Historically, there is no end to the political speculation and strategic reasons why presidential nominees decide on their vice presidential running mate, almost all of which are calculated to add a winning strength to the ticket.

Geographical and political balance, ideology, age, race, gender, vitality, government experience, perceived electoral attractiveness, religious or moral clout, the personal candidate relationship or the ability to appeal to a particular voter group are factors that make for a complex decision formula.

For presumed Republican nominee John McCain, the most important factor must be overcoming McCain's admitted weakness on economic issues by enlisting an able partner to the team.

For six reasons, that person is Mitt Romney.

First, Romney's demonstrated strength of financial leadership is unequalled among oft-named possible running mates — in either major party. The slogan of the 1992 Clinton campaign, "It's the economy, stupid," will again be a foremost determinant for voters.

America is in the early stages of challenging economic times. The dollar has fallen to record lows against the euro, gold has soared to record highs, oil now tops $110 per barrel and retail sales are plummeting.

Home prices are falling and foreclosure rates are accelerating. The so-called subprime mortgage finance crisis is just beginning to unravel. Collateralized debt obligations of all kinds show signs of severe weakness, Americans have more than $2.3 trillion in consumer debt and every indication is the worst is ahead. Just this week Bear Stearns, the nation's fifth-largest investment bank, narrowly averted bankruptcy, and banking experts are predicting bank failures.

As an admirably successful business executive, governor and leader of an imperiled Olympics, Romney revealed his dazzling ability at financial transformation. To entrust something as significant as fixing our national economic mess to lesser talent is just not smart.

Second, Romney understands the compelling need for prudent government fiscal behavior. Federal spending is out of control, gigantic entitlements including Social Security and Medicare remain massively underfunded, and Iraq-Afghanistan war costs are expected to exceed an unbudgeted $3 trillion. Unrestrained debt spending is financed by a voracious demand for foreign capital as federal financial obligations to unfriendly governments are mushrooming.