MyDD :: (Updated 2x) Not Breaking!?: No Kaine V.P. Announcement!?

(Updated 2x) Not Breaking!?: No Kaine V.P. Announcement!?

by bobswern, Wed Jul 30, 2008 at 01:58:07 AM EST

Reports are beginning to circulate--as "pieces" of information are beginning to paint a possible picture this evening--that Barack Obama may be announcing today that he's chosen Virginia Governor Tim Kaine to join him as the V.P. candidate on the Democratic ticket.

Just in tonight: Governor Kaine has cancelled all scheduled appearances for the balance of the week, starting with the cancellation of an appearance at a rather major Party event in Baltimore Wednesday evening, due to "scheduling problems." The story, from a few hours ago, is available here: "Kaine Cancels Appearance at Baltimore Fundraiser Tomorrow."

Then, DKos blogger DavefromQueens posted THIS a few minutes ago on the Big Orange.

(Obama's schedule looks much more than "coincidental," IMHO.)

Governor Kaine has cancelled other events he had planed for this week.

Senator Obama will be at the Missouri University of Science and Technology Center today which is part of the University of Missouri system. Governor Kaine graduated from the University of Missouri in 1979 and is originally from St. Paul, Missouri. I would not be surprised if the news is made public at this forum.

Obama next travels to Union, Missouri which is within easy driving distance of St. Paul, Missouri for a barbecue in the late afternoon. This gives Obama a great chance to travel back with Kaine to his hometown for the evening.

Obama has scheduled a town hall in Cedar Rapids tomorrow. It just makes sense that the day after Obama would pick his Vice President, he would return to Iowa where it all began for him. And to select a running mate near his hometown at his undergraduate school in the swing state of Missouri would have maximum impact. If Missouri was a tossup before, it now leans Obama.

Sure looks like something's up and the writing's on the wall. I guess we'll all know soon enough.

***UPDATE #2 (7/30/08; 4:55AM, EST):***

THIS IS A TOTAL NON-STORY, according to a piece by Jeff Zeleny in this morning's New York Times, entitled: "Obama’s Quest to Find a Running Mate Sends His Researchers on the Road." Still a lot of vetting ahead; many weeks, in fact, according to today's NY Times.

Special thanks to Blazers Edge for bringing this to our attention!

***UPDATE #1 (7/30/08; 3:30AM, EST):***

Two new pieces of information on this so far:

1.) There's one confirmed factual ERROR in this story: Kaine is from St. Paul, Minnesota, not St. Paul, Missouri. Kudos to our own rfahey22 for bringing this to our attention in a comment, below!

2.) Nathan Hurst, doing the overnight shift on the Assignment Desk at the NBC/CW affiliate, KOMU-TV, in Jefferson City, MO (this is the University of Missouri's commercial tv station/network affiliate) has confirmed that they've received the standard advisories from the Obama campaign regarding the event at the school. They will be covering this, but there is NO MENTION IN THE ADVISORY, NOR HAVE THEY HEARD ABOUT OBAMA BEING ACCOMPANIED BY VIRGINIA GOVERNOR TIM KAINE.

Tags: Virginia Governor Tim Kaine, 2008 Presidential Election, Democratic Party, Barack Obama (all tags)

Permalink :: 35 Comments :: Post a Comment

NOTE: This is NOT confirmed...yet. n/t (2.00 / 1)

by bobswern on Wed Jul 30, 2008 at 01:59:34 AM EST

Are there any sources? (2.00 / 1)

For the claim that Kaine has cancelled all his events this week, not just the baltimore fundraiser. I think the DKos diarist may just be using some hyperbolic language.

If he really cancelled multiple events at the same time its a pretty big tip of the hand.

by DSloth on Wed Jul 30, 2008 at 02:17:59 AM EST
[ Parent ]

I make it very clear here... (none / 0)

...nothing is confirmed.

There are comments about schedule changes on the Governor's website, but I have not looked at them.

At the moment, you know what I know. And, again, nothing is confirmed.

DavefromQueens has a pretty decent rep for reliable posts. He's certainly considered an "insider" by many. This means little, however, because...again...this is little more than speculation...however...IMHO, a series of facts are beginning to paint a picture here...

This diary is factual, in terms of sourcing and statements.

That's all there is at the moment...

by bobswern on Wed Jul 30, 2008 at 02:24:06 AM EST
[ Parent ]

I don't see anything on his website (2.00 / 1)

indicating he's cancelled any other events. He's got some penny ante stuff thursday and friday that would obviously have to be cancelled if he's announced as Obama's pick today but it's not like they wouldn't understand.

by DSloth on Wed Jul 30, 2008 at 02:30:47 AM EST
[ Parent ]

You're looking for "holes"... (none / 0)

...in a "non-story."

