Veepstakes: The time is approaching
Posted: Tuesday, August 19, 2008 9:16 AM by Mark Murray
Filed Under:
Democrats, Republicans
The New York Times triggered yesterday’s VP madness with this article: 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.”
More: “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.”
Soon after came this Politico article: “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 this Friday, and the day after Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) 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.”
“Senior Republicans are in the dark about who he’ll name, although they say former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty are prime contenders after a trial balloon by McCain gave him very negative feedback about the idea of picking a pro-choice running mate like former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge.”
Per NBC’s Andrea Mitchell, a McCain campaign official says "no final decision" has been made about rolling out McCain's running mate on August 29 in Ohio. BUT this isn’t a hard denial.
More compiled by NBC/NJ’s Matthew E. Berger….
DEMOCRATS: Biden released a statement after his trip to Georgia, seeking $1 billion in emergency assistance for the country. “Russia’s actions in Georgia will have consequences,” he said. “Russia's failure to keep its word and withdraw troops from Georgia risks the country's standing as part of the international community. That is not the future the United States or Europe want -- but it is the future Russia may get.”
Also don’t miss this line from Biden, which seemed almost McCain-esque: "I left the country convinced that Russia’s invasion of Georgia may be the one of the most significant event to occur in Europe since the end of communism."
Board seats held by the wife of Sen. Evan Bayh could raise conflict-of-interest questions for the potential veep. Susan Bayh is a director of E*Trade Financial Corp, while the senator sits on the Senate Banking Committee and for a medical research group that recently received a $24.7 million federal grant.
And combine the above piece with this Politico article rating Evan Bayh as one of Clinton's weaker surrogates.
Tom Daschle said he has turned over vetting documents to the Obama campaign but said there is no chance he will be picked.
Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius will campaign in four events for Obama in Iowa on Aug. 21.
REPUBLICANS: Gov. Tim Pawlenty said Obama’s energy plan would “slam the door shut” on more nuclear power and offshore drilling. Campaigning for McCain in Wisconsin, Pawlenty said McCain’s plan is “bold, it’s aggressive, it’s an all-of-the-above approach.”
Sen. Joe Lieberman campaigned with McCain at an Atlanta fundraiser. He praised Georgia’s two Republican senators and governor.
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal will not meet with McCain when the candidate is in Louisiana Monday night and Tuesday, the governor’s spokeswoman said.
