Tim Reid in Washington
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Barack Obama has set up a small team of trusted advisers to begin the search for a vice-presidential running-mate, amid reports that Bill Clinton is pushing hard for his wife to be given the role.
Mr Obama has asked Jim Johnson, the former head of the government-run mortgage lending giant Fannie Mae, to begin the vetting process, and has sworn a group of his closest advisers to secrecy as a shortlist is drawn up. Mr Johnson handled the same assignment for John Kerry in 2004 and Walter Mondale in 1984.
The move comes as John McCain, the Republican nominee-elect, has invited three possible running-mates to his Arizona ranch this weekend: Mitt Romney, a former Republican rival for the White House nomination; Charlie Crist, the popular Republican Governor of Florida, and Bobby Jindal, 36, the newly elected Louisiana Governor and a rising star in the party.
Mr Obama, aware that he risks alienating Mrs Clinton’s supporters further if he acts as though he has already beaten her, said: “I am not commenting on vice-presidential matters because I have not won this nomination.”
Yet with the prize now within his reach, sources inside the Obama camp said that some members of the Clinton campaign were lobbying for the former First Lady to be Mr Obama’s running- mate. According to one report yesterday, Mr Clinton believes that his wife has earned the vice-presidential slot, and “is pushing real hard for this to happen”.
It is unclear what Mrs Clinton thinks, and less certain that Mr Obama would offer her the position. Although many Democratic voters see it as the “dream ticket” to unify the party, having her as his running-mate would run counter to his message of generational change.
Meanwhile, Mr McCain has hinted at a line of attack against Mr Obama in a general election. He derided the Democrat last night for his lack of military service. The Illinois senator responded by criticising the Republican’s “endless diatribes and schoolyard taunts”.
The exchange was triggered by a Senate vote over a Bill extending educational benefits for veterans. Mr McCain, a former Naval pilot and Vietnam prisoner of war, opposed the legislation because he thought that it could encourage military personnel to leave early. Mr Obama supported the measure, which passed easily.
After being criticised by Mr Obama for opposing it, Mr McCain said: “I will not accept from Senator Obama, who did not feel it was his responsibility to serve our country in uniform, any lectures on my regard for those who did.”
Back on the campaign trail, Mr Obama continued lavishing attention on Florida, to heal a rift that could cost him the state in November. Along with Michigan, it was stripped of its delegates for flouting party rules by holding its primary too early.
Mrs Clinton, who won both disputed contests, will push at a critical meeting of the Democratic Party’s Rules and Bylaws Committee next week to have both states’ delegates added to the total. Mr Obama said that he would agree to half the delegates being counted. Last night Florida’s Democratic Senate majority leader sued the national party to have all the delegetes seated, a move that helps Mrs Clinton by keeping the issue alive.
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The Clintons are passé. Let's move forward. We need change, not the narcissism of the two Clintons. Barack needs to be his own man; he doesn't need the hindrance of the two Clintons, who hog the stage and only care about themselves.
Hillary Clinton is out for Hillary Clinton.
pam, Grand Rapids, USA
I think Hillary would be a great assest to Obama. She is very bright and will work hard for the average American family. I also believe that with Obama and Hillary on a ticket together there would be no chance for McClain. America needs a change.. What better than those 2 together.
ginny, martinsville, usa
Clinton's strategy: the longer Hillary stays in the race the less time Obama has before November to woo her supporters for the general election, thus she pressures him to choose her as VP; or if he risks running without her as VP and looses, then she can say"See I told you so" & run in 2012. Nasty.
Guy Hannays, Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago
bill was agreat president
mrs clinton is out of her debth
they trying to turn democratic system to a royal family system,so when mrs clinton is old ,chelsea will be next and maybe morino as vp
what a clan no much different than 3rd word coutry dictators. hanging to power by any mean
selmassouri, london, uk
It's amusing that for all the rubbish spouted by the Clinton campaign about the "cult-like" following of Obama's supporters, it is their own ranks that are displaying an incredible aversion to reality and ready feed poisoned Kool-Aid to the rest of Democrat party to enable their leaders' narcissism.
Alan Black, London, UK
Hillary will not be Obama's running mate for the simple reason that they are both northern liberals and having an African-American and a woman on the ticket will give the conservative southerners two reasons not to vote for them.
Michael Coyle, Dublin, Ireland
The anti-Clinton brigade forget one important thing - the Nomination is not until August. Obama may claim it, but that does not mean it is so. Another supporter like Rev Pfleger, to whose church Obama steered $100,000, is bound to change superdelegates' minds. Hillary can still win, and will, d.v.