It's not "news" until it's confirmed!

What part of: "It's not confirmed," do you not understand?

by bobswern on Wed Jul 30, 2008 at 02:44:55 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Well it is Obama's right to choose his VP pick (2.00 / 1)

..Will still support Senator Obama's presidential run ..

by louisprandtl on Wed Jul 30, 2008 at 02:18:14 AM EST

Re: Breaking!?: Kaine V.P. Announcement This A.M.? (2.00 / 2)

If Obama picks Kaine, will McCain need to find someone named Bahma?

We'd have Obama/Kaine vs. McCain/Bahma. Would the republicans try to use this to confuse voters into voting for them by accident?

The future is unwritten

by Strummerson on Wed Jul 30, 2008 at 02:19:51 AM EST

Re: Breaking!?: Kaine V.P. Announcement This A.M.? (2.00 / 1)

Or perhaps a McObama.

Obama/Kaine versus McCaine/McObama.

by french imp on Wed Jul 30, 2008 at 02:36:09 AM EST
[ Parent ]

i actually just breathed a sigh of relief. (2.00 / 2)

why is that?

"Democracy! Bah! When I hear that I reach for my feather Boa!" Allen Ginsberg

by canadian gal on Wed Jul 30, 2008 at 02:24:40 AM EST

Re: i actually just breathed a sigh of relief. (2.00 / 1)

Another chapter closes.

Me, I love this shit so I gasped a wince of anxiety.

Yup Im a freak, oncoming elections make me real anxious. Maybe just PTSD from watching two electoral disasters, history book worst elections in man's history.

by DemsLandslide2008 on Wed Jul 30, 2008 at 02:26:25 AM EST
[ Parent ]

You're leaving us all in suspense!? (none / 0)

So, CG...I'll ask: "Why is that?"

by bobswern on Wed Jul 30, 2008 at 02:33:25 AM EST
[ Parent ]

OH SHIT! (2.00 / 1)

Man it's on!

Ooooh, I gave up my "dead in the water" blue state of Maryland, aside from Donna Edwards they are all weak sauce.

I knew that my all out voulenteer work would be best in PA or Norther Virginia.

Boy am I glad it's gonna be Northern Virginia (DC County).

That is OUR constituency, we need to flood the now democratic voting North Viriginia with registration drives.
Ah, too excited, I should wait for announcement and then just voulenteer for Kaine's campain directly.

by DemsLandslide2008 on Wed Jul 30, 2008 at 02:24:41 AM EST

Bet against it (2.00 / 1)

Wouldn't he want to have the entire dem apparatus with him at the event? It seems pretty rushed to declare Kaine (if Obama has actually closed on him) this soon.

I would wait to see if McCain makes his pick this next week and a half. Obama will have no trouble making news during the Olympics. I want to see what direction McCain is headed for once.

by Blazers Edge on Wed Jul 30, 2008 at 02:28:34 AM EST

Did Tucker Bounds (none / 0)

really say today on Fox News that McCain didn't speak for the McCain campaign? Off topic question I must admit but if true, that is one of the funniest things I've heard in quite some time.

by Blazers Edge on Wed Jul 30, 2008 at 02:30:22 AM EST

Re: Did Tucker Bounds (none / 0)

At the end of his speeches he should add:

'I'm John McCain and I don't approve this message'...

by french imp on Wed Jul 30, 2008 at 02:37:57 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Did Tucker Bounds (none / 0)

Or just go with the more honest:

"I'm John McCain and someone told me I approve this message."

by TCQuad on Wed Jul 30, 2008 at 10:46:40 AM EST
[ Parent ]

He's a Mizzou grad? (none / 0)

Can't be all bad, I suppose, but his positions on women's issues are really backwards.

I hope they're out of Missouri by next week, I'm heading to Mizzou and the family farm in the Ozarks next week. Not looking forward to traffic, just a nice float trip and some relaxation.

by Betsy McCall on Wed Jul 30, 2008 at 02:35:33 AM EST

this all sounds like (none / 0)

rumor......

Washington Woman

Progressive Blue

by kevin22262 on Wed Jul 30, 2008 at 02:41:19 AM EST

It sure as hell is NOT "news" yet! n/t (none / 0)

by bobswern on Wed Jul 30, 2008 at 02:48:23 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Breaking!?: Kaine V.P. Announcement This A.M.? (2.00 / 1)

Well, one factoid above is wrong:

Kaine is from St. Paul, Minnesota. Not St. Paul, Missouri. Whether that unravels the whole theory is for the reader to decide.

by rfahey22 on Wed Jul 30, 2008 at 03:10:05 AM EST

Very good! Now that's good information! (2.00 / 1)

However, Kaine is a graduate of the University of Missouri...

