It was Col. Mustard, in the Library, with the noose.

Seriously...I don't even try to follow this stuff.  Candidates are "going to the convention" up to the minute they announce they're dropping out.  The double talk and misdirection is plenty to discourage my interest in who's doing what.  

Gee, which way do you think?  Obama camp releases story "someone" from the Clinton camp is talking to us about a VP scenario.  This along with his "top secret" premature search.  Who do you think gave that story to the press?

2nd.  If they actually were having these supposed secret talks, Obama surely shown his absolute lack of integrity to issue a news release on it.

ding ding ding ding....obama is the loser.

Maybe some of her campaign officials have had low-level talks with his, and she wasn't aware of them.  Or, she hasn't given up on the nomination but also wants VP if that doesn't happen (and having rumors of seeking the VP slot would torpedo her remaining chance at the nomination).  I don't know, it doesn't make a lot of sense.

Hillary's surrogates are talking to Obama's surrogates about the possibility of a deal, and the candidates and senior staff are ignorant about what is going on.  That's my best guess.

circulating about this - each with 'well connected anonymous sources' that supposedly 'confirm' them.

My take: it's a relatively slow news cycle, ergo, rumors abound.

Did you catch the late update to the story?

"Late Update: It should be pointed out that the CNN story actually is explicitly sourced to people in Clinton's inner circle. What's more, Hillary's top finance chair today pushed the idea of her as veep."

With all the stories around on this, including in Time and the NY Times, which have Bill Clinton involved in pushing the vp talk, I think that the hubbie has been talking this up.

Also this slimeball who tried to bribe the Young Democrats superdelegates:

In a move that could foreshadow a public push from the Hillary forces to get Barack Obama to invite her on the ticket, Hillary's top campaign fundraising official said in an interview that there's a "risk" that Hillary's political and financial supporters won't get behind Obama in time for him to win in November if she's passed over for the veep slot.

The fundraiser, businessman Hassan Nemazee, is Hillary's leading finance chair and one of the most influential money men in the party. He's the first prominent Hillary campaign official to raise the possiblity of an Obama loss should she not be invited on the ticket, and his comments suggests that this argument could emerge as central to any Clinton camp push to make her veep.
http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsm emo.com/2008/05/hillarys_top_fundraiser_ says_t.php

the BO and a willing press....

float the idea to gauge public opinion and delegitimize her ongoing fight, then when its offered publicly the onus is on her to take or refuse the offer and not matter what BO appears to unify party.

god - this guy a is tactical genius!

We really need McCain to blow his top over something and get the media's mind off this nonsense.

I'll spin the wheel... abortion.  Go.

Mike Gravel is floating the rumors to distract from the blimp armada he and Ron Paul are building.

I don't have time to write a diary on this, but Obama gave a brilliant speech on inter-American relations today in front of a Cuban-American group in Florida:

http://media.miamiherald.com/smedia/2008 /05/23/14/Obama_Speech.source.prod_affil iate.56.pdf

Option Five:

Hillary staffers, knowing their best chance for a job in an Obama administration lies with Clinton on the VP slot, created these rumors for their own benefit.

The rumors probably grew out of Obama's campaign saying something like "...Hillary Clinton is welcome to throw her hat into the ring via the VP vetting process that we are using for everyone."

 If I were to take a guess, I would say that there have been discussions about the need for each to put the other on the ticket. Clinton has already signaled she's fine with this. Democrats who are concerned with winning are very likely telling Obama he needs to as well. Obama's camp has previously signaled they have no interest in Clinton. However, the post-primary polls over the past few weeks are almost certainly having an impact on Mr. I Can Get Her Voters But She Can't Get Mine. So this little solo is anxiety from someone in obama's camp that they are going to need to put Clinton on the ticket. Obama and his supporters have been harsh on Clinton and so this will be a tough journey for them. But he is going to need her supporters and this may be the only way for him to get them onboard.

"Several close friends and supporters of Hillary Clinton tell CNN they are pushing for a 'graceful exit strategy' that would allow the Clinton and Obama camps to come together, and for the New York senator to save face should she fail to become the Democratic nominee for president."

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/