Who's Gonna Be VP?

(Newser) - Barack Obama supporters got an email from campaign manager David Plouffe last night saying the senator was “about to make one of the most important decisions of this campaign—choosing a running mate,” and urging them to sign up to be the “first to know.” Will Obama interrupt his Hawaiian get-away to pick his VP? Not likely. “Sometimes an email is just an email,” Obama’s communications director told the Washington Post. More »

(Newser) - Tim Pawlenty grew up in the blue-collar stockyards of south St. Paul, but through ambition and charm he’s climbed his way to the top office in Minnesota—and the top tier of John McCain’s VP short list. But critics say that ambition could prove his undoing, the New York Times reports. Pawlenty’s obvious eye toward higher office has hurt his administration by making it too cautious, they argue. More »

(Newser) - Tim Pawlenty, the Republican governor of Minnesota often mentioned as a possible running mate for John McCain, urged GOP candidates to act more like Democrat Barack Obama. "Say what you will about Barack Obama," Pawlenty said today, "people gravitate when you have something positive to say. … People want to follow hopeful, optimistic, civil, decent leaders. They don't want to follow some negative, scornful person." More »

(Newser) - Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh’s currency with the Obama campaign may be on the rise, perhaps giving the perennial Democratic veep candidate a shot at the Naval Observatory, the Wall Street Journal reports. Many think Bayh’s foreign policy experience would bolster Obama’s perceived lack of experience, and his modest demeanor could offset the Illinois senator’s grandiloquence. More »

(Newser) - John McCain probably will let Barack Obama make his vice-presidential pick before he does, Politico reports. GOP strategists hope that by making his announcement after Obama’s convention acceptance speech, McCain will be able to shift media focus toward his own campaign, as well as playing off the Democratic pick. "If they go first, you have more information," says an adviser. More »

(Newser) - John McCain is considering Virginia congressman Eric Cantor for the vice-presidential slot on his ticket, according to a campaign insider. As Barack Obama vets Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine as a possible No. 2, the state could turn into a vice-presidential battleground, Politico reports. Cantor, who has been a champion McCain fundraiser, is a leading Jewish Republican and fiscal conservative who could add some spice to the campaign. More »

(Newser) - Tim Kaine doesn’t like his vice presidential chances, the Wall Street Journal reports. “It's flattering to be mentioned,” he says. “My mom loves it. I still think it's more likely that he'll go in another direction.” His Kansas roots appeal to Midwestern voters, his fluent Spanish wins over Hispanics, and he’s governor of Virginia, a crucial swing state. So why aren’t state Republicans worried? More »