How to pick a running mate

Posted: Tuesday, Aug. 05, 2008 When you try to talk with McCain staffers about vice-presidential prospects, as I did over the weekend, the normally garrulous become guarded and the usually talkative turn taciturn. Still, here's what I was able to discern. John McCain apparently intends to announce his pick after the Democratic convention. There's been thought given to announcing McCain's selection the day after Barack Obama's Thursday night Aug. 28 acceptance speech, to try to minimize Obama's post-convention bounce. But the current inclination is to wait until after Labor Day weekend, which ends with President Bush's speech on Monday, the first night of the GOP convention. Then the McCain camp would hope to seize attention Tuesday with the VP announcement. A strong pick, followed by the VP nominee's remarks on Wednesday and... [read full story]