The Daily Background

Update: More over at the Illinois political blog Capitol Fax.

Marc Ambinder wrote yesterday afternoon on his blog, “Springfield, Illinois wouldn’t be a bad place to host a major political announcement.”

The Chicago Sun-Times’ Lynn Sweet will surely forgive me for copying and pasting this entire short item from her blog, because it’s so interesting:

The Obama team, in the run-up to the Democratic convention, will showcase the new Obama ticket Saturday in Springfield at the Old State Capitol, where presumptive Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) officially kicked off his campaign in February, 2007.

State of Illinois authorities have beens asked permission by Obama folks to reserve the historic spot at noon. This does not mean that this is the time and place where Obama announces his running mate; that could happen any time from Wednesday morning on. Obama’s time frame is shrinking, so the announcement is coming soon. The new vice presidential contender will jump on the road with Obama to showcase the new partnership. Springfield is a leg on the Obama roots tour.

Seems like Lynn is buying the NYT’s reporting that Obama will announce his VP one morning this week. Or, alternatively, he could announce his VP in Springfield on Saturday afternoon/night when they’re reserving the place where Obama kicked off his campaign, but a Saturday evening seem like awfully odd timing. Of course, Obama officially kicked off his presidential bid in Springfield on a Saturday too…

Meanwhile, MSNBC’s Howard Fineman writes:

Within the last few hours I’ve spoken with two of the finalists for the role of Barack Obama’s running-mate, and to two other sources who are close to the process.

My bottom line is this: Barring a big surprise or last-minute change of heart, the choice is likely to be Sen. Joe Biden of Deleware, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee.

He is a lively and feisty if unpredictable campaigner with working-class roots and a street-level feel for the hot spots of the globe — which he can use to go toe-to-toe with Sen. John McCain.

“If I had to bet my life on it, I’d bet it is Joe,” said one of the other contenders.

Filed under: Z-TDB Blog