Gov. Ed Rendell's name keeps popping up on the short list of candidates for Sen. Barack Obama's running mate.

So today I asked the governor -- for at least the third time now -- about the VP speculation. Again, Rendell said he wouldn't want the job because he pledged to serve out his second term, and he's learned over the years that he's not a very good "No. 2 guy.''

We'll see. Rendell's pick for the Democratic vice presidential nominee? Sen. Hillary Clinton, but he said that appears unlikely now that she's been asked to give the keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention in Denver. The VP choice doesn't give the keynote speech, the governor said.

Rendell recommends Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee.

It's getting down to crunch time for both Obama and Sen. John McCain to name their running mates.

-- John Guerriero