St.Louis, Missouri-

Its VEEP debate day!… and a new McCain-Palin Web ad “Embarrass” focuses on some of the Dem VP nominee’s most notable gaffes.

At a rally in Dublin, Ohio, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown took the microphone prior to Senators Obama and Biden. During his brief introductory remarks, Ohio’s junior senator mentioned new-to-the-national-scene GOP candidate, Sarah Palin.

The crowd predictably booed. “Think about this,” Brown said. “Barack Obama, John McCain have each had one major task of their judgment. John McCain chose someone who was a mayor of a town of 7,000 people, then was elected governor, has been governor of a state for 18 months — governor of a state that’s half the population of Franklin County,” he said incredulously. “And yet she’s gonna be a heartbeat away from the president?”

Someone on the crowd of 18,000 yelled out, “No way!” Brown replied, “No way is right! Now on the other hand, in his first exercise of good judgment, Barack Obama chose Joe Biden.” **

Meanwhile, Obama has not mentioned Palin by name - or referenced McCain’s veep pick at all - at any campaign event, only answering questions about Palin from reporters. Today he alluded to the GOPer for the first time at the Dublin rally.  “After 19 months of traversing this country, traveling to every state except Alaska, which now that I think about it…” Obama began his stump speech. As the crowd laughed, he added, “I’m gonna have to go up there now.”

Obama later told reporters that Palin “seems to have a wonderful engaging personality” and that her election to the governorship “shows she’s got real political skills.” That said, Obama accused her of subscribing to the same policies as John McCain. “I don’t get a sense that the addition of this vice presidential choice is gonna change the fact that he wants to take the country in the wrong direction,” he said, treading the fine line between complimenting and attacking the GOP’s history-making candidate.

While Republicans counter Palin has more executive experience than either Obama or Biden, the Democratic nominee encouraged reporters to compare Biden’s experience with Palin’s. “I feel confident about my choice,” he said.

The debate, no doubt, will continue.

**In case you were curious, according to the 2006 census, 670,053 people live in Alaska, while 853,476 reside in Joe Biden’s home state of Delaware.

Chuck Hagel’s kind words weren’t the only GOP reaction to the new Democratic ticket. Dick Lugar, the Republican senator from Indiana whom Barack Obama often cites on the campaign trail, also issued a statement today, congratulating Dems for the pick. “I have enjoyed for many years the opportunity to work with Joe Biden to bring strong bipartisan support to United States foreign policy,” the senator said in a statement.

Lugar expressed that he was disappointed that fellow Hoosier Evan Bayh was not selected, but added, “I believe he will continue to have widespread support for higher office during many years ahead.”

Of course not all Republicans share the same Obama-Biden love.

“Americans looking for a pair of candidates who are ready to fix a broken Washington aren’t going to find them on the Obama/Biden ticket,” House Republican Leader John Boehner said in a statement. “In Joe Biden, Barack Obama has not only found a running mate who doesn’t believe he’s ready to be president, he’s proven his opposition to an ‘All of the Above’ energy reform strategy to lower fuel costs for families and small businesses,” he continued.

Barack Obama was busy deflecting questions on his running mate choice as reporters besieged him with questions at various stops along his bus tour through Virginia.

At a stop in Petersburg, the AP asked Obama when the campaign would make the announcement - expected to come by text message. “Wouldn’t you like to know. Are you a supporter?” Obama joked. “I’m looking forward to getting the text message,” she shot back.

He flashed a grin to another reporter asking if he’d made up his mind.

Later a reporter asked Obama if he had formally extended the offer yet to his choice, he smiled and said, “You’re not going to get anything out of me,” before turning and walking away.

Perhaps realizing the barrage of questions would not let up, Obama finally told the gang of reporters at the next stop in Emporia, VA, “I’ve made the selection and that’s all you’re going to get.”

The candidate was joined on the campaign trail this morning with VA Gov. and likely veep contender, Tim Kaine. After the two met for 15 minutes this morning in a Richmond hotel, the governor would not give reporters any scoop.

Tim Kaine introduces Barack Obama at an event in Chester, VA.

“I’m going to let the campaign speak for the campaign,” he said when asked if Obama popped the question. He did, however, share that Obama visited with Kaine’s staff “to basically say hi to them and thank them for all their hard work.”

Obama returns to Chicago this evening after his town hall in Chesapeake, Virginia.

