speculation and wonder by not setting a time frame nor gave any indication on his choice for VP while speaking to the AP’s annual meeting of reporters.

McCain did not want to give any hints or drop any names because the act itself would be “an invasion of privacy sort of thing, and it’s not fair to someone who is just a person, a citizen that if their name comes up, then of course, there’s an intense focus on that individual and I understand that, so it’s hard for me to do that.”

McCain stated that his choice would be based off the individual’s positions and principles that are similar to his own. He added that in the end, voters support who is on top of the ticket. But did conclude that selection will be very important and maybe even more so in his case because of the unique situation he is in where many in the Republican base have refused to back him entirely.

In my opinion, McCain has to go after popularity and appease the base of his Party. Many wish to see Fred Thompson, Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee Mark Sanford, Charlie Crist and so on. McCain needs to bring someone in that can do things he can’t and has support that he doesn’t. That’s why I think it’s vitaly important that McCain does not choose Crist or any other “Centrist” Republicrat or Sanford, even though a conservative, really doesn’t add to McCain’s ticket. McCain has to secure his flank and bring in someone who adds to, not just smooth over. He has to go with a well supported and respected core-conservative that red-meat Republicans will support. Thus, the list gets much smaller and less complicated.

I still think Fred Thompson is on that list.