Will Clinton take the Obama's offer of the VP spot? How important is Hamas to the nomination?

Obama makes clearest hint that Clinton could be running mate
guardian.co.uk - UK

Hillary Clinton at a fundraiser in Washington, DC. Photograph: Robyn Beck/AFP

Barack Obama yesterday gave the clearest hint yet that he may consider Hillary Clinton as his vice-presidential running mate in the November election for the White House. With the campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination close to finished as a contest, Obama began looking beyond his battles with Clinton to the one with the Republican John McCain.

Victory In Two Weeks, Obama Says
National Post - Toronto,Ontario,Canada

WASHINGTON - Barack Obama predicted yesterday he could wrap up the Democratic presidential nomination within two weeks, potentially ending an exhausting 17-month campaign that has both re-energized and deeply divided his party.

But even as the Illinois Senator exuded confidence, enjoying a jovial backslapping return to Capitol Hill, Democrats were jolted as his rival Hillary Clinton appealed for support along racial lines.

McCain, Obama trade jabs over Hamas
Boston Globe - United States
Globe Staff / May 9, 2008

Barack Obama and John McCain have pledged a civil campaign, but a war of words erupted yesterday over McCain's suggestion that the terrorist group Hamas prefers Obama for president.

Obama, taking a tougher line with the presumptive Republican nominee, said McCain was trying to smear him and was "losing his bearings."

"This is offensive and I think it's disappointing, because John McCain always says, 'Well, I'm not going to run that kind of politics,' " Obama said in an interview yesterday with CNN.

"For him to toss out comments like that I think is an example of him losing his bearings as he pursues this nomination," the Democratic front-runner added.

Obama picks up another Washington superdelegate
Seattle Post Intelligencer - USA

By GREGORY ROBERTS
P-I REPORTER

U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen of Lake Stevens added his name Thursday to the growing list of Democratic superdelegates endorsing Sen. Barack Obama for the party's presidential nomination.

"I believe that Senator Obama is frankly the best candidate to turn our country's hopes for a better future into reality," Larsen said. "This week, Senator Obama has proven he is tough and resilient. He has shown he can take a pounding but come back and deliver to the public his message of hope and change."

McCain earnings trail Obama, Clinton
USA Today - USA

By Matt Kelley and David Jackson, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — Republican presidential hopeful John McCain reported earning $405,409 last year and paid $118,660 in taxes, according to tax returns released Friday that did not include many details of his wife's wealth.

The presumptive GOP nominee also reported income of $358,414 in 2006 and $96,933 in taxes paid.

McCain's reported total includes some income earned by his wife, Cindy, heiress to one of the nation's largest beer distributorships. She keeps many of her finances separate from her husband, an Arizona senator.

On his own, McCain earned $361,373 last year and $264,169 in 2006. McCain's earnings over the last two years are far less than what Democratic rivals Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama reported.

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