McCain and Obama hit crunch time in hunt for No. 2

By John Whitesides, Political Correspondent

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - After months of secrecy and intrigue, presidential rivals Barack Obama and John McCain are almost ready to unveil the winners in the vice presidential sweepstakes.

In the next few weeks, both candidates will end the suspense of a cat-and-mouse selection game that has been conducted with rare discipline and infrequent leaks.

Will Democrat Obama defy predictions, bury his doubts and make former rival Hillary Clinton his choice? Or will he turn to an ally and friend who heads a battleground state like Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine?

Is Republican McCain ready to tap former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who seemed to annoy him so often during their primary battle but has since become a steady surrogate?

Obama and McCain have largely kept the wraps on their deliberations over such questions, even while appearing in public over the last few weeks with many of those sparking the heaviest speculation.

"Both camps deserve applause. This has been a perfect process on both sides," said Democratic consultant Dane Strother. "They have kept the discussion on their ideas about the future instead of going back and forth in public about who they will pick, and that doesn't always happen."

A report on Monday that McCain would announce his choice this week in order to upstage Obama's overseas trip ignited a frenzy of speculation, which the Arizona senator's aides were happy to keep alive with a series of "no comment" responses.

"We have the same answer as we always had," McCain told reporters with a laugh during a campaign appearance in New Hampshire on Tuesday. "We'll let you know when we have an announcement."  Continued...