Biden accepts VP nomination

Obama’s Biden text and email

Text:

Barack has chosen Senator Joe Biden to be our VP nominee. Watch the first Obama-Biden rally live at 3pm ET on http://www.BarackObama.com. Spread the word!

Email:

Friend –

I have some important news that I want to make official.

I’ve chosen Joe Biden to be my running mate.

Joe and I will appear for the first time as running mates this afternoon in Springfield, Illinois — the same place this campaign began more than 19 months ago.

I’m excited about hitting the campaign trail with Joe, but the two of us can’t do this alone. We need your help to keep building this movement for change.

Please let Joe know that you’re glad he’s part of our team. Share your personal welcome note and we’ll make sure he gets it:

http://my.barackobama.com/welcomejoe

Thanks for your support,

Barack

P.S. — Make sure to turn on your TV at 2:00 p.m. Central Time to join us or watch online at http://www.BarackObama.com.

Biden is Obama’s running mate

ABC News is reporting that the Secret Service has dispatched a detail to assume protection duties for Senator Joe Biden (D-DE). This occurs when a person becoming the running mate of a major presidential candidate and is a signal that the Democratic presidential ticket consists of Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

ABC News is also reporting that Barack Obama called Governor Time Kaine of Virginia and Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana to inform them that they were not going to be Obama’s running mate.

More to come tomorrow…

Drudge: Obama Bayh 08 signs being printed

The Drudge Report is saying that a political literature company in Kansas City, Missouri is printing Obama Bayh 08 signs.

Update: This is the report that Drudge is citing. We are somewhat suspect as this sign is a dramatic departure from the design that the Obama campaign has used for every single graphic.

Is this proof that it is an Obama Bayh ticket?

Waiting for the Obama VP pick…

So we have spent the day staring at our BlackBerrys, waiting for the text message and email from Barack Obama revealing his running mate (we signed up for both). As of now, there has been no news except for the fact that Senator Clinton has not been vetted and Congressman Chet Edwards has. The sum total of my own work was playing Brickbreaker on my BlackBerry and smashing my high score by several thousand points.

Update: We just received an email from Obama campaign manager David Plouffe and it made our hearts race faster. However, it was an email to supporters attacking John McCain over his houses. The Obama campaign could enjoy the fact that reporters and supporters are waiting with bated breath.

Obama says VP pick made

But he isn’t disclosing the identity of his running mate yet…

AP: Biden most likely to be Obama’s VP

The Associated Press is reporting that Senator Joe Biden of Delaware is the most logical choice, mentioned among Democrats, to be Barack Obama’s running mate. It cites Biden’s ability to be an attack dog, a role Obama seems unwilling to take on, and his extensive foreign policy experience.

Obama VP clue?; “major event” to be held in Indiana Saturday

Barack Obama has recalled some of his top advance operatives from Denver, where they were busy setting up for the Democratic National Convention, and sent them to Indianapolis, Indiana to prepare for a “major event” on Saturday. This has made many believe that Barack Obama will select Indiana Senator Evan Bayh as his running mate.

However, the Obama campaign has said that Obama and his running mate will travel the swing states before the convention and Indiana is a swing state this election.

Obama VP pick to be made Friday

CBS News is reporting that Barack Obama will announce the identity of his running mate on Friday afternoon.

Update: The Atlantic’s Marc Ambinder reports that Obama might announce his VP pick Thursday because of Friday being the least paid attention to newsday of the week.

Biden says he is not Obama’s VP

Earlier today, Senator Joe Biden of Delaware said that he is not Barack Obama’s running mate.

DRUDGE: Obama to announce VP tomorrow morning

Drudge is touting that Barack Obama will announce his running mate tomorrow morning.

The National Journal’s On Call is saying that its sources say Drudge is inaccurate.

Update: Marc Ambinder at The Atlantic also says that Obama’s VP announcement will not come tomorrow morning.

Update 2: The New York Times has posted the story that Drudge references. The article says that Senator Obama made his decision while he was in Hawaii last week, but has not notified the pick or the finalists who were not chosen. Additionally, the announcement will come in the morning on Wednesday or as late as Friday. The top three candidates are Senator Joe Biden (D-DE), Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN) and Governor Tim Kaine (D-VA).

Obama to announce VP pick through email & text messages

Barack Obama’s presidential campaign announced that it will deliver the news of Senator Obama’s running mate choice by first emailing and sending text messages to supporters. A more traditional announcement will most likely be made soon after the text and email messages to supporters is sent out.

Sam McCletchen for VP

McCletchen’s first ad for VP:

And McCletchen’s other ad for VP:

Obama Bayh ticket announced Wednesday?

Speculation is rampant that Barack Obama will name Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN) as his running mate in Indiana on Wednesday. Obama is scheduled to visit Elkhart, Indiana on Wednesday and many believe that this could be the day that Obama announces.

On Friday, press coverage will be dominated by the Olympics. The Olympics will be the primary news until its end on August 24, with the Democratic National Convention beginning on August 25. It would be very hard for Senator Obama to make a VP pick that was able to dominate a news cycle or two during that time. Additionally, Obama will be taking a family vacation in Hawaii to get ready for the final push of the campaign.

Opinion: Tim Kaine will not be Obama’s #2

Virginia Governor Tim Kaine

On Monday, speculation over Barack Obama’s running mate reached a fever pitch when he and his top three campaign aides, David Plouffe, David Axelrod and Robert Gibbs, met with Eric Holder and Caroline Kennedy, who are in charge of Obama’s VP vetting process. The meeting, which lasted three hours, was a signal to many that Obama’s search for a running mate had entered its final phase and that a pick was imminent (although when the announcement would be made is another matter). Then, around 8:00pm that night, The Washington Post and The Politico each published articles quoting unnamed sources close to Governor Tim Kaine (D-VA), stating that Kaine was “very, very high” on Obama’s short list. Soon, all media outlets began running with the story and the top three contenders were reported to be Kaine, Senator Joe Biden (D-DE) and Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN).

Kaine responds to VP speculation

Obama meets with Holder again

According to MSNBC, Barack Obama met with top VP vetter Eric Holder for two-and-a-half hours today.

Obama & top advisers finish 3 hour meeting

The Politico’s Avi Zenilman is reporting that Barack Obama’s meeting with Caroline Kennedy, David Plouffe, Eric Holder, David Axelrod and Robert Gibbs lasted just over three hours.

With the length of this meeting, it is safe to say that Obama will soon make (or has made) the decision on who will be his running mate.

Who will be Obama’s VP? Polling our sources

As it seems that Senator Obama’s search for a running mate is winding down, we polled our regular sources on both sides of the aisle to see who they believe Barack Obama will choose as his number two and when they believe it will happen.

Who will be Obama’s VP:

Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN)-4

Gov. Tim Kaine (D-VA)-3

Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI)-1

Former Sen. Sam Nunn (D-GA)-1

Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE)-1

When will Obama announce his VP pick?:

Before the Olympics-7

After the Olympics-3

During the Olympics-0

Kaine at top of Obama’s VP list

Virginia Governor Tim Kaine is very high on Barack Obama’s list as a running mate, according to sources close to Kaine. Keeping with campaign policy, the Obama campaign declined to comment on the report.