by The Swamp team
With so much attention on whom Sen. Barack Obama is going to choose as his vice presidential running mate, we thought we'd try to monitor the rumors and speculation and try to separate the wheat from the chaff.
UPDATE: 
Finally, perhaps a little wheat as we reach 9 p.m. in the East. NBC News is reporting, citing sources, that Sen. Evan Bayh and Gov. Tim Kaine are out of the running. These two were, of course, the hot picks for much of the early selection process.
If the report is true, it would seem to point to two possible scenarios: That the job really is Sen. Joe Biden's (with perhaps Gov. Kathleen Sebelius on the rail) -- or there will be a surprise, out of nowhere, pick such as Rep. Chet Edwards (D-Tex) or even, dare we say, Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) or Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY.).
Politico reported Friday that Clinton had not even been vetted by the Obama camp, to which the Obama campaign responded by saying Clinton has been the most heavily vetted candidate in American history.
So we might know a little more than we did before. And if you have stock in Bayh or Kaine, might be time to dump it.
Got your phone charged?
UPDATE:
Our colleagues at Word on the Street, RedEye's pop culture dictionary blog, have a new word referring to the great wait for Obama's announcement: techulation.
"I'm tired of waiting," they say. "Rather, I'm tired of hearing about the waiting. When will Sen. Obama announce the winner of the veepstakes, the search for his wingman?
"While we wait, techulation is the endless speculation of when Obama will text America about his VP choice."
UPDATE:
What's Obama up to? It just hit 6 p.m. in the East. Now, speculation, inevitably, has turned to this evening, with the idea that the electronic puff of white smoke may come during prime-time. Does the campaign get a rate break if it texts after 8?
The Swamp spoke to political strategist Sarah Flowers, who orchestrates Democratic media campaigns, to try and understand the Obama strategy:
"The Obama team is using the vice-presidential pick to extend and tee up the coverage of the convention," Flowers said. "By letting speculation slowly ramp up, they are gaining better control of the message and the ability focus the coverage going into those critical days in Denver. This strategy also enables them to block McCain out, making it difficult for him to garner positive press attention for a longer stretch of time."
So that plan, from the Obama point of view, may be to try and create a seamless flow of coverage from the announcement to the rally in Springfield, Ill. Saturday, to the start of the convention Monday.
But all it means for us is that we have to keep taking our Blackberrys everywhere--and we mean everywhere.
UPDATE: With no real news to report, ABC has resorted to writing about cute little children who sold lemonade to reporters staked out in front of the home of Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.). Apparently the kids, who were selling the drinks at a dollar a pop, made a killing.
UPDATE: To pass the time, here is New York Times columnist David Brooks on Joe Biden and why he might help with Obama's problem attacting white, blue-collar voters:
Barack Obama has decided upon a vice-presidential running mate. And while I don't know who it is as I write, for the good of the country, I hope he picked Joe Biden.
Biden's weaknesses are on the surface. He has said a number of idiotic things over the years and, in the days following his selection, those snippets would be aired again and again.But that won't hurt all that much because voters are smart enough to forgive the genuine flaws of genuine people. And over the long haul, Biden provides what Obama needs:
Working-Class Roots. Biden is a lunch-bucket Democrat. His father was rich when he was young -- played polo, cavorted on yachts, drove luxury cars. But through a series of bad personal and business decisions, he was broke by the time Joe Jr. came along. They lived with their in-laws in Scranton, Pa., then moved to a dingy working-class area in Wilmington, Del. At one point, the elder Biden cleaned boilers during the week and sold pennants and knickknacks at a farmer's market on the weekends.
His son was raised with a fierce working-class pride -- no one is better than anyone else. Once, when Joe Sr. was working for a car dealership, the owner threw a Christmas party for the staff. Just as the dancing was to begin, the owner scattered silver dollars on the floor and watched from above as the mechanics and salesmen scrambled about for them. Joe Sr. quit that job on the spot.
Even today, after serving for decades in the world's most pompous workplace, Senator Biden retains an ostentatiously unpretentious manner. He campaigns with an army of Bidens who seem to emerge by the dozens from the old neighborhood in Scranton. He has disdain for privilege and for limousine liberals -- the mark of an honest, working-class Democrat.
