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Is McCain ready to announce his running mate?

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

July 23, 2008

ROCHESTER, N.H. - Yet another town-hall meeting isn't doing the trick. Neither is dropping in on a former Republican president.

So just what can John McCain do to draw attention away from his showy Democratic rival? Pick a running mate, perhaps.

Speculation swirled yesterday that McCain might name his vice presidential partner within the next few days - right in the middle of Barack Obama's overseas tour.

McCain aides were not helping tamp down the speculation with their comments, often made late in the afternoon, of "no announcement today." But what about tomorrow? Or where?

On Sunday, McCain was in the Bronx at a Yankees game with a former rival, former mayor Rudy Giuliani.

Yesterday, as McCain campaigned in New Hampshire, not all that far from a lakeside summer home of vanquished GOP rival Mitt Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, an audience member told McCain he seemed like a very "forgiving" man. "Have you forgiven Mitt Romney?" the man asked.

Amid laughter, McCain said, "Mitt has been of tremendous help to my campaign. ... He does a better job for me than he did for himself." Later, when reporters asked if this was a good week to announce his own running mate with Obama overseas, McCain chuckled and said, "We have the same answer we always have. ... We'll let you know when we have an announcement."

The campaign is also not very open about where McCain is going next, keeping scheduling matters close to the vest. And that adds to the frenzy.

But there are a lot of potential running mates that McCain could visit as he jets around the country - Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist or Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, for instance, three governors mentioned frequently as possible running mates. McCain winds up in New Orleans tonight.