McCain's Veep speculation hits frenzy

Didn't we just do this last week?

It looks like John McCain is rolling out his VP pick tomorrow.  No need for the fancy-schmancy texting, this one looks like a traditional roll-out.  In front of the cameras and in a key state - Ohio.

The official line from the McCain campaign?  Bland.  But this is expected.  It's how campaigns work.

McCain spokesman Ben Porritt offered, "McCain is going to pick a VP based on merit; a proven leader with sound judgment and well rounded experience that will give the public confidence that he/she is able to step in and govern at a moment's notice."

The excitement is over at the Drudge Report where they claim the Senator has made his decision and there could be a leak today at 6pm (ET) followed by a confirmation two hours later...

But that would be stepping on Obama's acceptance speech tonight.  They surely wouldn't do that, would they?

In the meantime, we'll run through the oft-talked about short-list.

Mr. Massachusetts

Mitt Romney's name has been brought up numerous times -- getting perhaps an audition at the Democratic National Convention in the role of attack dog earlier this week.

James Carville, a guest at yesterday's Christian Science Monitor-sponsored Breakfast, said Romney doesn't worry him too much.   Carville said the goal in the selection of a vice presidential candidate should be  to "make the opposing campaign manager throw up."

“I don’t think if they pick Romney, David Axelrod will reach for the trash can,” said Mr. Carville, referring to Senator Obama’s chief strategist.

Carville later said he predicts the choice will be a surprise candidate.

“McCain and I share something in common,” he said. “We’re both craps shooters. And just by nature, craps shooters always want to put their stack in the middle of the table.”

Don't move so fast

Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty is still mentioned - a lot - and it appears that he's auditioning today.

Pawlenty's message:  Obama's got no substance.

On Good Morning America today, he compared his experience to that of Obama's:

"I've been governor for six years and commander in chief of the Minnesota National Guard for six years," Pawlenty said. "When I was in the legislature I was also majority leader and did a variety of other things."

"His [Obama's] accomplishments are nonexistent or essentially nonexistent and he hasn't run anything," he continued.  "He hasn't been an executive or been in charge of anything and lastly, the big problem or one of the big problems facing our country is the ability to work across party lines and get things done. John McCain actually has a record in that regard. Barack Obama does not. He has good oratory but when you shut the teleprompter off there's not much else there."

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