Obama considers wide range for VP

WASHINGTON, June 11 (UPI) -- Likely Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama is considering an array of potential running mates, including former military leaders, a U.S. senator says.

Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., Tuesday discussed about 20 names with a three-person search team named by Sen. Obama, D-Ill., to narrow down the possibilities, a list that included current politicians, former lawmakers and retired military leaders, CNN reported Wednesday.

Conrad reportedly refused to name names, but he did say some of those discussed were people who have been widely considered likely and others who have not.

Conrad told the network that two members of Obama's search team, Jim Johnson and Eric Holder, came to his Washington office Tuesday and held a meeting that lasted about 40 minutes, a day after the committee held similar meetings with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.

CNN said some of the vice presidential front-runners include one-time Democratic presidential candidate hopefuls Sens. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., Joseph Biden, D-Del., and Chris Dodd, D-Conn., and John Edwards, as well as New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson.