Aide: McCain Has Made VP Selection

Pick Unknown For Now, But GOP Candidate Is Expected To Make Announcement Friday In Ohio

(CBS/AP)  Republican presidential candidate John McCain decided on a running mate early Thursday. The Arizona senator will appear with his No. 2 at an Ohio rally on Friday, aides said, though they provided no details on who McCain had picked.(Take A Look At Some Of The Top Contenders In CBSNews.com's VP Hot Sheet)

One top prospect, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, abruptly canceled numerous public appearances. Without explanation, Pawlenty called off an Associated Press interview at the last minute, as well as other media interviews in Denver, site of the Democratic National Convention.

However, early Friday, Pawlenty said of the Ohio rally during his weekly call-in radio show: "I'm not going to be there. I plan to be at the (Minnesota) state fair. You can draw your conclusion from that."

Others believed to be in contention for the No. 2 slot on the GOP ticket included former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who was meeting with donors throughout California, and Democrat-turned-independent Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, who was vacationing on New York's Long Island.

Former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, too, was still a possibility, as was the idea that McCain would choose a dark horse from any number of names that have circulated.

In a newly released CBS News/New York Times poll of delegates to the Republican National Convention, 38 percent they would prefer McCain select Romney as his running mate.

The second place finisher in the poll, former Arkansas governor and presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, was selected by 7 percent of delegates. Pawlenty and Ridge were each selected by 4 percent of delegates surveyed. (Read more about the poll)

McCain, however, was uncharacteristically silent.

As McCain and his wife, Cindy, boarded a plane in Phoenix bound for Dayton, Ohio, reporters shouted a barrage of questions at the senator about whether he'd made up his mind. McCain wasn't biting. He flashed a double thumbs-up and boarded the plane.

Earlier, he played coy.

In an interview aired Thursday morning, McCain said he still hadn't made up his mind. Far from quieting speculation, this only fueled it as he sought to siphon attention from Democrat Barack Obama's acceptance of the presidential nomination in Denver.

He told KDKA NewsRadio in Pittsburgh in an interview taped Wednesday: "I haven't decided yet so I can't tell you."

McCain, who spoke with the radio station from his home in Arizona, told people late Wednesday that he wasn't going to make a final decision until after he talked with his wife. She has been in the country of Georgia this week and returned sometime at nightfall.

With both the eventual pick and the effort to keep buzz alive beforehand, McCain's campaign hopes curb any uptick in polling that Obama might get from his convention and to create momentum heading into the gathering of GOP delegates for McCain next week in St. Paul, Minn.

Pawlenty, in Denver to criticize Democrats on McCain's behalf, canceled without explanation an afternoon roundtable interview with the AP as well as other media interviews. Questioned about the vice presidential selection earlier, Pawlenty would only say that he is to be in Minnesota on Friday for the state fair. He had cautioned during a series of morning TV interviews that while speculation might be fun, "most of it turns out to be inaccurate."

Romney, who had played the GOP attack-dog role earlier in the week at the Democratic convention, left his beachfront San Diego home Thursday morning with an overnight bag. His son, Matt, said Romney was headed to an unspecified location in the state. Asked about being vice president, the elder Romney said: "I don't have anything for you right now."

Ridge was at his suburban Washington, D.C., home. Asked by an AP photographer as he took out the trash if he had any travel plans for the day, Ridge smiled and said he didn't.

One Lieberman aide said there has been no indication he is the choice. For instance, no staff have been called to join him at his vacation site.

For months, McCain's vice presidential search process has been kept closely held by a small group of his advisers. But details have been trickling out this week.

This includes word from two Republicans that McCain met with his senior advisers in Arizona on Wednesday to discuss the pick, conflicting information about whether or not he had settled on a choice, and the campaign's announcement it would air a one-evening-only TV ad in battleground states around when Obama will be giving his prime-time acceptance speech.

Turns out the ad has nothing to do with the vice presidential choice, bearing only a simple message for Barack Obama: "Job well done."

Inside GOP circles early Thursday, speculation swirled around Lieberman. It was fueled by reports that McCain's advisers had asked for additional detailed information from Lieberman, by McCain's close friendship with the 2000 Democratic vice presidential nominee, and by word that Republican operatives had been told to prepare for the possibility of an "unconventional" choice.

