Some In McCain Camp Ponder Thursday VP Announcement

Perhaps hoping to turn a fresh page from the Democratic convention, advisers to Sen. John McCain are considering a Thursday night vice presidential announcement, an aide said yesterday, although the unofficial word from campaign headquarters is that Friday is still more likely.

The prospect of a slightly earlier announcement has some Republicans worried that McCain has settled on Sen. Joe Lieberman., They assume that the campaign would not risk the bad form associated with jumping on Obama's night if McCain announces a traditional pick, such as Gov. Mitt Romney or Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

Several McCain advisers, including Sen. Lindsey Graham, are actively pushing for Lieberman. Others, including many top fundraisers, are hoping that McCain chooses Gov. Mitt Romney. A smaller faction that includes some of McCain's longest-serving advisers believe that Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota would be a better pick.

McCain isn't showing his cards, not even to the five or so campaign officials who have been privy to the vice presidential search process.

The choice of Lieberman would surely precipitate fireworks during next week's Republican National Convention. Some McCain allies think that would be a good thing. It would, in their thinking, allow McCain to confront the protests and proclaim his independence. Others worry that the demonstrations would get out of hand and could badly divide a weakly unified party.

Although speculation about McCain's pick has been intense, it has not generated the amount of media interest that Barack Obama's search did. Indeed, the McCain campaign will not officially confirm that Washington lawyer A.B. Culvahouse is heading the search.

Some McCain advisers -- cautioning that they do not know what McCain is thinking -- say they assume that Obama's selection of Joe Biden may influence McCain's decision in one way: Biden is a spectacular debater and has a formidable stage presence. McCain's vice presidential nominee ought not appear wimpy in comparison.