Officials say Obama starts search for running mate

WASHINGTON — Likely Democratic nominee Barack Obama has begun a top-secret search for a running mate, fresh signs that the general election campaign is well under way and the primary race against Hillary Rodham Clinton is basically over.

Obama has asked former Fannie Mae CEO Jim Johnson to begin vetting potential vice presidential picks, Democratic officials said Thursday. Johnson did the same job for Democratic nominees John Kerry in 2004 and Walter Mondale in 1984.

Obama refused to acknowledge Johnson's role when The Associated Press asked the Illinois senator about it in the Captiol Thursday.

"I haven't hired him. He's not on retainer. I'm not paying him any money. He is a friend of mine. I know him," Obama said. "I am not commenting on vice presidential matters because I have not won this nomination."

The Democratic officials spoke on a condition of anonymity about a process that the campaign wants to keep quiet.

Vice presidential searches are usually closely held secrets, but Obama campaign officials say the effort is being handled by a particularly tight circle of advisers.

The campaign did not want to discuss the effort because they are still engaged in a fading primary campaign against Hillary Rodham Clinton, with three primaries left in Puerto Rico, South Dakota and Montana. The voting ends June 3. Obama has repeatedly declined to discuss possible running mates while the primary is ongoing.

"We're not commenting about this process," said Obama spokesman Bill Burton.

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But they are taking behind-the-scenes steps to move toward the general election campaign, with just 61 delegates needed to clinch the nomination according to the latest Associated Press count. Obama has 1,965 delegates to Clinton's 1,780, with 2,026 required to secure the party's nod under Democratic National Committee rules.

The Obama campaign is rapidly adding to its campaign staff, both at the headquarters and in general election swing states. Obama has been traveling to some of those battlegrounds _ Missouri, Michigan, Iowa and Florida in the last nine days _ while the campaign is registering voters across the country for the November vote. And top Obama organizer Paul Tewes is in discussions to take over the Democratic National Committee.

It's all part of an effort to lay the groundwork for an aggressive kickoff to a general election campaign. Republican John McCain has a head start and has been building his effort for several months since the GOP primary race wrapped up in early March.

McCain is hosting at least three Republicans mentioned as potential vice presidential running mates at his Sedona, Ariz., home this weekend _ Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. A top aide said it's a social event with more than two dozen guests not meant for veep vetting.

Obama's campaign refused to talk about who was being considered, but some in the party are calling for him to pick Clinton. Clinton spokesman Howard Wolfson said Thursday, "There have been no discussions with the Obama campaign about Senator Clinton being the V.P."

Other possible options are governors such as Arizona's Janet Napolitano, Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas and Tim Kaine of Virginia; foreign policy experts like former Georgia Sen. Sam Nunn, Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd or Delaware Sen. Joe Biden; or other senators such as Missouri's Claire McCaskill and Virginia's Jim Webb.

He could look outside the party to people such as war critic and Nebraska Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel or independent New York mayor Mike Bloomberg. Or he could look to one of his early prominent supporters such as former Sen. Tom Daschle of South Dakota or 2004 vice presidential nominee John Edwards. Or he could try to bring on a Clinton supporter like Indiana's Evan Bayh.

Johnson's role running the veep process was first reported on TheAtlantic.com.

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Associated Press Writer Ann Sanner contributed to this report.

Comments

[speakingtruth2power]

I guess the following was lost. The reasons I picked Richardson was for his obvious wealth

of experience in both executive administration and foreign relations, complimenting Obama.

His advantages are both geographical and ethnic and those bigots who don't like his brown

complexion, won't be voting for Barack Hussein Obama anyway. His honesty and diplomacy

got in the way during the debates but he is a very likable and competent VP candidate who

looks great standing beside Obama. The Latino vote is a key to our parties future victories.

I have Sebelius @ Interior, McCaskill @ Agriculture & Granholm @ HUD for gender balance.

For our token rethug I have Hagel at Veterans Affairs where he can help our own war victims.

[williamg]

Survey Usa poll released this morning has Obama beating McCain by 8 points in Virginia. Doesn't this make Webb even more attractive as a candidate?

[HumeSkeptic]

No.

[NeoStar9]

I really think it will either be Gov. Kathleen Sebelius or Gov. Janet Napolitano. He needs to seriously challenge McCain in the midwest and in the south west. These two can help that and there is already a good chance Obama can put some of the western states in play for the dems. They would also help with Clinton's female supports. Not only that but they aren't token female picks. They are governors and popular ones at that. That should help ease some wariness some have about Sen. Obama's ability to govern since he was never a mayor or governor but his VP has and successfully.

The thing about Clinton other then having tainted the waters due to how she acted in the primary is that she doesn't really bring anything only she can bring. New York is going to go blue no matter what. Women voters will be more open to another strong female VP choice and having a female governor plays shows those women are strong and have broken barriers and should be admired. They also don't have people that wouldn't vote for them no matter what the way Hillary does. Her negatives just out weigh what she could bring and others could bring in what she could and more (the states the govern and possibly their neighboring states).

[williamg]

I understand the rationale, but with all the hype I have heard about Sebelius, she sure was a dud during the Democratic repsonse to the President's State of the Union Address. Other than that, I know very little.

[Vishous]

Agreed. On the other hand, Webb's response last year to the 2007 State of the Union was brilliant. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVXMU43Qhow

[NeoStar9]

Though if he does go for a male pick then Sen. Webb like said in many other post would be a great choice and put that part of the country well into play. It could almost make sure that VA goes blue and really helps with the Carolinas and other states in the south-east.

