McCain-Pawlenty Looking Better Than McCain-Romney

DENVER—As Sen. John McCain comes to an end in his search for a running mate, there are new indications today that he is looking at Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and not foe-turned-pal Mitt Romney. Sources close to Romney tell us that his camp has not had vice presidential talks and dealings for a while, leading them to believe that the other running mate topping McCain's list has edged him out. Of concern is the likelihood that the Democrats would dub a McCain-Romney ticket the richest ever. In fact, at a breakfast today, when I asked Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow if the Romney name would help in the industrial state once governed by his dad, she turned the question to Romney's wealth. She even added up the number of houses Romney and McCain have, coming to a total of 12. Though "the Romney name is well known" in Michigan, she says, the economic elitism label the Democrats would hit the ticket with would roll over Romney's brand name.