Reports: McCain Closing In On VP Choice

UPDATE JULY 22: McCain campaign sources confirm to CNN that there have been discussions high in the campaign about naming a running mate this week. They also say that, whether or not the announcement is made, the choices have been "narrowed" to the point where McCain could make a decision that soon.

Robert Novak reports:

Sources close to Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign are suggesting he will reveal the name of his vice presidential selection this week while Sen. Barack Obama is getting the headlines on his foreign trip. The name of McCain's running mate has not been disclosed, but Mitt Romney has led the speculation recently.

The news set off a flurry of reporting, with Politico's Jonathan Martin appearing to throw some water on Novak's story:

John McCain has narrowed his vice-presidential possibilities to the point where he considered a decision this week -- but he's likely to hold off, say sources close to the campaign.

The prospect of stepping on Barack Obama's much-anticipated overseas trip with the headline-grabbing news was discussed among the small inner-circle of McCain aides and advisers privy to the running mate decision, according to a McCain source. [...]

One inner-circle McCain adviser said the longtime plans are to name the selection close to the Republican convention, on the theory that all that really matters is the final sprint to Election Day.

"No one is panicking about this week," the adviser said. "Frankly, it is excellent for the press to be getting Obamamania out of their system."

Meanwhile, Chris Cillizza reports:

John McCain will huddle with vice presidential aspirant Bobby Jindal during a trip to New Orleans later this week, sources close to the campaign confirm to The Fix.

McCain's trip to Louisiana on Wednesday was the cause of much head scratching in the political world as it was not in keeping with a week of planned stops in battleground states.

But, the meeting with Jindal, who has been the state's governor since 2007, suggests that McCain himself is deeply engaged in the process of picking his second-in-command and that the youthful Jindal is under serious consideration.

Comments

[sugarmoes]

oh pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease pick jindal!!!!

but if he does that i think we can take that as a sign that "something will happen" to grandpa mac and baseball mitt will step in to "save (aka ruin) the day"

[CtJean]

OMG - be still my heart.

He's closing in a pick

I can hardly wait to find out who the losing vp will be

[era996]

sebelius, that who the losing vp will be

[Vyvjala]

Al Bundy would make a good VP for the old soupworm..............

[hrholmes]

HEY! Vyvjala I voted for Al Bundy and he was a far better choice than Bush! lol

[likeicare]

Do it, Johnny. Please, please, please pick Jindahl.

The perfect ticket to beat: McSame & Insert Name Here.

Obama Tsunami in November!

[Tropiholic]

every**

[Tropiholic]

how can mc*flippy choose a veep candidate? he's changed his opinion on very single issue so far

[Toonadude]

The corporations will tell McCain who it's going to be and to keep out of the VP's way if they make it to the WH. Just like the Shrub and Darth.

[majorteddy]

My wife for some of those rich Indian jerks. They are so nasty to women. Women are like dirt to them. When you talk to them, if you are a woman and they are sitting , you must be squatted down so you will be in a lower position than them.

[wilburr0g]

Agreed. If he picks macaca "Bobby" he'll lose in a landslide.

[majorteddy]

You mean the "WITCH DOCTOR"? Jindal

[strut2k]

He leaked this to Robert Novak? Professional courtesy for a fellow fossil.

If he told Novak, any chance McCain will select Valerie Plame?

[meanguy]

"nofacts" is the source? never mind, america, we now return you to your regular program...

[wilburr0g]

McTreason should pick Jindal and run on the "swamp America with immigrants" platform.

[Toonadude]

Romney it is.
And just in time too.
His sons were just about to enlist in the Army and request Iraq duty.

[TrueIndy08]

we are not going for Magic undies....

ans those so called Christians are not going to be too happy with a Mormon... they already don't like McStupid.... Mittens will just anger them more

[Countdown09]

Big deal it's Romney who cares.

[LiarLiarIraqsOnFire]

What's Dan Quayle doin' these days?

[Jessegirl]

Oh no...How will Mitt face his children after he promised them "the big payoff" if they just 'took it up the butt for awhile"

[j.gold]

Jindal will be need a job soon. There is a petition to re-call him here in Louisiana. That will look real good for a VP candidate.

[Nominay]

I would be dissapointed if McCain picked Jindal. I want McCain to pick the person who is best to help him. Jindal would hurt him. It's a lousy choice. I wanted this to be a competitive race. If McCain picks Jindal, Obama is going to swamp him. The next 3 months will be anticlimactic.

[smoo]

I totally agree. The whole inexperience vs. experience postive for McCain would suddenly become a huge negative. Then their are those 25% +- 5% of McCain voters in red states who will vote race first and America second; with this in mind, all of a sudden Obama becomes more American. It will then turn from "he is not one of us but he is one of ours." Jindal is an awful pick for McCain. The Republican base in places like Tennessee, Oaklahoma, Mississippi, South Carolina, Florida, Alabama, PA will go crazy; furthermore he will gain no independent support from it. If this is another gimmic to show republican diversity, these guy is much more naive than I ever thought.