Obama, McCain quietly begin searching for VP nominees

WASHINGTON -- Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain are taking quiet steps to choose their running mates, fresh signs that the presidential race is rapidly moving toward their general election matchup and the race for the Democratic nomination is over.

McCain has a head-start in the vice presidential search, with Obama still fighting off a persistent longshot opponent in Hillary Rodham Clinton. While the Republican candidate will be getting better acquainted with three potential picks during a weekend gathering at his home, Obama's team is in the early stages of compiling background information on possible running mates.

Obama, who is just 61 delegates away from the total needed for the nomination, reached out to Jewish voters in Florida on Thursday, promising an "unshakable commitment" to Israel if he is elected. Obama stresses that he wouldn't negotiate with the militant Palestinian group Hamas.

Some Jewish voters are turned off by Obama's willingness to negotiate with countries like Iran and Syria. Others reject him because of e-mails spreading false rumors about him.

Speaking a town hall meeting at a synagogue in Boca Raton, the Illinois senator also said he hopes his presidency will help improve strained relations between American black and Jewish communities. Obama could become the first black president.

Obama also was lavishing attention on Florida in a bid to heal a rift that could cost the party the populous state in the November general election. The state, and Michigan, were stripped of national convention delegates for flouting party rules and holding early contests. Party officials meet May 31 to discuss a solution.

Meanwhile, Democratic officials said Obama's campaign is quietly scouting for a running mate, with former Fannie Mae CEO Jim Johnson overseeing the early vetting, which allows for a quick start. Johnson won't be starting from scratch, since he did the same job for Democratic nominees John Kerry in 2004 and Walter Mondale in 1984.

Many of the people Johnson vetted for Kerry will be likely candidates for Obama's consideration. Those names included Hillary Clinton, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, anti-war Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel and Kerry's eventual choice of former Sen. John Edwards.

Obama refused to acknowledge the role of Johnson, one of his top fundraisers, when The Associated Press asked the Illinois senator about it in the Capitol Thursday. Obama said he hasn't hired Johnson, whom he called a friend. "I am not commenting on vice presidential matters because I have not won this nomination," Obama said.

The Democratic officials who revealed Johnson's role spoke on a condition of anonymity because Obama has insisted that the process be kept quiet.

Clinton spokesman Howard Wolfson said Obama's vice presidential selection process "is clearly premature in that he is not yet the nominee." He also said the Clinton campaign didn't have a similar process under way and there had been no discussions with the Obama campaign about her becoming Obama's No. 2.

Some Democrats are calling on Obama to pick Clinton as his vice president.

Obama leads Clinton in the delegate count and it is virtually impossible for her to catch up with only three primaries remaining. Obama has 1,965 delegates to Clinton's 1,780, with 2,026 needed to win the nomination.

On the Republican side, the vice presidential speculation about McCain has been going on for months, fueled in part by the candidate himself. Last month, he told reporters he was in the "embryonic stages" of the search with a list of about 20 names.

This weekend McCain is hosting at least three Republicans mentioned as potential vice presidential running mates at his Sedona, Arizona, home _ Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. A top aide said it's a social event with more than two dozen guests not meant for vice presidential vetting, but the socializing is a prime opportunity for would-be running mates.

On Thursday, McCain tackled a thornier issue, rejecting the months-old endorsement of an influential Texas televangelist after a recording surfaced in which the preacher said God sent Adolf Hitler to help Jews reach the promised land.

McCain called the Rev. John Hagee's comments "deeply offensive and indefensible." He said was not aware of Hagee's endorsement but that he rejected it. Hagee quickly responded by withdrawing the endorsement.

Hagee also has made anti-Catholic remarks, referring to the Roman Catholic Church as "the great whore" and a "false cult system."

The Democratic primaries will draw to a close June 3. Three contests remain: Puerto Rico, South Dakota and Montana. However, the deciding delegates are likely to come from superdelegates - party officials who can vote for whomever they want _ because there are not enough pledged delegates from the primaries and caucuses left for a candidate to make it to the 2,026 mark.

Clinton has pushed for Florida and Michigan delegates to be counted, hoping that it would keep her campaign afloat. While Clinton won Michigan's and Florida's primaries, neither she nor Obama campaigned in either state and Obama kept his name off the Michigan ballot.

Obama's camp has begun turning its focus to the general election, rapidly adding to its staff, both at the headquarters and in general election swing states. Obama has been traveling to some of those battlegrounds - Missouri, Michigan, Iowa and Florida in the last nine days - while the campaign is registering voters across the country.

Obama plans to mix primary and general election campaign travel in the next week, with stops in Nevada, New Mexico and Colorado.

(Agencies)