Politics

WASHINGTON (CBS) ― Shortly before a private Thursday night meeting with defeated rival Sen. Hillary Clinton, presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama talked with CBS 2 Political Editor Mike Flannery about his astounding rise from South Side state senator to presumptive Presidential nominee.

Obama said he plans to spend the next few days at home in Hyde Park with his family. He already appeared to be more relaxed than at any time since this campaign began 16 months ago.

In the after-glow of victory, Obama was in an expansive mood this evening. After greeting CBS 2 Political Editor Mike Flannery by saying "Hey, Flannery! What's happening, brother?" he took a moment to acknowledge and shake hands with an intern.

"She's dressed better than we are!" Obama joked.

Obama and Flannery chatted while adjusting microphones and camera. They met more than a decade ago, when Obama was an obscure member of the Illinois General Assembly. Few would have dreamed he'd ever be this close to the White House.

"Who would have thunk it? It's all those workouts we did, Flannery," Obama said.

A few minutes earlier, Obama had been hailed at a rally by two potential vice-presidential running mates, Virginia Sen. Jim Webb and Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine. But he said the day's most powerful moment had been an encounter with a 95-year old African-American man who gave him a walking stick.

"You think 'What has that guy lived through?' And he comes up and just carved a stick for you. … It was a powerful moment."

Obama was still getting used to the impact of seemingly-small things, such as the fist-pound his wife offered as he claimed victory Tuesday night.

"Michelle and I, we do little silly things together and that was just something sort of something spontaneous. It wasn't something we thought through. I'm surprised how much attention the fist pound has gotten. When I was going out there to shake hands with the people who were behind us, they were all giving me the pound."

Obama also ridiculed the notion that he'd even consider a presidential pardon for his former fundraiser Tony Rezko, now convicted on corruption charges.

"How could you give … that person a pardon versus somebody else? What, because I know the guy? Come on, that's insulting."

Obama said he spoke with GOP rival John McCain Wednesday night and Obama said they plan to hold more than the three debates than have traditionally been held in recent presidential elections.

He also said that, in terms of the 2016 Olympics, it's pretty neat to think that, if elected president and re-elected in 2012, he might be able to preside over the Olympic Games just blocks from his South Side home should Chicago be selected to host the 2016 Summer Games. 

Earlier, Obama and Clinton met in private in Washington, D.C.

Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs said the two former rivals wanted to talk about "bringing their campaigns together in unity."

The meeting comes two days before Clinton planned to officially end her campaign and endorse Obama on Saturday at a farewell rally in Washington. Although an Internet campaign has begun to petition Obama to choose her as his running mate, Clinton has distanced herself from efforts to put her on Obama's ticket.

Obama has also insisted he won't be rushed into picking a running mate and has selected a three-person team to help him make his choice.

(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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