McCain to announce running mate

Mr McCain may pick someone who offers things that he cannot

Speculation is mounting over whom John McCain will choose as running-mate when he stands for the US Republican Party in the November presidential election.

Senator McCain is expected to announce his choice shortly, days before his party convenes in St Paul, Minnesota.

Analysts are pointing to a surprise decision - possibly the governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin.

Two high-profile candidates - Governors Mitt Romney and Tim Pawlenty - now appear to be out of the running.

The McCain camp is hoping to wrest back headlines from its Democratic rivals, a day after Barack Obama formally became the Democratic candidate at a rock-concert like rally in Denver, Colorado.

Mr McCain is expected to announce his choice at a rally in Dayton, in the swing state of Ohio, at which he will also be celebrating his 72nd birthday.

Mystery jet

There is not the same build-up, perhaps, as when Sen Obama was choosing his running-mate - Senator Joseph Biden - one week ago, the BBC's Kim Ghattas reports from Dayton.

But Mr McCain's silence on the subject is fuelling speculation in the media and on internet blogs, our correspondent says.

Initially, the plan had been to leak the name on Thursday but, instead, the McCain campaign released an advert congratulating Mr Obama on his nomination.

The two most likely choices were, until recently, former Governor of Massachusetts Mitt Romney and Governor of Minnesota Tim Pawlenty.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, associates of Mr Pawlenty and Mr Romney have told The Associated Press the two men have been informed they are not Mr McCain's choice.

While there are other possible male choices, including Sen Joe Lieberman and former Governor of Pennsylvania Tom Ridge, speculation has grown about Ms Palin.

At 44, she is younger than Mr Obama and is credited with reforms during her first term as governor.

The arrival of a mysterious private jet from Alaska at an airport close to Dayton caught the attention of the US media.

However, to keep everybody guessing, several contenders were reportedly heading to Dayton to participate in the rally with Mr McCain, our correspondent adds.