Obama lavishes praise on Clinton

Barack Obama, the new presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, made sure to praise Hillary Clinton again in opening his speech this morning to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

He called her an "extraordinary candidate, an extraordinary public servant," and "a true friend of Israel."

"I'm very proud to have competed against her," he said.

UPDATE: As reported by the Politico, Obama told reporters on Capitol Hill that he talked to Clinton today.

"I just spoke to her today, and we are going to be having a conversation in the coming weeks. I am very confident about how unified the Democratic Party is going to be to win in November," he said.

Asked whether Clinton had given him any indication that she’d be dropping out of the race, Obama replied: “It wasn’t a detailed conversation.”

Clinton, however, still hasn't acknowledged her defeat.

Indeed, she hasn't gone as far as President Bush, who has congratulated Obama on his victory to become the first African-American nominee for a major party.

White House press secretary Dana Perino told reporters this morning, "Senator Obama came a long way in becoming his party's nominee. And his historic achievement reflects the fact that our country has come along way, too."

And Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called Obama's nomination an "extraordinary" development for the United States.

Clinton is scheduled to speak before AIPAC later this morning.