[IndieVisible]

Chelsea Clinton! Would please woman voters while really stick to Hillary!

ok, seriously now. It should be some one who can speak blue collar language is well as Hillary, bring woman voters in, and also be close to Obama's ideas and policies. That person would have been Hillary if she did NOT burn so many bridges on the way.

[thecanadian]

Are you Kidding. She would be as toxic and having Hillary in there. Don't kid yourself, Hillary would be pulling the strings and as such a very serious threat to a clean WhiteHouse.

[HumeSkeptic]

I would be thrilled if Obama picked a woman. There are many who are qualified.

[williamg]

Who?

[thecanadian]

Webb would be better! You don't need to pick any women. Obama has it all! He needs some strength verbally during the general election.

He is smart - he will choose well.

[PrdAmerican]

Hilliary would never pass the VP vetting process. The media may have given her a pass, but with that damn peter paul campaign fraud trial coming up, where she and Bill will be forced to testify in November, no way a Pres. candidate in their right mind would pick her.

[Sctt859]

With webb on a ticket mccain will really have no arguement.

[Chapmanp2]

I'm a bit disappointed not seeing my #1 choice Wes Clarke on the list of hopefuls..­.
Of the list shown I must say after seeing Webb's impressive performance yesterday on Morning Joe, he's looking stronger & stronger. His deep understanding of the Appalachian divide is quite compelling & how cool would it be to see that divide addressed head on & for what it truly is??? His question of what kind of populist movement could be built out of building a solid coalition between groups that have similar problems is extremely compelling & actually makes perfect sense. He has administrative experience, Military respect, Is a recovering Republican, foreign policy & National security cred. I guess we'll know soon enough...

[ThunderclapNewman]

Clarke is a diehard Hillary supporter, and a very weak choice.

[dollars2donuts]

No VP candidate is perfect. But Webb has the most to offer Obama:

1) Delegate rich VA, which is within his grasp; with Webb, VA is a lock, and NC comes into play, too
2) He is a great attack dog; witness how he shredded Pansy Graham
3) He will help throughout the now-hostile to Obama Appalachia region, due to his long fight/defense of Scots/Irish culture and people
4) Decorated comat vet and Sec of the Navy - he will have credentials when McSenile attacks, he will rip the sh*t out of McCain!
5) Their families on stage will show the new 21st century US because Webb's wife is Asian American, and they have biracial baby, plus 3 or 4 good looking grown white kids, one of which is a serving soldier in Iraq
6) He packs a gun--will help w/working class, gun totin set
7) Right age--not too old, not too young, plus as a new senator, he can say he's not part of the corrupt entrenched Washington but he does have great experience
8) He has an interesting life story, he's a great, famous writer, just like Obama, and the press loves him
9) I could go on foever....­but you get the idea!!

OBAMA/WEBB '08 & '12!!!!!!

[HumeSkeptic]

I sent Jim Webb money when he was 20 points behind Macaca. Since his election, I have been largely disappointed in him. I will not support him again.

[williamg]

I'm curious to know why you are disappointed in him.

[speakingtruth2power]

Jim Webb is a former rethug & in some ways is still very conservative

but his drive and experience would be perfect for rebuilding Defense.

Debushifying our country will take an outstanding team of leaders!!!

[dollars2donuts]

Why? I'm curious, especially if you live in VA. Since his 1st day in office, he has been fighting for the New GI Bill....on­e of the most important pieces of legislation I've seen in many years. While true he is not a hard-core progressive, he could help unite the progressive & conservative wings of the party.

[williamg]

Agreed, they fill in each others blanks, but also reinforce each other.

[cthomp7280]

Jim Webb is Baracks tempermental opposite..­.which I think is a good thing. Good Cop, Bad Cop. Barack lawys the floor plan for what this country needs. And Webb hammers the hell out of the Rightest Right-Wingers who attempt the silly stuff. Barack will be the brain and Webb will be the muscle.

[NeoStar9]

I like it, I like it a lot.

[williamg]

From Andrew Sullivan's site:

Besides all his personal qualifications, besides all the obvious political benefits, Webb could do something for Obama that only he could do, and that would fit perfectly with Obama's larger goals--indeed, complete them: he could bind up the internal wounds that have plagued the Democratic Party since the anti-war days of the 60's and 70's, and through that healing, begin to heal the larger American body politic--that great Boomer schism you have talked about at length. Who else could serve that function? Not Edwards, not Strickland, good as they might be in other ways. Internally, Webb's experience as a citizen soldier, coupled with his early and adamant opposition to the Iraq war, could bring the two sides of the Democratic Party together; externally, Webb is the only one with the experience and the personality to take on McCain and the neo-cons. This interview--and what I've learned about Webb recently--have sold me on the guy. He's as smart as they come, he's got the creds, and he's a thoughtful, progressive force.

[kellygrrrl]

General Wesley Clark!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!

[IraqiFreedomVeteran03]

I think that it's too much of a coincidence that Sen. Jim Webb is out promoting his book while talks of a VP are rising. If Webb is on the ticket, it'll be a landslide victory for Obama. Sen. Webb is a war hero.

[TiffanyHusseinBanned]

Jim Webb

[speakingtruth2power]

My VP choice is Bill Richardson for his solid experience in administration and foreign relations.

His choice is based on geography, ethnicity, confidence, and standing next to Obama, sexy!!!!

Those who don't think he did well in the debates don't credit Bill R. for his honesty & diplomacy.

The bigots who won't vote for his skin tone sure wouldn't vote for Barack Hussein Obama either.

Only the most radical feminists will not respond to Obama/Richardson with trust and attraction.

[Jaxxon]

This will probably put the Clintons over the edge. He's got the upper hand and is starting to show it. Good for you Obama. You don't have to tell them to get out of this process, just start acting like you're the nominee you are!!

Obama '08