OBAMA TAPS BIDEN; DEM CONVO OPENS IN DENVER; AND 26 NEW POLLS.

VEEPSTAKES. Barack Obama on Saturday selected former rival Joe Biden as his Vice Presidential runningmate. Democratic leaders from across the party widely praised the pick. On the GOP side, most also praised Biden -- but used the selection to criticize Obama's by contrasting the two men's experience. Now the veepstakes speculation shift to John McCain, who is expected to announce his choice this coming Friday or Saturday. Biden, FYI, is also a candidate for re-election this year. Delaware law allows him to run simultaneously for US Senate and Vice President.

DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION. The Democratic convention opens on Monday in Denver. Despite the decision to place Hillary Clinton's name in nomination and allow a Presidential roll call vote, look for the convo to largely be -- at the surface level -- a well-orchestrated love-fest. The key events to watch are the roll call vote and the speeches of Obama, Biden and Hillary Clinton. The GOP convo next week will also likely be equally free of major news.

P2008 - DAILY POLLING UPDATE. Here is our daily update of the latest independent state polls on the Presidential race:
ARIZONA (Mason-Dixon): McCain - 47%, Obama - 41%.
CALIFORNIA (Rasmussen): Obama - 51%, McCain - 37%.
COLORADO (Quinnipiac): McCain - 47%, Obama - 46%.
COLORADO (Mason-Dixon): Obama - 46%, McCain - 43%.
INDIANA (Rasmussen): McCain - 46%, Obama - 42%.
KANSAS (SurveyUSA): McCain - 58%, Obama - 35%.
MICHIGAN (Detroit Free Press): Obama - 46%, McCain - 39%.
MISSISSIPPI (Rasmussen): McCain - 54%, Obama - 41%.
NEVADA (Mason-Dixon): McCain - 46%, Obama - 39%.
NEW MEXICO (Mason-Dixon): McCain - 45%, Obama - 41%.
NEW MEXICO (Rasmussen): Obama - 48%, McCain - 44%.
TENNESSEE (Rasmussen): McCain - 56%, Obama - 32%.
UTAH (Mason-Dixon): McCain - 62%, Obama - 23%.
VIRGINIA (PPP-D): Obama - 47%, McCain - 45%.
WYOMING (Mason-Dixon): McCain - 62%, Obama - 25%.

US SENATE. Here are the latest independent polls for US Senate races.
KANSAS (SurveyUSA): US Senator Pat Roberts (R) - 58%, former Congressman Jim Slattery (D) - 31%,Others - 7%.
LOUISIANA (Rasmussen): US Senator Mary Landrieu (D) - 53%, State Treasurer John Kennedy (R) - 37%.
MINNESOTA (Univ. of Minnesota): Humorist Al Franken (D) - 41%, US Senator Norm Coleman (R) - 40%, former US Senator Dean Barkley (I) - 8%.
MISSISSIPPI (Rasmussen): US Senator Roger Wicker (R) - 47%, former Governor Ronnie Musgrove (D) - 42%.
NEW MEXICO (Rasmussen): Congressman Tom Udall (D) - 51%, Congressman Steve Pearce (R) - 41%, Others - 2%.
NORTH CAROLINA (Civitas-R): US Senator Elizabeth Dole (R) - 44%, State Senator Kay Hagan (D) - 41%, postal worker Chris Cole (Libt) - 4%.
VIRGINIA (PPP-D): former Governor Mark Warner (D) - 55%, former Governor Jim Gilmore (R) - 32%.

CONGRESS. Here are the latest independent polls for US Senate races.
KANSAS CD-1 (SurveyUSA): Congressman Jerry Moran (R) - 77%, attorney James Bordonaro (D) - 13%, Others - 4%.
KANSAS CD-4 (SurveyUSA): Congressman Todd Tiahrt (R) - 61%, State Senator Donald Betts (D) - 30%, Others - 5%.
NEW YORK CD-13 - DEM PRIMARY (SurveyUSA): NYC City Councilor Michael McMahon - 64%, attorney Steve Harrison - 18%.

GOVERNOR. The new independent polls for the gubernatorial contests:
INDIANA (SurveyUSAl): Governor Mitch Daniels (R) - 52%, former Congresswoman Jill Long Thompson (D) - 38%, Others - 6%.

Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 08.25.08