Prometheus 6

Johnson said he believes Clinton understands that is it important now for her to recognize Obama as the presumptive Democratic nominee.

All that experience, and she just figured it out? I don't think so.

Maybe the Clintons sold shares in their campaign and Johnson is protecting his investment.

Clinton's Vice Presidential Campaign
By Dan Balz

Hillary Clinton is "absolutely ready" to discuss the vice presidency with Barack Obama and has authorized supporters to encourage Obama to pick her if he feels that will help unify the party and help Democrats win the White House, according to Robert Johnson, the founder of Black Entertainment Television and a prominent Clinton supporter.

Johnson said he began discussing the vice presidency with Clinton last month and that they talked about it at a dinner in Puerto Rico last Saturday and again by phone and e-mail on Tuesday. "Let me be clear," Johnson said in a telephone interview Wednesday morning. "She said if asked to do this, she must accept because she believes that it is in the best interest of the party that the party come together and win in November."

Johnson launched an effort to create an Obama-Clinton ticket Wednesday morning with a letter to Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.), who endorsed Obama on Tuesday morning. In the letter, Johnson said the best way to unify the party is with an Obama-Clinton ticket. "I believe that the most important step that you can take now is to encourage the Congressional Black Caucus to urge Senator Obama to select Senator Hillary Clinton as his Vice Presidential running mate," he wrote.

Johnson said he talked specifically with Clinton on Tuesday about his intentions. "She said, 'Go ahead,'" he recalled, although she asked that he wait until Wednesday to do so.