The NY Times is reporting that he hasn't informed his VP-to-be yet.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/19/us/pol itics/19veep.html?hp

I am putting my money on "Some Republican Guy From Ohio" because Lori is a smart person and she says so.

Some people expect an out-of-the-box selection from McCain but I honestly do not see him trying to out-celebrity Obama.

But is Clinton willing to take the job? There are mixed signals on that front. Certainly indications from Bill Clinton would seem to suggest that they want very little to do with him beyond obligatory service to the party.

Isn't Sarah Palin involved in some sort of scandal involving firing her brother-in-law?   Also, she unfortunately just gave birth to a child with Down syndrome, and might not be ready to campaign full time.

And Meg Whitman?  A billionaire CEO?   That'd fit in well with McCain's comment that you need to make 5 million a year to be rich.

I'm not sure how smart McCain is to name his vp the day after the Democratic convention. Clearly he wants to mute the Obama bounce, but it's not as if Obama won't have his own events that same day and through the weekend. You'd think that Obama and his vp will be traveling through swing states, possibly Ohio.  So they'd share the time - along with the news that it was just McCain's 72nd birthday.

Jerome linking to Taylor Marsh-- his not so subtle last minute push for Hillary Clinton as VP, though futile?

For the record, I also believe that Hillary is the only choice for VP that (a) makes logical sense and (b) dramatically increases Obama's chances to win in November.  Clinton has baggage, yes, but Obama ought to be able to handle it with his usual suave self confidence.

McCain will pick the GOP congressman.  Obama would be smart to pick Hillary but I think its going to be Bayh.

The 29th is John McCain's birthday, which as we all know is also the day Hurricane Katrina laid waste to a chunk of human history. McCain, of course, will be celebrating it just as he did when Katrina hit. With cake and a photo op.

If Obama is smart, he'll be looking for a way to kill McCain's momentum before it starts. Come up with something to commemorate Katrina and do it BIG. Get some New Orleans residents in front of the camera to talk about the rebuilding effort and the continued need for help. If he does this, it's harder for McCain to dominate coverage like he's hoping to do. Without a jumpstart, they will have trouble keeping any sort of focus on their convention.

Is this exploitative? Sure, and that sucks. But honestly, what should we be thinking about that day, McCain turning 73 years old or how New Orleans STILL needs help?

Politico has this quote from a McCain staffer that they'll "own the weekend." Maybe it's me, but on weekends in early fall, my family is enjoying the outdoors. We certainly wouldn't be glued to the tv, seeing McCain and his vp.

BTW, the Politico article also said that McCain is "building a crowd" of 10,000.  Is it really that hard for them to get 10,000 folks to see McCain?

Bob Ney!

If obama is smart he will choose Hillary Clinton.  Hillary is the only universal VP candidate that covers all of the bases of Obama's weaknesses. She is also key to secure the traditional demographics    of females, Latinos, and blue-collar workers.   Although Obama has picked up some momentum in this area ever since the primaries....it is better to be safe than sorry.

It is gonna be quite a task to make Indiana a blue state.    Sure Bayh may be able to make McCain sweat a little in Indiana and Ohio.   But Indiana/Ohio are  states that have been red for years now....and Obama didn't do so well there in the primaries.    

Joe Biden is a good guy and may help Obama solidify the foreign policy credentials.  However, is Biden recognized in the areas West of the Mississpi River?   I don't think so.   Also the state of Delaware is a LOCK for Obama.    So adding Biden doesn't help especially with the foot in mouth tendencies.

As far as McCain is concerned.   Beyond the political junkies like us who post on blogs regulary....the perception is that McCain is a maverick and "friendly" towards Democrats/Independents. It should also be noted that the religious right is gonna vote for the GOP.   Ain't nothing we can do about that.  

So the question is who will be McCain's VP?    Will McCain pander to scorned Hillary supporter by picking a pro-choice VP or worse a female such as Sarah Palin or Carly Fiorina.   Will McCain pick Lieberman(a former Democrat VP candidate).

Will McCain pick Romney? Most of us can see through Romney very cleary and I recognize him as a neo-con true to the bone.    However, Romney did win the Governorship in the state of Massachusetts.  I am VERY curious to know how he did that.   That factoid may be use for their advantage as a perception that Romney is also a independent mind.  May very well appeal to Indpen

and makes the most sense.  He wouldn't anger the base, or any obvious fragment of it.  He's the right age, photogenic, and has good cred on mainstream economics--an area where McCain needs help.  50 bonus points--he's from Ohio, the most important state in this election.

