Obama Talks Energy in Indiana as Veep Focus Turns to Bayh
by FOXNews.com
foxnews.com
Aug 6, 2008
Speculation on who will be Barack Obama’s running mate heated up again Wednesday as Sen. Evan Bayh prepared to introduce the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee at an energy-themed town hall meeting in Elkhart, Ind.
An average of polling in Indiana shows Obama leading Republican John McCain in the Hoosier State by a scant 0.5 percent. Bayh, the state’s two-term Democratic senator who has won statewide elections five times, could help expand that lead, turning Indiana from traditionally Republican red to Democratic blue in this hotly contested election year.
But to hear Bayh tell it, he’s non-plussed by any talk of being a potential running mate.
“I have been blessed to be in public life representing the people of my state for a while so these things happen. It’s good for my ego but not much else,” he told FOX News. Asked whether he was being vetted, Bayh responded, “As you can imagine, I can’t divulge private conversations.”
A CBS news poll out Wednesday showed that 30 percent of voters said the vice presidential choice “will have a great deal of influence” on their decision of a choice for president. That’s twice the number who said the vice presidential picks mattered in 2000.
But Bayh told the Indianapolis Star that he wouldn’t hold his breath waiting for an announcement to come Wednesday.
“I’m absolutely confident there will be no announcement (today). … I guess the best way to put it is, if there’s an announcement (today), I’d be as surprised as anybody else,” he is quoted saying.
Despite his longtime support for Hillary Clinton, Bayh defended Obama’s energy policies, saying if Obama becomes president, he would be happy to vote for an energy package that requires alternative fuel production, releases some of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and mandates higher mileage vehicles, among other items.
He added that while he respects McCain, he is too closely tied to President Bush.
“We need a change in Washington a fundamental change. Barack Obama is best in position to provide that change,” he said.
