An announcement of Kerry's running mate looks to be about nine hours away: The political chatter intensified when Kerry addressed supporters during a barbecue at his wife's farm near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. "I'm heading out to Indianapolis to give a speech tomorrow, but before I go we're gonna do a little rally here in Pittsburgh at Market Square, so if any of you can make it, I'm told the gates open at 7 in the morning -- if you're up at that hour -- but at 9 o'clock tomorrow we're gonna have some fun, and then we'll head out to the Midwest again and back on the trail." Democratic sources close to the campaign told CNN that barring a last-minute hitch, Kerry will use the rally to announce his choice. They added that in an attempt to keep the name secret until Kerry makes the announcement, his choice is not scheduled to attend the rally. ...According to several Democratic sources, Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina interrupted his family vacation at Walt Disney World last Thursday to visit Washington for a private meeting with Kerry, without even telling many members of his own staff. Sources said the meeting went well and that Edwards' stock was rising with Kerry. Edwards was Kerry's strongest rival in the Democratic primaries but has since become a vocal and visible supporter of Kerry's candidacy. Edwards, 51, traveled to Boston, Massachusetts, to appear at two Kerry fund-raisers Monday night, after which he was scheduled to return to Washington. Sunday, Kerry campaigned in Iowa with Gov. Tom Vilsack, 53, another of the three men considered to be on his short list of possible choices. At multiple events, both Kerry and Vilsack deflected reporters' questions about whether the two had discussed the Iowa governor's chances of getting on the ticket. Rep. Richard Gephardt of Missouri, 63, is also considered to be a top contender for the second slot. Walking his dog outside his Washington-area home on Monday, Gephardt referred all questions about the vice presidential slot to the Kerry campaign. "I don't know anything," he said. The Washington Post today ran an interesting (if lite on policy) profile of Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack, the least-known of the top contenders for Vice-President. At this point, I say Kerry will tap Edwards, for good reasons and bad ones, and remain convinced that of the finalists, he's the best choice. But I'm ready to be surprised. Especially if it's by John Lewis...