Potential Democratic running mate Gov. Timothy M. Kaine quietly left the governor's mansion this morning, leaving a gaggle of TV cameras staking out the front door.

Kaine's spokesman said the governor would not return home today but gave no indication of his plans for the day, other than to say it's a personal day with no scheduled public events.

Kaine's latest public schedule shows he leaves today for Denver, where the Democratic National Convention starts Monday. Kaine and his family will stay there until Aug. 29.

Meanwhile, the Associated Press is reporting that presumed Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama is hours away from naming his veep, and that as little-known Texas congressman Chet Edwards is emerging as a finalist. Obama said yesterday at a pit stop in Emporia that he has picked his running mate but would give no other details.

Democratic officials say that Edwards was one of the few Democrats whose background was checked by Obama's campaign, and he was a finalist for the job.

Edwards is among a small circle of people mentioned, including Kaine, Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware and Evan Bayh of Indiana.

An announcement -- expected to first come via a text message to his supporters -- is anticipated sometime today or tomorrow.