John McCain’s camp signaled last week that the Republican might name a running mate to deflect some of the media glare from Barack Obama’s overseas trip, but ultimately no names were announced. Meanwhile, at least one of the key contenders for the job, Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, announced that he is not interested.

The names most frequently in circulation these days are former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, who challenged McCain for the GOP presidential nomination, and two sitting governors, Charlie Crist of Florida and Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota.

But a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that the two possible Republican running mates with the highest favorable ratings among voters – Mike Huckabee and Joseph Lieberman -- are not even on most of the short lists currently being discussed. Premium Members can review crosstabs.

What the numbers also suggest, given the high percentages of “not sure” responses, is that many voters are not even aware of most of the possible vice presidential candidates. Fifty-eight percent (58%) of voters, for example, were unsure what their view of Pawlenty is; 47% say the same of Crist.

Politically speaking, vice presidential candidates add little to a ticket nationally and are seen as most valuable in targeting a portion of the country or a specific voter group. A younger vice presidential candidate, for instance, might offset questions being raised about McCain’s age, while an ethnic candidate of some kind might take some of the political luster off Obama as the first African-American major party candidate.

In the new survey, Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor, rates highest, with nearly half of voters (47%) saying they view him at least somewhat favorably. Fifteen percent (15%) rate their opinion of him as Very Favorable. Huckabee is seen at least somewhat unfavorably by 39%. Huckabee, like Romney, ran against McCain in the spring GOP primaries.

Lieberman, a sitting “independent” Democratic senator who was Al Gore’s running mate in 2000, is seen at least somewhat favorably by 46%, with 10% rating their view of him Very Favorable. Again, 39% have at least a somewhat unfavorable view of Lieberman.

A separate Rasmussen Reports survey last week found that over a third of voters – and 50% of Republicans -- felt that McCain will pick Romney. Huckabee and Liberman were the second and third choices but far behind Romney.

Forty-two percent (42%) of voters in the new survey say they have at least a somewhat favorable view of Romney, including 16% who see him in a Very Favorable light. But his negatives are even higher, with 48% regarding him at least somewhat unfavorably, 21% ranking their view of him as Very Unfavorable. Romney has been viewed as vulnerable because of his Mormon religious faith and the perception that he has flip-flopped on some issues in recent years, most notably abortion, although he has been consistently conservative in most areas.

Crist and Pawlenty are regarded at least somewhat favorably by 23% and 22% respectively. Three percent (3%) rate their views of both men as Very Favorable. Twenty-nine percent (29%) hold at least a somewhat unfavorable opinion of the Florida governor, and 21% feel the same way about Pawlenty.

Jindal is also viewed at least somewhat favorably by 22%, with 7% saying their view of him is Very Favorable. He is seen at least unfavorably by 21%.

Among Republicans, Romney is the leader, with 34% who view him Very Favorably, and another 35% seeing him in at least somewhat favorable terms. Huckabee is close, with 68% who rate their opinion of him as at least somewhat favorable, including 27% who rank it as Very Favorable. Again, Lieberman is next, with 58% of Republicans saying their view of him is at least somewhat favorable, including 13% who say it is Very Favorable.

Thirty-six percent 36%) of Republicans have at least a somewhat favorable opinion of Jindal, with 13% ranking their view as Very Favorable. But again 48% of Republicans say they are not sure what they think of the Louisiana governor. Crist is next among Republicans, trailed by Pawlenty and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.

On Monday morning, Pawlenty is doing better in the Rasmussen Markets and is given a 34.9% chance of being McCain’s choice. But Romney is still slightly ahead at 36.5% and Crist and Palin tied for third with 13%. These figures are from a prediction market, not a poll and are updated on a 24/7 basis. Current expectations for leading candidates is available HERE.

See survey questions and toplines. Crosstabs available for Premium Members only.