Obama VP Watch: Not today, says Indiana's Evan Bayh

Thanks to a tip from Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh, we can all probably relax today about Barack Obama's vice presidential pick coming during his campaign day in the Hoosier State.

In an interview with Mary Beth Schneider of the Indianapolis Star today (hat tip to our Swamp buddy John McCormick), Bayh claimed to have "no idea" what Obama's VP timeline is and added:

"I'm absolutely confident there will be no announcement tomorrow. I guess the best way to put it is, if there's an announcement tomorrow, I'd be as surprised as anybody else."

Bayh, who was an avid supporter of Hillary Clinton's during the rugged primary season, will be campaigning with the Illinois freshman Democrat all day Wednesday.

Bayh has figured in the rampant running-mate speculation because choosing him could be an Obama olive branch toward the Clintons; and Indiana, which Obama narrowly lost to Sen. Clinton, is one of those crucial Midwestern states whose electoral votes could tip the general election.

Illinois' governor is in some scandal trouble, and Ohio's Gov. Ted Strickland, also a Clinton backer, firmly removed himself from the VP race, leaving another Clinton supporter, Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, possibly in the running.

Bayh also told the Star that his wife, two sons and father, former Sen. Birch Bayh, were not campaigning with him. Presumably they'd want to be present for any VP anointing.

-- Andrew Malcolm

Comments

[Ed]

I want Paris Hilton for Vice President.
The Politicians do nothing but argue and point fingers.
Send Paris to D.C If she does nothing we lose nothing.
The fact we want Paris in Washington to help the country will motivate the Politicians to solve some of the problems we now face.
The country needs Paris to wake the White House up.

[Rick Huffman]

As always it seems we find ourselves battling evil agendas, half truths and anything goes presidential campaign. I am ashamed our Americans in ability to look beyond party rhetoric and flag waving to see where our best choice for president lays. John McCain is four more years of George Bush and he makes no apologies about it. Mr. Obama is a candidate who delivers a great speech and can excited folks making them have hope. Obama's trouble is that he battling a republican machine that destroyed to better candidates than he. So, Is it four more years of Bush or worse or an unknown rabble rouser. I will take the rabble rouser.

[bob bruman]

I am starting to see Ed's point, The country needs Paris to wake the White House up.

[elizabeth]

I became a democratic to assist in making a difference in the outcomes for America. Now that Obama has chosen his running mate I see that he does not have the ability to make the tough choices. Hillary would have been a great running mate, but he could not look past their differences to assist the county with moving forward. Therefore, many of us who supported Hillary have chosen not to participate in November's election or will turn our vote over to the republican party.

[dave]

rick,
if it weren't for the viable candidates, like constitutional republican candidate for president, RON PAUL, your bleak outlook would be correct.
but though the legitimate candidate's efforts to get out his positive and viable solutions to america's fundamental problems, have been viciously opposed and suppressed with the complicit assistance of the corporate fascist media, there is plenty of evidence that the rEVOLution, televised or not, will change history, and that a great visionary will emerge a great shepherd, in minnesota-st paul.