McCain expected to name VP on birthday

WASHINGTON, Aug. 19 (UPI) -- Sen. John McCain, plans to mark his 72nd birthday next week by naming his running mate at a rally in the key state of Ohio, Republican sources said.

McCain's Aug. 29 birthday also happens to be the day after his expected Democratic challenger for the presidency, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, accepts his party's nomination in Denver, Politico reported Tuesday.

An organizer said the McCain campaign has begun building a crowd of 10,000 for the Dayton, Ohio, event. The Arizona Republican also is scheduled to appear with his running mate at a larger event in Pennsylvania later.

Senior Republicans said they don't know who McCain will chose. On the short list are one-time primary rival and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Tim Pawlenty, governor of Minnesota where the Republican convention will be.

"McCain views this as the one decision that he has total, utter, non-negotiable control over," one campaign official told the Washington publication.