McCain VP pick this week?

By Jennifer J. Foster

Published: July 22, 2008

Conservative columnist Bob Novak reports that “sources close to Sen. John McCain’s presidential campaign are suggesting he will reveal the name of his vice presidential selection this week.“

Well, that’s one way for McCain to try to grab headlines away from Barack Obama’s trip to Europe—or, at least, remind everyone that he is still in the race.

Of course, the down side, the risk, of doing it while everyone else in the mainstream media is fawning over Obama’s European Vacation is that the announcement will be buried, won’t be given the attention it otherwise would and therefore won’t convert into the traditional bounce for McCain that VP selection announcements usually bring.

As for McCain’s pick, Novak says McCain’s former (bitter) rival Mitt Romney “has led the speculation recently,“ but others on the right—especially evangelical leaders—have made no bones about their preference for Mike Huckabee, and he’s rumored to have topped the list. But don’t count out Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, especially now that he’s rounded out his candidate profile with a lady friend.