McCain compiles list of possible GOP running mates

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Sen. John McCain has begun "getting together a list of names" to choose a vice presidential running mate and said Wednesday he hopes to announce his choice before the Republican convention in early September.

"I'd like to get it done as early as possible. I'm aware of enhanced importance of this issue given my age," said the Arizona senator, 71.

McCain wrapped up the Republican presidential nomination a month ago.

McCain told reporters his search for a running mate would take weeks if not months. At the prompting of aides, he said it was at an "embryonic stage" and added, "it's every name imaginable," about 20 in all.

He said his campaign had asked unnamed individuals to lead the effort, but had not heard back from them.

He said he wants to move quickly to make sure that there are no problems when he unveils his choice. He cited 1988, when George H.W. Bush named then-Sen. Dan Quayle to be his running mate.

"Quayle had not been briefed and prepared for some of the questions" that he would have to field, McCain said, without assigning any blame to Quayle himself.

Bush did not name Quayle until he reached his convention city in an effort to achieve the greatest element of surprise.

Speaking with reporters on his campaign bus, McCain did not offer any details of his search for a running mate.

"We just started this process of getting together a list of names and having them looked at," he said.

"If I had a personal preference I'd like to do it before the convention to avoid some of the mistakes that I've seen made in the past as you get into a time crunch and maybe sometimes don't make the announcement right or maybe they have not examined every single candidate."

McCain has given no hint of his thinking on a running mate, although he frequently speaks warmly of his former rivals for the nomination, particularly former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who traveled with the nominee-in-waiting last week. Among the other possible choices are several governors: Minnesota's Tim Pawlenty, Florida's Charlie Crist, Mississippi's Haley Barbour, South Carolina's Mark Sanford and Utah's Jon Huntsman Jr.