Latest Speculation: McCain Could Announce Vice Presidential Pick Thursday

Fox News reports that sources contend Republican Presidential nominee Sen. John McCain could announce his Vice Presidential choice on Thursday — as rival Democratic Sen. Barack Obama accepts the Demmies nomination for President:

Presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain may announce his choice for a running mate earlier than expected, sources told FOX News on Monday.

McCain had previously said he would announce his vice presidential pick on Friday and would appear with that individual at a rally in Dayton, Ohio, following the announcement. Friday is McCain’s 72nd birthday.

But sources close to McCain’s campaign told FOX News that his decision may come sooner than that — possibly on Thursday, when Barack Obama accepts the Democratic nomination at Invesco field in Denver, Colo.

McCain campaign spokesman Tucker Bounds diminished the news.

“I wouldn’t much weight into reports that there are windows of possibility,” he said.

If McCain did announce it Thursday, the way the press operates he would get considerable press coverage and it would step on Obama’s big moment. But there are risks.

For one thing, media coverage would stress the timing of this announcement: that McCain was trying to in-effect hijack coverage of the Democratic convention. The question would come up: why on Thursday? Couldn’t it have waited until Friday?

And there is a reason why that would come up. Both political parties have traditionally given each other the courtesy of letting the other one conduct its convention. It hasn’t been done and McCain would get some press coverage but some of it might not be the kind a candidate who is being touted as someone who can reach across the aisle would want. There is no precedent of the likely-nominee of one party trying to seize media attention away from his likely-rival on the day when his rival delivers his acceptance speech.