Clinton Open to Obama as V.P.

By Jonathan Weisman
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) would consider naming her rival for the Democratic nomination as her vice presidential pick, even if for now, she believes Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) is not ready to be the nation's commander in chief, her campaign's chief spokesman said.

Pressed on how Clinton could resolve her interest in Obama as a running mate and her criticism of his defense credentials, Clinton communications director Howard Wolfson said Obama may not be ready to assume the mantle of commander-in-chief now, but he may be by the time Clinton would chose a running mate -- just before August's Democratic National Convention in Denver.

"Sen. Clinton will not choose any candidate who at the time of the choosing, will not pass the commander-in-chief threshold, period," Wolfson said. "But we have a long time between now and Denver."

Wolfson would not elaborate on what Obama would have to do in the coming months to meet Clinton's standards.