Obama won't pick VP for funeral duty

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2008

WASHINGTON (AFP) — Democratic White House hopeful Barack Obama said Sunday that he will pick a vice presidential running mate who will "help me govern" and not just somebody "who I send off to go to funerals."

Obama, in an interview with NBC's Meet the Press, said his vice presidential choice would be "somebody who can help me govern, who I can work with, who has a shared vision."

"I'm not interested in a vice president who I send off to go to funerals," he said. "I want somebody who is going to roll up their sleeves and be willing to work."

The Illinois senator declined to name any possible running mates, but repeated that his rival for the Democratic nomination, former first lady Hillary Clinton, would be on his "short list."

"I think Hillary...