Curtains for Kaine?
Barack Obama nears his V.P. announcement
August 21, 2008— -- Barack Obama said on Thursday that he has settled upon a running mate.
He did not, however, reveal his selection.
The only thing that seems certain (or close to certain) at this point is that it's not Tim Kaine. The Virginia governor began referring to the process in the past tense after meeting with the presumptive Democratic nominee in Virginia.
"I've always thought it seemed a bit unlikely but I'm not going to tell you it hadn't been fun," said Kaine, per ABC News' Jen Duck.
Pressed about his use of past tense, Kaine said "I'll let you be the grammar judge although I've never been known for accuracy in grammar so it would be hard to scrutinize my grammar and make a conclusion."
Asked if he has been let in on any conversations surrounding the Democratic veepstakes, Kaine said "I'm going to let the campaign take it from here. They're going to reveal what they want to reveal when they want to reveal it."
"It's been nice to be mentioned but I'm going to let them do the heavy lifting at this point," he added.
While Kaine appears to be out of the running for VP, he played an amiable attack dog on Thursday morning television when he went after John McCain for directing a question about how many houses he owns to his staff.
"I understand that Sen. McCain was asked yesterday this question, 'how many houses do you own?,' and he couldn't answer that question. He couldn't count high enough apparently to even know how many houses he owns," said Kaine while appearing on CNN's "American Morning."
Watch it here.
The Kicker:
"I'll have my staff get to you."
--John McCain to Politico's Mike Allen when asked how many houses he and his wife own
Listen to the audio
On the campaign front. . .
JOHN MCCAIN
-- No public events on vacation in Arizona
BARACK OBAMA
-- No public events in Chicago, Illinois
At the White House. . .
PRESIDENT BUSH
-- Continues vacation in Crawford.
House of Labor . . .
CHANGE TO WIN
-- 12:00pm ET - Change to Win holds "Foreclosure Funeral" at John McCain's Office Phoenix, Arizona.
POLITICAL NEWS STORIES ON ABCNEWS.COM
ABC News' Jennifer Duck: Virginia Governor Out of the VP Race? LINK
ABC News' Teddy Davis and Hope Ditto: Kaine on McCain's House Gaffe: "He Couldn't Count High Enough" LINK
ABC News' Nitya Venkataraman: Conventions Loom, Gap Narrows Between McCain, Obama LINK
ABC News' Gary Langer: The Convention Bounce LINK
ABC News' Nitya Venkataraman: Democrats Aim for 'Greenest' Convention in History LINK
ABC News' Kate Barrett: Women's Health Debate Reaches Boiling Point LINK
ABC News' Teddy Davis and Hope Ditto: Cindy and Michelle Lend Voices to Anti-Poverty Ad LINK
ABC News' Jake Tapper: People Who Live in Seven Glass Houses. . . LINK
ABC News' Jake Tapper: Yes We Kaine? LINK
ABC News' Jake Tapper: McCain and Obama Reach Agreement on Debates LINK
ABC News' Jake Tapper: Rielle Hunter, Once Upon a Time LINK
POLITICAL VIDEO ON ABCNEWS.COM
Kaine Out of VP Running?
Does the Governor's schedule reveal he's out? Kaine on the veepstakes. LINK
Political Real Estate
Sen. McCain 's gaffe leaves the door open for Obama campaign attacks. LINK
Obama: McCain Out of Touch
Sen. Obama chides Sen. McCain for not knowing how many houses he owns. LINK
Presidential Race a Dead Heat
New polls suggest race is tighter than expected. LINK
McCain's VP Dilemma
The senator is considering a pro-choice No. 2, despite resistance from base. LINK
Condoleezza's Surprise Iraq Visit
The secretary of state is in Baghdad to discuss a security deal. LINK
Remembering Stephanie Tubbs Jones
The congresswoman of Ohio died of a brain hemorrhage at age 58. LINK
Obama Respects McCain, Not His Message
In swing states, the Obama campaign airs ads attacking McCain's policies. LINK
Obama Ad Hits McCain on his 7 Homes
A new ad released by the Obama campaign paints McCain as being out of touch. LINK