Obama said opening hunt for running mate

Thursday, 22-May-2008 1:24PM EDT
    
Story from United Press International
Copyright 2008 by United Press International (via ClariNet)

WASHINGTON, May 22 (UPI) -- Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination, is reported quietly looking for a running mate, CNN said Thursday.

Quoting an unidentified source, CNN said it had been informed that former Fannie Mae CEO Jim Johnson has

accepted Obama's request to begin a screening and selection process for the No. 2 spot on the ticket.

Johnson performed the same role in 2004 and 1984 for Democratic presidential nominees John Kerry and Walter Mondale.

Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton declined to comment on the report.

Obama was quoted as saying he had no criteria yet for a vice presidential nominee. He said he was headed back to Florida, adding,"I still have to win the nomination."