Obama selects adviser to oversee vice presidential search

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

Democratic officials said today the party’s likely presidential nominee had asked former Jim Johnson, the former CEO of 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.

The Democratic officials spoke on a condition of anonymity about a process that the campaign wanted to keep quiet.

Vice presidential searches are usually closely held secrets, but Obama campaign officials said the effort was being handled by a particularly tight circle of advisers.

The campaign also did not want to discuss the effort because they are still engaged in a fading primary campaign against Hillary Rodham Clinton. Obama has repeatedly declined to discuss possible running mates while the primary continues.

But they are taking behind-the-scenes steps to move toward the general election campaign, with just over 60 delegates needed to clinch the nomination.

The Obama campaign is rapidly adding to its campaign staff, both at the headquarters and in general election swing states. Obama has been travelling to some of those battlegrounds – Missouri, Michigan, Iowa and Florida in the last nine days – while the campaign is registering voters across the country for the November vote. And top Obama organiser Paul Tewes is in discussions to take over the Democratic National Committee.

It is all part of an effort to lay the groundwork for an aggressive kickoff to a general election campaign. Republican John McCain has a head start and has been building his effort for more than three months since the Republican primary wrapped up so much sooner.

McCain is hosting at least three Republicans mentioned as potential vice presidential running mates at his Sedona, Arizona, home this weekend – Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. A top aide said it was a social event with more than two dozen guests not meant for vetting a candidate for the vice presidency.