Pantagraph.com Weather forecast, local radar and more
NewsThursday, July 10, 2008 9:01 AM CDT
Comments Comments (8) | E-mail this page E-mail this page | Print this page Print this page | Enlarge type Enlarge type | Reduce type Reduce type | Search archives Search archives | RSS RSS feeds | Add to My Yahoo! Add to My Yahoo!
Obama stokes VP speculation with Hillary flight
By Liz Sidoti
Associated Press
Advertisement

NEW YORK -- Barack Obama stoked vice presidential speculation Wednesday with an unannounced stop at the Washington law firm of a search team member and then a flight to New York fundraisers with potential pick Hillary Rodham Clinton and a second vetter.

"I'm not going to tell you" any details, the smiling likely Democratic nominee told reporters after spending more than two hours inside a downtown Washington office building where attorney Eric Holder, a member of his vice presidential search committee, has offices.

Obama wouldn't say why he visited the building or whom he saw there, and the two top aides at his side - campaign manager David Plouffe and chief strategist David Axelrod - also stayed mum.

The midmorning stop was one of at least two that weren't on his public schedule, and aides would say only that Obama had private meetings planned while in Washington. They wouldn't provide additional details, including whether Obama had met with Holder, a partner at Covington and Burling. The firm is located just blocks from the White House that Obama hopes to occupy come January.

Later, Obama was appearing with Clinton, his rival-turned ally who is mentioned as a possible running mate, at two fundraisers spanning two days. Vice presidential searcher Caroline Kennedy accompanied the two on the flight from Washington.

Aides were tightlipped about why the trio traveled together other than to cite the fundraisers.

Kennedy introduced Obama at one fundraiser Wednesday evening, asking donors to "pledge to do all we can to elect Barack Obama." She did not mention the running mate search. Obama, for his part, praised Clinton, who was not present. He had finished speaking but returned to the microphone to ask his donors to help Clinton retire her debt by filling out fundraising forms left on every chair.

Clinton was introducing Obama at a second event. They also were appearing together at a third fundraiser Thursday morning.

Just before leaving Washington, Obama, an Illinois senator, and Clinton, a New York senator, greeted each other on Obama's plane and chatted in the aisle for several minutes before takeoff, but they otherwise didn't speak. Clinton sat in the first row on the right side of the plane; Obama sat in the second row on the left and slept for much of the flight. Kennedy sat at the front of the plane near the two senators.

Earlier Wednesday, Clinton deflected a reporter's inquiry about whether she has turned over her personal financial documents for Obama's campaign to review as part of the vice presidential search, or whether she's even been asked for such records.

Obama also spent part of the afternoon at a hotel near the Capitol. His campaign didn't announce that stop either and also refused to disclose details of it.

In a city that revels in the intrigue surrounding a vice presidential pick, Obama's unannounced stops and traveling companions fueled the guessing game about who he would choose for the No. 2 spot on the Democratic ticket - and whether he met with any of them at Holder's office or, perhaps, elsewhere at another time.

Several people thought to be on Obama's list have indicated they lack interest in the job. The latest was Virginia Sen. Jim Webb, who this week said he had told Obama he intended to remain in the Senate and "under no circumstances will I be a candidate for vice president."

Both Obama and GOP rival John McCain are trying to keep a tight lid on their searches, including only a small handful of top aides in the discussions to make sure the vetting process is as discrete as possible.

Nonetheless, each candidate is believed to be deep into the process of picking a vice presidential candidate. They may even be to the point of asking potentials for records, such as tax returns, financial holdings, medical documents and military files, or secretly interviewing candidates face-to-face.

So-called "short lists" of prospects probably exist, given how long both campaigns have been weighing their options. Obama's search committee, made up of Holder and Kennedy, has been working since early June, while McCain's helper, attorney Arthur B. Culvahouse Jr., has been involved in the Republican's efforts for a couple months.

Time is a consideration for both candidates as they narrow their choices, announce their selections - and hope it produces a bump in the polls.

