Gallup daily tracking poll: Obama 46%, McCain 43%.
Barack Obama is planning an 'early morning text alert' to supporters -- it could come as early as tomorrow -- in order to announce his vice-presidential running-mate, a choice he largely made while on vacation in Hawaii. Under an Obama administration, there will be no sleeping in! Though privately some senior Democrats continue to murmur about Hillary Clinton's chances, the smart money is on Virginia governor Tim Kaine, Joe Biden, who's just back from Georgia, or perhaps Indiana senator Evan Bayh, though he's hugely unpopular on the left of the party. [New York Times]
But is there still a chance Obama might opt for a bipartisan ticket, picking one of the Republicans Richard Lugar or Chuck Hagel? [Swampland]
John McCain is expected to make his VP announcement a week on Friday at a 10,000-strong rally in Dayton, Ohio, the day after Obama officially accepts the Democratic nomination. It will be McCain's 72nd birthday. This might be an attempt to claw back a tiny bit of media coverage during next week, but then again McCain might change his mind: "Friends emphasize he talks about the decision with almost no one, [and] could even change the announcement plans and go sooner." [The Page]
Bloggers at the Democratic convention next week will be provided with "couches for napping," "Google-sponsored massages, smoothies and a candy buffet." [Gawker]
