US Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton held a private meeting late on Thursday, their campaigns said, amid feverish speculation over whom he will choose as his vice presidential running mate.
“Senator Clinton and Senator Obama met tonight and had a productive discussion about the important work that needs to be done to succeed in [the election in] November,” their campaigns said in a joint statement, US media reported.
No further details were given on the talks, but the news — and the secrecy — only fueled rumors about a possible Clinton role in Obama’s campaign.
The former first lady had earlier sought to quash any suggestion that she was agitating to be picked as Obama’s vice president after he won their epic battle for the Democratic Party’s White House nomination on Tuesday.
“She is not seeking the vice presidency, and no one speaks for her but her,” her campaign said. “The choice here is Senator Obama’s and his alone.”
The brief statement made no mention of whether the New York senator would be willing to accept the job if it were offered.
With scant information about Thursday’s meeting made available, speculation was rife.
The New York Times reported that Clinton initiated the meeting in Washington after a day of talks between their aides. Obama was campaigning in Virginia and canceled a planned flight home to Chicago to be there.
Obama has said he would not be bounced into a choice as a three-member team began to vet vice presidential contenders on his behalf.
Interviewed by CNN on Thursday, he reiterated a line he used repeatedly on the primary campaign trial: “Senator Clinton would be on anybody’s shortlist.”
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