[cessna172_]

Good afternoon,

My fellow americans this will be one hell of a presidential race for the oval office, considering the choice of both VP''s .

I''m very proud of McCain for choosing Gov. Palin(bull dog)brilliant choice, she has also made her state very proud as well in the past .

The responce to this choice is so great and overwelming that it is difficult to simply reply on-line .
Obama''s choice wasn''t at all like this .

Makes us proud Sarah ! !

[cessna172_]

Good afternoon,

My fellow americans this will be one hell of a presidential race for the oval office, considering the choice of both VP''s .

I''m very proud of McCain for choosing Gov. Palin(bull dog)brilliant choice, she has also made her state very proud as well in the past .

The responce to this choice is so great and overwelming that it is difficult to simply reply on-line .
Obama''s choice wasn''t at all like this .

Makes us proud Sarah ! !

[cessna172_]

Good afternoon,

My fellow americans this will be one hell of a presidential race for the oval office, considering the choice of both VP''s .

I''m very proud of McCain for choosing Gov. Palin(bull dog)brilliant choice, she has also made her state very proud as well in the past .

The responce to this choice is so great and overwelming that it is difficult to simply reply on-line .
Obama''s choice wasn''t at all like this .

Makes us proud Sarah ! !

[cessna172_]

Good afternoon,

My fellow americans this will be one hell of a presidential race for the oval office, considering the choice of both VP''s .

I''m very proud of McCain for choosing Gov. Palin(bull dog)brilliant choice, she has also made her state very proud as well in the past .

The responce to this choice is so great and overwelming that it is difficult to simply reply on-line .
Obama''s choice wasn''t at all like this .

Makes us proud Sarah ! !

[cessna172_]

Good afternoon,

My fellow americans this will be one hell of a presidential race for the oval office, considering the choice of both VP''s .

I''m very proud of McCain for choosing Gov. Palin(bull dog)brilliant choice, she has also made her state very proud as well in the past .

The responce to this choice is so great and overwelming that it is difficult to simply reply on-line .
Obama''s choice wasn''t at all like this .

Makes us proud Sarah ! !

[cessna172_]

Good afternoon,

My fellow americans this will be one hell of a presidential race for the oval office, considering the choice of both VP''s .

I''m very proud of McCain for choosing Gov. Palin(bull dog)brilliant choice, she has also made her state very proud as well in the past .

Makes us proud Sarah ! !

[cessna172_]

Good afternoon,

My fellow americans this will be one hell of a presidential race for the oval office, considering the choice of both VP''s .

I''m very proud of McCain for choosing Gov. Palin(bull dog)brilliant choice, she has also made her state very proud as well in the past .

Makes us proud Sarah ! !

[caliengineer]

This is good timing by McCain. It steals thunder away from the Dems. It could deflate their "bounce."

[caliengineer]

I am relieved it''s not Plastic Mitt. That would have sent a signal it is okay to be Mormon, as long as you are financially successful.
How can we have a national leader who is able to overlook all the evidence that Joseph Smith lied and the complete and total lack of evidence supporting any of his stories to be true.

[sly_64]

And we should care. Why ? He doesn''t have a chance.

[sly_64]

And we should care. Why ? He doesn''t have a chance.

[leftyintexas]

Sarah Palin will be McCain''s choice for the VP spot on the ticket. It will draw some Hillary supporters over, I''m sure.

[stevex47]

"Aide: McCain Has Made VP Selection"

Well, he has taken a wide-stance on the topic and has chosen larry craig.

[stevex47]

"Aide: McCain Has Made VP Selection"

Well, he has taken a wide-stance on the topic and has chosen larry craig.

[primilioneah]

It is Mitt Romney

[thisandthat1]

Isn''t it funny how the whole country was waiting on pins and needles to hear who Obama had chosen to be his VP ..... and no one really even cares who McCain is picking?

[hhroams]

Just what we need a Mormom polygamist named "Mutt Roomey" for VP nominee!!

[hhroams]

Just what we need a Mormom polygamist named "Mutt Roomey" for VP nominee!!

[hhroams]

Just what we need a Mormom polygamist named "Mutt Roomey" for VP nominee!!

[hhroams]

Just what we need a Mormom polygamist named "Mutt Roomey" for VP nominee!!