Veepstakes: Biden denial

By Michael J.W. Stickings

UPDATED

(For more Veepstakes, see here.)

According to MSNBC's Howard Fineman, Biden is "likely" to be Obama's running mate. "Biden makes the most sense," claims one source, and I think that's true. Opines Fineman: "[Biden] is a lively and feisty if unpredictable campaigner with working-class roots and a street-level feel for the hot spots of the globe -- which he can use to go toe-to-toe with Sen. John McCain."

But will it be Biden? Not according to Biden himself: "Hey guys," he told reporters today, "I'm not the guy. See ya." Of course, such pre-announcement denials are predictable. Maybe he already knows he's not the one, but maybe he's "heard nothing," as Steve Clemons suggests. And, well, he just got back from Georgia -- the one near Russia, not the one that spawned Newt Gingrich. He's got the gravitas, he's got the experience, he's Catholic, and Obama just singled him out for praise.

And yet...

No... Sebelius... really? So say these people, but I'm hoping not. Like Kaine, she's a fine governor with a bright future, but Obama needs Biden's gravitas and experience, especially on foreign policy, not youth and "outsider" credibility.

UPDATE 1: Marc Ambinder points out that Obama was uncharacteristically gender-specific last night: he, not she.

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For the record, Ralph Nader thinks Obama will pick Hillary.

And, for the record, I'm still not ruling Hillary out. Nor Gore. You never know.

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CBS News is reporting that Obama's pick will be announced on Friday, with a joint appearance scheduled for Saturday.

UPDATE 2: Lynn Sweet is reporting that "the Obama team... will showcase the new Obama ticket Saturday in Springfield at the Old State Capitol." Springfield, Illinois, that is.