Three women under review as McCain's VP

WASHINGTON, June 23 (UPI) -- Three women could be viable choices as a running mate in U.S. Sen. John McCain's presidential bid, besides the men often mentioned, political observers say.

No clear front-runner has emerged in the McCain, R-Ariz., camp but the most-mentioned potential vice presidential candidates are former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, the Politico reported Monday.

However, three women are being considered for the vice presidential post strategists say is McCain's best way to appeal to disappointed supporters of Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., the Washington publication said.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice would be a clear choice, the Politico said. She has denied interest.

Another possibility is Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who is "becoming a star in the conservative movement, a fiscal conservative in a state that is looking like a boondoggle for pork barrel spending," Kellyanne Conway, a Republican pollster, told Politico.

A second choice would be Carly Fiorina, the former Hewlett-Packard chief executive who now leads the GOP's get-out-the-vote operation.

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, the Republican Party's longest-tenured female senator also is being considered. Hutchison leads the Republican Policy Committee after heading the Senate Republican Conference, Politico said.