DaytonDailyNews.com

WASHINGTON — Why Dayton?

With the GOP convention just days away, presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain chose today, Aug. 29, as the time and Dayton as the place to unveil his pick for a running mate.

There's little mystery why he chose today. He wants to claim the next news cycle in hopes of blunting any political bounce from Barack Obama's Thursday night speech at Invesco Field in Denver.

But the location picked for the announcement makes equal sense, according to Larry Sabato, a political science professor at the University of Virginia. McCain and his running mate are expected to appear around noon at the Nutter Center on the campus of Wright State University in Fairborn.

"Dayton is perfect," Sabato said. "It's middle America. These are voters who will determine the next president. They're unhappy with Bush and the economy, but they don't identify with Obama — at least not so far."

Stu Rothenberg of the Rothenberg Political Report, a Washington, D.C., political newsletter, said McCain had two choices: a safe pick guaranteed to please conservatives, such as Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty or former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, or a surprise.

A surprise choice, Rothenberg said, would be someone who fits McCain's maverick image. In other words, a Joe Lieberman, the former Democrat and Independent who served as Democrat Al Gore's running mate eight years ago.

"He needs to create some new dynamic," said Rothenberg on Thursday, not knowing who McCain would pick.

Some argued for former U.S. Rep. Rob Portman to fill a hole in McCain's resume. Portman, a former U.S. Trade Representative and head of the Office of Management and Budget, would provide strengths on economic issues.

Former U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine, who is spearheading McCain's campaign in Ohio, said despite the attention on the vice presidential selections, the race ultimately will be between McCain and Obama.

"People are going to make a decision based on those two individuals," he said.

Like Sabato, DeWine said Ohio is a good fit for McCain's first major speech leading up to the Republican convention.

"Ohio is key to the presidency," DeWine said.