Back in February, ExLg did a series covering the potential vice presidental candidates for the Republican side. After three months and recent veep-related developments, I thought it wise to revisit and revise that list.

I created the first analysis since so many names were being tossed around without consideration of their electoral impact. Sure, I like Michael Steele and Gen. Petraeus as much as the next guy, but would they bring Sen. John McCain closer to victory?

Read the original post for the complete background, but here's a summary of my analysis. I assessed each potential Veep on the following attributes:

• Presidential: If elected, McCain would be one of our oldest presidents. And with the physical hell he’s endured in those 71 years, his health will be a major campaign issue. When you look at how rapidly presidents age due to job stress, he needs someone ready to assume command from day one.
• Standard-bearer: Except in the case of Cheney, nearly every VP is assumed to be the party’s heir apparent. Will McCain’s choice enthuse the base as they look to his future leadership?
• Ideological balance: A true-blue conservative could help turn out the base. A moderate or liberal could bolster the middle. There are pros and cons in this area, depending on McCain’s general election strategy.
• Geographic advantage: If a candidate can deliver a state, he will be a phenomenal asset in this evenly divided nation. A running mate won’t turn a blue state red, but he could help drag a purple state into the R column.
• Experiential diversity: We haven’t elected a sitting senator since JFK. Lack of executive experience and a long paper trail are a couple of big reasons for that.
• Age/Ethnicity/Gender: I hate this category, but McCain will be an old, white male facing a younger African-American or woman. And every criticism he makes will be reported by the MSM as being either racist or sexist accordingly. He might want to defuse those charges with a “diversity” pick. However, he will then be criticized as choosing a token.

With the strongest candidates, I considered other issues (voter perception, skeletons in the closet, popularity, etc.). All in all, I think the analysis has held up well. Everyone in my original Top Ten stayed in, although most changed position.

Mitt Romney was originally ranked quite low since I figured McCain's personal animus made that choice a near-impossibility. But since that time, these men have campaigned together in winning fashion and Romney continues to build bridges to both conservatives and party insiders. Giuliani, originally ranked high, has almost completely dropped from sight; his rank has dropped accordingly.

Charlie Crist, the Governor of must-win Florida, now seems less valuable since McCain is already crushing Hillary and Obama in statewide polls. And after Obama's ill-fated adventures in the Rust Belt, an Ohioan like Rob Portman is that much more attractive. Without further ado...

The Top Ten Republican VP Choices

1. Gov. Tim Pawlenty (stayed same)
2. Rep. Rob Portman (up from #7)
3. Gov. Mitt Romney (up from #9)
4. Gov. Mark Sanford (down from #4)
5. Gov. Charlie Crist (down from #2)
6. Mayor Rudy Giuliani (down from #3)
7. Gov. Haley Barbour (down from #5)
8. Gov. Sarah Palin (down from #6)
9. Sen. John Thune (down from #8)
10. Rep. Chris Cox (stayed same)