Decisions, Decisions
Sen. Obama on his VP selection process: "Everybody just needs to settle down."
June 5, 2008— -- With three days off the campaign trail ahead of him, Barack Obama tried to put an end to the speculation about the process of selecting a running mate and whether the name Hillary Clinton is on that shortlist.
The presumptive Democratic nominee told reporters that the next time he will talk about the topic will be when he has selected his running mate. (Not like that will stop the endless speculation, rumors, questions, non-answers and covert stake-outs)
"[I]f you hear, you know, second hand accounts, rumors, gossip about the selection process, you can take it from me that it is wrong because uh, we're not going to be talking about it in the press," Obama said on his campaign plane en route to an event in Northern Virginia.
"We are going to be equally deliberative in how we move forward and we're not going to do it in the press and we're not going to do it through surrogates."
Earlier in the day the presumptive Democratic nominee told CNN that "everybody just needs to settle down."
While her supporters continued to push the idea of her on the ticket, the Clinton campaign felt compelled to put out a statement reiterating what several of her supporters have said in the last 24 hours – this is Obama's decision to make.
"While Senator Clinton has made clear throughout this process that she will do whatever she can to elect a Democrat to the White House, she is not seeking the vice presidency, and no one speaks for her but her. The choice here is Senator Obama's and his alone."
Tivo Alert! John McCain sat down with ABC News' Charles Gibson and said he considers himself the underdog, ABC News' Ed O'Keefe reports.
"I'm surprised, frankly, to see the polls as close as they are, given our brand problems in the Republican Party. I'm pleased where we are," Sen. McCain, R-Ariz., the presumptive Republican nominee, told ABC News anchor Charlie Gibson in an interview airing Thursday on "World News."
McCain told Gibson he sees "energizing independents and Reagan Democrats" as his biggest obstacle in the race, telling ABC News, "We're going to be in kind of a presidential campaign where the independents, Reagan Democrats, would be the reason why I win."
McCain has the campaign trail (and media spotlight) all to himself tomorrow, with Obama taking a day off and the Clinton event not until Saturday. The presumptive Republican nominee holds a press availability in Miami.
On the campaign front. . .
BARACK OBAMA
-- No public events scheduled.
As for the Republicans. . .
JOHN MCCAIN
-- 2:15 pm ET: Attends an Everglades Air Boat Tour in Miami, FL.
-- 3:00 pm ET: Speaks to reporters in Miami, FL.
At the White House. . .
PRESIDENT BUSH
-- Spends the weekend at Camp David with no public events.
POLITICAL NEWS STORIES ON ABCNEWS.COM
ABC News' Kate Snow, Rick Klein, Eloise Harper, Sunlen Miller and Jennifer Parker: Clinton to Concede Race to Obama Saturdayhttp://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/story?id=4996520&page=1
ABC News' Jonathan Karl, Brian Ross, and Len Tepper: Top Air Force Officials To Be Fired LINK
ABC News' Z. Byron Wolf: Bringing Indy Joe In Line LINK
ABC News' Z. Byron Wolf: Clinton Returns to #68 in Senate LINK
ABC News' Sunlen Miller: Obama Commends DNC for Cutting Lobbyist Contributions LINK
ABC News' Sunlen Miller: McCain Calls Obama After Clinton News LINK
ABC News' Z. Byron Wolf and Sunlen Miller: Webb to Make An Appearance in Virginia With Obama LINK
ABC News' : DNC: No More Contributions From Lobbyists LINK
ABC News' Jake Tapper: Gov. Sanford on the Podcast LINK
ABC News' Jake Tapper: Reid Talked to Lieberman, Too LINK
ABC News' Jake Tapper: Obama Confronts Lieberman On McCain Advocacy, Tone, on Senate Floor LINK
ABC News' Jake Tapper: How Barack Hussein Obama Could Theoretically Beat John Sidney McCain III (And Vice Versa) LINK
ABC News' Jake Tapper: Obama's Bottom 10 VP List…Video LINK
ABC News' Jake Tapper: In Inboxes This Morning LINK
POLITICAL VIDEO ON ABCNEWS.COMThe Match Up Begins
Let the general election begin, Sens. McCain and Obama take hits. LINK
9/11 Suspect Appears Before Tribunal
Self-confessed mastermind of terrorist attacks appears in U.S. military court. LINK
Obama's New Focus
Barack Obama looks to general election, campaigns in Virginia. LINK
Clinton Hunkers Down
New York senator stays at D.C. home ahead of big event Saturday. LINK
McCain Interview
GOP presidential hopeful tells Charlie Gibson he's the underdog in the election. LINK
McCain's Challenges Ahead
Senator talks about historical import of race and how badly he want to win. LINK
Obama Dishes Tough Talk to Lieberman
Sen. Obama confronts Sen. Lieberman on Senate floor. LINK
Flashback: RFK Assassination
Watch ABC News coverage of this tragic event from June 1968. LINK
Hillary's Exit Strategy
Sen. Clinton is expected to concede, is she handling her exit in the wrong way? LINK
Why is it So hard for Clinton to Quit
George Stephanopoulos discusses why Hillary Clinton has waited concede. LINK
Obama Finally the Nominee
Sen. Barack Obama talks about his historical nomination. LINK
Obama on How to Win
Sen. Barack Obama discuses what three issues he feels will decide this election. LINK
Obama's Other Family
In Kenya, Barack Obama's extended family celebrates. LINK
Kimmel Breaks Down Obama Speech
"The Worst Political Team on TV" tries to make sense of Obama's speech. LINK
Hillary Steps Down
After a long campaign, the senator will concede. LINK
The Bottom Line on Clinton
George Stephanopoulos talks about the senator dropping out. LINK
Mary Matalin on McCain
The Republican strategist discusses the senator's options. LINK
Obama Says Hardest Part Is Ahead
Candidate talks about the future, and why his daughter isn't impressed by him. LINK