The Associated Press reports that former Fannie Mae CEO Jim Johnson has been asked by Senator Obama to begin vetting candidates for the Vice Presidency spot on his ticket. The report also states the Senator denies that the search has begun, saying Johnson is not on the payroll or has any official role, but did not outright deny that Johnson was asked to begin a search. Democratic officials on anonymity are pushing the story.

Johnson conducted similar searches for John Kerry in 2004 and Walter Mondale in 1984. This report follows an earlier one quoting an unnamed Obama official who said supporters of Senator Clinton were pushing hard for her place on the ticket.