Obama dismisses Clinton suggestion that he run as vice presidential candidate on her ticket, saying "I'm not running for vice president. I'm running for president of the United States of America."

COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI, UNITED STATES (MARCH 10, 2008) (NBC) - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama dismissed on Monday (March 10) his rival Hillary Clinton's suggestion that he become her running mate on a Democratic White House ticket headed by her.

"I'm not running for vice president. I'm running for president of the United States of America" and commander-in-chief, Obama told a rally in Mississippi.

"I've won twice as many states as Senator Clinton, I've won more of the popular vote than Senator Clinton, I have more delegates than Senator Clinton, so I don't know how somebody who is in second place is offering the vice presidency to somebody who's in first place," he said.

Clinton and her husband former President Bill Clinton in recent days have talked up the idea of a joint ticket. But Obama's supporters have suggested that was little more than political manoeuvring by Clinton, who is lagging in the race to become the Democratic nominee to face Republican Sen. John McCain in the November election.