Barack Obama stoked vice presidential speculation Wednesday with an unannounced stop at the Washington law firm of a search team member and then flying on his campaign jet to New York fundraisers with potential pick Hillary Rodham Clinton and a second vetter.
I'm not going to tell you any details, the smiling likely Democratic nominee told reporters after spending more than two hours inside a downtown Washington office building where attorney Eric Holder, a member of his vice presidential search committee, has offices.
Obama wouldn't say why he visited the building or whom he saw there, and the two top aides at his side — campaign manager David Plouffe and chief strategist David Axelrod — also stayed mum.
The midmorning stop was one of two that weren't on his public schedule, and aides would say only that Obama had private meetings planned while in Washington. They wouldn't provide additional details, including whether Obama had met with Holder, a partner at Covington and Burling. The firm is located just blocks from the White House that Obama hopes to occupy come January.
Later, Obama was appearing with Clinton, his rival-turned ally who is mentioned as a possible running mate, at two fundraisers spanning two days. Vice presidential searcher Caroline Kennedy accompanied the two on the flight from Washington.
Aides were tightlipped about why the trio traveled together other than to cite the fundraisers. Kennedy is to introduce Obama at one fundraiser Wednesday evening, while Clinton introduces him at a second. Obama and Clinton were appearing together at another Thursday morning.
Obama, an Illinois senator, and Clinton, a New York senator, greeted each other on Obama's plane and chatted in the aisle for several minutes before takeoff, but they otherwise didn't speak. Clinton sat in the first row on the right side of the plane; Obama sat in the second row on the left and slept for much of the flight. Kennedy sat at the front of the plane near the two senators.
Earlier Wednesday, Clinton deflected a reporter's inquiry about whether she has given her former opponent's campaign documents to review as part of the vice presidential search, or whether she's even been asked for them.
Obama also spent part of the afternoon at a hotel near the Capitol. His campaign didn't announce that stop either and also refused to disclose details of it.
In a city that revels in the intrigue surrounding a vice presidential pick, Obama's unannounced stops and traveling companions fueled the guessing game about who he would choose for the No. 2 spot on the Democratic ticket — and whether he met with any of them at Holder's office or, perhaps, elsewhere at another time.
Several people thought to be on Obama's list have indicated they lack interest in the job. The latest was Virginia Sen. Jim Webb, who this week said he had told Obama he intended to remain in the Senate and under no circumstances will I be a candidate for vice president.
Both Obama and GOP rival John McCain are trying to keep a tight lid on their searches, including only a small handful of top aides in the discussions to make sure the vetting process is as discrete as possible.
Nonetheless, each candidate is believed to be deep into the process of picking a vice presidential candidate. They may even be to the point of asking potentials for records, such as tax returns, financial holdings, medical documents and military files, or secretly interviewing candidates face-to-face.
So-called short lists of prospects probably exist, given how long both campaigns have been weighing their options. Obama's search committee, made up of Holder and Kennedy, has been working since early June, while McCain's helper, attorney Arthur B. Culvahouse Jr., has been involved in the Republican's efforts for a couple months.
Time is a consideration for both candidates as they narrow their choices, announce their selections — and hope it produces a bump in the polls.
Typically, careful planning goes into the elaborate, staged roll out of a vice presidential pick to get maximum media coverage of what is perhaps the most eagerly anticipated decision a presidential hopeful makes before accepting their party's nomination at the national convention.
Obama is making an overseas trip later this month to Europe and the Middle East, which could make a July announcement difficult. It's also summertime and voters tend to pay little attention to politics, and McCain aides are mindful of that.
The window tightens more on Aug. 8 when the Beijing Olympics opens, running through Aug. 24. The Democratic National Convention in Denver runs Aug. 25-28, immediately followed by the Republican convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul 1-4.
Wednesday's hint that Obama likely is fully engaged in the process began around 9:30 a.m., when his entourage, including a small contingent of reporters, left the Renaissance Mayflower Hotel, presumably to head to his Senate office so he could vote on a couple of bills later in the day.
A few minutes later and surprising even some of his staff, the motorcade pulled over and Obama entered the building housing Holder's law offices through a back door labeled Tenant Entrance Only.
Obama spent most of the day on Capitol Hill for a series of votes, including on a bill overhauling rules on secret government eavesdropping.
By late afternoon, Obama's campaign had disclosed that Clinton and Kennedy would travel on his plane.
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