Where's the Mac? And Veepstakes

With the weekend's news cycle surrounding delegate feuds and a controversial pastor, John McCain has seemingly been lost in the shuffle. Where is he? The Chicago Tribune reports that he's preparing for a trip to Europe and the Middle East, further highlighting his foreign policy credentials, a key element of his current strategy:

As the Democratic primary season drags on, McCain is seeking to position himself as a world leader, enabling him to show his knowledge of foreign and military affairs.

"That's what presidents do. That is, by definition, presidential," said Stephen Hess, an expert on the presidential politics at the Brookings Institution. "The more he can remind people from whence he comes in terms of his résumé, background and credentials, the better off he is."

The trip will take McCain to Britain and France in Europe, as well as Israel, Jordan, and likely Iraq. Meetings with foreign leaders and a visit to a Holocaust memorial and the Western Wall in Jerusalem.

In the run-up to his trip, the Arizona Republican's campaign has released several biographical videos highlighting his service in Vietnam, and hitting broad themes of his campaign. An example of such videos, "Man in the Arena," can be found here.

The Veepstakes: Auction Edition?

The latest name to emerge in the discussion over who McCain will choose as a runningmate is that of Meg Whitman, President and CEO of online auction giant eBay. Whitman was originally a supporter of Republican hopeful Gov. Mitt Romney, but this week joined McCain's campaign as a national finance co-chair. Her net worth is estimated at about $1.7 billion, and she is consistently counted as one of the most powerful women in business. Considering McCain's strongest experience lies in foreign policy, having someone on the ticket who can offer powerful business experience could serve him well. The fact that she is not a politician would also help to further his centrist appeal.