Barack Obama and John McCain have narrowed their choices of running-mate to just a handful of names, with both candidates poised to announce their decisions possibly as early as next week.

Neither candidate wants one of the biggest decisions of their general election campaign to compete with the Beijing Olympics. The announcements may be made before the Olympics begin on August 8, or in the few days between the closing ceremony and the start of the Democratic and Republican nominating conventions in late August and early September.

“I’ll be selecting one soon enough,” Mr Obama said yesterday. “There are a number of great candidates out there,” – including, he said, Hillary Clinton. Mrs Clinton would help to attract women and white working-class voters who backed her overwhelmingly in the later stages of their primary contest. Yet Bill Clinton is a complicating factor and the former First Lady’s chances appear slim.

Mr Obama said that he wanted a candidate “I’m compatible with and I can work with”, yet he also faces a choice: picking a running-mate who reinforces his message of generational change, or somebody with experience and national security credentials.

For Mr McCain, at 71 the oldest presidential candidate yet, age will be a factor in his selection process.

Two governors, Bill Richardson of New Mexico, and Tim Kaine of Virginia, provide executive experience for Mr Obama, and in states won by President Bush that he hopes to take in November.

Evan Bayh, a former Indiana Governor and current US Senator, is young, white and moderate, and another candidate with a real chance.

Two foreign policy heavyweights – Joe Biden, a veteran but verbose senator, and Sam Nunn, the former Georgia Senator, are also under consideration. Two women – Kathleen Sebelius, the Governor of Kansas, and Claire MaCaskill, a Missouri Senator – have been talked about as female alternatives to Mrs Clinton.

The Obama camp has also been floating moderate Republicans as potential running-mates, including Chuck Hagel, the Nebraska Senator who accompanied Mr Obama to Iraq and Afghanistan last week, James Jones, the former head of the Marines, and Ann Veneman, President Bush’s former Agriculture Secretary.

On paper Mr McCain’s best choice would be Mitt Romney. The former presidential rival, ex-Massachusetts Governor and venture capitalist would bring much-needed economic credibility to the ticket, is liked by conservatives and comes from Michigan, a battleground state. Relations between them have thawed since their primary battle, yet Mr McCain likes to work with people he feels close to.

Rob Portman, Mr Bush’s former budget chief from the critical swing state of Ohio, is also on the shortlist.

Two swing-state governors are being seriously considered: Tim Pawlenty, of Minnesota, who is a good friend of Mr McCain; and Charlie Crist, of Florida. Bobby Jindal, 37, the Indian-born Louisiana Governor, would bring youth, energy and a rash of excitement to the ticket. John Thune, a young, telegenic, conservative senator from North Dakota, is another contender, as are several women, including Carly Fiorina, the former Hewlett-Packard chief, and Sarah Palin, the Governor of Alaska.

LEADING CONTENDERS

Barack Obama

Tim Kaine, Governor of Virginia
Joe Biden, senator and foreign policy heavyweight
Evan Bayh, former Indiana Governor and now US Senator
Kathleen Sebelius, below, Governor of Kansas

John McCain

Mitt Romney, former Massachusetts Governor
Tim Pawlenty, Minnesota Governor
Rob Portman, former Ohio congressman and budget chief for President Bush
Tom Ridge, former Governor of Pennsylvania

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