Whatever John Kerry's calculus may be in picking a running mate, no one in his campaign is talking, reports CBS News Correspondent Jim Axelrod.
"He's taking the appropriate stance. We're not going to speculate," said Kerry spokesman David Wade.
But right now, Missouri Congressman Dick Gephardt and North Carolina Sen. John Edwards have emerged as the frontrunners, with Florida Sen. Bob Graham and Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack also in the mix.
It's unscientific, but at a gym full of Kerry supporters in northeastern Ohio, there's a clear favorite.
"John Edwards," says one woman. "No question."
"I like John Edwards," says another gym patron.
"Edwards!" adds a third and a fourth.
In this gymnasium, it's not unanimous, but it might as well be.
"Gephardt," says one woman. "But not enthusiastically at all."
The opinions of voters in Ohio matter because the ability to help deliver the heartland is critical to Kerry's chances. Gephardt's strength in the Midwest is a clear asset, and exactly where the question marks come in for the southerner Edwards.
"I would hate to think that people actually make their decision based on where people come from. This is America," says TK.
In this one part of this one battleground state it just doesn't seem to be an issue for Edwards.
"He's articulate, he's charismatic, he's a known vote getter in the South. That would balance the ticket for John Kerry being from the Northeast," says TK.
But it's unclear how much Kerry cares about what voters think. The only criteria he talks about for choosing a running mate is the ability to succeed him.
When Kerry came to Ohio asking for votes, he vowed, "I'll be back, and whomever I choose to run for VP with me will be back with me, too."
"Edwards is the man," someone shouted.
The advice came unsolicited.
"He's taking the appropriate stance. We're not going to speculate," said Kerry spokesman David Wade.
But right now, Missouri Congressman Dick Gephardt and North Carolina Sen. John Edwards have emerged as the frontrunners, with Florida Sen. Bob Graham and Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack also in the mix.
It's unscientific, but at a gym full of Kerry supporters in northeastern Ohio, there's a clear favorite.
"John Edwards," says one woman. "No question."
"I like John Edwards," says another gym patron.
"Edwards!" adds a third and a fourth.
In this gymnasium, it's not unanimous, but it might as well be.
"Gephardt," says one woman. "But not enthusiastically at all."
The opinions of voters in Ohio matter because the ability to help deliver the heartland is critical to Kerry's chances. Gephardt's strength in the Midwest is a clear asset, and exactly where the question marks come in for the southerner Edwards.
"I would hate to think that people actually make their decision based on where people come from. This is America," says TK.
In this one part of this one battleground state it just doesn't seem to be an issue for Edwards.
"He's articulate, he's charismatic, he's a known vote getter in the South. That would balance the ticket for John Kerry being from the Northeast," says TK.
But it's unclear how much Kerry cares about what voters think. The only criteria he talks about for choosing a running mate is the ability to succeed him.
When Kerry came to Ohio asking for votes, he vowed, "I'll be back, and whomever I choose to run for VP with me will be back with me, too."
"Edwards is the man," someone shouted.
The advice came unsolicited.