As running mate speculation hits a hysterical high, reporters following Obama as he toured a Greensboro, NC, farmer’s market lobbed questions to the presumptive nominee on his decision as he shopped for peaches and bread.  “No new hints,” he said. A reporter who regularly travels with the campaign wondered if Obama is still “shopping” for a candidate. “John, how long did it take you to think of that question?” Obama shot back.

Staffers aren’t talking either. Obama’s national press secretary Bill Burton sent an email to reporters with the subject line: “Vice Presidential…” Reporters eagerly opened the email only to read, “Just kidding,” followed by a rundown of Obama’s day. Staffers traveling with Obama deflect questions surrounding the who, when, and where, leaving press and pundits to read the tea leaves.

In two days of campaigning, Obama has referenced two of those thought to be on the short list. Yesterday Obama heralded Delaware Senator Joe Biden for his commitment to send money to the nation of Georgia and today Obama praised Virginia Governor Tim Kaine for training workers in new technologies. Kaine will appear alongside Obama tomorrow at an event outside of Richmond, Virginia, and was described as a “great choice” for veep by Obama’s political companion today, Mark Warner.

Absent from his repertoire — Indiana Senator Evan Bayh, who is also thought to be a top contender. While Obama did not mention him, The Nashville Post (which according to Wikipedia is “an online news service covering business and politics in the Nashville, Tennessee metropolitan area”) reported that Obama would hold a “major event” in Indianapolis Saturday.

The campaign would neither confirm nor deny the report.

Barack Obama let slip a small detail about his yet-to-be-named running mate at his Raleigh town hall today when he referred to the veep as a “he.”

The candidate and his staff have not given any hints as to who he will name - or even who he is considering and the timing of the announcement, which many believe will occur in the coming days. So when Obama said “he” instead of the less revealing “he or she,” eyebrows rose in the press file as reporters wondered what that comment meant for Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius and former rival Senator Hillary Clinton’s chances to fill the bottom of the ticket.

“By the way, my VP also will be a member of the Executive Branch — he won’t be one of these 4th branches of government where he thinks he’s above the law,” Obama said after saying he would not hand over policy to the veep.

The tight-lipped campaign wouldn’t confirm or deny that Obama’s choice is male.

See if you think one of the top three contenders - Joe Biden, Evan Bayh, or Tim Kaine - fits the bill.

I want somebody who has integrity, who’s in politics for the right reasons, I want somebody who is independent. Somebody who is able to say to me, ‘You know what, Mr. President, I think you’re wrong on this and here’s why,’ and who will help me think through major issues and consult with me, would be a key advisor. I want somebody who is capable of being president and who I would trust to be president. That’s the first criteria for VP.  And the final thing is, I want a president (SIC) who shares with me a passion to make the lives of the American people better than they are right now.  I want someone who is not in it just because they want to have their name up in lights or end up being president. I want somebody who is mad right now that people are losing their jobs. And is mad right now that people have seen their incomes decline, and wants to rebuild the middle class in this country. That’s the kind of person that I want; somebody who in their gut knows where they came from and believes that we have to grow this country from the bottom up.

Since the press is obsessing right now over who Barack Obama will pick as his running mate, I decided to chat with some supporters who came out to attend his Raleigh, North Carolina, town hall meeting about the  announcement - widely expected to take place at a planned event in Springfield, Illinois.

I spoke with a handful people - young and old, men and women, white and African American - and all Obama supporters. Of the voters, only one preferred today’s top contender, Senator Joe Biden. Rosemarie Burke, a white-haired woman with a cane said she likes the Delaware senator because he adds experience.

The others all had other suggestions. Colin Powell, Kathleen Sebelius, John Kerry, Hillary Clinton, and NC Governor Mike Easley were their top choices.

Mary Ellin Eiselv expressed concern over an Obama-Biden ticket. “The young people Obama seems to be reaching out to are such a visually oriented generation they might say, ‘Who?’” Biden, she said, is relatively unknown and might not generate the excitement that has carried Obama to his place as presumptive Democratic nominee.

Demaris Mial, a 20-something Obama fan, admitted not knowing too much about the Delaware senator. “I wouldn’t have a reaction,” she replied when asked about Biden. She added, “I would just appreciate that’s who he chose and I’m still for Obama, so it doesn’t really matter.”

36-year-old Tony Booe agreed. “It’s not going to change anything for me. As long as he wins, I don’t care who it is - Hillary, Biden, Bayh,” he said.

With all the speculation one wonders if the voting public is sick of press and pundits’ musings. One supporter laughed and admitted she hasn’t even been paying attention. “I’ve been watching the Olympics!”

