RI Sen. Reed denies interest in vice presidency

[Ron Burgundy]

AP - Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island said Monday he was not interested in being Democrat Barack Obama's running mate.

Reed, a West Point graduate and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, is scheduled to accompany Obama to Iraq and Afghanistan. Reed described the vice presidential spot as a "position which I have no interest in," adding he has not been asked by Obama's campaign to provide information that could be used to scrutinize running mates.

"There are people that are spending a lot of time, one, looking for candidates, and ... trying to promote themselves as candidates," Reed said. "And I'm in neither category."

Reed said he was focused on winning a third term in the Senate and doesn't take seriously much of the discussion surrounding him as a possible vice presidential candidate.

Speculation about whether Reed could be chosen for Democratic ticket increased after Obama said Reed and Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, both military veterans, would go with him to Iraq and Afghanistan. Reed would not give a more specific timeframe for the trip on Monday.

The three senators are interested in finding out more about what is happening on the ground there, including details about an upsurge of violence in Afghanistan, Reed said. In Iraq, he said pending issues include the status of forces agreement detailing the powers U.S. troops will have there, provincial elections in the fall and integrating Sunnis into the government.

When asked whether he could envision Hagel as Obama's pick, Reed said he could see Hagel as "a candidate for many things" but wouldn't speculate further.

source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080714/ap_on_el_pr/reed_obama [link]