No scoop in political journalism is more sought after than the identity of the vice presidential nominees.

In a world of 24/7 news coverage, scoops -- and those who score them -- are almost immediately forgotten as events quickly overrun the original news nugget.

Not so with the identity of the vice presidential nominees. Ask any political reporter about who broke the news in each election and you are almost certain to get a laundry list beginning with NBC's Andrea Mitchell in 2004 (and 1988 with Sen. Dan Quayle!) and including the Post's own Dan Balz (Dick Cheney in 2000) and Associated Press' Ron Fournier (Joe Lieberman in 2000).

Radar has learned that Democratic nominee Barack Obama has chosen [HEY, LET'S BE SURE TO FILL THIS IN JUST AS SOON AS WE FIND OUT WHAT UNANTICIPATED CANDIDATE THE OBAMA PEOPLE PICKED, OKAY? THEN GO BACK AND DELETE THE OTHER THREE ENTRIES REALLY REALLY QUICKLY. THANKS -- BALK] as his running mate. Sources tell Radar the announcement will come at some point in the immediate future, "definitely before next week's convention."

Remember, you heard it here first. Please be sure to refer back to this specific post when mentioning our scoop. Thanks.