Chet Edwards on Obama's VP short list
Final-hour speculation on Democrat Barack Obama's vice presidential choice is centering on U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards of Waco, a low-key moderate and dark horse ticket prospect.
Edwards, first elected to Congress in 1990, campaigned with Obama in Texas earlier this year. Their chemistry and the experience Edwards might bring to the ticket fueled speculation at the time about a possible vice presidential nomination.
Since then, better-known national brands like Sen. Joseph Biden of Delaware and Gov. Tim Kaine of Virginia have largely dominated the veepstakes talk in the news media.
The Associated Press is reporting today that Edwards is back in the mix.
Obama, his secret his own, went to the gym for a morning workout before heading to an office in Chicago to polish the convention acceptance speech he will deliver next Thursday night.
Obama told reporters on Thursday he's already made his choice, and aides have used the prospect of a text-message announcement to try and attract additional supporters by soliciting their cell phone numbers and e-mail addresses.
The Illinois senator has arranged a joint appearance for Saturday with his running mate at the Old State Capitol in Springfield, Ill.
Among his credentials, Edwards is chairman of the House Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee. His district previously included Fort Hood, and the Waco Democrat is frequently pressed into service as a surrogate for the party on military issues.
Potential liabilities include Edwards vote in favor of the war in Iraq, which may not sit well with the party's liberal base. He is a low-profile member of Congress, whose selection may not give Obama's ever-tightening race against Republican John McCain the immediate boost the party is looking for.
Edwards is a native of Corpus Christi and graduate of Texas A&M University and Harvard Business School. His Central Texas congressional district includes President Bush's Crawford ranch.
Edwards is a favorite of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who praised his "extraordinary credentials" on ABC's "This Week" on Aug. 3 and said: "I hope he will be the nominee."
One Democratic official with knowledge of the conversation said Obama told Pelosi recently that she would be pleased with the choice. Other Democratic officials said he was on the short list. All spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss Obama's selection process.
Edwards is well-known in Texas but does not have a national profile.
Asked about Pelosi's praise, Edwards said in July that he "cannot imagine that many Americans would not consider it a privilege" to be considered a vice presidential contender.
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