SNEAK PEEK: Ask Me When We Get to Denver

March 10, 2008— -- If you thought the Texas Two Step was tough, it's nothing compared to the dexterity needed to simultaneously paint Barack Obama as unacceptable on national security while tantalizing Democrats with the prospect of what Bill Clinton calls an "unstoppable" Clinton-Obama ticket.

Speaking on a Monday conference call with reporters, Clinton spokesman Howard Wolfson indicated that Obama has not passed the commander-in-chief test.

"We continue to believe," said Wolfson, "and more importantly others continue to believe, that Sen. Obama has not passed that key commander-in-chief test at this point."

Wolfson also said, however, that there is a long way to go between now and when the Democrats hold their national convention.

"Senator Clinton will not choose any candidate who has not, at the time of choosing, passed the national security threshold, period," said Wolfson. "But we have a long way to go between now and Denver . . ."

Campaigning in Columbus, Miss., Monday, Obama seized on the Clintons' recent veep talk to rebut the charge that he is not ready to be commander-in-chief on Day One.

"If I am not ready," asked Obama, "why do you think I would be such a great vice president?"

Asked in Scranton, Pa., on Monday by ABC's Jake Tapper about mentioning Obama as a possible running mate while also maintaining that he is not ready to be president, Clinton continued to finesse the issue.

"Well, this thing has really been given a life of its own," said Clinton, according to ABC's Eloise Harper. "You know a lot of Democrats like us both and have been very hopeful that they wouldn't have to make a choice, but obviously Democrats have to make a choice and I'm looking forward to getting the nomination and it's premature to talk about whoever might be on whose ticket, but I believe that I am ready to serve on Day One."

In addition to poking holes in the Clinton logic on Monday, Obama also painted the Clintons as presumptuous.

"With all due respect, I have won twice as many states as Sen. Clinton. I've won more of the popular vote than Sen. Clinton. I have more delegates than Sen. Clinton," said Obama. "So I don't know how someone who is in second place is offering the vice presidency to someone who is in first place."

Obama wrapped up his diatribe on the Clintons' veep talk by saying: "I just want everybody to absolutely clear: I am not running for Vice President. I am running to be President of the United States of America."

Now, of course, John Edwards also said he was not running for Vice President before John Kerry put him on the ticket.

But one uncommitted Democratic superdelegate from Pennsylvania who was contacted on Monday by ABC News shared the Obama view that you cannot be painting someone as unacceptable on national security while talking up that same person as a possible running mate.

Obama questions how "someone in 2nd place" is offering the VP to person winning. LINK

Democratic Dream Team?
Sen. Hillary Clinton fuels speculation of a joint ticket with Sen. Barack Obama. LINK

Recession Watch
A slumping economy produces the worst job market in five years. LINK

Democratic Stalemate
Neither Obama or Clinton may not have enough delegates for the party nomination. LINK

McCain's Big Choice
Republicans are struggling to decide who McCain's running mate should be. LINK

Political Palaver
Time magazine's Mark Halperin discusses the race for the White House. LINK

The Bottom Line
George Stephanopoulos tackles Hillary Clinton's comeback. LINK

3 am Ad Girl Wants Obama to Answer Call
A girl featured in Hillary Clinton's ad actually supports Obama. LINK

Interns for the ABC News Political Unit:

The ABC News Political Unit is now seeking three full-time summer interns in Washington, D.C.

The internship begins Monday, May 19, and runs through Friday, Aug. 22.

Not only do Political Unit interns attend political events and contribute to The Note and the politics page of ABCNews.com, they also help us by conducting research, maintaining contact lists, and updating the political schedule.

In order to apply, you MUST be either a graduate student or an undergraduate student who has completed his or her first year of college. The internship is NOT open to recent graduates.

You also must be able to work eight hours per day, starting early, Monday through Friday. Interns will be paid $8.50/hour.

If you write well, don't mind getting up early, and have some familiarity with web publishing, send a cover letter and resume to teddy.davis@abc.com as soon as possible, with the subject line: "INTERN" in all caps. Please indicate in your cover letter the dates of your availability.