...and look for my UPDATE post in a moment!

by bobswern on Wed Jul 30, 2008 at 03:31:54 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Breaking!?: Kaine V.P. Announcement This A.M.? (2.00 / 1)

And this is how he expects to increase his support among women, especially Hillary supporters, by picking someone who's a staunch pro-lifer, someone who doesn't support a woman's right to choose?

I'll be supporting Obama regardless of who he picks, but I don't think this would be a smart move.

by musicpvm on Wed Jul 30, 2008 at 03:12:29 AM EST

French Imp VP annoucement? (2.00 / 1)

I have just cancelled my visit to the dentist's.

And several other appointments I had at the same time.

I don't want to seem to speculate but I sure would be a 'wow' pick!

by french imp on Wed Jul 30, 2008 at 04:06:32 AM EST

Re: French Imp VP annoucement? (2.00 / 1)

Have you been vetted? Would you like to be vetted?

by Politicalslave on Wed Jul 30, 2008 at 04:31:01 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: French Imp VP annoucement? (none / 0)

Yes, sure. I cancelled the dentist's, but I did visit the vet last week.

by french imp on Wed Jul 30, 2008 at 04:35:42 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Shades of Tuzla? If you're lying... (none / 0)

...that could be a good thing...depending upon whether or not you're caught...

(Real thought: this could turn out to be a very, very funny diary...and I don't mind being at the brunt of a bit of this humor, either.

I'm going to leave this up so at least people will have updated info, if it does get confirmed that it's totally bogus speculation.

Jury's still out on this, IMHO. So far, all the fact-checking is inconclusive, which is not good, but not definitive, either.

Hey, it could be worse...they're closing in on 200 comments on the diary about this from DavefromQueens over on the Big Orange. And, I haven't read of anyone there questioning the validity of this yet, either!

No fact-checking at all over there.)

by bobswern on Wed Jul 30, 2008 at 04:45:23 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Now that's funny snark! n/t (none / 0)

by bobswern on Wed Jul 30, 2008 at 04:20:57 AM EST

Decision is weeks away (2.00 / 1)

according to a NY Times article about the vetting process. Apparently, Obama hasn't had a one-on-one "interview" with Kaine yet about the possibility of VP. The Times article is on the Page.

by Blazers Edge on Wed Jul 30, 2008 at 04:40:08 AM EST

Thanks for bringing the Times... (none / 0)

...story to our attention. I've provided a link to it in the 2nd UPDATE, above, in the diary text.

by bobswern on Wed Jul 30, 2008 at 05:18:49 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Smokescreen, anyone? (none / 0)

Does anyone else think that this is just an elaborate smokescreen designed to increase the impact of Obama's actual choice when it happens?

Gov. Kaine has been an Obama loyalist from the beginning. He's very close to the candidate and I believe he'd allow himself to be used in this fashion.

So who is the next Democratic vice presidential nominee? We've seen a lot of Claire McCaskill on television lately and she's proving to be Sen. Obama's most effective surrogate. She'll also be with him throughout the Missouri swing today.

Personally, I like her chances.

by Practical Progressive on Wed Jul 30, 2008 at 08:18:25 AM EST

Re: (Updated 2x) Not Breaking!?: No Kaine V.P. Ann (2.00 / 1)

If Obama named Kaine as his VP wouldn't he do this in Richmond? And since he's been out of the country for the past week, wouldn't it make sense that the VP vetting process has entered the audition stage (he wants to spend time with the various prospects to see how they'd get along, eg. he did this with Hegel in Iraq, will be with McCaskill today, and will do something with Kaine on Thursday or Friday).

The McCain campaign has suggested they'll name someone soon, but has the Obama campaign given any hint that they'd choose someone this week? Just a hunch, but I think this will go for another 2-3 weeks.

by IncognitoErgoSum on Wed Jul 30, 2008 at 08:41:06 AM EST

This morning's NYT concurs w/... (none / 0)

...your assessment.

See link to that story in the 2nd Update in this diary.

by bobswern on Wed Jul 30, 2008 at 10:22:37 AM EST
[ Parent ]

ugh (none / 0)

Is it just me or is all this absolutely mind-numingly boring?

by easyE on Wed Jul 30, 2008 at 10:14:45 AM EST

"You are correct, sir!" (none / 0)

It is mind-numbingly boring, since it IS a non-story, due to the fact that the original post was disproved (after fact-checking) during the overnight.

by bobswern on Wed Jul 30, 2008 at 10:24:16 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Drama (none / 0)

I have never seen so much drama about VP picks in any other presidential campaign I have followed.

by gaf on Wed Jul 30, 2008 at 12:08:57 PM EST

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