Democrats look to unify against McCain

WASHINGTON, May 18 (UPI) -- Top Democratic Party leaders discussed plans to mount a united campaign against presumptive Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain, officials said.

Fundraisers for Sens. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., met at the Ritz-Carlton in Washington last week to honor a prominent Clinton supporter, former Treasury secretary Robert Rubin, co-hosted by Obama supporter former South Dakota Sen. Tom Daschle.

The meeting followed an announcement by the Democratic National Committee that both campaigns signed a "joint fundraising agreement" that pools donations for the general election as a unification gesture, The Washington Post said Sunday.

DNC Chairman Howard Dean said at the meeting he is ready to launch a party plan to take on McCain despite the protracted Democratic presidential contest.

As Obama's lead in the contest grows insurmountable, the Post said, party officials say the best way to unite Democrats is for Obama to embrace a Clinton supporter as his pick for a vice presidential contender.