McCain's Vice Presidential Short List
KEILAR: In Brazil, a deadly outbreak of Dengue Fever prompts military action. Twelve hundred Brazilian troops being mobilized to handle the outbreak. They are spraying insecticides and setting up emergency care tents. Now, listen to these figures -- 67 deaths, around 40 of those children; 32,000 confirmed cases in the state of Rio de Janeiro alone. And 80 new cases being reported just about every hour, if you can fathom that. And Dengue Fever, that is a tropical illness spread by mosquitoes. Officials fear that the outbreak may actually worsen.</s>HARRIS: Another round of voting ahead. That's the word out of Zimbabwe. President Robert Mugabe's ruling party says a runoff is inevitable. Still, diplomatic sources say that runoff may not take place within the next three weeks as required by law, and that could open the door to voter intimidation and fraud by the ruling party. Voting took place last week. But so far, the government has not released any results. President Mugabe has been in power since Zimbabwe's independence 28 years ago. John McCain gets to work on his vice presidential short list, except it's really not that short. CNN's Dana Bash following the McCain campaign.</s>DANA BASH, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): These are the images that were supposed to drive John McCain's message: a reminder of his service with a visit to the Naval Academy he graduated from 50 years ago, until he spilled the beans that he now has a list of names for his running mate. On his bus, he even gave a number.</s>SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R-AZ), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I think it's like 20, you know. But I can't talk to you too much about it, obviously.</s>BASH: But he did. Much to the chagrin of anxious aides who tried to interrupt.</s>MCCAIN: You put the list together and then you just do a cursory kind of a look at -- I guess you could do on Google, really, when you think about it nowadays.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But it's a very, very early stage in the process.</s>BASH: McCain said he wanted to start vetting VP contenders now to avoid what he called unintended consequences like in 1988, when George H. W. Bush picked Dan Quayle, who faced questions about his National Guard service that surprised the campaign.</s>MCCAIN: Dan Quayle had not been briefed, you know, and prepared for, you know, some of the questions.</s>BASH: But as McCain plans ahead, a reminder of lingering trouble with some conservatives. Prominent conservative James Dobson released a harsh statement saying, "I have seen no evidence that Senator McCain is successfully unifying the Republican Party or drawing conservatives into his fold. To the contrary, he seems intent on driving them away." McCain responded that polls show conservatives are behind him, but admitted he hasn't talked to Dobson, a frequent critic. (on camera): Why not, you know, pick up the phone and call him and try to...</s>MCCAIN: If Dr. Dobson wanted to speak to me, I'd be more than -- I'd be glad to speak to him. I just feel that I -- I'm doing what is necessary to keep our party united and to win in November.</s>BASH (on camera): Dobson reaches millions of conservative voters through his radio show and multiple publications, a point McCain conceded. But McCain repeated over and over that he now has as much Republican support as George W. Bush did as a candidate. Privately, though, McCain advisers insist this kind of rebuke may actually help them in their search for independent voters for November. Dana Bash, CNN, Annapolis, Maryland.</s>HARRIS: Makes sense here -- make a checklist before your checkup. Be prepared before heading to the doctor's office.