FOX News -- At last, a clue. 

The roll-out of headline speakers for the Republican convention offers the first bona-fide signals from the Romney campaign over who's on the short-short list to be his running mate. 

It's probably safe to say that the seven major speakers announced overnight will not be Romney's vice presidential pick. Those speakers are: South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez, Florida Gov. Rick Scott, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Arizona Sen. John McCain, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and Ohio Gov. John Kasich. 

Speculation, now, can focus on who's conspicuously absent from that list as the Republican presidential candidate prepares to unveil his nominee likely before the Tampa convention. 

Those not on the list, and presumably in the running for running mate, include: Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, Ohio Sen. Rob Portman, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte, Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal. 

The Republicans have not yet announced their convention keynote speaker, which could easily come from that list as well. 

But the Romney campaign has been assiduously building anticipation for its VP roll-out, even releasing a mobile phone app last week that promises to alert subscribers to his selection "before the press."

Read More: FOX News