Clintons 'desperately needed' by Obama

Democratic US presidential candidate Barack Obama said today he “desperately needed” the Clintons in his campaign.

Mr Obama hailed his former rival Hillary Clinton as a leader and a friend as she joined him in her home state of New York for their second joint fundraiser in two days.

The 46-year-old Illinois senator, who denied America the chance of its first female president by defeating Mrs Clinton in a fierce primary battle, was speaking as speculation continued over the possibility of a joint Obama-Clinton ticket in November’s general election.

He said he and Mrs Clinton had “started on different paths in this campaign” but added she had an “unyielding desire to improve the lives of ordinary Americans”.

“I admire her as a leader; I’ve learned from her as a candidate; I’m proud to call her my friend,” he told an audience of around 2,000 predominantly female supporters for the Women for Obama finance breakfast.

“I know that I desperately need her and Bill Clinton involved in this campaign and I am absolutely convinced that if we are working together, and all the women in this room are working together, there is no way we’re going to lose in November.”

Mr Obama came on to the stage with the 60-year-old New York senator at his side before sitting with his arms folded, occasionally clapping, while she introduced him to their supporters.

But during Mr Obama’s speech, Mrs Clinton chose to stand a step closer to her former rival, with her arms by her side.

The Grand Ballroom of the Hilton Towers in Midtown Manhattan was filled with 178 circular tables, each hosting 11 potential fundraisers for the Obama campaign. On the balcony, hundreds of supporters sat around smaller tables.

A fruit starter, along with an assortment of bagels and pastries, awaited each guest, with orange juice, water and coffee for the 8am start of the Women for Obama finance breakfast.

Mr Obama, who arrived more than 20 minutes late, stood in front of a 20ft-wide blue banner declaring the Obama campaign’s slogan: “Change we can believe in”.

It was the second time the pair have appeared together at a fundraiser in two days and the presence of vice presidential search team member Caroline Kennedy on the campaign plane yesterday fuelled further speculation about the former rivals running together.

Their joint appearance also came the day after the pair had voted differently on a Senate bill to broaden wiretap powers, which was supported by President George Bush .

Mr Obama said he opposed giving legal immunity to the phone companies that took part in the National Security Agency’s wiretapping programme, but ended up voting for what he called “an improved but imperfect bill”.

But Mrs Clinton voted against the bill.