The “enthusiasm gap” mentioned below is PRECISELY why it is crucial for McCain to choose a running mate who will unambiguously please Reaganite conservatives. Pawlenty doesn’t cut it. Jindal is too untested. Romney doesn’t really cut it. Huckabee is a total non-starter. Crist definitely doesn’t do it. Palin is too untested. And even Portman is too much a creature of the Bush family, although he’s not out of the question. The ones who make the cut are Sanford, DeMint, Tom Coburn, Pence, Kasich, Frank Keating, Paul Ryan and, of course, Chris Cox. The ones of those who make the most political sense are Kasich, Ryan, and Cox. Cox remains my choice. But I should say that I was talking to a very wise conservative movement veteran last night and, without me mentioning a single name, I asked who he thought would be the best choice. He immediately mentioned Paul Ryan….