Barack Obama’s yet-to-be-named running mate will take the stage at the Democratic Convention a week from tomorrow.  The Obama campaign maintains there will be no leak and that the decision will be announced by text message to supporters, but press and pundits are busy predicting who Obama will name and when. Will it be Joe Biden tomorrow or Evan Bayh on Thursday?

Amid the chatter, Obama spoke at the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention in Orlando today, braving Hurricane Fay’s wind and rain to talk about the war, the troops, and foreign policy.

The campaign assured traveling press the announcement would not occur this morning - despite what the Drudge Report was touting yesterday afternoon. But Obama did make reference to the current veep favorite, Joe Biden, who returned from the nation of Georgia yesterday.

As Obama talked about the situation between Georgia and Russia, he pledged to help the embattled nation rebuild what Russia has destroyed. “I’m proud to join my friend, Senator Joe Biden, in calling for an additional $1 billion in reconstruction assistance for the people of Georgia,” he said as the press buzzed.

Of course a few minutes later, Obama gave fellow Democrat and less talked about veep contender Jim Webb a shout out, but no one really paid much attention to that.

According to the Drudge Report, Obama may announce his veep pick tomorrow morning, citing a buzz in the New York Times newsroom.

The Obama campaign’s reaction?

“It’s baloney,” Traveling Press Secretary Jen Psaki said of the rumor. “Anyone who thinks they know, doesn’t know. Senator Obama’s looking forward to addressing the Veterans of Foreign Wars Convention tomorrow.”

In fact, the campaign was unsure the entourage would even attempt to make the trip to Orlando just hours before the 757 campaign charter was set to take off because of weather conditions brought on by Hurricane Fay. “I’m trying to figure that out right now,” Robert Gibbs said during Obama’s Albuquerque town hall when asked if the candidate would go to Florida.

As news of the Drudge Report’s headline spread in the traveling press file room, we received word from the campaign that the trip was on. One staffer wondered aloud why the presumptive Democratic nominee would make the major announcement during the middle of a hurricane at a VFW event.

Both Obama and his campaign have kept the veep search process under wraps, forewarning press there would be no leaks, and so far there has been speculation, but nothing coming directly from the campaign - in part because of the tightly controlled campaign.

In an email to supporters last week, Obama’s campaign manager David Plouffe urged supporters to sign up for a text message that will announce Obama’s decision. “You are the ones who built this campaign, and Barack wants you to be the first to know who will join him in leading our movement for change,” Plouffe wrote. At least one top staffer traveling with the senator heeded Plouffe’s advice and expects to learn Obama’s pick along with supporters.

Barack Obama is still on the market for a running mate today after veep speculators talked up a surprise announcement in Indiana today. The rumors were rampant because Obama was introduced by Evan Bayh, who is Indiana’s second term U.S. Senator, the state’s former governor, and allegedly on Obama’s shortlist for veep.

While staffers shot down rumors yesterday there would be a any such announcement in Elkhart, Obama and his staff have been tight lipped about his V.P. selection process, timing, and who is in the running. Obama pledged just a few days after securing the delegates necessary to win the nomination that the next time we heard something about his running mate would be at an announcement. Expecting a stealth move, press flocked to Elkart for Obama’s third town hall on energy in two days.

Bayh spoke for 12-minutes - went well over a typical introduction. Just yesterday Ohio’s Senator, Sherrod Brown, introduced Obama for a brief couple of minutes before the candidate emerged. In his audition speech, the Indiana senator talked up Obama’s energy plan and referred to the presumptive Democratic nominee as “a breath of fresh air.”

And while he’s no pit bull, Bayh attempted to throw a few punches at Obama’s opponent.  “John McCain is not a bad man, but he is badly mistaken when he has embraced the Bush and Cheney economic policies, and he is badly mistaken when he has embraced their energy policies. Someone was telling me this morning that Senator McCain yesterday that his solution to the American energy challenge was to ‘drill, drill, drill.’ Well it sounded a lot like my dentist to me,” Bayh said to a few chuckles.

The two senators were on stage together for the time it took for Obama to hug Bayh and walk to the podium. The Indiana senator then took a second row seat at the town hall while Obama said just one line about his introducer. “I would like everybody to give a huge round of applause to one of the finest U.S. senators that we have, Evan Bayh, your own,” Obama said.

It was, by most standards, a typical Obama campaign event. But to add to the buzz, Jim Margolis of Obama’s media team made a rare appearance on the road. Margolis oversees the production of video used in, among other things, Obama’s commercials.