The New York Times says Sen. Barack Obama has “all but settled” on his choice of running mates and now is orchestrating the announcement, which almost certainly will come by week’s end. Many sources (including the Associated Press) say Obama will choose one of four people – Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, Delaware Sen. Joe Biden, Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh and Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius – but the New York Times has the list of possibilities down to three. The Times’ pundits trimmed Sebelius from their list but noted that the Kansas governor, “who has been under steady consideration” by the Obama campaign, still is a possibility.¢¢¢Dan Balz of the Washington Post also suggests that Sebelius may be playing the role of a token woman on Obama’s list of finalists. “He (Obama) dares not have a final list of candidates that does not include a woman, given Hillary Clinton’s historic campaign and the importance of the women’s vote to his hopes of winning in November,” Balz writes. “Yet he risks a major backlash among Clinton supporters should he pick a woman other than Clinton.”¢¢¢On the other hand, The National Journal says commentators shouldn’t count Sebelius out yet. “Of all the Dem short-listers,” it says, “Sebelius appears the most in sync with Obama’s policy views.” She’s pro-choice, has promoted green policies and worked on expanding health care, to name a few. ¢¢¢Whether she’s Obama’s choice or not, Sebelius will be busy this week spreading the candidate’s message. The governor was scheduled to be in Michigan today and Iowa on Thursday to make campaign appearances on Obama’s behalf.