Kerry's Pick for No. 2

It is clear that Sen. John Edwards (N.C.) and Rep. Richard A. Gephardt (Mo.) are being officially investigated by Washington lawyers. Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack apparently is also under consideration, as is Sen. Evan Bayh (Ind.) -- each viewed as a moderate, midwestern balance for the Massachusetts senator.

Democratic sources caution that anything could happen between now and an announcement, and just because some candidates are being vetted, it does not mean the list is closed. "We all suspect that there's a lot more going on than what we know," one campaign adviser said.