SOUTH BEND — Anticipation is gripping millions across the country as the wait to find out who Barack Obama will choose as his running mate draws to a close. And it now appears at least two names have been eliminated from the list, including Indiana Senator Evan Bayh.

Late Friday night, Senator Obama's campaign confirmed that his vice-presidential announcement will be sent by email and text message to his supporters sometime Saturday morning. But it appeared two names were crossed off the list Friday night.

Just before 10:30 ET, CNN, CBS News, Reuters, and the Associated Press had all cited two unnamed "Democratic sources" who reported both Virginia Governor Tim Kaine and Indiana Senator Evan Bayh will not be Obama’s pick.

Several national news organizations also listed several other unnamed sources who said Delaware Senator Joe Biden had been asked this week by Obama to join the ticket.

That information has not been confirmed by Senator Obama's campaign, but aides did confirm that Obama will introduce his running mate on the steps of the Old Illinois Capitol in Springfield Saturday afternoon.

One things is also clear here in Michiana: Evan Bayh or not, there will be plenty of local supporters watching to find out who will join Obama on the Democratic ticket.

Many experts expected the announcement to come Friday, but by late in the evening, speculation was still running rampant, as it became increasingly likely that the widely publicized cell phone text message alerting Obama supporters to the V.P. choice wouldn't come until Saturday morning.

Among the names still being mentioned Friday night: Delaware Senator Joe Biden, Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius, New York Senator Hillary Clinton, and newly dubbed "dark horse candidate" Texas Congressman Chet Edwards.

But here in Michiana, there was one name that continued to create more buzz than any other, even after speculation he would not be picked: Indiana Senator Evan Bayh.

WSBT looked for some of them at Friday night football games across the area, as the local high school season kicked off.

They weren't hard to find.

"We're paying very close attention to it," said Andrew Heckaman, at the Adams-St. Joseph game at School Field in South Bend.

"It's very exciting for Indiana," agreed his wife Stacy.

"If Evan Bayh were his running mate, that would be really cool," said Adams parent Sue Stangas, with a wide smile on her face.

It's the new "must see" moment on TVs across the area, as viewers say "bye-bye" to Beijing, they're turning the channel to "Bayh-watch" instead.

The bigger question now: Who wins the gold in the "veepstakes?"

The potential answer of "Bayh" is helping to draw in a "new" crowd.

"This is really my first year being focused on it," said Stacy Heckaman.

But even convention veterans haven't seen this type of hype before.

"It's unique to me, the atmosphere leading up to it," said South Bend based Democratic Convention Delegate Gladys Muhammad, who has attended two prior national conventions.

"This is history in the making," agreed Indiana State Representative Craig Fry (D-Mishawaka), a four time Democratic Convention Delegate.

Former Indiana Governor and South Bend Mayor Joe Kernan (D) remains one of Senator Bayh's closest political allies, and he's convinced the other names don't bring the same firepower to the ticket.

"Certainly [Bayh] would help win Indiana, and I think would have an impact in Ohio and Michigan as well, and they will be battleground states," said Kernan.

Then there's the schedule theory.

Bayh will speak at the convention on Wednesday -- the same day as the -- so far -- unannounced vice-presidential candidate.

There's another "last minute" change in Denver too.

"Indiana [delegates] are sitting in the front row. That's never, ever been the case before. I'm hoping that's a signal," said Fry.

But, regardless of the name, there's no denying that excitement is in the air, on both sides of the political aisle.

"I'm going to be able to come back and tell [my 99-year-old father] that I saw history, that I was there," said Muhammad.

Bayh's Communications Director Eric Kleiman told the Associated Press that the senator would be spending the weekend with his family in Washington, D.C. and would leave for the convention in Denver on Monday.

For more election headlines and voter resources, go to WSBT.com's Campaign ‘08 section.