David Cunard, Los Angeles, United States
Hilary would be the perfect running mate for Obama.She has the support of a huge amount of the popular vote.
She is smart,intelligent and I think she DOES deserve it.
James Currie, London, UK
For the first time since I started voting, I contributed to Senator Barack Obama's campaign. Although my contribution was a modest amount, I certainly have problems with his paying Senator Clinton's campaign spending. Please do not select her as vp. She and Bill would undermine your decisions.
Emma , Nashville, TN, U.S.A.
It is amazing how people think they can use blackmail in an election, about how they would vote McCain if Hillary is not VP in my view Obama is going to win and it will be with or without Hillary and I know I am right. But in my opinion it would be best without Hillary due to her conduct.
Daphne Kenward, Cambridge, UK
I shamefully watched Hillary & Bill parade around like they are OWED something from us! I keep wondering what it is that is owed to them; didn't we already give Bill 8 yrs in office? She has run a nasty campaign & Obama does not owe her the VP or 2 pay her debt spent on her cont. attacks on him!
Valerie, Little Rock, AR, US
Please do not select Hillary as vp, Mr Obama. Bill Clinton will be in there backstabing you, by turning others against you. Bill will have Hillary telling you what to do. We don't need their mischevious ways in the white house anymore.
Ann, Murfreesboro, TN,
Our country needs to remember that it was Bill that was President and helped our country and not Hillary. It wasn't just what he did, it was WHO he was. Hillary has shown us WHO she really is and God knows we don't need someone that self-serving leading the country. She needs prayer...lots of it.
PJ, FW, America
Hilary The Uniter
Chris, Adelaide,
I would agree with David in Amsterdam, send the Clintons back to Little Rock, no way do we want her in any position of power-she would not know the truth if it hit her in the face!
Annebonnie, Portland, USA
I pray that Mr. Obama does not have Hillary Clinton in any position whatsoever during the Presidential elections and after. She has stayed in the primaries way too long, ensured that Democratic Party and its supporters are now seriously split and the only thing she deserves now is to be booted out!
Sonja Myers, Houston, Texas
Is it better to have someone who "ducks sniper fire" as VP than President?
Send the Clintons back to Little Rock!
David, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Hillary would be a great partner on the ticket.
craig, salt lake city, usa
who does bill clinton think he is, insisting that hillary has earned the vice presidential slot? what exactly did she do to earn it, and why doesn't he stop his whinning?
janet, drexel hill, usa
One could only hope than Obama does not select Clinton as his running mate. More because of Hillary's and Bill's behavior. The final choice is Obama's. Obama needs some loyal to him and not an opportunist.
Anthony, Chiba,
I hope Obama does not make the mistake of having Hill as his veep. I am a supporter of mr. Obama and I would be very upset if Hillary is his veep. She is not change. We all can see this. And Bill Clinton thinks he can blackmail Obama. Please Mr. Obama show them you don't need them.
Carolyn LeBeauf, Baton Rouge , united states
Here is the bad news no votes from a lot of Hillary supporters I for one will not vote Democrat if Obama gets the nominee.I 'll go with conservative views before I let A Lefty tell me I'm too stupid to live my life free instead of a liberal taking my rights away.Especially someone radical.
Pat, Cuyahoga Falls, US
I can't imagine anything worse than Obama's choosing Hillary Clinton as his running mate. Not only would this NOT be a "dream ticket," it would be a nightmare for him AND for the Democratic Party. It's high time we got rid of the Clintons and started a whole new era in politics.
John Wray, Glastonbury, CT, USA
Hillary is already having her moment in the sun with all of this nonsense about being the strongest candidate. She doesn't care what she is doing to the Democratic party. Obama needs time to campaign for the generals and Hillary is in the way. The Clintons will never be in the whitehouse again!
Priscilla, Fairmont, USA
Tony Rezko trial verdict will coming soon.
It is possible the verdict could make this election upside down.
No clear winners yet. Such a hurry. Why?
Emily, Fort Lee, NJ, U.S.A
i does not trust the Clintons anymore ,so having her as his v.p that does not smell okey .
ronald cosbert, Demerara, guyana
Do the Clintons have any shame at all? She continues to refuse to give up the race (i.e. she should be Prez) but at the same time she thinks she deserves to be VP? What kind of logic is that?
Alan Yeung, HK, China
barack/kathleen for the ticket
maz hess, biel, switzerland