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Clinton Talks To Teachers Ready to Endorse Obama

CHICAGO (CBS) ― The LA Times is reporting Barack Obama told a potential donor that Hillary Clinton is on his list of possible running mates.

This weekend, the two senators are appealing to almost two million educators from across the country. They gathered Saturday in Chicago for the American Federation of Teachers Convention. CBS 2's Pamela Jones reports.

Cheers came from some 3,000 convention delegates. Sen. Hillary Clinton thanked them for their support during her bid for the Democratic Presidential Campaign Nomination. Now, she's pledging to continue to work to revamp the country's public schools under an Obama Presidency.

"You care about an education system that works for all of our kids," Clinton said. "A higher education system that once again is open to the children of middle class and low income families."

They are views shared just before Clinton's 20-minute talk by Richard Daley.

"I really believe that if you want to send a person to the moon, you first have to educate people in math and science and technology," Daley said.

It's an issue taking center stage as teachers decide who'll take their vote in November.

"We have teachers constantly bringing money out of their pockets to have to fund what they're trying to do in the classroom and in today's society that's wrong," said Sharon Teefey, a member of the Illinois Federation of Teachers.

"You've got a kid that's coming hungry. Or, no pencils, no pens, and I provide those things, but I also think it's that stability at home," said Minnesota teacher Christine Barthel.

While Sen. Clinton's speech focused on education and the economy, she didn't pass up the chance to take a few jabs at the Republican party.

"The Republicans should hold a press conference tomorrow and apologize to the country and say they're just not going to run anybody for President this time," Clinton said. "It is, I think, beyond the realm of imagination to be embarrassed still by our President."

Clinton says the only way the United States can start solving its problems and be respected in the world is to elect Barack Obama president.

Clinton thanked the teachers union for its earlier support before she suspended her campaign last month and asked the group to help make November "the watershed election it deserves to be."

The former first lady jabbed President Bush and the Republican party, calling Bush's time in office "an aberration."

Obama is scheduled to speak to the teachers via satellite Sunday. That's when the union is expected to endorse him.

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