Veep Announcements Coming Soon

Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama is expected to announce his running mate within the next few days. Speculation says Tuesday morning, some has said Wednesday, but the announcement is expected to come by Friday. The most speculation right now is settling on Delaware Senator, and former Presidential candidate, Joe Biden. The other speculation is now coming on Indiana Senator Evan Bayh, First-term Virginia Governor Tim Kaine, and recently again on Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius. My take is that Biden would be the strongest for the Illinois Senator. I understand Bayh is not a strong fighter, which could hurt him in the veeps' debate later. Kaine's experience is about as low as Obama's. He was a city councilman, and later a mayor, in the medium-sized city of Richmond. He also later served as Lt. Governor. However, none of that will help greatly with foreign policy experience, which Obama seriously lacks. If Sebelius is chosen, the Clinton machine will throw a huge fit, which would hurt Obama. It is a tough call for me to predict, but I say Obama goes with Kaine.

The breaking news tonight is that Republican sources have reportedly said that Republican candidate John McCain will choose his veep on Friday, August 29th at an event in Dayton, Ohio. This will come the day after Obama officially accepts the Democratic nomination, and just two days before the GOP convention kicks into gear. The prime contenders are believed to be Former Massachusetts Governor, and former Presidential candidate, Mitt Romney, and Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty. McCain is also believed to be considering Former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge and Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman, but that speculation has died down after McCain floated that idea last week to much criticism. McCain's people are expecting 10,000 on hand at the event and the Arizona Senator is scheduled to travel to a large event in Pennsylvania right afterward.

I believe McCain knows the dangers of choosing a supporter of abortion, such as Ridge, or a domestic-issue liberal, like Lieberman. I think Pawlenty will stick in McCain's mind, but I think he ultimately goes with Romney, who I also would prefer.

Keep watch over the next few weeks. The coming days will be exciting with the conventions and the veep selections.


Politico reports that Obama is likely to pick veep this week.