McCain invites 3 VP hopefuls to ranch

WASHINGTON, May 22 (UPI) -- Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., apparently eyeing a running mate for his presidential run, has invited three hopefuls for a weekend session, GOP sources say.

The New York Times reported McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, had asked Gov. Charlie Crist of Florida, Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana and Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor and a onetime rival for the Republican nomination, to join him at his ranch in Sedona, Ariz., for a Memorial Day outing, along with some of the senator's top political counselors.

Politico, a Washington publication, reported that the three invitees shouldn't be considered a "short list" for vice president.

The McCain campaign called it a social weekend, declining to discuss the vice presidential question directly, Politico said. Some associates said the meetings wouldn't be formal interviews but would show some potential running mates in a social context.

McCain said earlier he had assembled a list of about 20 potential running mates. Observers said McCain's move indicated he was beginning to narrow the choices as the Democratic Party nomination race appeared to be nearing a conclusion.