Democrats in general, and Obama in particular, have trouble connecting with working-class voters, especially Catholic ones. Biden would be the bridge.
Read the rest here.
UPDATE: Well, 3 p.m. came and went and no announcement. It must have been like those text hoaxes detailed below.
Our national security correspondent, Aamer Madhani, reports that he has not been vetted and is not a serious candidate for the job. And if chosen, he will decline.
That's all the news we have at the moment.
So, it's getting late on a Friday afternoon and part of the talk around here is why Obama is waiting so long to make the announcement. What is the media strategy at work here now? When will he pull the trigger? Conventional wisdom had him announcing the choice this morning.
Now, we are entering the weekend news cycle, when many Americans do things other than read newspapers, surf the web or watch cable news. Has Obama made a mistake in waiting this long? Weigh in below.
UPDATE: The Huffington Post says the "prediction market" points to Sen. Joe Biden in a big way. But his "share price" has dropped in the last hour.
And Delaware's other senator (yes, there is another senator; every state gets two no matter how small ), Thomas Carper, told the LA Times that he thinks Biden is the guy, which the senior senator from that state quickly denied.
The rumor going around is that Obama will announce at 3 p.m ET.
Meanwhile, your correspondent, like many in Washington and elsewhere, has his BlackBerry turned to its loudest setting, meaning each email and text roars in like the 1812 Overture. Perhaps this is the Obama campaign's attempt to drive the media insane.
UPDATE: Here's what the AP is reporting:
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama prepared to name his running mate, perhaps as early as Friday, from a small field that included at least one dark horse.
Democratic officials said little-known Texas Rep. Chet Edwards (pictured at right) was one of the few Democrats whose background was checked by Obama's campaign, and he was a finalist for the job.
Among others mentioned: Govs. Tim Kaine of Virginia and Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas, as well as Sens. Joe Biden of Delaware and Evan Bayh of Indiana.
Obama was to appear Saturday in Springfield, Ill., with his No. 2, and disclose the name to the world through a text message that could be sent at any time before that event.
Meanwhile, Politico.com reported this morning that there have been a number of cell phone text- message hoaxes purporting to be from the Obama campaign. So if you receive a text message that says he's chosen Sen. Hillary Clinton or Sen. John Kerry be very skeptical.
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Comments
Like most things in the Obama campaign, the VP thing has been overhyped and beaten into the ground. America just wants it over with at this point. November can't come soon enough to rid ourselves of Obama and the 24-hour-a-day media fawning.
Posted by: Otto | August 22, 2008 12:27 PM
Obama wins easily with Bill Richardson as his running mate.. the ticket will get 20% Hispanic vote, 13% Black vote, 30% of White vote..Total 63% Do the math.
http://joeland7.wordpress.com/2008/08/20/obamarichardson-unbeatable-ticket/
Posted by: joe | August 22, 2008 12:28 PM
Otto,
You were great in "Pride of the Yankees," but that movie is about as old as John McCain. We need fresh blood.
Posted by: Bud | August 22, 2008 12:39 PM
Media reports today say that Hillary Clinton was not even vetted for the vice presidency by Obama. This is the latest and most serious humiliations of the Clintons by Obama.
Gallup polls indicate that 28 percent of Hillary supporters will vote for McCain; that number probably just doubled with this latest Obama insult.
Posted by: Elston | August 22, 2008 12:44 PM
What's not being mentioned is the way the two names sound together. Obama-Edwards? May make people think of John Edwards. No way.
Obama-Kaine? Good, as the subtitle could be Obama Can!
Obama-Sebelius? Sounds too for foreign.
Obama-Biden? Maybe
Obama-Bayh? Could make people think of Obama Bye, as in Bye Bye Obama.
It looks like Biden will get the nod.
Posted by: SS | August 22, 2008 12:44 PM
It seems to me that it is the media that is all worked up about Obam's VP pick. I haven't noticed the public for the most part worrying about who he has picked. I think he overdid his intrigue about his pick to the point that everyone (except the media) has totally lost interest.
Posted by: RFB-IL | August 22, 2008 12:47 PM
If it's Hillary, I'll be fired up and drive to Springfield.
