NEW YORK - Barack Obama said on Wednesday he would search broadly for a vice presidential running mate and feels no pressure to make a quick decision.
“It will be a deliberate process,” Obama told ABC News anchor Charlie Gibson, a day after clinching enough delegates to become the Democratic party nominee.
“You know, my charge is to cast a wide net. I will narrow it down,” he said. “I will meet with a range of individuals and get my sense of whether they share a vision for where the country needs to go and whether they can provide me with the independent counsel and possess the integrity that I think are necessary for the presidency.”
Some supporters of Hillary Clinton, who appears set later this week to concede her loss to Obama, would like to see him choose her for the No. 2 slot to create what they see as a “dream ticket.”
Clinton has told supporters she was open to the idea.
Obama and his aides are sticking to a careful script on this issue, lavishing praise on Clinton but not tipping their hand about what the Illinois senator’s thinking is on whether he would like her on the ticket.
“Oh, I think Senator Clinton is a special case as a candidate. I mean, she’s somebody who traveled this journey with me. She was extraordinarily capable and tenacious. I mean, she is just a great candidate,” Obama said in the ABC interview.
Political analysts see pros and cons to Obama putting Clinton on the ticket. Although it would help rally her supporters, it’s unclear how easily the two could develop a rapport and Obama may want to pick someone other than the former first lady to highlight his message of bringing change to Washington.
Obama has put together a small team of advisers to help vet the vice presidential candidates. That team consists of Caroline Kennedy, daughter of the late President John Kennedy, former deputy Attorney General Eric Holder and former Fannie Mae CEO Jim Johnson.
Johnson performed the same task for John Kerry in 2004 and Walter Mondale in 1984.
Click here for more Reuters 2008 campaign coverage
Photo: Reuters/Kevin Lamarque - Barack Obama speaks on June 4 at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee policy conference in Washington, D.C.
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11 comments so far
Obama is change. McCain is experience. Sound familiar. Although the media will try to keep the possibility of Clinton as VP before the public to keep ratings up, it will not happen. Obama has been a brilliant tactician and everyone is aware of how she will energize a republican right that is not enthusiastic about McCain. That could tip the election in what is a year of change and as both candidates try to appeal to independents…It will take time to select a running mate and keeping her supporters hopeful in the meantime will be a distraction to Obama, harming chances in November. It is time to move on.
- Posted by PatrickNYCI sincerely and deeply hope Hillary will not be his VP, because if she is, he stands a chance of winning. Without her , he will lose and that will be the best for our country. The republicans won’t be awarding him their votes via a committee so he can win. There will be no caucuses where his followers can bully people . His true untrustworthy and deeply flawed character will be exposed on a much more national level, and the media will not be trashing John McCain at the level they trashed Hillary in a desperate attempt to preserve their machismo . I cant wait to see him head back to chicago .
- Posted by SwannieI think Obama and his VP search committee will do their best in searching a suitable and equally-passionate cadidate as Obama is. November will come, and history will coninute to be made.
- Posted by AGOBAMA 08′ - Vote for the man who will bring the best change in America.
Obama SHOULD choose Hillary, they will do AMAZING things in the White House Together and they really would make the “Dream Ticket”!
- Posted by RyanObama needs to pick the person who will help him and the people of this country win the White House and he is his heart know Hillery and get him there. This country and I hate to say this will not put him into office because he is black. Getting a step closer is one thing and taking that last step is another and I do wish him the best, but he and the Party know there are groups that if Hillery is not on the ticket the White House will be Red again. To the Obama camp, bring on the Hillery for you need a fighter and the others on the list cannot and that mean Richardson do what she has shown she can do and that is fight for herself and fight for this country.
- Posted by RICHARDHere’s the scenario should Barack Pick Hillary for VP.
- Posted by DevinHillery will do ANYTHING to be elected President and that is a fact you’d better beleive. As the Vice Presidential Nominee she’s next in line!
