Sources: Obama Begins VP Search In Secret

Select Group Of Advisers Handling Process, Vetting Of Potential Picks Set To Begin

(CBS/AP)  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.

Sources told CBS News the Obama campaign will begin vetting potential choices soon.

CBS News chief political consultant Marc Ambinder reports that the campaign is starting to collect dossiers based only on open source research on a large number of potential picks so that Obama has something to read when he starts to think about the choice. (Read more from Ambinder on the process and potential picks.)

Obama also 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.

By June 4, the day after Democrats finish voting, the campaign hopes to have a full team in place, Ambinder reports.

"He wants this done right," one person who is privy to the candidate and campaign's thinking on the matter told Ambinder. "He takes this very seriously."

The campaign did not want to publicly discuss the effort because they are still engaged in a fading primary campaign against 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.

But they are taking behind-the-scenes steps to move toward the general election campaign, with just 70 delegates needed to clinch the nomination according to the latest CBS News count. Obama has 1,956 delegates to Clinton's 1,773, 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.

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Horserace: The Mating Dance Begins
CBSNews.com's Vaughn Ververs provides some helpful ground rules in watching the process by which running mates are chosen.

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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 possible options are Clinton; 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 try to bring on a Clinton supporter like Indiana's Evan Bayh.

[eroosevelt08]

ERoosevelt08

Please excuse me, but I find you to be pathetically lacking in the intellectual department. Therefore, I will conclude my chat with you. You might want to Google and find yourself a good trade school. If you do not qualify, find a place where you can study and maybe you will be able to get a GED.
Posted by rufisgufis at 4:29 PM : May 23, 2008

Hey Rufisgufis: It is now Secretary of State Clinton!

[rufisgufis]

ERoosevelt08

Please excuse me, but I find you to be pathetically lacking in the intellectual department. Therefore, I will conclude my chat with you. You might want to Google and find yourself a good trade school. If you do not qualify, find a place where you can study and maybe you will be able to get a GED.

[rufisgufis]

Below are the words of Rev. John Hagee. He is the man whose ENDORSEMENT JOHN McCAIN SOUGHT AND OBTAINED.. When McCain was asked if he repudiated the words of this man, McCain said he is %u201Cnot responsible for the words of those who endorse him.%u201D He refused to repudiate him. Unlike Obama, he did not%u201CRENOUNCE AND REJECT the comments of Hagee, he EMBRACED the endorsement.

%u201CThe Catholic Church is a giant wh*re.%u201D

%u201CGod made Hitler to create the Holocaust to force the Jews to move to Israel.%u201D

%u201CThe Bible teaches that when you violate the law of God, that God brings punishment sometimes before the day of judgment. I believe that the Hurricane Katrina was, in fact, the judgment of God against the city of New Orleans...I believe that New Orleans had a level of sin that was offensive to God. The Bible teaches that when you violate the law of God, that God brings punishment sometimes before the day of judgment."

%u201CI believe that the attack on New York on 9/11 was the result of the libertine lifestyle of the population of that immoral city. If God did not punish America it would become the next to Sodom and Gomorrah."

[rufisgufis]

Who among us would want to be treated like Hillary Clinton has been treated?

Posted by ERoosevelt08 at 04:08 PM : May 23, 2008
__________________________

The Clintons, both of them, have been atrocious.

The Clinton%u2019s Negative Campaign

Bill: %u201CWell you know Jesse Jackson won SC in 86, it%u2019s not a big deal.

Bill: on Obama%u2018s campaign. : It%u2019s a %u201Cfairy tale, give me a break.%u201D

Bill: %u201CWouldn%u2019t it be nice to have TWO LOYAL AMERICANS running for president?%u201D

Hillary: %u201CYou don%u2019t get to choose your family, but you choose your pastor. (Countless times on TV) She chose Bill.

Hillary: Tons of %u201CBITTER%u201D comments.

Hillary: Elitism: "It is clear that the uneducated, hard working Americans - WHITE AMERICANS - vote for me overwhelmingly. They are my core base."

On whether Obama is a Muslim: %u201CNot as far as I know.%u201D

[rufisgufis]

The latest stupid remark by Hillary;

She just said that one reason she is still in the race is because Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in the month of June. Suggesting Obama might be assassinated next month. So far, she has not apologized.

[eroosevelt08]

With respect to Senator Obama''''s comments about Reverend Wright on April 29, 2008: What? Has Senator Obama been in a coma for 20 years? Did he sleep through the sermons? Was he even there? His hangdog story that he ALL OF A SUDDEN figured out what Reverend Wright is about insults my intelligence. If he is that dense, why on Earth would anybody want to vote for him?

And now there is a ruling about a Lawrence Sinclair by Judge Kennedy, related to statements about Obama? What will that turn out to be?

Then I read things to the effect that Mrs. Obama has screamed at him over his appeal to women? Do we want a screamer attending state dinners? What of this is true and what is not?

Obama is not fully vetted and has no accomplishments of note to date.

I agree that if Obama wins the Democratic nomination the Republicans will win the White House and the shirttail results could be that they increase their numbers in the House and the Senate too, on McCain''''s coattails.

This is a train wreck the Superdelegates can fix. Why don''''t they?

What else don''''t we know about Obama?

Obama is not electable. You can bet the Republicans will be bringing all of these things up over and over.

