Obama Meets With Edwards

From CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic:

CHICAGO -- CBS News has learned that Barack Obama met with John Edwards in North Carolina today, according to a Democratic source.

Edwards has yet to make an endorsement since dropping out of the presidential race last month.

"I don't think there's any imminent news," Obama told CBS affiliate WISC-TV this afternoon.

"We were exchanging views, he was giving me some thoughts, and obviosuly he's gonna be a big force in the Democratic party for many years to come."
Campaign officials would not specify whether the meeting included a promise of an Edwards endorsement."

Questions arose about a potential Obama-Edwards meeting roughly a week ago, after Hillary Clinton met with Edwards on Feb. 7. Obama was supposed to meet with him the day after Clinton, however that meeting was abruptly canceled. The only explanation was that the meeting would be rescheduled.

The Obama campaign has been particularly secretive about a potential Obama-Edwards meeting since then. Obama flew to North Carolina unbeknownst to the traveling press, who flew to Chicago with the Senator early this morning.

Obama praised Edwards during recent campaign stops in Wisconsin. "I think that John Edwards is someone who has lifted up the party," Obama said in Racine on Wednesday.

"I want him involved in partnering with me to move this country forward."