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August 19, 2008

Veep Mania Hits the Media

Rick Moran
The media has gone berserk the last 12 hours or so as scoops from both camps reveal that the candidates are preparing to announce their running mates.

Obama's choice could be revealed as soon as tomorrow:

Senator Barack Obama has all but settled on his choice for a running mate and set an elaborate rollout plan for his decision, beginning with an early morning alert to supporters, perhaps as soon as Wednesday morning, aides said.

Mr. Obama's deliberations remain remarkably closely held. Aides said perhaps a half-dozen advisers were involved in the final discussions in an effort to enforce a command that Mr. Obama issued to staff members: that his decision not leak out until supporters are notified.

Mr. Obama had not notified his choice - or any of those not selected - of his decision as of late Monday, advisers said. Going into the final days, Mr. Obama was said to be focused mainly on three candidates: Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana, Gov. Tim Kaine of Virginia and Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware.


Pretty sorry lot, those three. GOP supporters might pray Obama has a brain cramp and picks Biden but I don't think they will get that lucky. It's a pity because there is a good chance Biden would say something between now and election day so outrageous that it could cost Obama the election.

Kaine is a non-entity but a fairly popular governor who might help put Obama over the top in the crucial state of Virginia. Ditto Bayh. If it is a red state Obama is after, my money would be on Bayh but this could all be a mirage, a little misdirection put out by the Obama camp and it still could be someone else.

As for McCain, word is out that he has actually set a date to announce his choice:

 
 
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) plans to celebrate his 72nd birthday on Aug. 29 by naming his running mate at a huge rally in the battleground state of Ohio, Republican sources said.

That's a week from Friday, and the day after his rival, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, accepts the Democratic nomination at a 70,000-person spectacular in a Denver stadium.

The campaign has begun building a crowd of 10,000 for Dayton, Ohio, according to an organizer. McCain is scheduled to appear with his running mate at a large-scale event in Pennsylvania shortly thereafter.

Unlike Obama, McCain apparently has not settled on any finalists. The usual names are at the top; Pawlenty of MN, Romney of MA with MI connections, and Tom Ridge of PA - pro choice but like Obama, if McCain is looking to pick off a blue state, picking Ridge might make sense in that regard.

Of course, Ridge is pro-choice which would seem to make him a poison pill for McCain so we really are in the dark about McCain's choices.

The only monumental surprise would occur if Obama chose Hillary Clinton. It's unlikely as ever but in politics, never say never...

Posted at 09:36 AM | Email | | | Share Share
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