Okay, the background. Mark Warner is immensely popular in Virginia. He was extremely solid on the economy, tax policy, and fiscal responsibility check this right-slanted info. He has taken himself out of the race, but this may be all about dragging the process out long enough that he cannot remove his name from the VA-Sen ballot. In Virginia, you can have your name on the ballot for two positions, sorry I can't find the link I saw earlier today. Follow me below for more speculation.

Because we need a lift.

lynchburg, virginia

this comment from rfahey22 over at open left got me thinking

Maybe they're buying time
and trying to persuade someone on the fence (such as Warner) to accept the nomination.  Otherwise I would agree that a Friday/Saturday announcement would be strange.

obviously i have no inside knowledge but hey i'll give a shot for shits & giggles. i know trying to guess this is teh stoopid but f**k it, this is not speculation this is a prediction. follow me down the rabbit hole.

Welcome back for more speculation! Today continues the new final series of possibilities for Obama's v.p.

This series began with a new top 14 list of names I considered most likely to be named Obama's v.p. running mate, and we'll eliminate the bottom vote-getter each day until there is a winner, or a real-life winner is named by Obama. Starting today, candidates will be listed in order of votes from the previous poll, from most to least, so we'll have some idea of preference in this thread's voting should Obama decide before there is a series winner. Sens. Evan Bayh (IN) and Jack Reed (RI) were eliminated in the previous round.

Please discuss any v.p. candidates in the comments. The most correct format would be to state their name, unless you have further comments. I'm happy to hear all ideas in this open thread, and I'm no official gatekeeper, so play nice.

(continued below the fold)

Okay, here's another, I know, I know diary.
But I think there's enough tea leaves out there to suggest Mark Warner will be Obama's VP and make everyone very happy.

Of course, I'm just pulling this out of my you know where (as Markos would say).

We all know the rumors that Obama really always wanted Warner, but Warner turned Obama down.  I just don't think you turn down the next President of the United States.

Let's look at the tea leaves:

As I've viewed all the supposed "insiders" spewing supposedly ironclad information about Obama's VP choice, I'm reminded of the old "pump-and-dump" spam emails that tout a stock so a few suckers buy it, so the emailers themselves can short into the rising demand and make a profit once the market realizes they've been had.

What's stopping someone from pumping a candidate here, and shorting them on intrade or another site?  Answer:  nothing.

In what amounts to a fallback pick, Evan Bayh is to be rolled out starting midweek as Barack Obama's VP Pick.  Rumors about Biden and buzz about Kaine appear to have been overcome with a plethora of strengths attributed To Bayh's experience and demeanor.  

Welcome back for more speculation! Today continues the new final series of possibilities for Obama's v.p.

This series began with a new top 14 list of names I considered most likely to be named Obama's v.p. running mate, and we'll eliminate the bottom vote-getter each day until there is a winner, or a real-life winner is named by Obama. Starting today, candidates will be listed in order of votes from the previous poll, from most to least, so we'll have some idea of preference in this thread's voting should Obama decide before there is a series winner. Gov. Tim Kaine (VA) was eliminated in the previous round.

Please discuss any v.p. candidates in the comments. The most correct format would be to state their name, unless you have further comments. I'm happy to hear all ideas in this open thread, and I'm no official gatekeeper, so play nice.

(continued below the fold)

Since Virginia is in play this year and has 13, possibly deciding, electoral votes it may not be a bad idea for Obama to announce his running mate there. Speculation is running rampant with the convention just a week away and thus far Obama's last announced appearance this week is in Martinsville, Virginia.

Since he'll be there Wednesday everyone has been speculating about Tim Kaine getting the nod. But there are a few other possibilities with Virginia relations.

Welcome back for more speculation! Today continues the new final series of possibilities for Obama's v.p.

This series began with a new top 14 list of names I considered most likely to be named Obama's v.p. running mate, and we'll eliminate the bottom vote-getter each day until there is a winner, or a real-life winner is named by Obama. Starting today, candidates will be listed in order of votes from the previous poll, from most to least, so we'll have some idea of preference in this thread's voting should Obama decide before there is a series winner. Fmr. Sen. Bob Graham (FL) was eliminated in the previous round.

Please discuss any v.p. candidates in the comments. The most correct format would be to state their name, unless you have further comments. I'm happy to hear all ideas in this open thread, and I'm no official gatekeeper, so play nice.

(continued below the fold)

Welcome back for more speculation! Today continues the new final series of possibilities for Obama's v.p.

This series began with a new top 14 list of names I consider most likely to be named Obama's v.p. running mate, and we'll eliminate the bottom vote-getter each day until there is a winner, or a real-life winner is named by Obama. Starting today, candidates will be listed in order of votes from the previous poll, from most to least, so we'll have some idea of preference in this thread's voting should Obama decide before there is a series winner. Sen. Claire McCaskill (MO) was eliminated in the previous round.

