McCain says 'no'

Ending months of speculation, McCain has apparently rejected an offer to consider the VP. As a friend told me tonight, had he accepted it would have caused a seismic shift in American politics not seen since the advent of the Republican party in 1863.

Yet, the story seems to have leaked for a very simple reason. Kerry will be announcing his VP nominee within the next six weeks and so it was time to tamp down speculation about McCain lest people feel dissapointed in Kerry's announcement. A brilliant political stroke to be sure and an incredible story. More from the AP:

Republican Sen. John McCain has personally rejected John Kerry's overtures to join the Democratic presidential ticket and forge a bipartisan alliance against President Bush, The Associated Press has learned.
Kerry has asked McCain as recently as late last month to consider becoming his running mate, but the Arizona senator said he's not interested, said a Democratic official who spoke on condition of anonymity because Kerry has insisted that his deliberations be kept private. A second official familiar with the conversations confirmed the account, and said the Arizona senator made it clear he won't change his mind.