If not, I'll work hard (again) and watch us lose (again).
Posted by: Doh! | August 22, 2008 12:53 PM
It really doesn't matter who he picks at this point... he's trending downward — even after vastly outspending McCain, and enjoying complete media bias. The problem for obama is that people are now paying attention, and the closer you look at obama, the worse it gets.
Posted by: curtis | August 22, 2008 12:57 PM
the surprise pick: Lee Hamilton of Indiana
great foeign policy expert; chair of the 9/11 commission
Posted by: Dick Bernard | August 22, 2008 1:05 PM
Regardless of the VP pick, Americans will never again trust the mainstream media or Democratic Party for foisting the Obama fraud on this nation.
Posted by: Trevor J | August 22, 2008 1:11 PM
Who really wants a job that Obama said will have no policy making impetus, a down-grade from Cheney's role. Sounds like a way to end a political career, rather than make a dash for president after Obama's term(s) end.
Posted by: SS | August 22, 2008 1:14 PM
Who cares?? The King thinks that his kingdom is just dying to know his choice, get real. It doesn't make any difference. he is still a Chicago Political hack.
Posted by: Charlotte | August 22, 2008 1:19 PM
I guess Plouffe was serious when he said that the texters would get the news first. No leaks or anything. Made me sign up...
And what is this news about Chet Edwards?
http://www.political-buzz.com/
Posted by: matt | August 22, 2008 1:25 PM
Regardless of the VP pick, Americans will never again trust the mainstream media or Democratic Party for foisting the Obama fraud on this nation.
Posted by: Trevor J | August 22, 2008 1:11 PM
This is so true.
Posted by: Kathleen | August 22, 2008 1:25 PM
Remember everyone it's all about the Clintons. We must all vote for a candidate that is on the opposite side of every policy Hillary Clinton claims to support in order to support her. We will harm the nation as a whole to support the ego of a single woman. We will harm women's rights to support the ego of a single woman. We will intentionally violate every principal we believe in all to support a single woman. Hillary Clinton is more important than the nation. Nothing, not Women's rights, not war, not our environment, is more important that one single woman and her pride. Hillary Clinton.
Posted by: Rabid Hillary Supporter | August 22, 2008 1:40 PM
I'm so sick of this whole thing. ANnounce it already. Or don't. Just go away.
Posted by: Beth | August 22, 2008 1:40 PM
None of his picks are anything to brag about-
Posted by: George | August 22, 2008 1:46 PM
Joe, what makes you think he will get 20% of the hispanic vote, he couldn't carry his own state where he is govenor in the primaries. The man is a total loser. Sorry to be critical of his appearance but that beard makes him look like a criminal trying to be incognito.
Posted by: RFB-IL | August 22, 2008 1:48 PM
Personally, I don't think it matters who he picks because I seriously doubt that he will win in November. His numbers are tanking.
People - including some of his initial supporters - are sick of him already and are not about to vote him into office and get stuck listening to his non-definable promises ("Hope!" "Change!") for another four years.
Obama looks great and can read speeches well, but other than that, there's little one can say about him. He's got no political experience. (Sorry, folks, but 143 days as a senator of Illinois hardly provides ample experience to lead this nation on a global stage.)
I will say that the one thing he DOES seem to have is an overinflated ego.
Posted by: Kevin | August 22, 2008 1:55 PM
Just announce it, I sick of all the hype and it's getting on my last nerve. Why does this guy have to be such a drama queen?
Posted by: vla | August 22, 2008 2:04 PM
At least Edwards wasn't duped by the Organized Labor Machine into supporting the anti-democratic Employee-free Choice Act, which would take away the worker protection of the unionization secret-ballot election. That's something.
Posted by: Breakfast at Tiffany's | August 22, 2008 2:12 PM
I'm still hoping that he will pick John Edwards.
Posted by: ElliotNC | August 22, 2008 2:14 PM
When you guys think of great recent republican presidents, who first comes to your mind (if it's G.W. Bush, there's something wrong with you)? Most people would say Reagan. What was Reagan before he became president? He was a governer who introduced a hamhanded bill that ravaged California's economy. Before he was the Governor, he was an ACTOR.