Behind CLOSED doors Bill and his Wife will strike a deal for HIM to arrange for Obamas elimination with the promise of a Presidential Pardon from his Uninformed Spouse. Come Time for said Pardon, Hillery will recieve a call from Bill reminding her of their deal at which time Ms. Clinton will state ” I’m a little busy right now Bill, Give Monica a call and see what she can do for ya.”
Obama/Hagel - Obama will state he isn’t running to be Presidents of the Blue states, or President of Democrats he is running to be President of the United States of America. There are a few sitting Republican Senators and congressmen waiting to endorse Obama, combined with the image of him speaking to 50,000 screaming people in the countries of our closest allies and the heightened respect around the world will give his campaign a huge boost. Upon his return from Europe, Obama will be up double digits. The swift boating will have some affect, but Obama will win. We are witnessing history in the making. WHen the future generations ask where you were when history was being made, hopefully you won’t have to lie.
- Posted by WalrusIf Obama picks Hillary for VP, I’ll be voting for McCain…PSYCH!
Two people he should seriously consider are Gov. Brian Schweitzer of Montana or Gov. Brad Henry of Oklahoma. With Henry you get a conservative democrat who will help with the Southern vote and Schweitzer is a scientist who is big on energy policy. He should stay away from knowns like Biden, Edwards, Richardson, etc. Research my two choices and see what you think.
- Posted by blarsenIf Obama & Clinton join together on the ticket, I will be inspired to do what I’ve never done before–donate money AND donate my time and resources to their campaign.
- Posted by LauraHere is my unsolicited advice to Barack Obama…for inviting the participation of the person who will be next in line for the presidency for the next 4 to 8 years.
Invite a conservative democrat.
Invite a person who has military experience, e.g., in Vietnam…and whose child has military experience in Iraq or in Afghanistan. In other words, invite a person whose family believes in serving in the active duty uniform of our great nation.
Invite a person who has switched parties, because his or her conscience just can no longer abide the downhill slide while a republican is “at the helm” and while republican foreign and domestic policies are “guiding” the destiny of our great nation.
Invite a woman if one can be found.
Otherwise, invite Senator Jim Webb of Virginia…one junior senator to another junior senator.
Jack
P.S. Quote from Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Webb: On November 28, 2006, at a White House reception for those newly elected to Congress, Webb declined to stand in the line to have his picture taken with the president, whom Webb often criticized during the campaign. The president approached Webb later and asked him, “How’s your boy?”, referring to Webb’s son, a Marine serving in Iraq. According to Congressman Jim Moran of Virginia, aides warned the President to be “extra sensitive about talking to Webb about his son, since Webb’s son has had a recent brush with death in Iraq.” Webb replied “I’d like to get them out of Iraq, Mr. President.” Bush responded, “That’s not what I asked you. How’s your boy?” Webb responded, “That’s between me and my boy, Mr. President.” The Hill cited an anonymous source who claimed that Webb was so angered by the exchange that he confessed he was tempted to “slug” the president, but of course did no. Webb later remarked in an interview, “I’m not particularly interested in having a picture of me and George W. Bush on my wall.”
- Posted by JackSome folks (including Mrs. Clinton) may be (or are) making overtures to Mr. Obama about becoming the vice president, i.e., the next in line to the presidency for the next 4-8 years.
In order to make their case, these folks first have to “come clean.”
The VERY FIRST action that (for instance) Mrs. Clinton would have to take would be to attest to the following as regards ALL OF her campaign contributors FROM NOW ON:
1. NO contribution is being made by them from the general treasury funds of a corporation, labor organization or national bank.
2. NO contribution is being made by them from the funds of a political action committee (PAC).
3. NO contribution is being made by them from the treasury of an entity or person who is a federal contractor.
4. NO contribution is being made by them from the funds of an individual registered as a federal lobbyist or a foreign agent, or an entity that is a federally registered lobbying firm or foreign agent.
