Kennedy said, without naming names, that Obama should pick someone who "is in tune with his appeal for the nobler aspirations of the American people."

"If we had real leadership - as we do with Barack Obama - in the No. 2 spot as well, it'd be enormously helpful," Kennedy added.

A vice presidential pick with national security credentials would be "useful" though not necessary because Obama, an Illinois senator, has a good understanding of foreign policy, Kennedy said. "I think he's been eloquent, I think he's been incisive, and I think he's been right," he said.

- Bloomberg News

McCain says he did vote for Bush

In a report, Huffington insisted she heard McCain say, at a Los Angeles dinner party after the 2000 election, that he had not voted for Bush.

Two other guests at the party, former West Wing actors Bradley Whitford and Richard Schiff, said they heard McCain say the same thing; they were asked by Huffington to speak Thursday to the New York Times and the Washington Post.

McCain's campaign said she was making up the story to promote a book, and McCain disputed the story.

"I voted, campaigned for, worked as hard as I could for President Bush's election in 2000 and 2004," McCain told reporters. "I voted for President Bush, I said so at the time. I know we're already in silly season, but my record stands very clearly of campaigning all over this nation on behalf of the candidacy of President Bush. It's nonsense."

McCain, now the likely GOP nominee, lost a bitter presidential-primary race in 2000 to Bush. - AP