Reuters:

McCain said the search "is somewhat difficult because we have so many highly qualified individuals" to consider.

He gave no names. But he said he was operating under a specific timeline that he hopes to meet "well before."

AP:

Barack Obama is meeting with two potential running mates amid a push to outline his vision for Iraq and U.S. foreign policy elsewhere.

Set to join Obama for an event Wednesday at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, are Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh and former Georgia Sen. Sam Nunn. They'll be discussing national security issues.

Washington Times:

The nation's small-business owners, in the dumps over the economy, want Republican Mitt Romney and Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton as vice presidential candidates on their respective party's presidential ticket this fall, a new poll shows.

MSNBC:

"I am interested in electing Barack Obama the next president of the United States," he said. "I'm interested in earning re-election to the U.S. Senate, and serving in the U.S. Senate. I have no interest in the vice presidency. I believe strongly I can help Sen. Obama by helping in the U.S. Senate."

Mitchell replied, "That's a no, no, no."

"Ah, that's about as clear, clear, clear as I can get," Reed said.

CQ Politics:

Texas Rep. Chet Edwards, endorsed for the Democratic vice presidential nod by Speaker Nancy Pelosi and veep-vetter cousin Patrick J. Kennedy, won't say whether he has had talks with Barack Obama's camp about the job.

"I wish I could say more," he said after referring questions about the vice presidency to the Obama campaign in a manner similar to the demurral offered by Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.

MSNBC:

Star Tribune:

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty has collected more than $500,000 in contributions for Arizona Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee for president.

Pawlenty is national co-chairman for McCain's campaign. Among governors mentioned as potential running mates, he is the only one in the ranks of top McCain "bundlers" -- that is, those listed as having raised more than half a million dollars.

Times-Picayune:

As lawmakers stewed over Gov. Bobby Jindal's budget vetoes and mulled whether to return for an unprecedented override session, several agreed Tuesday that the new administration must work hard to repair its relations with the Legislature.