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At a gathering this weekend, Republican presidential candidate John McCain is set to meet with at least three candidates for his party's vice presidential slot. Gov. Mark Sanford, once thought a prime pick for the slot, was not on that list.

Those known to have accepted invitations were: Gov. Charlie Crist of Florida, Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, and Mitt Romney, former governor of Massachusetts.

Sanford's conservative reputation is thought to be a possible boon to help McCain win the party's conservative base.