The O Report-- Obama VP Search to Climax --Soon? Pep Follows the Search for Days--and Picks Her Winner

Barack Obama's final pick for his VP nominee is an intensely-choreographed mating dance. As names-- Evan Bayh, Tim Kaine, Kathleen Sebelius,  --are called  the Obama camp is shrewd enough to get as much attention for this spotlight dance as it can.

The winner? Pep's placing her bet. Note: continuing updates over the past couple of days are found at the bottom of the story.

Note: above resource includes video.

UPDATE: The Washington Post  says that the VP is already staffed, and lists the names of staffers.

UPDATE #2: Here's a really good scorecard on the VP contenders for both parties.

UPDATE #3: No surprise, a Virginia newspaper is touting Kaine.

UPDATE #4: Obama's dropping the "he" pronoun.

UPDATE #5: Kaine introduces Obama, sparking more rumors of him as the VP pick.

UPDATE #6: Now Obama is playing the flirt-trifle around game. Hold on, they may not announce until Saturday.

UPDATE #7: The attention on Biden is intensifying, as watchers start to expound on his links to important Pennsylvania.

UPDATE #8: Biden gets cranky.

UPDATE #9: Chet Edwards of Texas is the latest name floated in Obama's game of "pick the Homecoming Queen." At this point, the game's getting a little old and more than a bit frayed, some are saying.

And, in Kansas, Kathleen Sebelius says that the attention for Kansas is a good thing as her name continues to float.Tribble Ad Agency said they have a "credible lead" that Sebelius will be Obama's choice.

Joe Biden's stock is skyrocketing at Intrade. But at least one leftist blogger thinks Biden isn't quite liberal enough.

UPDATE #10: Some wonder why he's taking so long. And some don't mind pointing out how important this choice is for a presidential candidate with limited national experience, let alone almost no international or military experience.

Here's what Jack Kemp told Hannity and Colmes:

KEMP: "KEMP: You know, it's tough to read statements that are made maybe 24 hours prior to a choice. I think he's being very careful, playing it very close to his chest. But clearly, he needs someone who can bolster his lacking national security credentials."....

"HANNITY:....

All right, first of all, do you think there's any chance he's -- he is equivocating because of the weakness he's showing in the polls. Zogby has him down by five. Do you think now he's considering Hillary? And if he does that show that he -- he's recognizing how weak he is as a candidate?

KEMP: Well, it is as you say very close. Zogby, who is a very fine pollster, has John up by five. Clearly it's tight. And here is a time when Dukakis was 14 or 15 points ahead of George Bush -- President H.W. Bush back in `41.

So I don't know why he is doing it. I'm sure he will come up with what he thinks is a good pick. I'm willing to wait and see who it is. As I said to Alan, I think he needs to bolster his national security credentials.

HANNITY: Right.

KEMP: . because he really doesn't have much to go on.