VP possible	Most qualified	Least qualified	Favourable	Unfavourable
Rob Portman	3%	5%	17%	19%
Tim Pawlenty	5%	6%	25%	28%
Bobby Jindal	5%	5%	25%	29%
Paul Ryan	6%	9%	28%	29%
Condoleezza Rice	31%	6%	53%	31%
Marco Rubio	6%	9%	29%	28%

Economist/YouGov poll

How much will her good numbers influence Romney?

With Mitt Romney due to announce his choice as running mate within the next month the question of who it will be has become just about the hottest current betting market.

This is a very difficult one to call because at the end of the day this decision is solely for Mitt Romney himself.

His eventual choice and the manner of his decision could play a big role in the coming campaign.

Earlier in the month the name of the former US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, came into the frame following a Drudge Report story. This week we’ve started to see some polling. The table above is based on data for this week’s Economist/YouGov poll on the US election.

Clearly Condi is helped in the polling because she has by far the highest name recognition of the six possibles listed. But even taking this into account the above numbers are encouraging for her backers.

The big down-side about Condi is said to be her view on abortion which is a major issue for the core Republican party base.

If that was such a negative, however, that would show up in the polling.

No doubt the Romney campaign is carrying out its own private research. On top of that, of course, Condi might turn down the offer as she has indicated so far.

I got bets on her at 40/1.

Mike Smithson @MSmithsonPB