The New York Daily News has heard from a close associate of Colin Powell, and it seems he wants to knock down the vice presidential rumors pretty decisively:
Informed sources told the Daily News that when McCain called on the retired general and national icon a few weeks ago, the veepship was raised by the candidate – and Powell emphatically squelched the idea. “Colin was absolutely unambiguous,” said a source aware of the conversation. “It will never happen, and John and his people know it.” When the rumors first surfaced months ago, Powell told friends to pay no attention: It was a nonstarter. “I don’t want to be President,” he said. “Why would I want to be vice president?”
If McCain is seriously considering naming his vice president on the same day that Barack Obama accepts the nomination, he would have to be a blockbuster selection — nothing else would pull much attention away from Obama’s Invesco speech. However, there aren’t many blockbuster selections McCain could make; Powell is the only one I can think of. And if Powell is genuinely out, it’s a safe bet that the announcement will come on Saturday, as planned.
