Like so many other pundits, we’ve already thrown out a few dozen potential choices for the Vice President slot on a John McCain-led Republican ticket.

From vanquished 2008 presidential candidates to Bush insiders to a number of popular (and young) Southern governors, it’s a really long short list.

Three names stand out to us, however, as candidates for Vice President who would (unfortunately) make John McCain even tougher to defeat.

It’s all a parlor game of pure speculation, and will probably remain so for months more, but from John McCain’s perspective, it’s hard to see how any of the choices below hurt him, especially against Sen. Barack Obama.

1. Tom Ridge, Former Pennsylvania Governor and U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary

For John McCain to succeed George W. Bush, he has to win more than his share of rust-belt states — Ohio, Pennsylvania, even Michigan. Working-class swing voters in these industrial states are integral to this strategy.

Tom Ridge — a 62-year-old Vietnam vet and President Bush’s first Secretary of Homeland Security — could help him convincevoters that Obama is too inexperienced to handle Iraq and the myriad threats facing our nation.

Ridge would satisfy the base of the Party and reinforce “Reagan Democrat” appeal to McCain — a demographic that Obama already has problems with. He’s also an enormous asset in Pennsylvania, neighboring Ohio and the upper Midwest.

2. Bobby Jindal, Governor of Louisiana

As Barack Obama captivates millions with his message of unity, change and hope, a Republican candidate who embodies real change - and can carry the party into the next generation - might greatly help 71-year-old John McCain.

The rising star of the GOP, the new governor of Louisiana, Bobby Jindal, is only 36, but like Obama, quickly makes you think that age is just a number. Say what you will about his politics, he’s a highly competent public official.

The Rhodes Scholar has served as the Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, President of the University of Louisiana System, U.S. Representative in Congress (two terms), and Governor of Louisiana.

“Values” voters love Bobby Jindal and he has a strong conservative record, but almost more importantly, a McCain-Jindal ticket could generate the kind of enthusiasm and turnout that is currently the Democrats’ trump card.

Even before McCain got the nod, Democratic participation was exceeding that of Republicans by leaps and bounds this winter. The GOP could use some rock star, Barack Obama-style excitement around one of its own upstarts.

3. Chris Cox, Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission

The chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission made his name for 16 years (1989-2005, resigning to take the SEC appointment) as the smartest and perhaps the most unwavering Reagan-esque conservative in the U.S. House.

Representing the California 48th, Chris Cox built a reputation as both a thoughtful and reform-minded public official. He’s a staunch conservative (rated one of the most staunch, in fact) that no hard-liners would complain about.

Moreover, Chris Cox, a 55-year-old father of three, has an upbeat, friendly demeanor that would balance out an often intense and abrasive John McCain.

He grew up in Minnesota, where he could improve Republican odds, and even more importantly, remains popular in California. The Golden State suddenly being in play could doom the Democrats’ chances in November.