Hotline After Dark -- Abso-f******-lutely Not!

OH Gov. Ted Strickland (D) was on NPR's "All Things Considered" yesterday, and he was asked whether he is auditioning for the VP nod by helping Barack Obama's efforts to win OH.

Strickland: "Absolutely not. If drafted, I will not run; nominated, I will not accept; and if elected, I will not serve. So I don't know how more crystal clear I can be."

NPR's Michele Norris: "Don't they all say that, though?"

Strickland: "No, I don't think they all say that. I've heard people say, 'you know, if I was asked, it would certainly be something I would have to consider.' That does not mean that I am any less committed to helping Barack Obama become the next president" (NPR, 6/10).

After the jump, a wrap-up of Obama and McCain appearances.

(KATHERINE LEHR)

OPEN YOUR EARS

John McCain and Obama made the TV rounds last night. Some highlights:

Bloomberg's Cook caught up with McCain.

McCain, asked if the economy has become more a decisive issue to voters than nat'l security: "I think it's become the transcendent issue. We don't know how badly Americans are hurting and they are hurting very badly. The issue of national security is an underlying one and will always be there. And we don't know what is going to happen in the world. And because we're succeeding in Iraq with a strategy that Senator Obama adamantly opposed and still doesn't recognize, fails and refuses to recognize the success of, it's kind of moved off the front pages. I can't tell you how happy I am. But we've still got the Iranian threat. We've got our dependency on foreign oil. There is so many things that are affecting America's economy that also have to do with America's security."

McCain, asked if he thinks Obama will accept his town hall meetings proposal: "I don't know. I hope that he will understand that that's the most effective way we can hear-- the American people can not only hear our views, but us to hear and listen to them. They think we're not listening in Washington. And you know what, they're right" ("Bloomberg on the Economy," 6/10).

McCain also talked with CNBC's Bartiromo.

McCain, asked how he is going to get young people to vote for him: "Well, we're doing pretty well. We've got to do a lot more appearances on 'Saturday Night Live' and Jon Stewart and MTV and a lot of venues that Americans don't get up to watch the Sunday morning talk shows. But most importantly, I've got to give them a vision for the future, of reform, of prosperity and peace" (CNBC, 6/10).

Meanwhile, Obama was on NPR's "All Things Considered."

Obama, asked how he will connect with white, working-class voters in the general: "I lost those states to Senator Hillary Clinton who had a similar economic agenda to mine. I didn't lose those states to John McCain who has no economic agenda to address the problems in those states."

Asked Celtics or Lakers: "I thought the Lakers were the better team. But the Celtics have been tough. I might have to revise my prediction here. I assumed Lakers in six. I don't think that's realistic now at this point. ... It may be Celtics in six. ... The truth is that I've got no dog in this hunt. I'm a Bulls fan" (NPR, 6/10).