MORNING READ

John McCain’s counterattack on Barack Obama in the debate over his multiple houses has conservative bloggers pleased. And with both candidates ready to announce running mates, bloggers on both sides contemplate two very familiar possibilities, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.).

Obama’s criticism of McCain for not knowing how many houses he has and for his ties to Ralph Reed, the former business partner to Jack Abramoff, has opened the door to McCain’s new attack on the Democrat for his connections to convicted felon Tony Rezko, who sold Obama property, writes Townhall’s Carol Platt Liebau. This latest campaign dust-up helps McCain, since it will allow him to make the contest about character, which the former Vietnam War veteran should win, writes Contentions’ Jennifer Rubin. But McCain is leaving himself open to questions about his role as a young senator in Keating Five scandal, which cost taxpayers billions, writes MyDD’s Jonathan Singer.

Romney, whom Mark Halperin reports will be McCain’s pick, would help McCain more in Nevada and Colorado, which have large Mormon populations, than other veep possibilities would help in their home states, writes The Corner’s Byron York. By choosing Romney, McCain would be choosing demographics instead of shifting the debate away from homes and wealth, since Romney himself is worth up to $250 million and owns several houses, writes FiveThirtyEight’s Nate Silver.

Obama will pick either Clinton or Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D), predicts The Next Right’s Patrick Ruffini, who reminds readers that Obama likes to make bold decisions. Obama needs help in the big swing states such as Ohio and Pennsylvania where he can’t rely on his organizing, and that’s where Clinton can help, writes TalkLeft’s Jeralyn. Republicans should root for Obama to pick Clinton, since that decision would undermine the “change” message and could be portrayed as an overreaction to current polls, suggests Townhall’s Platt Liebau.

FROM THE BLOGS:
Barack’s Glass House Politics – Carol Platt Liebau, Townhall.com
McCain Rezko Spot – Josh Kahn, The Next Right
McCain Hits Back – Jennifer Rubin, Contentions
McCain Prepares ‘Rezko’ Ad, Wright ‘Fair Game’ – Marc Ambinder
McCain Opening Door to Keating Five – Jonathan Singer, MyDD
Romney Helps in Nevada and Colo. – Byron York, The Corner
Romney: Demographics Over Narrative – Nate Silver, FiveThirtyEight
Why the GOP is Freaking Out – kos, Daily Kos
It’ll Be Clinton or Sebelius – Patrick Ruffini, The Next Right
Another Case for Hillary as Veep – Jeralyn, TalkLeft
Narrative Shifting for Hillary? – John Amato, Crooks and Liars
Could It Be Hillary? – Carol Platt Liebau, Townhall.com

OTHER NEWS SOURCES:
Draft Accord With Iraq Sets 2011 Pullout – New York Times
Houses Add Up to a Snag for McCain – Washington Post
Obama and McCain Seek Common Touch – New York Times
Obama May Announce Pick Later Today – Associated Press