The Institute of VP leaks, tips, and speculation (GOP edition)

[ZamboniDriver]

"Politico reports that McCain’s pick is coming Friday, and the CW is back pointing in Romney's direction, who happens to be in Denver. He was pretty solid today on Morning Joe, talking up the need for McCain to carry Michigan. He sounded like a guy ready for the call."

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com

[ZamboniDriver]

For what it's worth:  "Romney Followed by Men with Ear Pieces"

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/08/as-veep-rumors.html

[ZamboniDriver]

For what it's worth:

CNN's Dana Bash is in Dayton - a source said that there still might be the possibility of a "transformational" dark horse candidate.

[ZamboniDriver]

Fox News talked about Palin.

[ZamboniDriver]

Per CNN, Pawlenty announced that he would not be in Ohio today.  

[ZamboniDriver]

Here's the Pawlenty story:

"All I can say is that I’m not going to be there (in Dayton)." However, he didn’t say directly that he is not the the nominee.

"I plan to be at the State Fair," he said. "You can draw your conclusions from that."

http://www.startribune.com/politics/state/27640824.html

Edit:  BTW, the article has this in the middle: 

"CNN is reporting that a plane left from Anchorage, AK., carrying Gov. Sarah Palin landed in Dayton last night leading to speculation that she is the pick."

Edit #2 (8:15am): see my post below - The Star Tribune article might have jumped to an early conclusion because I don't think that I ever saw that CNN confirmed that she was on the flight.  Fox News has not yet confirmed it either.

[ZamboniDriver]

CNN talking about Palin now.

[ZamboniDriver]

CNN ran the banner text along the bottom of the screen about the Anchorage flight and they are talking about Palin now.  But, I can't recall that they ever specifically mentioned that they confirmed that Palin was on that flight.  However, I was flipping channels and might have missed that.

Fox News said that they do not know whether she was on the flight.

So, it might be possible that the Star Tribune (the article I linked above) jumped to an early conclusion about whether she was on the flight.

[ZamboniDriver]

Fox News said it will not be Romney.

[ZamboniDriver]

The plane might be registered to a McCain fundraiser.

http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/08/fun_with_flightaware_mccain_ed.php

[ZamboniDriver]

WOW!  CNN is reporting that Palin might still be in Alaska!

[ZamboniDriver]

CNN's John King is confused.  LOL

He said that Palin's staff says that she is in Alaska.  But, another source just texted him to tell him not to count her out yet.

[ZamboniDriver]

MSNBC says Palin will be at the Alaska State Fair to unveil the new quarter.

Edit: Too much information...I cannot recall what verb (says, confirms, etc.) Scarborough used!

[ZamboniDriver]

MSNBC says Lieberman might be in Dayton.

[ZamboniDriver]

MSNBC confirmed it won't be Romney.

[ZamboniDriver]

FWIW, Portman will be in Dayton.

http://blog.dispatch.com/politics/2008/08/portman_not_likely_to_be_mccai.shtml

[ZamboniDriver]

Palin is not in Alaska.  It;s 6:25 am there if not earlier.  They wouldn't be able to confirm that she is there at this time anyway.

The planes were real!

correction, Alaska is 3 hours behind central time, so now it is still only 5:38 am in Alaska.  Ain't NOONE confirmed Palin is in bed at 5:38am.  Forget the reports, believe in the planes.  Palin is in OH and she is the pick.

you said somewhere that someone confirmed it was indeed a woman? Where did you get that, out of interest?

There was a rumor from one of the cable news networks that a woman got off of the plane with two teenagers.

[ZamboniDriver]

"Gov. Palin’s press secretary, Sharon Leighow, told the Wall Street Journal Friday morning that she had no indication that the governor had left the state, and said the security detail said that, to their knowledge she hadn’t left. Ms. Leighow said Gov. Palin is scheduled to talk to a graduation ceremony in Anchorage at 9:45 a.m. local time, and then to go to the Alaska state fair."


http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/08/29/veepstakes-romney-pawlenty-fade-new-focus-on-palin/?mod=googlenews_wsj

[ZamboniDriver]

Oh, OK.  So, not Lieberman, not Palin, not Pawlenty, not Romney.

Maybe, at this rate, McCain will appoint himself Veep.

Who are the most likely shots among those not "eliminated" yet?  Portman?

We know Portman will be there.

[ZamboniDriver]

cnbc.com

"According to a Republican strategist, Palin is the nominee, though McCain's campaign has not comfirmed this."

[ZamboniDriver]

Fox News: Sources backstage in Dayton say its Palin.