Governor Bob McDonnell has yet to endorse a candidate for the GOP presidential nomination, but he has certainly been more than happy to flirt with them.

McDonnell appeared today with Mitt Romney in Northern Virginia. He also met with Tim Pawlenty, before Pawlenty dropped out of the race.

As these things go, it is fairly unusual for a sitting governor to appear at a campaign stop with a candidate for president without it appearing that he or she is endorsing them. In fact, now that McDonnell has met with two of this year’s crop of candidates, doesn’t he also have to meet with all the others who come through the commonwealth? If he doesn’t, couldn’t it be perceived as an anti-endorsement?

McDonnell has told me another others that he thinks a governor (former or current) would make a fine nominee. Perhaps he will only appear with state executives. If so, Bachman, Santorum, Gingrich, Cain, and Paul may not have their phone calls returned. But… there could still be time for a Huntsman hoedown, a Roemer rally, a Perry party, or a Gary (Johnson) get together.

In reality, if you want to stay neutral, then you generally avoid these stops. To appear at a campaign stop while saying you’re neutral sends two very different, confusing signals. And, it puts the candidate in an awkward position. Today, it has been reported by politico.com that Gov. Romney was asked if he would pick Gov. McDonnell as his running mate. I imagine the first thing that ran through Romney’s mind was… not until he endorses me!

During the 2008 presidential race, Tim Kaine was quick to endorse Barack Obama (in fact I was very surprised by the timing of his endorsement) and he did not appear with Bill or Hillary Clinton during their stops here leading up to the Virginia Democratic primary.

That makes sense. I’m not sure I exactly understand Gov. McDonnell’s strategy.