Whatever It Takes

June 3, 2008— -- South Dakota Primary: Polls Close: 9:00 pm ET

Montana Primary: Polls Close: 10:00 pm ETWith Barack Obama having bagged the support of former President Carter and standing on the brink of clinching the Democratic nomination, Hillary Clinton told congressional supporters from New York on Tuesday that she is willing to be Obama's runningmate if that's what it took to unify the party.

Per ABC's Rick Klein, the VP talk came up when Rep. Nydia Velazquez, D-N.Y., told Clinton that Latino voters would only support Obama if she is on the ticket, and several other members of the delegation said she should team up with the Illinois Democrat.

Clinton responded that if Obama asked her to be on the ticket, she would be interested in considering the offer.

Another member of Congress who was on the New York delegation call told ABC's Kate Snow that Tuesday was "the first time we've gotten the green light" from Clinton on her being open to teaming up with Obama.

"It's a chorus of voices that she's hearing: 'we want you on the ticket'," said the congressman.

In conversations with the New York delegation as well as with the Congressional Black Caucus, Clinton knocked down an Associated Press report that she would concede to Obama when she speaks Tuesday evening in New York. The former first lady says she is going to be taking her time to consider all of her options.

Clinton may have no plans to concede right now but Obama is all-but-certain to reach the Democratic Party's "magic number" of 2,118 when he speaks Tuesday evening in St. Paul, Minn. at the site of the 2008 Republican National Convention.

"Obama will walk on stage tonight as the nominee," an Obama aide told ABC's Sunlen Miller.

Obama's speech will appeal for Democratic Party unity and center on "a new phase, a new beginning" of the campaign. Obama's speech writer, Jon Favreau, wrote the text but, according to this campaign aide, Obama had a large part of the formulation of the tone and language.

Kate Snow on Clinton's plans once the final primary contests end tonight. LINK

Clinton Supporters Rage on '08
Angry Clinton supporters threaten to abandon the party if Obama is nominated. LINK

Reid: Leave Clinton Alone
Sen. Reid asks superdelegates to "keep their decisions in their pockets." LINK

West Virginia Senator Hospitalized
Sen. Robert C. Byrd spent last night under medical observation for a high fever. LINK

Spitzer's Prostitute vs. Girls Gone Wild
Dupre will take the stand after accusing videomaker of ruining her reputation. LINK

Whoopi: Hillary Will Be President
"View" co-host says the senator will become commander in chief in 2008 or 2012. LINK

Cheney Jokes and Offends
The VP's inbreeding crack does not go over well in West Virginia. LINK

Bottom Line on Final Primaries
George Stephanopoulos on what's needed to secure the Democratic nomination. LINK

Preprimary Superdelegate Count
The long primary contest boils down to a high-stakes numbers game. LINK

Ted Kennedy Recovering After Surgery
Dr. Tim Johnson discusses the senator's prognosis and treatment. LINK

'The Note' Rewinds the Week's Best Moments
ABC's Senior Political Reporter Rick Klein on the weekly political roundup. LINK

Sam: This Isn't Bill's Last Hurrah
ABC's Sam Donaldson says Bill Clinton won't bow out of the political arena. LINK

Democrats May Be Headed for Overtime
How much longer will the fight continue after the final two primaries? LINK