Potential Romney running mates

Responding to a question at a South Carolina campaign stop, Presidential candidate and former Governor of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney, offered up a few names he would consider for a potential running mate (via the AP).

Making the speculative list: South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia, and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.

Though Missouri's political circles have been abuzz with speculation, Missouri Governor Matt Blunt was not among those mentioned.

To be fair, Romney was playing to the audience, as he himself said, "When I'm in South Carolina, I'm not going to fail to mention some of the ones that are closest."

With the primaries still 11 months away, calling any response premature is, of course, an understatement.