VEEPSTAKES HEAT UP; NEW PREZ POLLS; KEYES GETS ON CALIF BALLOT; US SENATE POLLS.

VEEPSTAKES. Conservative columnist is placing is reputation on the line, boldly predicting that John McCain will likely announce his VP runningmate this week. Novak said the move is intended to dampen any positive press Barack Obama garners from his Middle East and European trip this week. McCain is set to meet with Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal on Wednesday. McCain met with former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani on Sunday. Mitt Romney's name also is frequently mentioned as a possible runningmate. Is it all subterfuge? Possibly. Just like Obama's three trips per day to the gym before departing for his overseas trip -- which may well have been cover for secret meetings with VP hopefuls.

P2008 - DAILY POLLING UPDATE. Here is our daily update of the latest independent polls from swing states (and states that appear to be evolving into swing states):
ALASKA (Rasmussen): McCain - 45%, Obama - 41%.
GEORGIA (Rasmussen): McCain - 48%, Obama - 39%.
MICHIGAN (Detroit News/EPIC-MRA): Obama - 43%, McCain - 41%, Barr/Nader/Other - 5%.
NEW HAMPSHIRE (Univ. of New Hampshire): Obama - 46%, McCain - 43%.
NORTH CAROLINA (Civitas-R): McCain - 43%, Obama - 40%.
OHIO (PPP-D): Obama - 48%, McCain - 40%.

KEYES. In a surprising turn of events, the California Secretary of State has decided to recognize former Ambassador Alan Keyes -- a former three-time GOP Presidential hopeful -- as the American Independent Party (AIP) Presidential nominee on the state's November ballot. The AIP is the state affiliate party of the Constitution Party. The AIP split into two factions last month, with the faction led by then-State Chairman Ed Noonan endorsing Keyes for the ballot line. The other AIP faction -- the larger bloc -- led by several other state party officers deposed Noonan as Chair and endorsed Constitution nominee Chuck Baldwin for the AIP ballot line. Both factions held small, rival conventions. According to Ballot Access News -- which broke the story -- look for the two factions to face off in lawsuits to determine if Keyes can be dislodged from the California ballot.

US SENATE. The latest independent polls for US Senate races.
ALASKA (Rasmussen): Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich (D) - 50%, US Senator Ted Stevens (R) - 41%.
GEORGIA (Rasmussen): US Senator Saxby Chambliss (R) - 59%, DeKalb County CEO Vernon Jones (D) - 29%.
GEORGIA (Rasmussen): US Senator Saxby Chambliss (R) - 51%, former State Rep. Jim Martin (D) - 40%.
MICHIGAN (Detroit News/EPIC-MRA): US Senator Carl Levin (D) - 58%, State Rep. Jack Hoogendyk (R) - 32%.

Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 07.22.08