DAY’S END ROUNDUP

The sad news that Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-Ohio) had been hospitalized late Tuesday night was made worse by conflicting news reports Wednesday stating that she had died, bloggers write. Word that Barack Obama is planning a “major event” in Indiana has focused veep speculation on Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) and conservative bloggers look for clues in the announced GOP Convention speaking schedule revealing who McCain’s vice presidential pick will be.

Tubbs Jones was in critical condition, Wednesday afternoon, despite several news outlets reporting earlier in the day that she had died, Karen Tumulty of Swampland writes. TPM’s David Kurtz adds that as bad as the situation is for Tubbs Jones, things were certainly made worse by the conflicting information.

Reports that Obama campaign is laying the ground work for a big event in Indiana on Saturday is putting Bayh front and center in veep speculation, TalkLeft’s Jeralyn writes. Taegan Goddard points out that the Obama campaign is denying the reports, and adds that a visit to Indiana as a part of Obama’s upcoming tour does not necessarily reflect anything about the coming vice presidential pick.

And Republicans made some odd choices for convention speakers, Hot Air’s Allahpundit writes. The conservative blogger question the pick of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) to deliver the convention’s keynote speech and thinks the speaking spot Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) may tip that he is the vice presidential pick. Marc Ambinder meanwhile points out that the schedule does little to highlight current GOP leaders, especially those in the House and Senate.

FROM THE BLOGS:
Some Free Advice – Josh Marshall, TPM
Bipartisan VP Thoughts – The Next Right
Hillary Tackles Florida for Obama – The Swamp
The GOP Convention Themes – Devilstower, Daily Kos
Boehner: ‘Put up or Shut up’ – Robert Bluey, RedState
Stephanie Tubbs Jones – Swampland
Reid Reconsidering Lieberman’s Position – The Huffington Post
The Lieberman Question – Byron York, The Corner

OTHER NEWS SOURCES:
Pact Calls for Troop Pullback in Iraq – New York Times
Giuliani: GOP Would Accept Pro-Choice Veep – The Hill
Obama Camp Lashes Out at ‘Quick-Draw’ McCain – AP