Edwards Now In Mix for Obama Veep Pick -- But It's Chet, Not John

By: E&P Staff and the Associated Press A politician named Edwards had long been mentioned as possible pick for Barack Obama's running mate, until recently, when a certain hotel meeting scuttled that talk. But now Edwards is back on the short list -- but it's Chet, not John.

The AP and other sources are suddenly reporting today that the not widely known moderate Texas congressman, Chet Edwards, has now surfaced on Obama's short list.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had touted him recently but others have pointed out that liberals would hate his vote for the Iraq war and he has little name recognition or star power.

The latest AP dispatch follows.
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The suspense holding, Barack Obama readied an announcement by text message Friday of his vice presidential running mate from a list suddenly spiced by a dark horse from Texas.

Hillary Rodham Clinton's prospects remained a mystery on a day full of them, although senior aides said the Obama campaign never requested financial or other records from her.

Three days before the party gathers in Denver to nominate Obama for the fall campaign, several officials said Rep. Chet Edwards, whose district includes President Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas, had made the list of finalists. Sens. Joe Biden of Delaware and Evan Bayh of Indiana were also in the mix, as were Govs. Tim Kaine of Virginia and Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas ? and any unknown others Obama had managed to keep secret despite intense scrutiny.

"It'll be exciting news," Sebelius told reporters in Kansas.

Obama, his secret his own, went to the gym for a morning workout before heading to an office in Chicago to polish the convention acceptance speech he will deliver next Thursday night.

Obama told reporters on Thursday he's already made his choice, and aides have used the prospect of a text-message announcement to try and attract additional supporters by soliciting their cell phone numbers and e-mail addresses.

The Illinois senator has arranged a joint appearance for Saturday with his running mate at the Old State Capitol in Springfield, Ill.

Hundreds of miles to the west, carpenters, electricians, sound stage gurus and others transformed the Pepsi Center in Denver into a made-for-television convention venue.

Tucked away in one corner were thousands of lightweight rolled cardboard handles, meant to allow delegates to wave signs bearing the names of the ticket ? once the identity of Obama's running mate was known.

And he wasn't saying.