Text message to reveal Obama's VP nod
U.S. presidential candidate narrows short list to four
Last Updated: Tuesday, August 19, 2008 | 4:19 PM ET
CBC News
In a history-making U.S. presidential campaign, presumptive Democratic Party nominee Barack Obama is set to mark another first — he will be the first presidential candidate to reveal his running mate through text-messaging.
'It is nice to see some politicians evolve at least a little and not stick to same old same old methods of doing things.'
—cousinj
Obama has all but settled on his choice for vice-president, the New York Times cited aides as saying Tuesday, and he will disclose his decision in the coming days, possibly as early as Wednesday.
But instead of breaking the news at a media conference or at the Democratic Party's convention, due to begin Monday, he will instead notify supporters through a text message first, Obama's campaign manager said in an e-mail last week.
"No other campaign has done this before," campaign manager David Plouffe said in the e-mail. "You can be part of this important moment."
U.S. supporters have to sign up to be notified of the pick. In addition, they will receive other campaign news and alerts, and will be charged standard text-messaging rates, Plouffe said. The strategy is likely to appeal to younger voters who support Obama.
The 47-year-old Illinois senator has run a technologically savvy campaign, using the internet to build a network of two million volunteers and raise nearly $340 million, as of the end of June.
Veep speculation
Obama was believed to have narrowed his list to Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, Delaware Senator Joe Biden, Indiana Senator Evan Bayh and Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius. While it seemed increasingly unlikely that he would choose his vanquished rival in the race for the Democratic candidacy, New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, some Democrats speculated Monday that he could pull a surprise and pick her.
The campaign of presumptive Republican nominee John McCain, which has not used text messages to connect with the electorate, will likely name his running mate between the end of the Democratic convention on Aug. 28 and the Sept. 1 start of the GOP convention to mitigate the effects of any bounce in the polls for Obama.
McCain's top contenders are said to include Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney. Less traditional choices mentioned include former Pennsylvania governor Tom Ridge, an abortion-rights supporter, and Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman, the Democratic vice-presidential pick in 2000, who is now an Independent.
With files from the Associated Press