5. ALL are United States citizens or lawfully-admitted permanent residents.
6. ALL are at least 16 years old.
7. NO contribution is being made by them in a way so as to avoid complying with Items 1-6, above.
Now…Mrs. Clinton (for instance) COULD WAIT until after Mr. Obama invites her to be on the ticket before personally attesting to the foregoing. However, if she waits, it will look like nothing more than political opportunism (which in fact it would be, of course).
On the other hand, NOT waiting might simply dry up much of her present campaign funding…funding that she needs to run for reelection as U.S. senator from New York (the latter assumes that Mr. Obama does not choose her).
More importantly…if Mr. Obama chooses a vice presidential running mate who can’t swear off his or her addiction to funds that don’t comply with Items 1-7, above…then the premise of Mr. Obama’s “independent” campaign for “individual” Americans will go straight down the tube, i.e., right down the drain.
That’s why Mrs. Clinton WILL NOT be the next vice president.
The person Mr. Obama needs is one who believes in Mr. Obama’s vision for all Americans so fervently that he or she is willing to “go for broke” insofar as “political funding as usual” is concerned.
I think that Mrs. Clinton (for instance) already has a corrupted and therefore so called “special interest” campaign contribution war chest…and so does Mr. McCain.
This next election is going to be the “battle of the titans”, i.e., the several titans of “special interests” against the “cumulative single titan” of individual Americans come together…the latter being what I like to call the “Middle Class/Working Class Argonaut”.
Jack
P.S. Mr. Obama/Mrs. Pelosi/Mr. Reid and every single democrat in congress (and republicans who can see their way to do it) have got to lead the way in creating jobs and cutting taxes for the Middle Class (down to a max of 15% from 25%) and likewise the Working Class (down to a max of 5% from 10%-15%)…in order to facilitate Working Class upward mobility into the Middle Class, i.e., so that America can re-grow the Middle Class as it did through two world wars and the Great Depression.
Likewise, Mr. Obama/Mrs. Pelosi/Mr. Reid and every single democrat in congress (and republicans who can see their way clear to join in) have got to lead the way on raising taxes for the Privileged Class and Super Privileged Class (up to at least the pre-1981 level of 70%), so that the bills of our great nation can finally be paid again.
Up until 1981, the Middle Class & Working Class traditionally spilled their blood in America’s wars, and consumed the U.S. economy into profitability for the Privileged Class and Super Privileged Class. Up until 1981, the Privileged Class (for example, members of the U.S. congress and U.S. presidents and corporate CEO’s et al) traditionally got America’s Middle/Working Class into wars…but also created Middle/Working Class jobs and paid America’s bills.
Beginning in 1981, the Privileged Class and Super Privileged Class slashed their own taxes from 70% down to 50% (and in 1986 from 50% down to 28%), and then stopped paying America’s bills…while borrowing from the Middle/Working Class social security trust fund and foreign governments…and raising taxes on the Middle/Working Class to at least 15%-28% (from the pre-1981 10%-11%).
Frankly, there is no other way to lift the American economy out of the “$4.50-gas/$135-oil” hole that Messrs. Bush/Hastert-Gingrich/Frist-Lott led the way on digging (the latter “shovelers”, of course, to include powerful democrats who went along with the republicans on domestic and foreign policy…including Speaker of the House “Tip” O’Neill (in league with Mr. “the Gipper” Reagan on tax “relief” for the Privileged Class & Super Privileged Class); and the 29 democrat senators who helped send America’s (Middle/Working Class) Best & Finest into the quicksand & blood of a perhaps 10-year counterinsurgency in Iraq…among these Privileged Class democrats: Mrs. Clinton and Messrs. Reid, Daschle & Kerry and Mrs. Feinstein, at whose home Mr. Obama and Mrs. Clinton recently met).
Jack
- Posted by Jack