WASHINGTON, July 27: Democratic White House hopeful Barack Obama said on Sunday that he will pick a vice presidential running mate who will “help me govern” and not just somebody “who I send off to go to funerals.” Obama, in an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press, said his vice presidential choice would be “somebody who can help me govern, who I can work with, who has a shared vision.” “I’m not interested in a vice president who I send off to go to funerals,” he said. “I want somebody who is going to roll up their sleeves and be willing to work.” The Illinois senator declined to name any possible running mates, but repeated that his rival for the Democratic nomination, former first lady Hillary Clinton, would be on his “short list.”

“I think Hillary Clinton would be on anybody’s short list,” he said. “She is one of the most effective, intelligent, courageous leaders that we have in the Democratic Party.”

Obama also said that he would welcome help on the campaign trail from former president Bill Clinton.

“I think not only do I want Hillary Clinton campaigning with me, I want Bill Clinton, one of the smartest men in the history of politics, involved in our campaign.”—AFP