The Early Word on VP Hopefuls

Blogger runs down likely veep candidates for Obama and McCain

(NEWSER) - “Since McCain and Obama appear to have the nominations locked up,” it's time to start eyeing the veepstakes, Chris Cillizza writes in The Fix blog. Here are his top three for each presumptive nominee, GOP first:

1. Tim Pawlenty: The Minnesota governor is a longtime McCain backer, and widely admired.
2. John Thune: A handsome conservative who also beat then-senator Tom Daschle 4 years ago.
3. Rob Portman: From Ohio, a crack economist, and not well-known—which could actually be a good thing.

Many pundits ruled out Obama victory early

(NEWSER) - With the election over, what's more fun than calling out all those whose predictions were off—way off. Der Spiegel lists some highlights:

• "He cannot win, Bill. He cannot win." Hillary Clinton, on Barack Obama
• "We'll win Florida." Rudy Giuliani
• "Virginians are really getting fired up for this ticket of McCain and Palin." George Allen
• "Romney for the Republicans, Hillary for the Democrats." Ann Coulter, on the nominees

Dem's strengths expose key gaps in armor of Republican's rumored short-listers

(NEWSER) - Joe Biden presents a problem for John McCain, Jeanne Cummings notes on Politico. “McCain knows Biden well," says one Republican insider. "He knows how good he is as a knife fighter." Stacked up against Biden, all of the rumored GOP short-listers reveal potentially fatal flaws:

• Mitt Romney: Considering Biden's middle-class roots, the multimillionaire former governor could undermine McCain's claims of Obama elitism.

Minn. gov in contention thanks to friendship with McCain

(NEWSER) - Tim Pawlenty is at or near the top of John McCain’s VP dance card, thanks in large part to the Minnesota governor's friendship with the candidate, the Boston Globe reports. Unlike Mitt Romney, Pawlenty simply gets along well with McCain, who's well known for his insistence on loyalty. A new poll showing McCain nearly tied with Barack Obama in Minnesota helps Pawlenty's case. More»

Republican needs the publicity; convention trump card could benefit Democrat

(NEWSER) - Timing the unveiling of one's running mate is a crucial publicity challenge, David Von Drehle writes in Time—and John McCain would be best served by playing his card soon, while Barack Obama should keep his ace up his sleeve. Obama could run into trouble from rabid Hillary Clinton fans at the Democratic convention, and might need “to hold a headline in reserve." More»