McCain Campaigns With Possible VP

By: John Bentley
Topics: John McCain

(CBS)

From CBS News' John Bentley:

ST. PAUL, MINN. – Even though Minnesota Gov.Tim Pawlenty is widely viewed as a front-runner for John McCain's vice-presidential pick, he received the same praise as other possible McCain VP's tonight. "I believe that Gov. Pawlenty is the next and new generation of leadership in Republican Party and America," McCain said at a town hall meeting here. "I wouldn't like to speculate on who the vice-presidential candidates are, but I know he has a place in the future of this country, as well as the Republican Party, and the first one is most important."

Pawlenty introduced McCain at the town hall and sat in the front row as McCain took questions for over an hour. The last question of the night came from a man who asked "What are his chances?" to applause and laughter from the crowd.

"The vice-president of the United States really only has two duties," McCain said, declining to handicap his running mate race. "One is, in the case of ties in the Senate, goes to the floor of the Senate, and casts the tie-breaking vote. The other duty is to inquire daily as to the health of the president, so I will be looking very carefully at that priority."