To believe the talk in Washington, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) is considering more than two dozen candidates as potential vice presidential nominees, including 13 senators or former senators, 11 governors or former governors, two retired generals and former Vice President Al Gore.

For Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), the list of potential running mates is almost as long: eight current or former senators, 10 current or former governors, a couple of high-technology chief executives -- and one of the same retired generals Obama likes.

(Los Angeles Times)

"I don't think getting in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to become president."

- Wesley Clark, via Politico

Republican presidential candidate John McCain said on Friday he was spending a lot of time working on his choice for a vice presidential running mate but was not close to making a decision.

Speaking to reporters on his Straight Talk Express bus, McCain said the search was "not very far" along and he would make an announcement about his running mate "at the appropriate time."

"I've spent a lot of time on it," McCain said

(Reuters)

And, according to participants, [McCain] indicated that he would take seriously their requests that he choose an anti-abortion running mate and would talk more openly about his opposition to gay marriage -- a pledge he carried out later in the day by endorsing a ballot measure in California to ban gay marriage.

(Los Angeles Times)

Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota, the national co-chairman of the McCain campaign, told Republicans at their annual fundraising dinner that the party was at a crossroads after losing Congress and several statehouses.

Pawlenty noted that Rep. Chris Shays, R-4th District, is the last House Republican from New England and that only one Republican holds a governor's office in the Great Lakes states.

"You think the warning lights on the dashboard might be flashing, telling us we can do better?" Pawlenty said.

(Hartford Courant)

"...I've said it several times before...I'll say it again: I've got the job I want. When I campaigned across the state, I told people this is an historic time for the people of Louisiana. We won't get to make these changes again. This isn't a normal time, normal piece of history for my state."

- Bobby Jindal, via the Hindustan Times

Bill Kristol predicts Sarah Palin for McCain:

"It's very flattering, but I am not interested."

- RI Sen. Jack Reed, vis Boston Globe

Speculation about Virginia Sen. Jim Webb's prospects as a candidate for the Democratic vice presidential nomination got a boost last week with the passage of an important GI benefits bill -- a signal achievement for a freshman lawmaker that won him praise from both parties.

(Washington Times)

FedEx founder Frederick W. Smith says he has no interest in becoming the running mate of presumed GOP presidential candidate John McCain.

(FOX News)