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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Obama spurns double ticket hints | Obama spurns double ticket hints |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Barack Obama has dismissed the idea of becoming Hillary Clinton's running mate in the US presidential election. | Barack Obama has dismissed the idea of becoming Hillary Clinton's running mate in the US presidential election. |
| In recent days the Clinton campaign has repeatedly suggested a "dream ticket" combining the two Democratic Party candidates might be a possibility. | In recent days the Clinton campaign has repeatedly suggested a "dream ticket" combining the two Democratic Party candidates might be a possibility. |
| But Mr Obama said the proposal made no sense because he was ahead in the race. | But Mr Obama said the proposal made no sense because he was ahead in the race. |
| Mrs Clinton and Mr Obama are gearing up for Tuesday's primary in Mississippi, the latest in the battle for the Democratic party nomination. | Mrs Clinton and Mr Obama are gearing up for Tuesday's primary in Mississippi, the latest in the battle for the Democratic party nomination. |
| 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. | 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' | '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 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 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." | "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 | 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: | 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. | "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. | 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. | 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. | "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 | McCain fundraising |
| Meanwhile John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, had a medical check-up and declared to reporters that he was free of cancer. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 voters | Black 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. |
| 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. | 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? | Source: AP at 0015 GMT 9 March Dirty dogfightCan 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". |