McCain to name VP on Aug. 29, Report Says (Analysis included)

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Sources say McCain Veep Pick to Come This Week

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Update: over at the New York Observer, they seem to think that Tom Ridge or Joe Lieberman will be the pick. They also have an amusing look at Bush's mistake in tapping Dan Quayle to appease party functionaries.

Original post follows.

I've been handicapping this race for awhile now, and you can see an earlier analysis here.

Who will McCain go with? Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty. At least, he's been my odds-on favorite all along. 

Choosing Mitt Romney would present voters with a classic "old white guy" face for the Republican party--and Romney's failed bid would be baggage, rather than his voters being a boost. Pawlenty is young, personable, and has very high marks from Minnesota, which traditionally is a very liberal state.

The addition of Pawlenty would help with two major issues. The first is age--if McCain chooses Pawlenty, he'll be making a straight statement: if I die or become incapacitated, here's a 48-year-old ready to step into the job of running the country.

Pawlenty's progressive politics would belie the Democratic claims that a vote for McCain is just a vote for four more years of  President George Bush. Pawlenty's a man whose policies or personality could never be mistaken for Bush's views or those of  Bush's inner circle.

As I said earlier "If he can't get (Condi)Rice, McCain's best bet in terms of achievement and promise--although perhaps not as much name brand recognition--is Pawlenty, in this writer's opinion." Rice, of course, has said she wouldn't accept a VP bid. But if she reconsidered--the running of a successful, internationally-known powerhouse who's also female, and black, could trump Barack Obama's race card.

Step right up, and place your bets. Unless Rice is a late, secret entry, it will be Pawlenty to win, by several lengths.

UPDATE: Obama's announcement now is said to be planned for either Thursday or Friday.