Kennedy Wants 'Leadership,' Not Hillary, for VP

Ted Kennedy vetoed a spot for Hillary Clinton on the Barack Obama ticket, saying their fellow senator needs a running mate “in tune with his appeal for the nobler aspirations of the American people.” He laughed off suggestions of a dream ticket, Politico reports, saying, “I don’t think it’s possible”—and following up, “If we had real leadership … in the No. 2 spot … it’d be enormously helpful.”

A rep later backpedaled, saying “Sen. Kennedy thinks Sen. Clinton is more than qualified to be vice president, but doesn't think it's likely given the tenor of the campaign in recent weeks.” Meanwhile, ABC reports, intermediaries are taking talk of a dream ticket back and forth between the rival Democratic campaigns. (More Ted Kennedy stories.)