Veepstakes Wednesday

August 5, 2008— -- From Evan Bayh to Tim Kaine to Tim Pawlenty, veepstakes fever is set to run high on Wednesday.

Obama-Bayh?

Stoking speculation that Barack Obama is eyeing Indian's junior senator as his running mate, the presumptive Democratic nominee will be introduced by Evan Bayh at a 9:30 am ET town-hall meeting in Elkhart, Ind.

After saying Saturday that he did not have plans to be at the event, Bayh's office announced on Sunday that he was re-arranging his schedule to join Obama.

Bayh told the Indianapolis Star on Tuesday that Obama has not asked him to be his running mate.

He said he has "no idea" about Obama's timeline for picking his No. 2, adding, "if there's an announcement tomorrow, I'd be as surprised as anybody else."

"Bayh said his wife, Susan; twin sons Nick and Beau; and his father, former Sen. Birch Bayh, will not be joining him on this trip -- one additional sign that the vice presidential announcement likely won't come Wednesday."

Asked if he will be Obama's eventual choice, Bayh told the Indianapolis Star, "I have no idea. You'd have to ask him."

Obama arrived at the Jameson Inn Hotel in Elkhart at 7:19 pm ET on Tuesday. He'll be in Indiana until 3:50 pm ET on Wednesday when he departs for Minneapolis.

The only event on his public schedule is his 9:30 am ET town-hall meeting with Bayh.

If Obama does eventually pick Bayh, the two Midwestern senators could tout the "3 F's": fatherhood, fiscal discipline, and fairness for injured vets.

Fatherhood is the subject of legislation that Obama and Bayh have worked on together.

Per Obama's Senate office, "The Responsible Fatherhood and Healthy Families Act of 2007 removes government penalties on married families and offers support for fathers trying to do the right thing while cracking down on men who avoid their parental responsibilities."

Without mentioning Bayh's name, Obama talked about his fatherhood legislation while campaigning on Tuesday in Berea, Ohio.

"[N]ot having a father -- that makes a difference in a young man's life," said Obama. "It makes a difference in a young girl's life. This is an example where government can do part of the job. But one of the things that we've got to talk about - and Democrats sometimes, and progressives -- we have to understand that government can't do everything."

Fiscal discipline is another Bayh selling point.

Not long after being elected governor in 1988, Bayh had his chief of staff warn his budget director that a recession was inevitable during his tenure.

The budget director was told that his job was to manage the state's finances to avoid a tax increase should a recession occur. A recession eventually did hit the state -- but Indiana weathered the downturn without a general tax increase.

Bayh kept up the emphasis on fiscal discipline when he arrived in the Senate, pushing for a "trigger" amendment which would have delayed implementation of the Bush tax cuts and new federal spending if efforts to pay down the debt did not remain on the schedule.

Fairness for injured vets was the subject of a letter that Bayh and Obama signed this week to Defense Secretary Robert Gates. The goal of the letter was to persuade the Bush administration to expand medical coverage for Iraq veterans suffering from traumatic brain injuries.

Obama-Kaine?

Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine is planning to interrupt his week-long family vacation in Camp Pendleton, Va., on Wednesday to join Michelle Obama for a 6:00 pm ET fundraiser at the Harrison Opera House in Norfolk.

While visiting the carnival grounds on Chincoteague Island last week, Kaine was asked about the VP selection process by a local resident and said: "There has been a long list. It seems to be getting shorter. And I'm still being mentioned. A lot can change day-to-day. But we'll see."

McCain-Pawlenty?

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty will be in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday to deliver a 1:00 pm ET speech on the future of the GOP to the National Press Club.

Pawlenty thinks the Republican Party should be about "Sam's Club and not just the country club," offering voters better value for their tax dollars.

On Wednesday morning, Pawlenty delivers 8:00 am ET remarks to GOPAC at the Key Bridge Marriott in Roslyn, Va. Following his remarks, the Minnesota governor will take questions from GOPAC members and then hold a short media availability at 8:40 am ET.

Pawlenty previewed his pro-McCain pitch during a recent interview with ABCNews.com.

The kicker:

"See you at the debates, bitches."

--Paris Hilton in a "FunnyOrDie" web video responding to McCain's injection of her into the presidential campaign.

On the campaign front. . .

