Watch McCain pick a woman now

[Hartley]

Romney's odds just plummeted on Betfair. He was at 1.97 (just under even money) about 3 hours ago. Now down to 1.5 (1/1) as someone took over $8,000 that was offered on him between 3/5 and 2/1. Tom Ridge now up to 12/1

[JC]

Electoral-vote.com: President, Senate, House Updated Daily

McCain's Veep Choices
Politico has a story on how the selection of Joe Biden as Obama's running mate complicates McCain's choices. Many business leaders favor former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, but together the Republican ticket would own about a dozen houses worth an estimated $35 million, clearly fodder for the Democrats to paint the Republicans as plutocrats out of touch with normal Americans. Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN), who has never been on the national stage would be turned into mincemeat in the Vice Presidential debate by Biden, someone with 35 years experience debating in the Senate. Former Pennsylvania governor and Secretary of the Dept. of Homeland Security Tom Ridge could hold his own against Biden on national security but is pro choice, which would alienate much of the Base, which is already suspicious of McCain on abortion. Finally, there is Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), but prominent conservative Phyllis Schlafly said: "I think there would be a walkout on Lieberman at the convention. He's not a Republican." A name rarely mentioned but who would electrify the conventiion is Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-TX). She is a deeply conservative Republican, a good speaker, and would give the Democratic PUMA voters a cover story for voting for the Republican ticket, even though they violently oppose everything the Republicans are promising to do. It would be the ultimate in identity politics.