Dark horses emerge in Obama-McCain VP stakes

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2008

WASHINGTON, Aug 3, 2008 (AFP) — Speculation over potential running mates to Barack Obama and John McCain heated up Sunday as two little-known contenders emerged in the increasingly bad-tempered White House stakes.

The two campaigns kept up a war of words over a combustible new mix of negative attacks by the Republican McCain on his Democratic rival, who are both finalizing their selections of vice presidential nominee.

In the run-up to the party convention season starting in late August, House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi urged Obama to add Texas congressman Chet Edwards, 56, to his list of potential running mates.

The top Democrat touted Edwards, whose district includes President George W. Bush's hometown of Crawford, as an "extraordinarily...