The Crist Veep-O-Meter nudges a tad closer to vice president, though it has less to do with Crist than some of other often mentioned prospects for McCain’s running mate. Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson pretty much took herself out of the running. Meanwhile Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, an early McCain supporter who has at least as much vice presidential Buzz as Crist, took a bashing in an op-ed by a Minnesota anti-tax activist.

Minnesota Citizens for Tax Justice director Wayne Cox wrote that the 47-year-old Pawlenty can’t deliver the state for McCain, that Minnesota has become more Democratic-leaning under Pawlenty and he has done little to help Minnesota’s economy.

"He should follow the lead of successful Republican governors like Crist and build a record of results,’’ Cox wrote in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

The Washington Post’s influential political blog, The Fix, on Friday listed Crist as one of the five likeliest picks for McCain, along with Pawlenty, Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, and South Dakota Sen. Jon Thune.