There are many reasons you might want to visit sunny Indiana. You could, for example, go watch Peyton Manning lead the Colts, or you could visit the birthplaces of Larry Bird and James Dean. Or, if you're Barack Obama, you could travel to the Hoosier State to announce your running mate on his home turf.
The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee is scheduled to arrive in Indiana on Tuesday and stay until mid-Wednesday. His trip is arousing speculation that Obama may name Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh to his ticket. Robert Gibbs, Obama's communications director, has downplayed that notion, saying only that "Indiana is competitive and winnable for us." But Howey Politics Indiana, a Web site focused on politics in the state, has reported that the details of the trip "appear to be different than a normal presidential candidate visit," and also has an "informed and reliable Democratic source" who told the site last week that a veep decision would come soon and likely be announced this week.
Meanwhile, Jonathan Martin reports for the Politico that presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain is leaning toward announcing his vice-presidential pick after Obama's speech at the Democratic convention on Aug. 28. Martin quotes an unnamed McCain advisor who said, "We'd be stupid to pick before [the Obama campaign] ... If they go first, you have more information."
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