[eroosevelt08]

If this is how Obama does things secretly, our National Security system is in BIG TROUBLE!!!

[eroosevelt08]

To some people a *** is not sexual relations. Duh!

[eroosevelt08]

I am SO TIRED of hearing Obama whine. Where are the solutions? Hillary Clinton offers solutions. Her speeches are interesting and have content. Have you noticed how the people behind Obama on TV when he speaks space out or use their cell phones? Some of them look bored out of their skulls.

[eroosevelt08]

rufisgufus:

Who among us would want to be treated like Hillary Clinton has been treated?

Think of someone saying those things to YOU!

[eroosevelt08]

Obama should not count his chickens before they hatch.

Super delegates and primary voters: Vote or change your vote for Clinton so we can fix this Democratic train wreck before we are SORRY IN NOVEMBER!

[rufisgufis]

RowdyWicca:

Seems as though you''ve caught some of that same delusional fever that has overcome your hero, HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON. Take about 20 aspirin, jump in bed and cry. You''ll feel better.

[rufisgufis]

"I am honored, truly honored to know Barack Obama. I am truly honored, truly honored."

Maybe this lying idiot, Hillary believed if she was "honored" enough, some of that honor might rub off on her lying arse.

[rufisgufis]

Hillary has completely blown her mind. She has turned into a raving maniac with idiotic math. SHE HAS BECOME THE LATEST JOKE ON ALL THE LATE NIGHT SHOWS. STILL, EVERYDAY SHE CAN BE DEPENDED UPON TO COME UP WITH SOME NEW MATH. WHAT A NUT CASE.

[rufisgufis]

RowdyWicca

LEARN TO SAY: PRESIDENT BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA!!

[rufisgufis]

Who in dere rite mind be wantin a useless ol woman for president. Posing dere really be a 3am call an Hillary be having a PMS fit or some other femine stuff, den what. It won''t work. She be married and her husband he be old too. Posing he be needing something and she aint around. Maybe he want her to run an errand or fetch something for him. Den what, he have to get the stuff fore hisself? Dat ain%u2019t rite.

[rufisgufis]

NOT IN OBAMA''S WHITE HOUSE!!!

Bill for Co-President in charge of vice.

Bill Clinton: %u201CI did not have sexual relations with that woman - Monica Lewinsky.%u201D EX-CON convicted of perjury and obstruction of justice, lying to a federal grand jury. Stripped of right to practice law. Found in contempt of court. Sued for sexual harassment, and loses. Paid out millions to victims to settle case of sexual assault cases.. Like his wife, known to lie at the drop of a hat. First to inject racism into the campaign. This is just for starters.

The %u201CBlue Dress Kid%u201D

[rufisgufis]

I wonder why the voters arent hearing more about Obama being an admitted crack cocaine user And what about the charge of him being Gay.I think before I vote for him I would like to have him address these issues addresed And explain them.

Posted by larrymiz137 at 10:56 AM : May 23, 2008
_________________________

And blah, blah, whine, blah, whine, blah, whine, blah, blah, whine, blah, whine, blah, whine, blah, blah, whine, blah, whine, blah, whine, blah, blah, whine, blah, whine, blah, whine, blah, blah, whine, blah, whine, blah, whine, blah, blah, whine, blah, whine, blah, whine, blah, blah, whine, blah, whine, blah, whine, blah, blah, whine, blah, whine, blah, whine, blah, blah, whine, blah, whine, blah, whine, blah, blah, whine, blah, whine, blah, whine, blah, blah, whine, blah, whine, blah, whine, blah, blah, whine, blah, whine, blah, whine,

blah, blah, whine, blah, whine, blah, whine, blah, blah, whine, blah, whine, blah, whine, blah, blah, whine, blah, whine, blah, whine, blah, blah, whine, blah, whine, blah, whine, blah, blah, whine, blah, whine, blah, whine, blah, blah, whine, blah, whine, blah, whine, blah, blah, whine, blah, whine, blah, whine, blah, blah, whine, blah, whine, blah, whine, blah, blah, whine, blah, whine, blah, whine, blah, blah, whine, blah, whine, blah, whine, blah, blah, whine, blah, whine, blah, whine, blah, blah, whine, blah, whine, blah, whine,

[rufisgufis]

Seems like Mr. Obama has that same insanity. It''''s called running for president on 143 days sitting in a junior senator''''s seat and trying to bamboozle people into thinking you know what you''''re doing. When it''''s obvious he''s absolutely NOT what he markets himself to be, and lies like a rug about it! And then stutters through 21 debates and has no answers on the issues, then pouts and won''''t debate anymore.

Posted by RowdyWicca at 11:06 AM : May 23, 2008

AND WITH ALL THAT, HE WINS! IN THE MEANTIME THE LOSER HAS HER HUSBAND BEGGING FOR A FEW CRUMBS. BUT WHO WANTS A SEXUAL PREDATOR LURKING AROUND THE WHITE HOUSE.
___________________

[rowdywicca]

And has won nearly twice as many victories and leads in the the Delegate Count!!! In every revelent degree, Obama should be and will be the nominee!!! Hillary can ony hope that he is merciful enough to help her with her campaign debt and possibly offer her a VP spot.....Obama 2008!!!!!


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Posted by chitown639 at 11:14 AM : May 23, 2008

Welll, no he hasn''t, but dream on!