The prediction racket reached a frenzied pace on Wednesday as the political class and America's voters awaited word from Barack Obama about who he would choose to appear with him Saturday as his vice presidential running mate.

The closely watched online betting world has been thrown for a loop, though, with the stock of Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine rising. Those names are not even on several lists of running-mate contenders in the betting markets.

In their place are somewhat stale picks like Gen. Wesley Clark, who has not been invited to the Democratic convention, and former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner, who was recently picked as the convention's keynote speaker.

The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee's campaign toyed with the media on Wednesday, sending out e-mails with suggestive subject lines like "Vice Presidential ..." followed by "Just Kidding" in the body of the message. The Obama camp has told supporters they can sign up for a breaking news e-mail when the vice presidential candidate is chosen.

Camera crews stood guard outside the homes of Sens. Joe Biden and Evan Bayh, both of whom played with the press.

Asked where he will be Saturday -- a day that Obama's campaign has already scheduled for a joint appearance in Chicago for Obama and his vice presidential choice -- Biden, of Delaware, said he'd be right there in his driveway, returning from playing golf, something he has done for the past two days.

"I'm not the guy," he said leaning out his car window before supposedly heading off to the course.

He showed some hospitality to reporters gathered outside his home Wednesday morning, delivering bagels and coffee to them. But he was even less talkative. Asked if he got any phone calls, he said, "good talking to you guys" and drove away.

Bayh of Indiana was at his Washington, D.C., home on Wednesday. After initial reports suggested he was MIA because the red Jeep he usually drives wasn't spotted in the garage, Bayh pulled out in his silver Jeep and gave the press staking him out a wave through the window.

New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, who lost the primary to Obama, was expected to be out in Florida Thursday campaigning for him. Often named as a member of the frequently-mentioned short list, Clinton was the preferred pick Wednesday of everyone from perennial independent candidate Ralph Nader to former White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove.

Obama himself was in Virginia on Wednesday, and was scheduled to appear Thursday with Kaine, another potential candidate for the No. 2 position. Warner and Virginia Sen. Jim Webb have also heard their names resurge in the guessing game lately.

Often uttered in the vice presidential hunt are Sebelius, Vietnam veteran and Rhode Island Sen. Jack Reed and former Georgia Sen. Sam Nunn. Nunn was traveling abroad this week, his spokeswoman said.

Clinton and Sebelius' odds may be on the decline. Speaking Tuesday in North Carolina, Obama didn't reveal any names, but when describing the characteristics of his running mate used the word "he" three times to discuss a would-be right-hand man's approach to governing in an Obama White House.

Various online trading markets have been abuzz for months, attempting to weigh the chances of those considered to be in the running for a vice presidential nod.

Here's a sampling of where the markets stood Wednesday:

From Rasmussen Markets (value reflects percentage chance)

Delaware Sen. Joe Biden: 37.6 percent

Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh: 19.5 percent

Gen. Wesley Clark: 15 percent

New York Sen. Hillary Clinton: 5 percent

Former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner: 3.8 percent

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson: 3.7 percent

Former Vice President Al Gore: 3.6 percent

Former South Dakota Sen. Tom Daschle: 2.4 percent

Former Georgia Sen. Sam Nunn: 1.7 percent

Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd: 1.3 percent

Virginia Sen. Jim Webb: 1 percent

From Intrade Prediction Markets

Biden: 37.4 percent

Bayh: 19.8 percent

Clark: 13 percent

Clinton: 5 percent

Gore: 3.9 percent

Richardson: 3.9 percent

Warner: 3.8 percent

Daschle: 2.4 percent

Nunn: 2.1 percent

Dodd: 1.3 percent

Webb: 1 percent

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