Matt Burns, the spokesman for the GOP convention in St. Paul e-mails to say that the RNC's convention office in St. Paul has received numerous telephone calls in the last few hours from people who identify themselves as Clinton supporters asking how they can help Sen. McCain.

Second, pick a credible successor. This vice president could become president and step in at a time of uncertainty. The vice presidential nominee should be seen as adult enough to step into a difficult circumstance. Former Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota or Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee would fit the bill, though neither is from a competitive state.

Endorsing Barack Obama for president puts Gov. Phil Bredesen and Tennessee Democrat Party Chairman Gray Sasser, the state's two top Democrat leaders, on the side of a candidate who was overwhelmingly rejected by their party's rank-and-file membership just last February. Obama lost 86 of Tennessee's 95 counties to Hillary Clinton in the Feb. 5 primary, finding support in the state's urban liberal niche but failing to attract significant support elsewhere across Tennessee among mainstream Democrats. "The leaders of the Tennessee Democrat Party have endorsed for president a liberal who favors higher taxes, more government intrusion in our lives, abortion and gay marriage and who proposes to retreat from rather than defeat our enemies," said Bill Hobbs, communications director for the Tennessee Republican Party. "Gov. Bredesen and Chairman Sasser have endorsed a candidate who believes Americans don't need a tax break at the gas pump and who believes the best way to deal with a troubled economy is a massive tax hike," Hobbs said. "They have endorsed a candidate who knows the price of arugula at Whole Foods Market but criticizes rural Americans for 'clinging' to God and their Second Amendment rights. They have endorsed for president a candidate who is willing to meet unconditionally with the terrorist leader of Iran but refuses to meet with Gen. David Petreaus, the leader of America's troops in Iraq, and who believes the best way to defeat our enemy is to run from them. "With recent polls showing Americans trust John McCain more than Barack Obama* on issues ranging from the economy and taxes to national security and the war in Iraq, we are not surprised that Gov. Bredesen and Chairman Sasser waited as long as they could to announce their support for the ultra-liberal and inexperienced senator from Chicago, a presidential candidate most Tennesseans will reject in November," Hobbs said.