Obama-Bayh Appearance Fuels VP Talk

(CBS/AP)  Democrat Barack Obama on Wednesday taunted Republican presidential rival John McCain for first mocking the idea of keeping tires inflated for energy conservation and then agreeing the practice works.

"It will be interesting to watch this debate between John McCain and John McCain," Obama said as he campaigned in Indiana with Sen. Evan Bayh, widely considered a top-tier candidate for running mate.

When asked about the air-pressure issue during an appearance Tuesday night, McCain said: "I agree with the American Automobile Association. We should all inflate our tires." Obama had noted that keeping tires inflated and cars tuned was endorsed by both NASCAR and AAA and should be part of any comprehensive plan to reduce reliance on imported oil.

However, McCain had spent recent days ridiculing Obama's remarks about tire pressure, telling a motorcycle rally in Sturgis, S.D.: "My opponent doesn't want to drill, he doesn't want nuclear power, he wants you to inflate your tires." The Republican National Committee, meanwhile, poked fun at the idea, sending reporters tire gauges with "Obama Energy Plan" emblazoned on the side.

The two rivals have been sparring for several days over energy.

Assailing his rival's energy plans, Obama said, "that's a debate I'm happy to have. Because Senator McCain's energy plan reads like an early Christmas list for oil and gas lobbyists. And it's no wonder - because many of his top advisers are former oil and gas lobbyists."

Obama's joint appearance with Bayh led to considerable speculation that Obama might announce a decision about his choice for vice president. But it was not to be.

Bayh said Obama would bring "a breath of fresh air" to the nation's capital. He said McCain "is not a bad man," but that McCain had some bad policies.

Bayh opened his introduction of Obama by saying he had some "good news" to depart. "In five short months, the Bush administration will be done," Bayh said. A McCain victory, he said, would mean "four more years of what we've had."

Bayh, a former two-term governor and son of former Sen. Birch Bayh, is a former supporter of Hillary Rodham Clinton, has executive experience and sits on the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence committees. Furthermore, Democrats view Indiana - which has not voted for a Democrat for president since 1964 - as competitive this year.

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VP Hot Sheet: Obama
CBSNews.com tracks the veepstakes buzz and ranks the top contenders.

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Later, the two made a campaign stop at Schoop's diner in Portage, Ind., where both shook hands. Obama ordered four cheeseburgers to go "with the works" and brushed aside questions on whether he might select Bayh as his running mate.

"We're in Indiana, we're campaigning with the most popular politician in Indiana," Obama said. Bayh, asked by a local reporter about the vice presidential speculation, said tersely, "Don't get me in trouble."

"[Is] he your vice president?," one woman asked Obama during a brief stop at Schoops Diner where the two senators campaigned together, reports CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic.

"I haven't made a decision about my vice president yet," Obama replied and walked off to meet with other patrons. Several reporters pressed Bayh as well, but he wouldn't budge.

Click here to read Gavrilovic's post in the "From The Road" blog.

Obama campaigned in Indiana as his campaign released a new television ad that seeks to link McCain to President Bush and questions whether McCain is the political maverick he claims to be. It shows McCain acknowledging that he agrees with Mr. Bush on most issues.

The ad also criticizes McCain on three economic issues of concern to middle-class voters: tax breaks for the wealthy, money for oil companies, and tax breaks for companies that send jobs overseas. The ad ends with a smiling McCain and Mr. Bush side by side.

McCain's campaign turned out an ad Tuesday in the other direction, suggesting that McCain differs from Mr. Bush and the GOP on important issues - without mentioning Mr. Bush by name.

In his appearance here, Obama also questioned McCain's claim to being a maverick.

While the Arizona senator has broken with his party on many issues in the past, he "reversed himself on position after position" to secure his party's nomination, Obama asserted.

"That doesn't meet my definition of a maverick."

McCain's campaign "ran an ad saying Washington is broken. No kidding. It took him 26 years to figure it out," Obama said.

[voltaire333]

Arrogant Obama is taking a lot for granted. He has not gotten the official nomination, infact, there is more than a good chance that Hillary will walk away from the convention with the nomination.
Posted by Bec67 at 08:28 PM : Aug 07, 2008

LMAO! Sweetie, what rock have you been sleeping under? Hillary already conceded, you idiot! LOL

[bec67]

Arrogant Obama is taking a lot for granted. He has not gotten the official nomination, infact, there is more than a good chance that Hillary will walk away from the convention with the nomination.

[beader59]

Including the poll on CBS, Hillary Clintons maintains the choice for VP. Everywhere I take a poll she is in the lead. What is wrong with Obama? Bayh is an unknown just like Obama. How scary to think of the U.S. being under the watch of these two. Bayh rarely scores over 5% of the vote. Obama is an idiot.

[voltaire333]

Krapp -- can''t we get someone with a name like Wilson, Miller, or Fredericks to balance this ticket out? This country doesn''t like fereign sounding names.

[dog7771]

This die hard Obama fan will NOT vote for him if Bayh is the mate. I will stay home. Hillary is even worse, especially after today. Richardson, Biden, Kaine, Hagel, Webb, Sebellius, all better. I think Edwards has problems right now and he should be Atty General anyway!

[samthetvcat]

This VP vetting process seems to be a bit like that show The Bachelorette, where you can''t quite tell who the candidate''s going to pick because the process is so personal that when they''re in the moment they''re not thinking about any of the alternatives.

But stepping back, Barack DOES in fact have the cushion to go with who he feels comfortable with, doesn''t he? Like hadn''t Kerry lost his lead by Convention time? If Barack''s still holding onto a lead by Convention, he seems like the type to assume he''s got it and pick who he prefers rather than who looks best on paper (?)

[richminiter]

John McCain is smarter than Obama and knows the best peck for VP would be his wife, Cindy McCain, who has the beeuty, intellegence and pose to solve our enargy problems in minutes instead of yeers. A McCain-McCain ticket would swing Hilary''s base into the Republican colum and asure a 50 state sweap by McCain at eliction day. I know it''s an out of the boks solution but McCain has bult his solud reputatoin for being a maverik and this woold certanly send shook waves through the Democrat party base and rook the Obama campaign.

[shutupnvote]

well it is WELL known that Obama has poor judgment in who he surrounds him self with Byah is an excellent Senator but he would just be another inexperienced rookie choice as VP against McCain and token 42 long White non wrinkly dude

[timdgrim]

When Obama wins in November..he should offer Hillary Secretary of Defense..that will REALLY p*ss of the ReNazicans! Especially ExxonMcCain!

[neobrian-2009]

Evan bayh, what a joke! Never met a tax he didn''''t want to raise or an inalienable right he wanted to take away.

Posted by mbcsmith at 04:14 PM : Aug 06, 2008
Better Do Your Homework Foxnewslover !!
Evan Bayh is considered Very Moderate ! He `s The Only Very Popular Democrat in Red State Indiana,..who has only went for a democratic President twice in 100 years,..