[Strangler Lewis]

Here's a theory: The majority of folks on the short list all have presidential aspirations. They have concluded 1) that McCain can't win, and they don't want people in 2012 to remember their most recent significant accomplishment as being a losing VP candidate; 2) that even if he does win, he's a one-termer and 2a) even if he does win and is a one-termer, the odds are against anything good happening in the next four years. Thus, McCain was left with the Hail Mary option.