If it’s Thursday, it must be time for rumors about Vice-Presidential running mates and, now we’ve got two more of them.
First via Jason Pye comes a report on what may be a clue that Mitt Romney is the man:
Just hung up the phone with Joe McCutchen, a Republican activist up in Ellijay.
Joe says he just got a call from a buddy — a fellow in Georgia who prints political paraphernalia for a living.
The buddy — McCutchen wouldn’t give his name — said he just got a rush order from the John McCain campaign, for 10,000 bumper-stickers to be sent to Minneapolis. And what is the message?
McCain-Romney.
Okay, well if it comes from a guy who knows a guy, it must be true right ? Well, just remember that there were unfounded rumors about Obama/Bayh stickers being ordered right before Joe Biden was named as the Democratic Vice-Presidential candidate.
On the truly insane side of the ledger, though, Justin Gardner links to a report which seems to indicate that Lieberman may be the man:
AP’s Liz Sidoti reported: “Inside GOP circles Thursday, speculation swirled around Lieberman. It was fueled by reports that McCain’s advisers had asked for additional detailed information from him, by McCain’s close friendship with the 2000 Democratic vice presidential nominee, and by word that Republican operatives had been told to prepare for the possibility of an ‘unconventional’ choice.”
Unconventional ? How about certifiably insane ?
Justin goes on to note:
[L]et’s not forget how ineffectual Lieberman was for Gore as a Veep pick. We’ve all seen this guy in action, and he’s simply not an impressive, motivating figure.
True, but then neither is John McCain.
I still don’t think it will happen, but if John McCain picks Joe Lieberman it will be end of his campaign.
Update: As long as we’re spreading wild rumors, here’s something from Marc Ambinder:
Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN) is canceling print and broadcast interviews for the day…
Hmmm…..
Update # 2: More details from Ambinder:
CBS affiliate WCCO in Minneapolis is reporting that Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s schedule has been cleared for today and tomorrow…
If it is him, I cannot honestly figure out what Pawlenty brings to the ticket.
Update # 3: Another report that may be evidence that Romney is the guy:
[C]onsider this, from Roll Call: “According to sources with strong Michigan ties, the Secret Service has conducted a security sweep of the home of Romney’s sister. Romney was raised in Michigan, where his father served as governor. However, one campaign operative familiar with the working of a presidential-level campaign cautioned that a sweep of such a location could have been conducted in advance of Romney appearing as a surrogate not the vice presidential nominee at an upcoming McCain campaign stop in Michigan.”
And this: “Other sources and some news reports have also suggested that Romney in the last few days might be traveling with a security detail, although exactly who employs this security detail could not be confirmed.” “Other sources and some news reports.”
