Barack Obama
Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., listens to questions at a town hall meeting in Kissimmee, Fla., Wednesday, May 21, 2008. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Biography	Issues	Fund Raising
Rivals	Supporters	Affiliations
Photos	Videos	Forums

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is close to choosing a running mate, and the first person to find out could be you.

In an e-mail to supporters, Obama's campaign manager said voters can sign up to receive an e-mail or a text message "the moment" he makes his decision.

"No other campaign has done this before," campaign manager David Plouffe said in the e-mail. "You can be part of this important moment."

Those who sign up will also receive other periodic text message updates from the campaign, and will be charged standard messaging rates.

People can sign up at or they can text VP to 62262.

The e-mail asks supporters to pass the message to friends and family, another way for the campaign to collect information on potential voters and contributors.

Obama has run a technologically savvy campaign, using the Internet to build a network of 2 million volunteers and raise nearly $340 million, as of the end of June.

The campaign's efforts extend far beyond the official campaign Web site, to a variety of social networking sites that allow supporters to exchange messages with each other, and track the candidate on the campaign trail.

Some of those sites, like Twitter, deliver updates via text message, putting the campaign in near-constant contact with potential voters.

Obama's latest Twitter update details the campaign's plan to announce a running mate via text.

That announcement could be the first high-profile step in an otherwise guarded process. Both Obama and likely Republican nominee John McCain have been tightlipped about who they're considering and how the process is going on.

Obama is vacationing in Hawaii with his family until Aug. 15. He'll return with just nine days to go before the Democratic convention, giving him a short window to announce his running mate.

The Republican convention begins Sept. 1.

Leave a comment

indyelmo (28)
Progressive

posted 146 days, 9 hours, 16 minutes ago
PM me | Add as Friend

Evan Bayh is a tool.

Evan Bayh is a tool.

AvengingTiki is online - (312)
Progressive

posted 146 days, 1 hour, 36 minutes ago
PM me | Add as Friend

Oh such hate for Mr. Bayh from someone whose username suggests they are a fellow Hoosier.  He might not be a Progressive but you have to give the man credit for winning two terms as governor and two terms (so far) as Senator, AND being generally well liked in an extremely red state.  He might not be my ideal Indiana Democrat but he's helping to try and push Indiana towards the blue (won't happen this year, maybe in 8 years if we get a good Democratic Presidental term).  If this goal means he's got to take on some tool like moderate/conservative positions I'm all for it.  He wouldn't be my pick for VP but I think he's a good politician working in a tough situation.

Oh such hate for Mr. Bayh from someone whose username suggests they are a fellow Hoosier.  He might not be a Progressive but you have to give the man credit for winning two terms as governor and two terms (so far) as Senator, AND being generally well liked in an extremely red state.  He might not be my ideal Indiana Democrat but he's helping to try and push Indiana towards the blue (won't happen this year, maybe in 8 years if we get a good Democratic Presidental term).  If this goal means he's got to take on some tool like moderate/conservative positions I'm all for it.  He wouldn't be my pick for VP but I think he's a good politician working in a tough situation.

ms_mercedes_2003 (7)
Liberal

posted 143 days, 19 hours, 21 minutes ago
PM me | Add as Friend

I am glad Barack Obama has decided to start searching for a VP. That's a smart move on his part. Whatever he does I hope he will not let the Clintons force him into putting Hillary on his ticket. She would have him knocked off so she could be president. Hillary is just that obsessed with being President.

I am glad Barack Obama has decided to start searching for a VP. That's a smart move on his part. Whatever he does I hope he will not let the Clintons force him into putting Hillary on his ticket. She would have him knocked off so she could be president. Hillary is just that obsessed with being President.

AMP (209)
Liberal - Democratic

posted 142 days, 6 hours, 30 minutes ago
PM me | Add as Friend

Every legitimate candidate has a short list that changes over time. I'm sure the Clinton campaign has one, even though they have almost no chance of winning. Bayh would be an interesting choice, but I believe if Obama wanted a moderate he would select Casey from PA. PA is actually a battleground they could pick up with Casey. IN is unlikely.

Every legitimate candidate has a short list that changes over time. I'm sure the Clinton campaign has one, even though they have almost no chance of winning. Bayh would be an interesting choice, but I believe if Obama wanted a moderate he would select Casey from PA. PA is actually a battleground they could pick up with Casey. IN is unlikely.