Typically, careful planning goes into the elaborate, staged "roll out" of a vice presidential pick to get maximum media coverage of what is perhaps the most eagerly anticipated decision a presidential hopeful makes before accepting their party's nomination at the national convention.

Obama is making an overseas trip later this month to Europe and the Middle East, which could make a July announcement difficult. It's also summertime and voters tend to pay little attention to politics, and McCain aides are mindful of that.

The window tightens more on Aug. 8 when the Beijing Olympics opens, running through Aug. 24. The Democratic National Convention in Denver runs Aug. 25-28, immediately followed by the Republican convention Sept. 1-4 in Minneapolis-St. Paul.

Wednesday's hint that Obama likely is fully engaged in the process began around 9:30 a.m., when his entourage, including a small contingent of reporters, left the Renaissance Mayflower Hotel, presumably to head to his Senate office so he could vote on a couple of bills later in the day.

A few minutes later and surprising even some of his staff, the motorcade pulled over and Obama entered the building housing Holder's law offices through a back door labeled "Tenant Entrance Only."

Obama spent most of the day on Capitol Hill for a series of votes, including on a bill overhauling rules on secret government eavesdropping.

By late afternoon, Obama's campaign had disclosed that Clinton and Kennedy would travel on his plane.

Video
Most commented stories
Browse online archives
Recent issues:
Reader comments on this story - 8 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

Annienap wrote on Jul 10, 2008 9:06 PM:

" Doesn't matter to me who Obama picks for a running mate cause I wouldn't vote for him if he was the last person on earth who wanted to be president. I'm a Democrat, but ABSOLUTELY REFUSE TO VOTE FOR OBAMA!!! "

JMK wrote on Jul 10, 2008 6:30 PM:

" Hey ONLY IN AMERICA - would you consider dropping the tag line? I even agree with you fairly often, but the dumbing of America thing doesn't really get anything done. Just consider it. "

Scapegoat wrote on Jul 10, 2008 3:37 PM:

" I'd be incredibly surprised (and disappointed) if he chose Clinton as his running mate. My guess is that he'll promise her a cabinet post to guarantee her full support during the run up to the election. "

Jarhead71 wrote on Jul 10, 2008 12:44 PM:

" Obama/????XYZ has my vote and that of my wife. Obama/Clinton would see our two votes go elsewhere. Not to McCain, but we would still vote for some other 3rd party candidate. "

ktlin wrote on Jul 10, 2008 8:49 AM:

" I am sure John McCain is wishing and a hoping that Hillary is the VP selection. Question: If Obama supporters will not give much of their money to HIllary as has been reported, why would they think of giving their votes? A Hillary selection is probably the one thing that would galvanzie Obama leaning voters to McCain. I agree that would be fastest way for Obama to deep six his campaign. He is doing fine without her so why throw Bill and the Clinton history in the mix. Not to mention the lawsuits or almost lawsuits. That would be a recipe for disaster perhaps of gigantic proportions. "

ONLY IN AMERICA wrote on Jul 10, 2008 8:32 AM:

" Yeah they're bud's now that the SLAM FEST is over- American Politics

THE DUMBING OF AMERICA CONTINUES DAILY... "

pseudo-intellectual wrote on Jul 10, 2008 7:31 AM:

" Obama may "deep six" his campaign by choosing Hillary for his VP. Hopefully (for Democrats) he's just stroking her ego. "

SFer wrote on Jul 9, 2008 3:11 PM:

" why WOULD you want to be this guy's running mate? you'd be setting yourself up for failure. he needs to find someone that hasn't heard him talk yet. "
Add your own comments

Please read the rules before posting comments.

You must be logged in to leave comments.
If you don't have a member ID, please register.

*Member ID:
*Password:
Remember login?
(requires cookies)
  Forgot Your Password?
 
Lee Enterprises Customer Service | 301 W. Washington St., PO Box 2907, Bloomington, IL 61701-2907 | Ph. 309-829-9000 | 800-747-7323
Copyright © 2008, Pantagraph Publishing Co. and Lee Enterprises. All rights reserved. | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy