WASHINGTON — As speculation swirls, Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain are knuckling down to the work of choosing running mates with their nominating conventions just weeks away.
Current and former governors and senators seem the most serious contenders, though most of those mentioned are playing coy about any discussions with either campaign.
“I’m just not going to talk about my conversations with the campaign,” Democratic Gov. Tim Kaine of Virginia said Tuesday as he declined to confirm media reports that he has provided financial documents to Obama for review.
Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota said he has decided to stop answering questions about a spot on McCain’s ticket because of all the gossip.
Among others believed to be getting close looks: Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh, Delaware Sen. Joe Biden and Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius for Obama, and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Ohio Rep. Rob Portman for McCain.
Several more have been mentioned as well. But it’s appearing less likely that Obama — a Democratic Illinois senator — will choose former rival Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York. And it’s still possible that McCain — a Republican Arizona senator — will choose former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, whose support for abortion rights might upset conservatives whose enthusiasm McCain needs.
Possible long-shots include Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska for Obama, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin for McCain, or New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, an independent, for either.
And names that were hot just months ago seem to have grown cold, such as Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and South Dakota Sen. John Thune among Republicans. Democrats such as Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland and Virginia Sen. Jim Webb have taken themselves out of the running.
At the same time, possible picks are trying out for the part in public. They do numerous TV interviews on behalf of the candidates and campaign alongside them, almost certainly at the behest of campaign advisers who want to assess how each handles the media and campaign rigors.
Obama could name his choice in the week before the Democratic convention in Denver at the end of August. McCain is seriously considering naming his No. 2 in the few days separating the two conventions in the hope of stunting any post-convention surge in the polls for Obama.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