Please discuss any v.p. candidates in the comments. The most correct format would be to state their name, unless you have further comments. I'm happy to hear all ideas in this open thread, and I'm no official gatekeeper, so play nice.

(continued below the fold)

Welcome back for more speculation! Today continues the new final series of possibilities for Obama's v.p.

This series began with a new top 14 list of names I consider most likely to be named Obama's v.p. running mate, and we'll eliminate the bottom vote-getter each day until there is a winner, or a real-life winner is named by Obama. Starting today, candidates will be listed in order of votes from the previous poll, from most to least, so we'll have some idea of preference in this thread's voting should Obama decide before there is a series winner. Sen. Sherrod Brown (OH) and Fmr. Sen. Sam Nunn (GA) were eliminated in the previous round.

Please discuss any v.p. candidates in the comments. The most correct format would be to state their name, unless you have further comments. I'm happy to hear all ideas in this open thread, and I'm no official gatekeeper, so play nice.

(continued below the fold)

Welcome back for more speculation! Today continues the new final series of possibilities for Obama's v.p.

This series began last time with a new top 14 list of names I consider most likely to be named Obama's v.p. running mate, and we'll eliminate the bottom vote-getter each day until there is a winner, or a real-life winner is named by Obama. Starting today, candidates will be listed in order of votes from the previous poll, from most to least, so we'll have some idea of preference in this thread's voting should Obama decide before there is a series winner. Sen. Jeff Bingaman (NM) was eliminated in the first round.

Please discuss any v.p. candidates in the comments. The most correct format would be to state their name, unless you have further comments. I'm happy to hear all ideas in this open thread, and I'm no official gatekeeper, so play nice.

(continued below the fold)

More worry for all supporters of Senator Obama--he continues to lead
John McCain in virtually all polls.  The media has pointed out what a problem this is for the Obama camp.

Big news today about Mark Warner giving the keynote speech at the convention. But even more interesting is Mark Ambinder's report that Obama is pushing Warner to submit to V.P. vetting. And, surprisingly, Warner continues to resist.

Great news:

HONOLULU (AP) — Senate candidate and former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner is scheduled to deliver the Tuesday night keynote address at this year's Democratic National Convention — the same role that launched Barack Obama to national prominence four years ago.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Obama's rival during the Democratic presidential primaries, is also scheduled to speak that night, Aug. 26. But Warner is being given the plum position, according to an e-mail that Obama campaign adviser Mike Henry sent to Virginia supporters late Tuesday. [...]

"Mark Warner is not afraid to challenge the status quo to bring people together and get things moving," Plouffe's statement read. "It's that kind of spirit and innovation that resulted in his selection as keynote speaker on a night when the convention program will focus on renewing America's economy."

The focus on Warner could help boost his prospects in Virginia, where he is trying to win an open Senate seat and Obama is also campaigning hard. Virginia went to George W. Bush in the last two elections, and the Obama campaign considers it one of its best opportunities to turn a red state blue.

Also:

"The theme of Monday's program is One Nation. The opening night of the Convention will highlight Senator Obama's life story, his commitment to change, and the voices of Americans who are calling for a New Direction for this country," said Speaker Pelosi. "Barack Obama's story is an American story that reflects a life of struggle, opportunity and responsibility like those faced by Americans everyday."

Speaker Pelosi and Senator McCaskill will speak late in the program about the values of the Democratic Party, the efforts to take America in a New Direction and to reach out to all voters, in particular new voters, Independents and Republicans, to get the country moving in the right direction at this critical time.

Monday night will also feature a tribute to Senator Edward M. Kennedy, who has worked for more than 45 years to bring the country together and ensure equal opportunity for all Americans.

Also featured on Monday night will be family members of Barack and Michelle Obama. Craig Robinson, Michelle Obama's older brother, will introduce his sister, who will be Monday's headline speaker in prime-time.

As the person who knows him best, Michelle will talk about the Barack Obama she knows and loves, the values that shape him and why she believes he'll be an extraordinary president.

Check out the discussion on this topic in Drdemocrat's diary here.

What a great choice!

I'm not a fan of Tim Kaine's. But the way I see it, the Obama campaign has correctly identified Virginia as a takeable state that McCain can't afford to lose.

Mark Warner is far more popular in Virginia than Kaine. Choosing Kaine by himself would likely just give one more data point to the usually correct notion that VP candidates don't make much difference in their home states. But with Warner setting him up the day before, Obama is telling Virginians in capital letters that they matter. And he's tying the popular Warner, who'll be on the ballot for Senate himself, to the emotional context in which Kaine will be seen by Virginians.