VP Hot Sheet: Cantor Takes Off

Weekend revelations that Congressman Eric Cantor has been asked to provide information to John McCain's campaign has catapulted the relatively unknown Virginian up and onto the list of potential candidates on the CBSNews.com GOP VP Hot Sheet.

Cantor is a favorite of conservatives McCain would like to shore up in advance of his convention and, at 45, would bring some youthful exuberance to the ticket. But tapping him would also require a mammoth introductory roll-out by the campaign at a time when the bulk of the attention should be on the top of the ticket. After all of the talk of Barack Obama's interest in Virginia Governor Tim Kaine, this boomlet has a reactionary feel to it.

Mitt Romney and Tim Pawlenty continue to top the GOP list and former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina cracks the top ten after the buzz surrounding her possible selection continues. If McCain wants to make an overture to women voters who feel slighted by Hillary Clinton's primary defeat and bolster his economic credentials, Fiorina appears to be the front-runner. Meanwhile, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin slips to the number ten spot after the state legislator appointed a special investigator to look into allegations that she used her office to try and fire her former brother in-law. For all the latest buzz, check out the GOP VP Hot Sheet.