When my old AM clock radio alarm went off half an hour ago, I awoke to the sound of Tim Pawlenty telling Eric Eskola that he would be at the state fair for his radio show this morning. So unless John McCain is planning to parachute into the WCCO booth for a surprise announcement, it looks like Minnesota’s longtime veepstakes favorite is out of the running.

Drudge is teasing the name of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin this morning. But remember–Karl Rove wants Romney on the ticket, and Roll Call reported yesterday that the Secret Service did a sweep of Romney’s sister’s house in Michigan.

As for Joe Lieberman, much rumored to be McCain’s personal favorite for the nod, I think we can infer it’s not Joe from the fact that Karl Rove has not kidnapped McCain and spirited him off to one of Dick Cheney’s bunkers for a weekend of deprogramming.