Obama Appears Ready to Announce His Running Mate  —  WASHINGTON — Senator Barack Obama has all but finalized his choice for a running mate and set an elaborate roll-out plan for his decision, beginning with an early morning alert to supporters, perhaps as soon as Wednesday …

VP Alert  —  NR has learned that the McCain campaign has been calling key state GOP officials around the country the last couple of days and sounding them out about the consequences of a pro-choice VP pick.  The campaign is asking about the reaction of conservative grass-roots activists …

Obama veep announcement expected in coming days  —  CHICAGO (AP) — Barack Obama will publicly disclose his vice presidential choice in the coming days, though the Democrat is keeping most aides who are preparing for the announcement in the dark and is giving away nothing to voters as he campaigns.

PAPER: OBAMA READY TO ANNOUNCE HIS VP  —  The NYT newsroom was buzzing late Monday afternoon after Obama-beat reporter Jeff Zeleny learned how the Dem hopeful has now finalized his choice for a running-mate.  —  Obama has set an elaborate roll-out to announce his decision that will begin …

Hillary Clinton gives ‘Judas’ Richardson a hug or a shrug  —  It was, if memory and The Ticket's search function serves, back in March that big Bill Richardson, the goateed governor of New Mexico who'd built his impressive resume largely on important assignments for the Clintons …