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Democrats prepare for next battle Obama spurns double ticket hints
(about 15 hours later)
Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are preparing to do battle in Mississippi, as they compete to be the Democratic Party's choice to stand for president. Barack Obama has dismissed the idea of becoming Hillary Clinton's running mate in the US presidential election.
Mr Obama, who polls suggest will win the state's primary on Tuesday, is due to hold two campaign events there. In recent days the Clinton campaign has repeatedly suggested a "dream ticket" combining the two Democratic Party candidates might be a possibility.
Mrs Clinton, who was in Mississippi at the end of last week, has now headed to Pennsylvania, due to vote on 22 April. But Mr Obama said the proposal made no sense because he was ahead in the race.
Meanwhile John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, has embarked on a nationwide fundraising drive. Mrs Clinton and Mr Obama are gearing up for Tuesday's primary in Mississippi, the latest in the battle for the Democratic party nomination.
The Arizona senator was due in St Louis, Missouri, on Monday, followed by events in New York on Tuesday, Boston on Wednesday and other unannounced cities through the week. Polls suggest Mr Obama is leading in the state. At stake are 33 delegates to the August convention where the party will choose its candidate for the White House.
'Choice'
"I don't know how somebody who is in second place is offering the vice presidency to somebody who is in first place," he told a rally in Columbus, Mississippi.
"I don't want anybody here thinking that somehow 'well, you know, maybe I can get both.' Don't think that way. You have to make a choice in this election."
"I'm not running for vice president. I am running for president of the United States of America," he added. "I am running to be commander-in-chief."
In a challenge to suggestions from the Clinton campaign that he does not have enough foreign policy experience to be president, he asked: "If I'm not ready, how is it that you think I would be such a great vice president?"Hillary Clinton was campaigning in Pennsylvania
But Howard Wolfson, a spokesman for Mrs Clinton, defended her campaign's position:
"The answer to that is that Senator Clinton will not choose any candidate who has not at the time of choosing passed the national security threshold. Period."
"But we have a long way to go between now and Denver [where the party convention will be held], and it is not something that she would rule out at this point," he said.
Mrs Clinton headed to Pennsylvania, reflecting the state's importance as the rivals' next major battleground.
The state is due to vote on 22 April with 158 delegates up for grabs.
"A lot of Democrats like us both and have been very hopeful that they wouldn't have to make a choice - but obviously Democrats have to make a choice and I'm looking forward to getting the nomination," she said.
McCain fundraising
Meanwhile John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, had a medical check-up and declared to reporters that he was free of cancer.
The Arizona senator has face questions about his health after a bout of skin cancer in 2000.
This week, Mr McCain has embarked on a nationwide fundraising drive.
The Arizona senator flew to St Louis, Missouri, on Monday. Further events were scheduled in New York on Tuesday, Boston on Wednesday and other unannounced cities through the week.
Mr McCain, who is set to secure the Republican nomination at the party's national convention in September after winning the backing of a majority of delegates, is under pressure to build up a campaign war-chest ahead of November's election.Mr McCain, who is set to secure the Republican nomination at the party's national convention in September after winning the backing of a majority of delegates, is under pressure to build up a campaign war-chest ahead of November's election.
His Democratic rivals have been attracting record donations, meaning the eventual nominee is likely to have plenty to spend on running against him.His Democratic rivals have been attracting record donations, meaning the eventual nominee is likely to have plenty to spend on running against him.
Black votersBlack voters
Mr Obama goes into the Mississippi primary vote buoyed by a win in caucuses held in Wyoming at the weekend, which gave him seven delegates to Mrs Clinton's five.Mr Obama goes into the Mississippi primary vote buoyed by a win in caucuses held in Wyoming at the weekend, which gave him seven delegates to Mrs Clinton's five.
Barack Obama won Wyoming and is expected to do well in Mississippi DEMOCRATIC DELEGATE RACE BARACK OBAMA: 1,578 Delegates won on 8 March: 7States won: 25 HILLARY CLINTON: 1,468 Delegates won on 8 March: 5States won: 16 Delegates needed to secure nomination: 2,025.
He was due to hold rallies in the cities of Columbus and Jackson on Monday as he seeks to win a majority of the 33 delegates at stake in Mississippi. Source: AP at 0015 GMT 9 March class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7282227.stm">Dirty dogfight class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7287595.stm">Can Clinton win?
The Illinois senator is expected to do well in the southern state, where black voters - who have heavily supported him in previous primaries - make up a majority of Democratic voters.The Illinois senator is expected to do well in the southern state, where black voters - who have heavily supported him in previous primaries - make up a majority of Democratic voters.
Mr Obama currently has a total of 1,578 delegates against 1,468 for his rival, according to the Associated Press news agency. It takes 2,025 to secure the party's nomination.Mr Obama currently has a total of 1,578 delegates against 1,468 for his rival, according to the Associated Press news agency. It takes 2,025 to secure the party's nomination.
At campaign stops in Mississippi on Friday, Mrs Clinton focused on the need for greater urgency in rebuilding communities devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.At campaign stops in Mississippi on Friday, Mrs Clinton focused on the need for greater urgency in rebuilding communities devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Former President Bill Clinton also campaigned in the state at the weekend, when he argued that a joint presidential bid with his wife heading the ticket and Mr Obama as her vice-president "would be an almost unstoppable force".Former President Bill Clinton also campaigned in the state at the weekend, when he argued that a joint presidential bid with his wife heading the ticket and Mr Obama as her vice-president "would be an almost unstoppable force".
Mrs Clinton was due to hold a rally in Scranton, Pennsylvania, on Monday, reflecting the state's importance as the rivals' next major battleground, with 158 delegates up for grabs.
Postal ballot?
Meanwhile, Democratic party officials continue to discuss proposals for re-staging primary ballots in the big states of Florida and Michigan.
DEMOCRATIC DELEGATE RACE BARACK OBAMA: 1,578 Delegates won on 8 March: 7States won: 25 HILLARY CLINTON: 1,468 Delegates won on 8 March: 5States won: 16 Delegates needed to secure nomination: 2,025.
Source: AP at 0015 GMT 9 March Dirty dogfightCan Clinton win? Both states breached party rules by holding primary elections before 5 February and therefore their delegates will not be seated at the party's August national convention. This means they cannot vote on who should be the Democratic presidential candidate.
Mrs Clinton's campaign would be keen to see the state's delegates counted or the primaries re-run because she won both, although Mr Obama's name was not on the ballot in Michigan.
Speaking on US network CBS on Sunday, Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean said a postal ballot might be an option.
Mr Dean also made it clear that he did not want the rivalry between the two candidates to damage the party.
"If we have to sit the two candidates together, or their campaigns down together, and try to figure out how to make peace and have a convention that's going to work, then that's fine," he told the ABC television network.
No agreement has been reached on how any repeat ballot in Michigan and Florida would be paid for.