McCain To Name VP on Aug 29th in Dayton, OH

So McCain will make the announcement the day after the Democratic Convention concludes which will eat away at any bump from Obama's speech at Mile High Stadium.

Ohio is also the bellweather of the nation. No Republican has ever won the White House without winning Ohio. The Buckeye State also tends to back Presidential winners be they Democrat or Republican. The only time Ohio hasn't backed a winner was in 1944 with Tom Dewey and in 1960 with Richard Nixon. So history might not be on McCain's side even if he does win Ohio.

What I find most interesting is that he will make the announcement in Dayton. Could this mean McCain is picking Rob Portman? The former Congressman, former U.S. Trade Representative and former Director of the Office of Management and Budget is from the Cincinnati area which is about 50 miles south of Dayton. If it is Portman then announcing in Cincinnati would have been a dead giveaway. Portman has been mentioned as a potential running mate although not with the same frequency as Romney, Pawlenty or Tom Ridge. If it is Portman I don't have a problem apart from the lack of name recognition outside Ohio and the Beltway. Of course, that would be quickly overcome in due course.

A few weeks ago I wrote that Pawlenty would be his best choice. (www.intellectualconservative.com/2008/07/28/mccain-has-plenty-of-reason-to-pick-pawlenty/) I still would go with Pawlenty although I wouldn't mind if he picked Eric Cantor. I'd even be happy for Lieberman although I think that's not likely. For me, anybody but Romney.