I'm tired of people saying that Obama will lose because of his lack of experience. It takes a lot more effort to win an election nowadays than in Reagan's time, so Obama had to work harder to win people over. I think that's an admirable trait.
Posted by: DLA | August 22, 2008 2:25 PM
"People everywhere are hungry for new leadership. They think they want a champion, a liberator, a Superman. Leaders come, leaders go. What people can't seem to understand is that they themselves are the heroes, the ones who have always risen up and done the hard work." - Peter S. Adler
Posted by: Everyman | August 22, 2008 2:29 PM
Aren't you just so impressed with the Republicans manners and level of civility ? Doesn't it just make you want to vote for their candidate, Senator " Questionable Conduct " McCain and his band of slugs, smearing Senator Obama or his family, whenever they have the opportunity. The gang that couldn't act right, stamping their feet and sticking their tongues out, at any adult, who tries to instruct them, on the finer points of political discourse. They seriously want to be taken seriously !! What a comedy act the Republicans are presenting as McCain's campaign !! Nice try, gang !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, Chicago | August 22, 2008 2:29 PM
Don Fitz---you and the Obama supporters continue to AMAZE me with your inane comments. I'm not a repug! I'm a long time dem!
Nice try gang, you say.
what does that MEAN?
It's RUDE.
Posted by: And I just think HIlary coulda won easily as prez and is our only HOPE not was veep! | August 22, 2008 2:40 PM
Perhaps the dalibama, aka the empty-suited sloganeer, will get a platitudinal adjustment from his running mate, whomever that clown may be.
Posted by: RCK | August 22, 2008 2:44 PM
Mr. Fitzgerald,I don't think I have ever hear Senator McCain refer to the Democratic party as "ignorant", but your candidate did refer to the Republican party as "ignorant", so who has manners and civility. I read your posts and you've done you share of bashing also, so save the sermon on other's behavior.
Posted by: vla | August 22, 2008 2:47 PM
It must be a tough job to pick someone who isn't better qualified than Obama. Must have almost no time in Federal government. Must not have ever published and legal artiles. Must not have argued on an major cases. Must not have ever passed any legislation. No executive experience in the public or private sector. No military experience. Someone who doesn't make reasonable people ask "Why are we voting for Obama instead of his VP?" Good luck with that.
Posted by: VivianC | August 22, 2008 2:59 PM
whine, whine, whine. If it's not Hillary I'm taking my ball, going home, and you can play with gramps for 4 years.
C'mon folks, grow up!
Posted by: Flo | August 22, 2008 3:03 PM
With all the hatred being directed at Obama in here, you'd think he let 9/11 happen, lied to start a way, let an American city be destroyed, and oversaw the worst economy since the last Republican administration.
Posted by: Paul | August 22, 2008 3:10 PM
And the news (at least the news outside the Swamp) is that Hillary wasn't even vetted by the Obamacrats for VP.
A big slap in the face of the half of the Dem Party that voted for her.
Posted by: bruce | August 22, 2008 3:40 PM
Only two picks really matter. Hillary or Richardson, otherwise he is toast. whiteagle38
Posted by: Whiteagle38 | August 22, 2008 3:51 PM
Perhaps this is his attempt to flush out exactly how gaga the media is over this guy.
Posted by: James | August 22, 2008 3:59 PM
This is exhausting. For the love of god, announce already.
Posted by: J.D. | August 22, 2008 4:13 PM
Please don't say, "People are sick of him already." when what you mean is "I am sick of him."
Don't project.
Posted by: James Foster | August 22, 2008 4:35 PM
Who cares? People vote mainly for the top of the ticket, and in this case, Obama, due to his lack of experience, will just go back to be the junior senator from Illinois in a few months anyway.
Posted by: Ryan | August 22, 2008 4:47 PM
"Obama, due to his lack of experience...."
Yet more experience than George W Bush had in 2000 and no one seemed to care.
Posted by: Paul | August 22, 2008 5:11 PM
How about it? While we are all waiting, let's get some fun in. Team Obama. We need to mobilize over at the on-line real-time poll at http://www.bop-o-ram.com. We need to spread the word and get McCain's count up. The daily Gallup is showing this as seperated by a 1% point margin. Why are we behind over on the Bop-O-Meter? I mean way behind! Dems on the net, unite! McCain cannot have this much support.
