The New Nation - Internet Edition

Internet

While Sen. Hillary Clinton continues to dog him in the Democratic primary, Sen. Barack Obama is continuing his efforts to move on to the general election. The latest move: the beginnings of a search for a VP candidate. The CBS Evening News reported, "Sources tell CBS News Barack Obama has set up a search committee, headed up by Washington insider Jim Johnson, who did the same job for John Kerry and Walter Mondale." USA Today calls the move a "sure sign that the primary season is winding down," while the Washington Post reports Obama and his aides "played down the move, describing it as only a preliminary exercise and stressing that they remain focused" on the Democratic primary battle.

More Speculation On Clinton As VP The New York Times reports while Clinton "and her advisers insist that she is determined to win the Democratic nomination," former President Bill Clinton, "has begun privately contemplating a different outcome for her: As Senator Barack Obama's running mate."

Friends "of the former president say his musings have been more casual: He believes that an Obama-Clinton ticket could help unify the party, and he thinks she has earned a meeting with Mr. Obama to discuss the possibility." Others are considering the possibility as well, with the New York Post reporting that California Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D), "a Clinton booster, told The Post, 'I am one that believes that if it works out that Senator Obama is the nominee, the strongest ticket would be Senator Clinton as vice president. No question in my mind.'"

However, Bloomberg News reports Clinton communications director Howard Wolfson "dismissed reports that aides to the two Democratic candidates have talked about Clinton running with Obama in the general election. 'There have been no conversations with the Obama campaign,' Wolfson said on a conference call."