...and throws his signature cold water all over McCain-Lieberman:

Influential McCain backers, plus McCain himself, would pick the pro-choice liberal from Connecticut if they thought they could get away with it.

But they can't get away with it -- and this has been made clear to McCain by none other than Joe Lieberman himself.

Lieberman surely doesn't know that much about Republican politics, but he has close Republican friends. One of them prevailed on Lieberman to tell McCain that a McCain-Lieberman ticket would be a disaster for all concerned, and especially for the GOP.

First, it's good to have Bob Novak back where he belongs. Second, Novak's suggestion -- that McCain all but name Lieberman his secretary of state -- could very well give McCain all the political advantage he would get anyway from naming him vice president.

As always, more VP analysis in the VP Watch blog.