Obama VP Mention Campaigns for McCain

By Perry Bacon Jr.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- You can officially take James Jones off the list of Barack Obama's potential running mates.

The former commandant of the Marine Corps and commander of U.S. forces in Europe, whose name emerged from meetings Obama's vice-presidential team had on Capitol Hill last week, appeared at an energy event here with his longtime friend, Arizona Sen. John McCain.

Jones, a Missouri native, flew on McCain's plane from Washington to the event, and a McCain aide said Jones was a backer of the Arizona senator.

It was unclear if Obama's team had suggested Jones' name or if members of Congress had suggested it, and the Illinios senator has pledged to keep his process of picking a running mate secret until he announces the vice-presidential nominee.