Ted Kennedy thinks Hillary Clinton too qualified to be VP

New York, May 10 : Veteran Democratic Party Senator Ted Kennedy has already lost favour with Hillary Clinton after he decided not to back her for this year's bid for the White House.

Now, he has gone one step forward, and said that she wouldn't make a good vice-president because the job requires "real leadership."

"I don't think it's possible. And I think if we had real leadership - as we do with Barack Obama - in the number-two spot as well, it'd be enormously helpful," The New York Daily News quoted him, as saying.

A Kennedy spokesman later clarified that Kennedy thinks Clinton is "more than qualified" to be Vice President.

The slapdown came as Clinton struggles to keep her campaign alive after Obama's better-than-expected showings in North Carolina and Indiana primaries last Tuesday.

The former First Lady trails Obama in the popular vote, in pledged delegates and in dollars raised. And on Friday, she all but lost her last remaining edge - her lead among super delegates.

Another nine super delegates came out in support for Obama, while Clinton picked up just one.

That left the former First Lady with 271.5 super delegates, to 271 for Obama, according to an Associated Press tally.

Four months ago, she held a 169-63 lead.

"The election is over, everybody knows that," said Vernon Watkins, a California super delegate who jumped to Obama. "Obama has won."

Clinton is howing no signs of exiting just yet, stumping through Oregon and Kentucky, while husband Bill made five stops in West Virginia, which votes Tuesday.

Obama said nothing at all about Clinton, choosing instead to aim his barbs at presumptive GOP nominee John McCain during a swing through Oregon.

ANI