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With less than a week before the start of the Democratic National Convention, Barack Obama is nearing a decision on his choice for vice president. But in the wake of the military conflict between Russia and Georgia, and the ongoing war in Iraq, the focus has shifted to potential candidates with extensive foreign policy credentials..something that Obama, a first-term Senator, lacks....and something that John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, has touted as his strong suit. While analysts say that may rule out first-term Virginia Governor Tim Kaine the stock is rising for Indiana Senator Evan Bayh, a member of the Armed Services Committee New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, a former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and Delaware Senator Joe Biden, the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee who traveled to the Republic of Georgia over the weekend to meet with President Saakashvili. The Brookings Institution's Darrell West. SOUNDBITE: Darrell West, senior fellow, the Brookings Institution, saying (English): "One of the major planks of the Republican attack on Obama is going to be his lack of foreign policy experience. And so I think he needs somebody who can be very strong in defending the Obama ticket, in appearing in that Vice Presidential debate and putting the strongest voice forward for the Democratic ticket." One consideration for Obama is a potential running mate's record on the war in Iraq. Both Senator Bayh and Senator Biden voted to authorize going to war in Iraq-- a position that puts them at odds with Barack Obama. SOUNDBITE: Darrell West, senior fellow, the Brookings Institution, saying (English): "Many Democrats did vote to go to war with Iraq so many of the people he's considering are going to be in that type of situation. It is potentially problematic unless the person has come around, admitted the mistake and now is vociferously anti-Iraq war." Another potential problem for Biden is his take on the now presumptive Democratic nominee given at a debate exactly one year ago something Republicans have already brought up. Web ad. STEPHANOPOULOS: You were asked: Is he ready? You said, "I think he can be ready, but right now I don't believe he is. The presidency is not something that lends itself to on-the-job training." BIDEN: I think I stand by the statement. Aware that Republicans will scutinize his selection, Obama is taking his time-- vetting his choices and waiting until what he sees as just the right moment. to name his running mate. Jon Decker, Reuters.