SAN FRANCISCO - With Sen. John McCain announcing his choice of first-term Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his runningmate Friday morning, two formidable Silicon Valley businesswomen were passed over, leaving Golden State Republicans once again in the role of serving as a giant checkbook and cheerleader for the GOP ticket as the fall campaign begins.

McCain's selection sends former eBay chairwoman Meg Whitman and former Hewlett-Packard chairwoman Carly Fiorina to the sidelines. Fiorina, however, will likely continue as one ticket's chief spokeswomen, a position she has held now for the past several months.