Barack Obama may be grabbing headlines overseas, but John McCain's campaign knew exactly how to grab a few of its own this week. His staff apparently encouraged a report that the Arizona senator was on the verge of stealing a march on Mr. Obama by announcing the name of his vice presidential running mate. Columnist Robert Novak reported that Mitt Romney was the most likely front-runner.
The report got the requisite attention and also may have been a useful trial balloon. But, so far, no veep announcement has been forthcoming and, indeed, one isn't likely before the GOP convention in late August. Mr. Novak now says his report may have been "a dodge" the McCain campaign planted to get some buzz.
"I got a suggestion from a very senior McCain aide . . . that he was going to announce it this week" and that the campaign "suggested I put it out." Mr. Novak says he now suspects "they were trying to get a little publicity to rain on Obama's campaign. That's pretty reprehensible if it's true."
But the Washington Times reports that "Mr. McCain and his top aides didn't seem to mind leaving the story unaddressed and unchecked." In fact, when reporters finally confronted him on his Straight Talk Express campaign plane, he played coy. "What do you want, you little jerks?" Mr. McCain said with a smile before waving off any questions.
Mr. McCain used to be lionized by the national media before Barack Obama came around and became the new, new thing. Now the Arizona senator is reduced to fighting for attention any which way he can. On the issue of his VP choice, chalk up one slightly ugly media victory for Team McCain.
John Fund is an editorial writer for the Wall Street Journal