If not VP, then Romney is positioning himself as the heir apparent to McCain's (presumable) one term presidency.  He's going to spend the next four years running for President.  With the way these guys despised each other, this may be Romney's way of cutting in on his equally hated rival Huckabee.

McCain is no dope...Obama wins the nomination I would not put it past the Republicans to seek out Rice as a potential VP candidate and Romney potentially a Cabinet position (Labor- strangers things have happened). Rice is certainly qualified to be VP and could help the Republicans if you believe that a VP helps a Presidential campaign.

It was bound to happen eventually.

Good point! :)

*"Romney clearly believes he has a bright political future and wants to make sure he is seen by rank-and-file Republicans as a loyal footsoldier for the cause, not a self-centered whiner. By standing with McCain, Romney shows that the primary race is water under the bridge (even if he really doesn't believe that) and that he is putting the good of the party before his own self interest."

*" How much Romney's endorsement matters to rank-and-file conservatives, many of whom have long distrusted McCain, is a harder thing to measure. Endorsements, even at this high level, are generally forgotten within a few news cycles."

*"The party is now as close to unified behind McCain as it can be, and that means Huckabee will need to decide sooner rather than later how much longer he wants to stick out what looks to be an increasingly quixotic bid for the nomination."

Source

McCain's age and physical condition are unavoidable factors in this campaign.

Here is a good summary of actuarial data:

Actuarial Tables

A 72-year-old white male has a 3.5  percent chance of dying within the coming year.

Remember that McCain suffered 5 1/2 years of torture, stress, and poor nutrition in a North Vietnamese prison camp.

if each year of detention added two years to McCain's biological age, a biological 83 year old white male has approximately a 10 percent chance of dying in the coming year.

If each year of such stress added three years to McCain's biological age, a biological 89 year old white male has slightly more than a 16 percent chance of dying within the next year.

Remember also that McCain has had bouts with melanoma. If Romney plays nice and hangs around, he could be in line to inherit the mantle instead of Huckabee, much as Huckabee likes to believe in "miracles." The Big Money Boyz would much prefer Romney as the heir apparent.