Obama's VP Search Fields a General

Says talks are 'very serious'; Biden, Bayh, Sebelius in contention

(NEWSER) - Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine is in “very serious” talks about a spot on the Democratic ticket, sources tell the Washington Post. The 50-year-old has joined Sens. Evan Bayh, Joe Biden and Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius on Barack Obama’s shortlist, bringing outsider credentials though no experience in foreign affairs, which is perceived as an Obama weakness. More»

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama says he's made his pick for vice president, but that all he's saying, USA Today reports. He won't even divulge whether his prospective running mate knows, or when the big announcement will come. "That's all you're going to get out of me," said Obama. Talking heads, meanwhile, continue to point to the top candidates as Joe Biden, Evan Bayh, Tim Kaine, and Kathleen Sebelius. Stay tuned tomorrow. More»

McCaskill, Napolitano, and Sebelius don't play up gender, aren't divisive

(NEWSER) - Unlike Hillary Clinton, the three leading female contenders for a spot on Barack Obama’s ticket aren’t divisive figures and haven’t played up their gender. Ben Adler, writing for Politico, takes a look at Kansas guv Kathleen Sebelius, Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill, and Arizona guv Janet Napolitano. More»

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.

Dems don't have top pick yet, but talk persists about No. 2

(NEWSER) - John Kerry was mulling a pick for vice president at this time 4 years ago, but Democratic hopefuls today refuse to name a running mate. Still, Politico’s Ben Smith has an early roundup of who could be Clinton’s and Obama’s first choices in the No. 2 slot. More»