Veepstakes kick off in the Sunshine State

While Sen. John McCain remains mum on possible selections for a running mate, that hasn't stopped the speculation mill from turning.

Today CNN is reporting that McCain stopped off in Florida and made an appearance with Gov. Charlie Crist:

"McCain and Crist appeared together during a campaign stop in West Palm Beach — his first official event since clinching the nomination Tuesday. The two heaped praise on each other, but McCain wouldn't say if he is considering Crist as his number two."

Crist has been shortlisted by the punditry as a possible choice for VP, and it may be significant that Florida was McCain's first stop in a campaign that will last another eight months. His narrow win there over Romney was one of the major victories that allowed McCain to pull away from his chief primary rival, and the late-hour endorsement of Gov. Crist was seen as a move that helped put him over the edge.

Still, numerous names have cropped up in the short time McCain has been the presumptive Republican nominee, and for the time being, the senator isn't saying a thing.