Posted by: mgultch | August 22, 2008 5:30 PM
First off, I won't be checking these boards again, so any reactions to my rant are a pointless waste of time.
I am a rabid Hilldog supporter, and when I hear these alleged Hillary supporters say they support McCain, it makes me want to wretch. Any Hillary supporter that votes for the GOP in November is NOT a Democrat, their ignorance and delusional pettiness is much more at home in the Republican party. Perhaps they are the same uninformed simpletons who provided W with a winning majority in 2004....
Posted by: Jamon | August 22, 2008 5:42 PM
That Obama!
He is just so cute and charismatic!
"Wouldn't you like to know!"
"I'll text you later!"
Is he 14?
I haven't read today how "nuanced" he is yet today.
Posted by: Jim | August 22, 2008 5:48 PM
"Senator Biden retains an ostentatiously unpretentious manner."
An "ostentatiously unpretentious" manner?
What does "ostentatiously unpretentious" mean?
Ostentatious: "Characterized by or given to ostentation or pretentious show."
Pretentiously unpretentious?
Who writes this stuff?
Posted by: DaveB | August 22, 2008 5:51 PM
Wesley Clark would have kicked butt.
Hillary sank her own ship. She doesn't deserve to be rewarded for the type of campaign she lead.
Posted by: DD | August 22, 2008 5:53 PM
Dave--doncha get it? The unpretentious stuff is an ACT! (And it works.)
I did like Biden's comments that we shouldn't take hasty action after 9/11 (false flag attack--google it).
But I REALLY felt PERSONALLY DEMEANED by his treatment of Anita Hill. I know a LOT of other women who felt the same way. We're about 50.
(We do a lot more than vote).
That was beyond the pale.
Posted by: working for Obama but we'll lose without Hillary as veep | August 22, 2008 6:03 PM
Obama picked Bayh. the suspense is over.
Posted by: JRockW | August 22, 2008 6:42 PM
No, DD you got it backwards. We shouldn't be punished with LOSING cuz Hillary's not veep
Posted by: face it without hillary we're S O L | August 22, 2008 6:53 PM
obama's propaganda machine hit a snag... probably can't figure out how to text everyone.
Posted by: beans | August 22, 2008 7:01 PM
Tired of the VP drama.
Get on with it and start the war.
Wasting time; make some points instead of the Pavolian blackberry salivation.
Posted by: Roger | August 22, 2008 7:14 PM
Can you imagine all the money the communications companies are making off this milking of the VP text announcement, bet those CEO's will get some big old bonus for this, and Obama will get a hefty contribution. Ah, the sweet smell of cashola!
Posted by: vla | August 22, 2008 7:47 PM
As someone said, who really cares who is the VP candidate? I'm more concerned about why our choices for President gets worst every cycle. We have Obama, who is too inexperienced for the job, and over the last 8 years we have seen what happens when you elect someone who isn't qualified for the job. We can't afford ot make that mistake again in these times.
We have McCain, someone I liked alot until the past few years, when he sold his soul to the ultra conservatives for a last ditech effort to be President. Even so, I was still willing to overlook all that, figuring he was just pandering to the Right, just to get the nomination and hoping he would revert to his old self once elected, but in the past month or so, he's not giving me a reason to vote for him. I want something different from the last 8 years.
I think he may be out of touch. He thinks onehas to make $5 million a year to be considered rich??? I think someone making a million is a year is pretty rich. He can't even remember how many homes he owns, because he has so many wealthy homes. His economic adviser, Phil Graham, called us a nation of whiners, because we're hit harder by the recession, than some multimilionaire? One can't expect someone to fix a problem they don't even acknowledge exist. Then this week I was reminded of his role in the S&L scandals in the late 80;s, which cost us taxpayers billions. And 4 more years of Reaganomics, if he chooses to continue W's economic plan, and this country will be bankrupt. Republicans may say all they want about how Obama would bankrupt this ocuntry withhis proposals, but out of the 9.3 trillion dollar debt, over 7 trillion occurred under the presidencies of Reagan and W.
