wouldn't have worked, anyway

So much for the dream ticket:

John Kerry, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, has repeatedly and personally asked Senator John McCain, the independent-minded Arizona Republican, to consider being his running mate, but Mr. McCain has refused, people who have spoken to both men said Friday.

Mr. Kerry, the Massachusetts senator, made his first direct overtures to Mr. McCain about three weeks after locking up the Democratic nomination in March and approached him again, in person or by telephone, as many as seven times, as recently as last week, according to one person who has discussed the issue with both.

“It was always artfully phrased, but he asked him on several occasions to serve as his running mate,” the individual said. “He'd say, `I don't want to formally ask because I don't want to be formally rejected, but having said that, would you do it?' or `I need you to do it,' or `I want you to do it.' “

“It was always phrased in such a way as to give both men plausible deniability,” the individual added.

Yeah, I bet.

Truth be told, when I first heard this idea some months ago I was a little worried. But whatever McCain's faults, he is a man of his word; and his several public statements on not accepting such an offer (were it to be extended, which he has definitively neither confirmed nor denied) can only be described as categorical.

But even before seeing one of McCain's disavowals with my own eyes, I relaxed somewhat upon realizing that Kerry's ego will not allow him to be overshadowed by his running mate. This not only rules out the Arizona senator, but John Edwards as well, the persistent enthusiasm of many Democrats notwithstanding.

Of course, there remains a chance that Hillary Clinton will be on the ticket. But were that to happen, it almost certainly would be over Kerry's objections, and the only reasonable conclusion would be that he had lost in his bid to reshape the Democratic Party machine.

Now that would be truly entertaining.