Speculation intensifies over a McCain VP pick

By Michael Kranish, Globe Staff

ROCHESTER, N.H. -- Amid growing speculation that he is at least considering naming a running mate as soon as this week, John McCain was asked at a town hall meeting today whether he had "forgiven" former rival and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney for his attacks during the primary campaign.

The presumptive Republican nominee responded that Romney "has been a tremendous help to my campaign."

McCain, repeating a joke that has heightened the speculation about picking Romney, said that Romney's support for McCain shows he "has done a better job for me than he did for himself."

Without indicating whether he might pick Romney, McCain sought to allay concerns that bitterness remained between them, saying the Republican Party is united, adding that "the entire Romney family has been wonderful."

Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a McCain confidante, added to the Romney buzz, telling The Hill newspaper in Washington today that Romney fits the bill as someone McCain "feels comfortable with."

"I think he's very much a contender for the job," Graham said. "They have a good relationship. That's all I'll say."

Romney fought a bitter primary race against McCain in New Hampshire and elsewhere, but recently has been mentioned as a leading candidate to be McCain's vice presidential pick.

"There's a lot of guessing and speculation going on, but the fact is that Governor Romney expects to be campaigning for John McCain as a supporter and not as a member of the ticket," said Romney spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom.

Asked whether this was a good week to announce his own running mate with Obama overseas, McCain chuckled and told reporters, "We have the same answer we always have. ... We'll let you know when we have an announcement."

The speculation intensified last night after Washington Post conservative columnist Robert Novak, posting on his Evans-Novak Political Report, suggested McCain could make his pick this week, writing:

"Sources close to Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign are suggesting he will reveal the name of his vice presidential selection this week while Sen. Barack Obama is getting the headlines on his foreign trip. The name of McCain's running mate has not been disclosed, but Mitt Romney has led the speculation recently."

UPDATE: This afternoon, Novak said on Fox News Channel that he might have been used to pump up the speculation.

“I got a suggestion from a very senior McCain aide late yesterday afternoon that he was going to announce it this week," Novak said. "They didn’t want it to come out the way it was going to come out so they suggested I put it out. I then called another senior person who said ‘I can’t talk about that, but wouldn’t it be a terrific week to announce it that is with Obama getting the headlines.’”

Novak added, “I’ve since been told by certain people that this was a dodge and that they were trying to get some publicity to rain on Obama’s campaign. It’s pretty reprehensible if it’s true, but we’ll find out in a couple of days."

CNN's Political Ticker blog, quoting unnamed sources inside the McCain campaign, said the Arizona senator hasn't made a decision yet but had "narrowed" his choices:

"One source tells CNN that 'no decision has been made' by the candidate. Another says that some within the campaign are arguing to hold off until Obama has named his decision 'so there is an opportunity to counter-program.' In any case, a campaign source adds, this does mean that the choice has been 'narrowed' in McCain's mind to the point where he could, if he were so inclined, spring a decision this week."

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