As I said, I used to like McCain a lot. He would have won in 2000, and it wouldn't have taken a recount. I've just had a change of heart this past month, after seeing how little he's offering us, and what little he's offering is on the wrong track for themost part. Now, I don't know who to vote for. Too bad they can't switch the names on the ticket.
Posted by: Mike | August 22, 2008 8:48 PM
Well, the good thing is that the DNC now has a whole lot of cell numbers to call which they didn't have, previously.
What's the word?
Suckers.
Posted by: Pete | August 22, 2008 8:56 PM
This is pathetic. Everything this joker does is carefully planned and staged, there's nothing real about him. And the lapdog media just follows him around and encourages this garbage. Planning big rallies and production like this just covers up what a complete zilch Obama is, no substance, just the rock star announcing who the opening act is on his tour...
Posted by: Mike | August 22, 2008 9:12 PM
Personally it could be Wed. He never said that the rally tomorrow wold have the VP, NEVER did he
Posted by: TR | August 22, 2008 9:37 PM
Just got the text message!!!!
It's Biden.... :(
Posted by: Chitown Obama Gal | August 22, 2008 9:50 PM
Really more experience than GW? Are you serious? Is this imaginary experience, or do you think being a "community organizer," a state senatory for a few years, and then a senator for less than one term constitutes more "experience" than being the Gov. of one of the largest states in the nation, among other things?
Hate on GW all you want, but there is no reason to make stuff up to do it.
Posted by: James | August 22, 2008 10:13 PM
The United States Secret Service has dispatched a protective detail to assume the immediate protection of Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del., a source tells ABC News, indicating in all likelihood that Biden has been officially notified that Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, has selected him to be his running mate.
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/08/us-secret-servi.html
Posted by: Breaking Snooze | August 22, 2008 11:26 PM
You don't have to make stuff up, about President Bush !! It's all there in living color, from his Daddy's anointment of his Governorship to Daddy's shepherding of churlish Cheney to be his guide into the adult world of our Presidency !! There is absolutely nothing to hate about President Bush, he is incompetent and underdeveloped. That is all ! Unfortunately, for our country, those are very devastating characteristics in a President and he has proven to be, just that, devastating to our economy, to our morale, to our Armed Forces and to our politics. It is time to return him to his playpen, down in Crawford, America can no longer afford his incompetence, nor his underdevelopment !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, Chicago | August 23, 2008 1:18 AM
Maybe Biden will say this about McSame so Obama doesn't have to get 'dirty'--this is from a post at the Nation website blog:
- - - - -
"PRISONER OR HONORED GUEST?
McCain's 5½-year stay at the Hanoi Hilton (officially Hoa Loa Prison) has ever since been the subject of great controversy. He maintains that he was tortured and otherwise badly mistreated. One of many who disagree is Dennis Johnson, imprisoned at Hanoi and never given treatment for his broken leg. He reports that every time he saw McCain, who was generally kept segregated, the man was clean-shaven, dressed in fresh clothes, and appeared comfortable among North Vietnamese Army officers. He adds that he frequently heard McCain's collaborative statements broadcast over the prison's loud speakers.
On October 26, 1967, McCain's A-4 Skyhawk was shot down over Hanoi. The fractures of 1 leg and both arms were reportedly due to his failure to tuck them in during ejection. According to U.S. News & World Report (May 14, 1973), McCain didn't wait long before offering military information in return for medical care. While an extraordinary patient at Gi Lam Hospital, he was visited by a number of dignitaries, including, to quote McCain himself, General Vo Nguyen Giap, the national hero of Dienbienphu.
Jack McLamb is a highly respected name in law enforcement circles. After 9 years of clandestine operations in Cambodia and unmentionable areas, he returned home to Phoenix where he became one of the most decorated police officers on record. Twice McLamb was named Officer of the Year. He went on to become an FBI hostage negotiator. This man has stated that every one of the many former POWs he has talked with consider McCain a traitor. States McLamb, "He was never tortured…The Vietnamese Communists called him the Songbird, that's his code name, Songbird McCain, because he just came into the camp singing and telling them everything they wanted to know.
Posted by: Golden "Hussein" Oldie | August 23, 2008 11:53 AM