He has no obvious burdens such as Mormon, gay or Democrat.  Palin is ridiculous because of lack of experience, newborn with Down's and little scandal. Whitman and Fiorina way too far out of the box.  Ridge is pro-life; Cantor is Jewish.  Thune and Pawlenty are the other safe choices.  Thune, I think, would be better in a debate and in TV in general.

Most likely: 1. Portman; 2. Thune; 3. Pawlenty

Clinton?  Really?  And Taylor Marsh?

Are you going to let this go after Obama picks his VP?  Because it's getting old.

Obama's campaign has hinted in numerous ways that Clinton is not under present consideration.  Clinton has been ruled out due to Bill's bad dealings and worse remarks.  The concept is deader than the dinosaurs.  Nothing short of quitting the campaign will bring back the 20 or so honest-to-God PUMAs that are still howling, and Obama has other goals with his VP than simply making bitter bloggers happy.  I'm glad to see Clinton campaigning for Obama, but she's not going to be VP.

Pure speculation: he announces Clark tomorrow at VFW.

My only hope scenario:  Wednesday night after the thunderous cheer for Bill's address to the convention subsides, Obama makes a shocking move on stage and announces that to unite the party what better way to continue with the glory days of the 90's than to have another Clinton in the White House.  Then HRC comes from the wings and the place goes nuts. The convention nominates her by acclamation and that's the end of that.

Also keep in mind that although the VP position is the most prestigious and recognizable position.  Obama will eventually need to pick a complete CABINET.   The VP position is a job that is meant only to replace the Pres. in case of an emergency and to be the eventual heir apparent to run for President once the term limits are exhausted for the top of the ticket.    Practically every VP has campaigned for President in the past and usually they are crowned as the nominee without hesitant. (see Gore, GHBush, etc...)

That means there are open-slots for more job intensive positions of Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, and Attorney General to name a few.    

I think Biden would make a great Secretary of State.   I also think Edwards(despite his shortcomings recently) is a godsend for the AG spot.   Secretary of Defense is hopefully suited for Wesley Clark and/or Jim Webb.

Please@! Pick Clinton so that I can feel excited about all this again.

 BTW-has anyone else noticed that Obama is only ahead by 8 in NY (poll out today)???  And 10 in NJ.... To that, I am JUST SAYING.

:)

Why is Palin a yikes? Sure she's a looker, but this ain't a beauty contest and she, like the rest of the Alaskan GOP, has serious ethics problems.  

Kaine would undercut the abortion issue--a key to this election is increase turnout among women, a problem for Obama.  That may be the only way to win.

Hillary would fix that.  Will she be selected?
No.  And all those PUMAs will wonder when the next Supreme Court vacancy comes up.

Sarah Palin is currently under investigation for a corruption scandal. Not exactly the best pick for VP. I used to be scared of her until I actually thought about it some more. Is a first term Alaska gov. really ready to be in line for the presidency?

The same goes for Meg Whitman. We're at war, she has zero experience in government.

McCain is 72, he might not finish a full term, so his VP pick had better be someone credible.

For those who missed Countdown tonight.....

WARNING: Not for McPumas and McTrolls!

There is one other person within the Democratic party who has Obama's "rock star" qaulity, who has consistently argued for the need to change all the wrongheaded policies of the bush administration, who opposed the war from the beginning, who would "wow" the base and is already proven to have the support of the majority of the American public for President, and whose home state borders the states where Obama will be at the time he supposedly will announce his choice as VP.  And, this guy's already been vetted.

I can't wait until we switch from 2 dozen "who will be the Veep?" diaries per day to my next highly rec'd and mojo'd category:

"Oh NOES! Obama picked the wrong Veep and now his sinking ship is on the wrongest course of any in the history of American Politics!"

NON-FUNCTIONING NON-POLL
Will the switch be

Tuesday?

Wednesday?

Why not start now?

If it's Hillary, McCain picks Ridge.  The right won't protest b/c they hate the Clintons.
If it's a boring white guy (please not Biden), he'll be bold and pick a woman - Whitman, Carly, or Hutchison.
I have to admit I wasn't too keen on Kaine when the trial balloon went up, and I think HRC is a better choice than all of the rest and they each have a strike commenters here attack her with (voted for the war, etc.), but if it's not her, I'd rather see Obama reinforce his message with Kaine.  The facts are he's not 100% pro-choice - McCain wouldn't counter Kaine with Ridge (who I think is his strongest choice as he goes straight for Obama's weakness in OH, PA, and MI) as some on the right might take a long, hard look at supporting our ticket.