Veepstakes Decisions Soon?

July 28, 2008— -- Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., has no campaign events on his schedule Tuesday -- which gets minds wondering and tongues wagging about Veepstakes.

Early in the day, Obama holds a series of private meetings and has a fundraising lunch in Washington.

Keep an eye on. . . whether Obama has any side meetings with Hill types that would signal any movement on the vice presidential front. VP search committee co-chair Caroline Kennedy is in Washington, and Obama spent time late Monday afternoon at co-chair Eric Holder's law offices, Covington and Burling. Obama did not answer a question from the press pooler on his way into the building on Pennsylvania Avenue.

ABC News' Jan Crawford Greenburg and Howard Rosenberg report that Patti Solis Doyle, chief of staff to Obama's prospective VP nominee, has told her staff to report for work today.

Are you willing to pay for the chance to try and get the inside scoop on Obama's Veepstakes process? Greenburg and Rosenberg also report that Kennedy will hold a fundraiser in Georgetown tonight, but you will need a $1,000 check to get in the door and a $2,300 check to get to the exclusive reception with Kennedy.

Late Tuesday, Obama heads to Capitol Hill, where he will meet with the House Democratic Conference in its weekly closed-door strategy meeting, his first as the presumptive Democratic nominee.

The meeting with the House Democrats comes one week after Obama campaign manager David Plouffe stopped by the Democratic caucus meeting to brief members on campaign strategy. The Hill visits follow news reports that some members of Congress have grumbled at what they see as a lack of coordination between the Obama campaign and them on message and policy. How many will say that to Obama in person?

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., keeps up his focus on the economy and energy issues with a town hall meeting in Sparks, Nev.

McCain can point to some good news on gas prices. ABC News' Dan Arnall reports that the national average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gas is now $3.96 -- the first week since June 2 that has seen a national average below the $4 mark. The Energy Department reports today that gas prices have fallen by 11 cents in the past week, per Arnall. But don't get too excited just yet -- the price is still 38 percent higher than it was one year ago.

File this under "Not going away any time soon". . . Expect the McCain campaign and their Republican supporters to continue to push Obama's cancelled troop visit in Germany last week. Republicans see a benefit in keeping this story in the news. "Most Americans will agree Obama should have met the troops before meeting the press. This whole episode -- including his campaign's evolving excuses for skipping the visit -- is an example of Obama's poor judgment," said one Republican official.

And in health news. . . At his quarterly dermatologic checkup today, McCain had a small spot removed from his right temple out of what appears to be an abundance of caution by his doctors, ABC News' Bret Hovell reports.

"I want to urge all Americans to wear sunscreen, particularly this summer, to stay out of the sun as much as possible ... and if you have any slight discoloration, please go to your dermatologist or your doctor and get it checked up on," McCain said to reporters in Bakersfield, Calif., a few hours after his procedure.

Hovell reports that McCain said the procedure was routine and the spot would be biopsied, "just to make sure everything is fine."

Sen. McCain stresses the importance of developing alternative sources of energy. LINK

General Petreaus' Calculated Risks
U.S. Commander in Iraq talks about the surge with ABC's Terry McCarthy. LINK

McCain Warns of Risks of Sun Damage
Sen. McCain has mole-like skin removed and gets thumbs up from dermatologist. LINK

Obama on Economy: 'Irresponsible' Choices to Blame
Obama: "We can't have a thriving Wall St. if we don't have a thriving Main St." LINK

The Senate's Dr. No
Sen. Tom Coburn's one man fight against waste. LINK

U.S. Stepping Up Counterterrorism Efforts
Experts say high profile events could be terrorist targets. LINK

Barack Obama's Reviews From Abroad
British media scrutinizes Democratic presidential candidate. LINK

Will Caroline Kennedy Choose the VP?
The influential Kennedy is advising Obama in his search for a running mate. LINK

Housing Rescue Bill Passes Senate
The fate of the bill now lies in the hands of President Bush. LINK

Obama's Back
The Democratic presidential candidate returns to the campaign trail. LINK

100 Days and Counting
Political analyst Mark Halperin assesses where the presidential race stands. LINK

Making Progress in Iraq
Nowhere in the country have changes been more dramatic than in Sadr City. LINK

McCain Counting Down
100 days before the election, McCain discusses the economy, gay adoption and an Iraq timetable. LINK

George Will, Cokie Roberts, Sam Donaldson and Matthew Dowd. LINK

McCain-Will '08
Backstage with George Will, Cokie Roberts, Sam Donaldson and Matthew Dowd. LINK

Ribs, McCain Style
Republican presidential candidate John McCain shares his favorite rib recipe. LINK

McCain Criticizes Obama
Obama defends himself for canceling a visit to wounded troops. LINK