So when presidential candidate John McCain announces his vice presidential choice Friday, don’t expect to see North Carolina’s U.S. Sen. Richard Burr walk out on stage with him.

Burr had been on the long-shot list of possibilities, but he said this morning he’s not the guy, Barb Barrett reports.

For one thing, Burr is taking a brief vacation with his wife between this week’s Republican platform committee work, which ended late Wednesday, and Sunday’s behind-the-scenes start to the GOP convention in Minnesota.

For another, Burr said months ago he didn’t want the job. He hasn’t been vetted, he said today. He thinks only a handful of people were seriously considered.

And no, Burr doesn’t know who the vice presidential nominee will be.

"I don’t even think the nominee knows," Burr said.

Barack Obama won't talk to any of the reporters traveling with him about the subject of a vice presidential running mate.

But he did entertain a question from a voter tonight at a town hall meeting in Raleigh, reports Margaret Talev of McClatchy's Washington bureau.

The man's premise was that President Bush had looked to Vice President Dick Cheney for heavy hitting on many fronts.

"What's your plan to utilize your vice president?" the man asked

While Obama's answer was predictably critical of the Bush-Cheney team, his response also seemed revealing in that he did not emphasize Washington experience, foreign policy experience or age.

Instead, he talked about a running mate's need to be passionate about domestic policy issues. He also said he wants someone who would feel comfortable playing an active role in advising and challenging him.

"I won't hand over my energy policy to my vice president," he said. "I won't have my vice president engineering my foreign policy for me."

Obama said wants a running mate who is "independent" and willing to tell him, if elected, "You know what, Mr. President, you're wrong on this and here's why" and will help him think through major issues.

John Edwards said he would not accept invitations to be a presidential running mate.

Edwards, who ended his second run for president in January, delivered the keynote speech at a conference in Las Vegas Thursday, Reuters reports.

After his keynote speech at CTIA, the annual U.S. wireless industry showcase, Edwards was asked in a question-and-answer session if he would accept the nomination for vice president.

"No," said Edwards, who also declined to say whether he would endorse Clinton or Obama.