FACTBOX: Possible Republican vice presidential candidates

June 11_(Reuters) - John McCain began his search for a vice presidential running mate shortly after securing his status as the presumptive Republican nominee in early March.

The Arizona senator could reach a decision before Barack Obama, his Democratic rival in the November election. The Illinois senator only clinched his party's nomination last week and has just begun searching for a running mate.

McCain has given signals he might be narrowing his list. Last month, he hosted three of the likely candidates -- Mitt Romney, Bobby Jindal and Charlie Crist -- for a barbecue at his Arizona vacation home.

Following is a list of Republicans who have been mentioned as possible vice presidential candidates:

* Charlie Crist, 51 - The Florida governor helped McCain win the nomination with his endorsement and might help him in a battleground state that could go either Republican or Democratic in the November election. The charismatic former Florida attorney general, who notched an easy first-term gubernatorial victory in 2006, is a vibrant campaigner. But he could face trouble with the more conservative wing of the party because of questions about his views on abortion.

* Mike Huckabee, 52 - The former Arkansas governor battled McCain for the party's presidential nomination and was the last major candidate to withdraw. The Baptist preacher is a social conservative who has support from the party's evangelical Christian base and is strong in the South.

* Bobby Jindal, 36 - Louisiana's governor and the first Indian-American elected head of a U.S. state. The Oxford-educated conservative would add youth and diversity to the Republican ticket. His domestic health policy experience would be a plus, but he might be seen as being too young, especially in contrast to 71-year-old McCain.

* Tim Pawlenty, 47 - The two-term Minnesota governor and early and steadfast McCain supporter could help with a Midwestern battleground state. Pawlenty would appeal to social conservatives but he is not well-known on the national stage.

* Robert Portman, 52 - The former congressman from Ohio was the U.S. trade representative and budget director under President George W. Bush. A fiscal conservative, Portman could give McCain needed economic policy strength and would help in Ohio -- a battleground state. But his history with the Bush administration might be a drawback for McCain, who has resisted Democratic efforts to portray his presidential bid as an attempt at a "third Bush term."

* Mitt Romney, 61 - The former Massachusetts governor lost the nomination to McCain. But Romney might have problems because of questions about his Mormon faith and because he once supported abortion rights. The businessman, who pumped about $35 million of his own fortune into his presidential bid, could do the same for a vice presidential campaign or help McCain with fund-raising. The former head of a private equity firm who also ran the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, Romney would bring management experience to the ticket.

* John Thune, 47 - The senator from South Dakota would appeal to conservatives but McCain may not want to choose another senator as his running mate. After narrowly defeating the leader of the U.S. Senate Democrats, Tom Daschle, in 2004, Thune was seen as a giant killer, which gained him clout in the party. However, he is also not very well known nationally.

(Reporting by Deborah Charles; Editing by David Wiessler)