Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - August 29, 2008, Winnipeg, Manitoba C m y k Page a7 Winnipeg repress. Com u. S. Politics Winnipeg free press Friday August 29, 2008 a 7 Denver Republican presidential candidate John Mccain decided on a running mate Early thursday and one top Prospect Minnesota gov. Tim Pawlenty abruptly cancelled numerous Public appearances. The Arizona senator will appear with his no. 2 at an Ohio rally on Friday aides said though they provided no details on whom Mccain had picked. Without explanation Pawlenty called off an associated press interview at the last minute As Well As other Media interviews in Denver site of the democratic National convention. Others believed to be in Contention for the no. 2 Slot on the gop ticket included former Massachusetts gov. Mitt Romney who was meeting with donors throughout California and Democrat turned Independent sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut who was vacationing on new Yorkus Long Island. Former Pennsylvania gov. Tom Ridge too was still a possibility As was the idea that Mccain would choose a dark horse from any number of names that have circulated. Fuelling speculation that Mccain would choose either Pawlenty or Romney or another conservative Republican two gop officials said they believed Mccain had picked a traditional candidate. They based their conclusion on the fact that the Campaign which once had put the party on notice to prepare for the possibility of an unconventional candidate does not have preparations in place to curb the fallout from a right flank that certainly would revolt if Ridge an abortion rights Backer or Lieberman a former Democrat was on the ticket. Mccain for his part was uncharacteristically silent. As he and his wife Cindy boarded a plane in Phoenix bound for Dayton Ohio reporters shouted a barrage of questions at the senator about whether head made up his mind. Mccain a snot biting. He flashed a double thumbs up and boarded the plane. Earlier he played Coy. In an interview aired thursday morning Mccain said he still Hadnot made up his mind. Far from quieting speculation this Only fuelled it As he sought to Siphon attention from Democrat Barack of amass acceptance of the presidential nomination in Denver. He told Kaka new radio in Pittsburgh in an interview taped wednesday i a vent decided yet so i cant Tell you. With both the eventual pick and the Effort to keep Buzz alive beforehand Mccaints Campaign Hopes to curb any uptick in polling that Obama might get from his convention and to create momentum heading into the gathering of gop delegates for Mccain next week in St. Paul Minn. The associated press Mccain stays mum on his v. P. Choice by Liz Sidoti d Enver it was last september when Addie Rugland saw Barack Obama in action at a Small Campaign gathering in her native Iowa in a Small cafeteria sized room. I just thought wow Rugland 30, recalled thursday. I Shook his hand after that event and i just thought i just Shook the hand of the next president of the United states. On thursday Rugland was preparing to make the Long walk to in Vesco Field where she would join the 80,000 throng to hear of amass acceptance speech. Her Mother Stephanie Harmon a Campaign organizer for the Obama Campaign scored two passes just two weeks ago in a party lottery. Before the democrats would Issue the coveted credentials she had to prove that she had a plane ticket to Denver and a hotel room booking. Their Vantage Point thursday was slightly less intimate than the confines of their first encounter with the Illinois senator they were seated in the nosebleeds Section 532, upper deck to be precise. Mother and daughter did not care calling their passes badges of honour. Forty five years ago this Day a Quarter million people made the spontaneous Freedom walk to Washington to hear Martin Luther King deliver his i have a dream exhortation at the foot of the grand statue of the president who ended slavery Abraham Lincoln. On thursday 80,000 marched on a football stadium through the streets of Denver queueing for hours to hear of amass historic oratory. Inside it was no Lincoln memorial. There was the Faux roman column backdrop the luxury sky boxes reserved for big Money donors and a Host of High profile entertainers awaited All of it tightly scripted and controlled and unfolding under some of the most stringent Security for any presidential Campaign event. Harmon and Rugland Are both typical of the grassroots Appeal of the Obama Campaign they Are first time political volunteers. Harmon was a precinct Captain in a Small Iowa township and she and her daughter worked tirelessly through the state caucuses to drum up support for Obama. The presence of big Money still did not spoil the party for the less heeled faithful who scored credentials. As Montana democratic activist Nancy Mccampbell explained this night a snot about getting caught up in the trappings of materialism. What i like about experience As opposed to things is it cant Burn Down it cant be stolen no one can Ever take it from you. Its done. Its yours forever. Can West news service Denver Al Gore told democrats thursday night that the 2008 election is close because defenders of the status quo Are desperately afraid of the change Barack Obama represents. And the former vice president said he knows something about close elections he lost one in overtime in 2000, to president George w. Bush. Gore said Bushes leadership has spelled calamity and Republican John Mccain would bring More of the same. Addressing tens of thousands at in Vesco Field Gore said that when he ran against Bush some people saw Little difference Between them and thought the outcome matter much. But Here we All Are in 2008 and i doubt anyone would argue now that election did not matter. Gore said that if head been elected in 2000, the United states would not be bogged Down in Iraq would not be facing a self inflicted economic crisis and the government would not be disregarding the Constitution or denying the climate crisis. Today we face essentially the same Choice we faced in 2000. He said. John Mccain a Man who has earned our respect on Many Levels is now openly endorsing the policies of the Bush Cheney White House and promising to actually continue them the same policies All Over again. He said that with Mccaints support Bush and vice president Dick Cheney have led our nation into one calamity after another. If you like the Bush Cheney approach John Mccaints your Man Gore said. If you want change then vote for Barack Obama and Joe Biden. The associated press Mccain Bush Are the same says Gore thrilled to hear Obama speak supporters vie for stadium seats by Mike Blanchfield Charles Dha Rapak / the associated press Jessica Alba left and Singer Fergie were among 80,000 at the democratic National convention at in Vesco Field in Denver on thursday. A 07_ aug 29 08. Ind a7 8 / 28/ 08 10 13 37 pm ;