"It's a tricky business," say political professionals, strategists and operatives, pundits and analysts in American media, who noted that the lists of potential vice presidential nominees of both Obama and McCain carry the names of eminent men and women in American politics.

Yes, they all said, the political ritual is going to be protracted that could last days before or during their parties' separate conventions in August when they'll be proclaimed as the official presidential candidates.

But, as I noted last Thursday, the political media establishment has been busy speculating on who could likely be tapped by Obama and McCain for the No. 2 slot in their presidential tickets.

The talk is that Obama, the first African-American would-be president from Illinois, is considering more than two dozen potential running mate, including 13 current or former senators, 11 current or former governors, two retired generals, and former Vice President Al Gore.

McCain, the son and grandson of US Navy admirals and a Vietnam war hero, and senator from Arizona, has almost as long a list, including eight current or former senators, 10 current or former governors, a couple of high-technology chief executives, and one of those retired generals.

Those are the "long lists," but the real question facing the two presidential rivals is who's on the "short lists"?

So far, Obama and McCain have declined to say who're on their "short lists" or when they plan to choose their running mates. Their staffs are just as tight-lipped. And even those believed to be in the lists are quiet as innocent lambs.

Of course, just like here in the Philippines, this did not at all stop the political strategists and operatives, and especially the media pundits and commentators from making their breathless speculations and "educated" guesses on who could be in the "short lists."

Some of the leading contenders in the Veepstakes, culled from the Internet as coming from The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, The New Republic, Politico and other mainstream media, are five Democrats: Senator Hillary Clinton of New York, Obama's formidable rival in the primary campaign for nomination; Senator Jim Webb of Virginia; Senator Joseph Biden, Jr. of Delaware; Senator Evan Bayd of Indiana; and former Senator Sam Nunn of Georgia; and, four Republicans: Senator Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, who came in second to McCain in the primaries; Florida Gov. Charlie Crist; Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty; Senator John Thume of South Dakota; and Senator Joe Lieberman, though not a Republican, is a close friend and ally of McCain's.

And now, long political observers of American politics in the US and elsewhere, as well as political strategists from both parties, have noted that this is a new era when the vice presidency has become more powerful than ever before, and are asking these questions: Does the candidate bring balance to the ticket, not geographical balance but resume balance? Is this someone who could in an emergency step in and lead the nation? Can these two politicians forge a good working partnership that will make their campaign more effective and work well together in the White House? Will the vice presidential nominee turn out to be a problem instead of an asset to the president?

Indeed, the selection of a running mate is especially important for Democrats and Republicans alike. In Obama's case, they said, he someone who will alleviate the fear that he's young (47) and lacks "experience" and who will help him heal the wounds inflicted on the Democratic Party during his torrid and divisive primary campaign with Hillary Clinton. And in McCain's case, he needs to pick someone who will diminish his age (71) and highlight his persona over the image that he's "a loyal foot soldier" of the very unpopular President George W. Bush.