Barack Obama’s selection of veteran Sen. Joe Biden as his vice presidential running mate is an attempt to plug a very real problem: Obama’s lack of experience. After all, Obama was just 11 years old when Biden went to Washington at the age of 29.

While we await John McCain’s choice, many will watch the Democrat convention this week. It will likely culminate with a grand speech from Obama, despite which a lingering belief will remain in the mind of the American electorate that the Democrat ticket is upside down.

Meanwhile, McCain can review his VP short list, which includes: Mitt Romney, former Massachusetts governor, and Tim Pawlenty, governor of Minnesota; as well as two close friends: Joe Lieberman, blue state Connecticut’s Independent Democrat, and Tom Ridge, former governor of Pennsylvania, a state McCain would like to move into the competitive category.

The problem for McCain should he pick either Lieberman, who is Jewish, or Ridge, a Catholic, is that both are pro-choice. Friendships aside, a core issue for many in the Republican base, and among evangelical conservatives, is a candidate’s position on abortion.

At the recent Saddleback Church forum, McCain’s overall performance, the clarity of his pro-life position, and his eloquent articulation of commitment to protecting the unborn, has helped increase the tensile strength of his support among the base. If, as the liberal media keeps suggesting, McCain were to select a pro-choice VP, it would be a self-inflicted wound that undermines his candidacy by dissipating what has become a growing depth of support so essential to turnout in November.

The front-runners, Romney and Pawlenty, as governors have executive experience. Neither served in the military, although Romney did overseas missionary work, has extensive business experience and successfully managed the 2002 Olympics. Both are pro-life; Romney is Mormon, and Pawlenty, who was raised Catholic, now attends an evangelical Christian church.

Of the two, Romney seems better prepared to deal in debate with the feisty Biden, deflect the Democrat attacks and speak to the bubbling economic issues. Are there other possibilities for McCain?

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who did well in the early primaries, is pro-life, would help with evangelicals, add a populist message and he brings quick wit and humor to debate with Biden.

Sarah Palin, governor of Alaska, is mentioned but probably needs more seasoning. Condoleezza Rice, another possibility, is unlikely given her identification with the Bush Administration.

If a woman is selected, Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison has more experience with — and has demonstrated that she can handle — the media and the “boys.” Self-described as pro-life, Hutchison, however, does not advocate overturning Roe v Wade.

So, given that Biden’s selection is designed to appeal in general to women, blue-collar workers and Catholics and geographically to shore-up Pennsylvania (Delaware essentially being a suburb of the greater Philadelphia area); McCain should ask himself, “Is there someone who could join the ticket that would further strengthen our appeal with Catholics, evangelicals, social conservatives across the country, and help in Pennsylvania?”

The answer Senator McCain is, “Yes, Rick Santorum.” A young 50, the articulate former senator is bright, articulate, a pro-life Catholic, with strong conservative bona-fides. Some might think that his lost re-election bid to Bob Casey Jr. is a show-stopper. It is not. In fact, selecting Santorum provides McCain and the Republicans the opportunity to tell Americans how the abortion-dominated Democrat party would not permit the late Bob Casey Sr., a former Democrat governor, to speak at prior Democrat conventions because he was pro-life; and further, how state Democrats refused to support the younger Casey in a run for governor, but later, national Democrats, saw that his pro-life stance could be used in the heavily Democrat state to neutralize Santorum’s pro-life position.

If doubts linger, or McCain wants to further enhance his credibility with conservatives and checkmate Obama’s pick of Joe Biden, Rick Santorum may be the best birthday present for John McCain.

Richard Olivastro is a member of the National Speakers Association, president of People Dynamics and founder of Citizens For Change. He can be reached at Rich@Olivastro.net or 877-RichSpeaks.