Wait for it

By Samantha Hayes, for NEWS 9

Aug. 22, 2008

WASHINGTON -- This morning I was worried that somehow, I had missed it. But my phone was on, fully charged, receiving other emails and text messages. Just none from him.

Nothing from Barack Obama, who promised that I (and whoever else signed up on his campaign website) would be the first to know when he's ready to announce his choice for running mate.

I was joined in my dismay by countless other journalists and supporters who expected the same text, sometime early this morning.  On CNN's American Morning, John Roberts looked longingly at this cell phone, and other reporters shook their heads, wondering why the soon-to-be Democratic nominee would forego hours of morning news coverage. But I believe these sorts of political announcements are mulled over for quite some time by the candidates and their close advisors. Even though we did not have the revelation of Obama's VP choice this morning, he did get plenty of coverage. Coverage of news people....waiting...wondering.

So without the text in hand, news crews are doing what news crews do: staking out locations where possible running mates might be. They are keeping an eye on Virginia Governor Tim Kaine, Indiana Senator Evan Bayh, Senator Joe Biden, and watching the airport near Chicago where Obama's pick might be flying in. There is also considerable new interest in a candidate who has been considered a dark horse in the process, nine- term Texas congressman Chet Edwards who said today that the campaign had vetted him. 

Meantime, Obama says he has called those individuals not selected. But they aren't talking, either. Which means for now, we are all keeping our cell phones close while we...wait for it.