Virginia's Cantor eyed as McCain veep

WASHINGTON, Aug. 3 (UPI) -- A Virginia congressman is being eyed as a possible running mate for likely Republican U.S. presidential nominee John McCain, a source said Sunday.

U.S. Rep. Eric Cantor, a fourth-term representative from a heavily Republican district in Richmond, Va., is being closely vetted as vice presidential material for Sen. McCain, R-Ariz., an unnamed source told CNN.

The source told CNN research on Cantor, 45, and other potential McCain running mates is nearly complete. Cantor, the source said, is not likely to be McCain's pick, but is being tabbed a rising GOP star.

"He's bright, clean, conservative but not angry, and Jewish," the source said. "(Cantor is a) great fundraiser and locks up Virginia for good measure."

Other Republicans believed to be in the vice presidential hunt include former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, former U.S. Rep. Rob Portman of Ohio and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, CNN said.