JOHN MCCAIN

-- Campaigns in Ohio.

BARACK OBAMA-- 9:15 am ET: Attends town hall meeting with voters on energy policy, Elkhart, IN. (2004 Presidential Election results, Elkhart County: 70% Bush, 29% Kerry)

MICHELLE OBAMA

-- Midday: Attends roundtable discussion with military families, Norfolk, VA.

--Attends fundraiser with Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, Norfolk, Va.

MINNESOTA GOV. TIM PAWLENTY

-- 8:00 am ET: Speaks to members of GOPAC and the media, Roslyn, VA.

-- 1:00 pm ET: Speaks to the National Press Club on the topic of "Sam's Club Republicans," Washington, DC.

FORMER SPEAKER NEWT GINGRICH

-- 10:30 am ET: Joins House Republicans for press conference on energy policy, Washington, DC.

At the White House. . .

PRESIDENT BUSH

-- In South Korea.

POLITICAL NEWS STORIES ON ABCNEWS.COM

ABC News' Tahman Bradley: Paris Hilton Responds to McCain Celeb Commercial LINK

ABC News' Jake Tapper and Sunlen Miller: Obama Promises to 'End the Age of Oil in Our Time' LINK

ABC News' Bret Hovel: McCain Energized on Energy LINK

ABC News' Gregory Wallace and Sara Just: McCain Gaffes, Volunteering Wife For Topless Contest LINK

ABC News' Jake Tapper and Sunlen Miller: Obama in Ohio: "I Fear No Man When I've Got Truth On My Side" LINK

ABC News' Z. Byron Wolf: Report: Is Iraq Pulling its Weight? LINK

ABC News' Gregory Wallace and Teddy Davis: Obama Fuzzy on 'Small Business' Exemption LINK

ABC News' Jake Tapper and Sunlen Miller: Obama Pushes Back on GOP Tire Pressure Attack: "It's Like These Guys Take Pride in Being Ignorant" LINK

ABC News' Jake Tapper: McCain Thinks We're Better Off Than We Were 8 Years Ago - But Worse Off Than We Were 4 Years Ago (Huh?) LINK

ABC News' Dean Norland: Republicans Protest Congressional Vacation as Gas Prices Soar LINK

ABC News' Kirit Radia: Book: W.H. Knew Iraq Had No WMDs LINK

ABC News' Matthew Jaffe Reports: Bayh Says No Veep Announcement Wednesday LINK

ABC News' Jake Tapper: Obama's Proposed "Windfall Profits Tax" LINK

ABC News' John Santucci: Who Gets to Ask the Tough Questions? Presidential Debate Moderators Chosen LINK

ABC News' Jake Tapper: Obama Birthday Present Recovered from Cab LINK

ABC News' Jake Tapper: DNC Launches New Anti-McCain Website: TheNextCheney.com LINK

ABC News' Jake Tapper: Obama Impugns My Cake Selection LINK

POLITICAL VIDEO ON ABCNEWS.COM

An Evan Bayh VP Bid?Would Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh be a boring or brilliant veepstakes pick?Rick Klein and Teddy Davis Discuss VP Prospect Evan Bayh on ABC News Now's "Politics Live" LINK

McCain to Enter Wife in Top-Less Pageant?McCain: "She could be the only woman to serve as First Lady and Miss Buffalo Chip." LINK

Campaign EnergyMcCain touts nuke power, while Obama promotes the "people plan." LINK

Bush, Beef & ProtestsThe president is greeted in South Korea by anti-U.S. beef protesters. LINK

Motorcyclists Rev Engines for McCainJohn and Cindy McCain visit the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota. LINK

Obama Relates Energy Issues to CheneySen. Obama: Sen. McCain's energy policy will be "four more years of the same." LINK

Good Oil News Doesn't End DebateGas prices drop, but presidential candidates continue energy crisis arguments. LINK

Clinton Speaks OutFormer President Bill Clinton speaks out for the first time since the primaries. LINK

Obama's Cake: 'Tapper Wants the Flower'The presidential candidate teases ABC News' Jake Tapper for his choosiness. LINK

Fact Check: Candidates' Energy PoliciesEach candidate claims that his plan to cut your energy costs is better. LINK

The Truth on Energy ClaimsCokie Roberts analyzes the candidates' energy strategies. LINK