Speaking Thursday on CNN, Obama said he would take his time choosing a running mate. His pick will not be official until the party convention at the end of August.
"I think everybody just needs to settle down," Obama said. "I think it's both -- not just in my interests and Sen. Clinton's interests, but in the Democratic Party's interests and the country's interest -- to make sure that I make this decision well. And I will be deliberate and systematic about it. . . . I want to make sure I get it right."
Meanwhile, Obama continued to fasten his grip on the Democratic Party and its political machinery, dispatching a top aide to Washington to help run the national committee. Obama also announced that the DNC would no longer accept funds from registered lobbyists or political action committees, the same ban he imposed on his own campaign.
"They will not fund our campaign, they will not run our party, they will not drown out the voices of the American people," said Obama, who is expected to wrestle Republican John McCain throughout the fall for the reform mantle. The Arizona senator cut loose several top advisors after reports of their ties to lobbying and special interests.
In taking control of the DNC, a standard move for the nominee, Obama cast a vote of confidence in Chairman Howard Dean, who will remain.
Many inside the Beltway have blamed Dean for the weak fundraising and criticized his "50-state strategy" to build the party in places where Democrats have struggled. It is a ground-up approach similar to Obama's; the aide he installed to help run the party day to day, Paul Tewes, directed Obama's successful Iowa caucus campaign.
With the primary over, Obama continued to gain support. Among the most significant was that of Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, a Clinton backer who has been mentioned as a prospective Obama running mate. Obama was also endorsed by 23 members of New York's House delegation.
Obama did his part to reach out. He called Rep. Joe Baca (D-Rialto), head of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, about courting Latinos, a constituency that supported Clinton in the primaries.
"There are a lot of doubters in the Hispanic community," Baca said, "and it's going to be the responsibility of every Hispanic leader to go out and get Hispanics to vote for Barack Obama."
As emotions cooled, members of the two campaigns continued a series of quiet discussions about joining forces.
