Another interesting story buzzing around the internet today about obama's potential VP. While we have had a lot of these in the past few weeks, this one seems a bit more plausible than the rest.

On tuesday, Obama will be traveling to South Bend, Indiana and staying there for nearly 24 hours. He has no events actually scheduled in the state during that time and the trip is not officially on his schedule. It comes right around the time that most experts believe Obama needs to pick his VP (the Olympics are starting Friday and the convention is in three weeks) and Evan Bayh is considered a top contender for the vice presidency. Also, he is very popular among Clinton supporters and was a top clinton surrogate during the primaries. It is also noted that a candidate spending 24 hours in one place at this point in a campaign is highly unusual and the town is a nearly equal distance from Illinois, Ohio, and Michigan. And this news is coming out on the same day that the obama campaign announced it is increasing the number of field offices in the state. Perhaps Obama/Bayh 08?

There Are Some Hints That Evan Bayh Will Be Obama's VP Candidate

I might also point out that Clinton has officially asked to NOT be selected as VP.
I'm sure that's for the bennifit of her supporters and shifting them to Obama.
None the less, Clinton is officially no longer in contention.

Bayh would make sense as long as Obama is stuck on clean campaigning. He's far from an attack dog.

Guess who Pelosi thinks outta be Obama's VP choice?

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/elec...ep_N.htm?csp=34

Pelosi pushes Texas lawmaker as Obama running mate
8.3.8

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is behind on a dark horse in the Democratic veepstakes: Rep. Chet Edwards of Texas.

"I hope he will be the nominee," Pelosi said Sunday on ABC's This Week.

Edwards, first elected in 1990 and now in his ninth term, represents Texas' 17th District, which includes Waco, College Station, Fort Hood and the small town of Crawford, where President Bush has a ranch. He serves as a senior member on the House appropriations and budget committees and has guided funding measures for military veterans.

Pelosi said that amid all the talk about possible running mates from the Senate, she didn't want the House to be left out. Presumed nominee Barack Obama has not announced when he will make his pick.

"There's such a great array of people from whom Sen. Obama can choose," she said. "So, any one of them, I'm fine with. I just wanted people to be aware of the extraordinary credentials of Chet Edwards."

Pelosi's push for Edwards was reported by Newsweek in its issue set for release Monday.

Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., mentioned as a potential running mate, said Sunday she had not been asked for any documents as part of a vetting process.

Former Rep. Rob Portman, an Ohio Republican and a former budget director under President Bush, said the campaign of Republican John McCain had not asked him for any personal records. He and McCaskill appeared on CNN's Late Edition.

Virginia Rep. Eric Cantor, on the other hand, has been asked by the McCain campaign for personal documents as part of its search for a running mate, the Associated Press reported Saturday. Cantor had no comment on the report.


Frankly, I'm not sure if she's serious or just having a little political fun with George.

That would be a very intelligent choice regionally, as it would likely boost Obama's numbers in neighboring Ohio and potentially deliver GOP stronghold Indiana to Obama, all but shutting out the likelihood of a McCain Presidency.

The only downside is the lack of notoriety, but that will probably be true of any VP who isn't, you know, Hillary.

Agreed and i think the ticket would appeal to those of us who have ideological and lofty goals for the future, thanks to obama's presences, and those who are more pragmatic and cautious, with Bayh.


And something that has been noted for the last week or two. If you go to www.obamabayh08.com, it takes you to the DNC's website. If you replace any other potential VP name in place of bayh's, it doesn't take you anywhere.

Side note, similer discussion....


Yesterday the CBS evening news stated that "a national poll" shows McCain and Obama tied at 44% each.
The discussed the fact that the race is a dead heat, and discussed the problems both are having right now.
They did not say which poll, and they did not discuss the numbers of any other national polls.

Is this reporting, or editorializing and calling it reporting?

The MSM coverage I've heard recently seems to be pushing the idea of a close race, and the polls they quote that are the closest seem to be sponsored by MSM outlets. I believe the race is relatively close, but it sure makes for higher political ratings if it comes down to more of a nail biter. The media would love another recount to boost their ratings and ad revenues in turn, so it's in their interest to question Obama when his popularity seems to be on the rise, and vice versa, if that were to ever happen.

More on topic, there's a lot of evidence in recent elections that the running mate doesn't really help to carry their own region, so I wouldn't lay all that much regional signifigance on Indiana if Obama would select Bayh. Wow, That makes one strange looking bumper sticker - Obama/Bayh... it looks like a sneeze.

Here is an op-ed from the huffington post from someone who lists reasons why he thinks it is going to be bayh.

1. The Olympics start on Friday and run until the Democratic convention starts. He won't want to compete with the Olympics for press coverage. He'll announce before the Olympics starts. If he announces on Wednesday morning, he'll get coverage all day and be on the news cycle until the Opening Ceremonies knock him off the top spot.

2. Barack Obama is coming to the state on Tuesday afternoon for a campaign stop in Elkhart, Indiana. He'll be attending with Evan Bayh. The press has been told to plan on staying until Wednesday afternoon/evening. Why would he spend so much time in Indiana with nothing on his public calendar?

3. Staying around Indiana allows Obama and Bayh to travel to Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio - all important states in this election. When you've just announced your VP, those are states you'll want to visit - especially since Bayh's reputation will help the most in those states.

4. The website ObamaBayh08.com is taken. For a tiny sliver of time late last week, you could type in the URL and you'd be forwarded to another site. Where do you think it took you? The Democratic Party website. (screencap from WHOIS below)
WHOISObamaBayh08.jpg

5. I just got an invite from the Obama campaign to attend an appearance on Wednesday that isn't on Obama's official calendar. Why not? The campaign said, "I can't tell you what the event is about, but we want to make sure you have a ticket so you can cover it for the Bilerico Project. We want Bilerico Project to be there for this one."

More Evidence of Bayh As VP?

Frankly, Bayh LOOKS like a white version of Obama.
If nothing else, the contrast between Bush/Cheney and Obama/Bayh is astounding. (in more ways that appearance, but that way is significant all by it's self)

I would be pretty happy with Bayh. I wanted Edwards but his sex scandal, whether real or not, pretty much rules him out. If it is Bayh or Biden, i think the ticket will end up with a lot of appeal.

Biden is a bit older. Bayh would almost immediately compliment the superstar and it would become a superstar presidential team. Which of course would rattle ol' man McCain.

Bayh: No offer from Obama to join ticket
8.5.8

Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., told The Indianapolis Star today that Sen. Barack Obama has not asked him to be his running mate and that he's not expecting Obama to announce his vice presidential pick when Obama is in Indiana Wednesday.

Asked if he will be Obama's vice presidential choice, Bayh said; "I have no idea. You'd have to ask him."


http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti...NEWS05/80805080