Rep. Eric Cantor, originally uploaded by cq.swat.

I’m not a betting man, but if I was, I’d put my money on Rep. Eric Cantor for John McCain’s vice president. I speculated last week on The Next Right that recent events seemed to indicate that Cantor was still very much a contender. Then came today’s report from Jackie Kucinich at The Hill that Cantor’s absence from the Republican National Convention speaking roster might offer a clue.

I’ve long been a fan of the young Virginian. Although he doesn’t have the name recognition of a Mitt Romney or the political importance of a Tim Pawlenty, Cantor offers something that few others do: He’s youthful and energetic, extremely intelligent and appeals to the same core demographic of Barack Obama voters.

My friend Ben Domenech has already made the case for Cantor in a Washington Times op-ed, which serves as a good primer for anyone wanting more in-depth analysis. To quote from it, “Mr. McCain would be wise to echo the words of John Adams: he needs a Virginian to join him in this endeavor.”

The odds are still long for Cantor, but I’m going with my gut on this one.