Obama invites Clinton to unity meeting

On the precipice of winning the Democratic nomination, Barack Obama today shared a phone conversation he had with rival Hillary Clinton about uniting the party.

"I emphasized to her what an extraordinary race that she's run and said that there aren't too many people who understand exactly how hard she's been working," he told reporters in Waterford, Mich., relating their talk Sunday when he congratulated her on her victory in Puerto Rico.

"I'm one of 'em because she and I have been on this same journey together, and I told her that once the dust settled I was looking forward to meeting with her at a time and place of her choosing. The sooner we can bring the party together, the sooner we can focus on John McCain and taking back the White House."

If Obama indeed clinches the nomination after the Montana and South Dakota primaries Tuesday, that meeting could conceivably come as soon as Wednesday in Washington, where both are scheduled to address the American Israel Public Affairs Committee conference.