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Rumor turns talk to McCain

Running-mate prospects eyed

By Joseph Curl (Contact) and Ralph Z. Hallow (Contact) | Wednesday, July 23, 2008

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ROCHESTER, N.H. | With the American press corps - make that the entire global media conglomerate - tracking every move of Sen. Barack Obama across the Middle East and Europe, how on earth does Sen. John McCain break into the news?

By floating a little veep talk, that's how.

Of course, no one in the McCain campaign would talk publicly about the genesis of a rumor that swept through the traveling press corps after a veteran conservative columnist reported that the Republican "will reveal the name of his vice presidential selection this week."

Nevermind that the timing seemed absurd - Americans are weary of election politics and busy with backyard barbecues, and every one of the possible vice-presidential choices comes with drawbacks and are still being vetted by McCain advisers.

"I don't think McCain should pick a running mate before Obama does," said David Norcross, a Republican National Committee member who ran the 2004 presidential nominating convention in New York. "McCain doesn't gain anything by doing it now."

More problematic, though, is who will be the Arizona Republican's choice. None of the most frequently mentioned names seems to be without significant drawbacks, and if the list of choices is accurate, McCain officials are busy vetting as many a dozen people.

The senator drops in on Thursday to New Orleans, where he will hold an event with Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, whom many mention as a top choice but who some top McCain aides say is not among the finalists.

"McCain probably has socks and ties that are older," pollster John Zogby said of Mr. Jindal, who is 37. The 71-year-old senator would be the oldest president elected if he wins, and most political pundits agree that he needs a second in command who needs no on-the-job training.

Insiders thought South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford would be a sure bet because he is highly regarded by conservatives. He is young, good-looking and not the type to upstage Mr. McCain.

But he has twin problems: Conservatives may not be so hot on him when they are reminded that he strongly supported Mr. McCain in the 2000 Republican presidential primary, even though Mr. McCain was the target of conservative criticism and had dished out criticism of his own about conservatives.