Obama 'in secret search for running mate'

DEMOCRATIC officials say Barack Obama has begun a top-secret search for a running mate.

Democratic officials said yesterday that the party's likely presidential nominee has asked Jim Johnson, the former chief executive of the US government-sponsored mortgage giant Fannie Mae, to begin vetting potential vice-presidential picks. Johnson did the same job for Democratic nominees John Kerry in 2004 and Walter Mondale in 1984.

Mr Obama refused to acknowledge Mr Johnson's role when asked about it.

"I'm not paying him any money. He is a friend of mine," Mr Obama said. "I am not commenting on vice-presidential matters because I have not won this nomination."

Party officials spoke on a condition of anonymity about a process the campaign wants to keep quiet. Vice-presidential searches are usually closely-held secrets, but Obama campaign officials say the effort is being handled by a particularly tight circle.