June 09, 2008	Monday	Jamadi-us-Sani 04, 1429

WASHINGTON, June 8: From Iraq to diplomacy, via healthcare and jobs, the battle for the US presidency took shape on Sunday with only two viable contenders left standing: Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain.

After Hillary Clinton’s departure from the Democratic race and full-throated endorsement of Obama on Saturday, supporters of the Illinois senator and McCain hammered the main themes that will define November’s election.

But the former first lady was not entirely out of the picture yet, with Clinton surrogates flagging up her 18 million primary votes to press her qualification to be vice president in an Obama administration.

“I’ve looked at every other possible candidate. No one brings to a ticket what Hillary brings,” California Senator Dianne Feinstein, who hosted a hush-hush meeting between the two Democrats late on Thursday, told ABC News.

Clinton campaign spokesman Howard Wolfson reaffirmed that the New York senator was “not seeking” the vice presidency under Obama, 46.

But asked on CBS if she would accept an offer from her former adversary, Wolfson said: “She has said during the campaign and she says now that she will do whatever she can and whatever she’s asked. “This is Senator Obama’s decision. It’s totally up to him,” he said, as the Democrats’ new champion prepared to head deep into Republican territory with a nationwide economic tour starting in North Carolina on Monday.

Tim Kaine, Virginia’s Democratic governor who is also touted as a possible VP pick for Obama, said the 71-year-old McCain’s long years as a Washington insider had resulted only in serial errors with grievous consequences.

“We’ve seen Washington make blunder after blunder in this decision about (going) to war in Iraq and in the course that they have pursued,” Kaine told Fox News Sunday.

“And Senator McCain has said that we’re going to keep pursuing that course.” Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, a Republican mentioned as a potential VP nominee for McCain, portrayed Obama as a tax-and-spend liberal who was dangerously wrong on the Iraq war and on his desire to meet leaders of US foes.—AFP