McCain To Speak With Jay Leno On Dem Convention's Opening Night

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) will be trading jokes with late night talk show host Jay Leno during the opening night of the Democratic National Convention.

The presumptive Republican nominee will appear as a guest on the 'Tonight Show with Jay Leno'as Democrats begin the historic nomination process for Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) Monday night.

McCain has been on vacation from the campaign trail since late last week, ahead of his turn to be nominated during the Republican National Convention on Sept. 1-4 at the Excel Center in St. Paul, Minnesota.

He plans to hold a rally in Dayton, Ohio on Friday, reportedly to announce his choice for running mate. The move is seen as an attempt to keep any gains from Obama's nomination speech at a minimum. McCain also celebrates his 72nd birthday the same day; he ill be the oldest American president in history if he wins the election in November.

The overall theme of the convention will be "Country First," and will showcase McCan's extensive track record as a maverick Republican, a four-term senator and decorated Vietnam War veteran. President George W. Bush is set to speak on the convention's opening day, the same day Vice President Dick Cheney, Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger are also scheduled to speak.

Several current and former Republican officials have been reported to be in the running as McCain's vice president, including Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA), Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R), former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) and former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge.

Ridge is a former Pennsylvania governor, a friend of McCain for more than two decades and a senior campaign aide of McCain. More significantly, Ridge carries a crucial swing state that also happens to be one of six states with the most electoral college votes, 21. Pundits say, however, that his pro-choice abortion stance will keep conservatives from nominating him as vice president.

Romney, a former CEO of Bain and Co. who ended his bid for the Republican nomination in February, is reportedly on top of the shortlist. He is regarded as a good match for McCain, who has struggled to change perceptions that he is less adept on economic issues than Obama.

But pundits have also cited Romney's being a Mormon as a huge obstacle to his political aspirations. He has also been repeatedly criticized for changing his views on abortion and gay marriages; he initially supported abortion and same-sex unions but is now opposed to both. His home state of Massachusetts was the first state to legalize gay marriages.

McCain has said he is open to choosing a vice presidential nominee who supports abortion.