Obama appoints 3-person team to head VP search

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrat Barack Obama has asked three people, including Caroline Kennedy, to lead a search for a prospective vice presidential running mate, his campaign said on Wednesday.

Kennedy, daughter of former President John Kennedy, will be joined by former Fannie Mae CEO Jim Johnson, who performed the same task for John Kerry in 2004 and Walter Mondale in 1984, and former deputy Attorney General Eric Holder.

"Senator Obama is pleased to have three talented and dedicated individuals managing this rigorous process. He will work closely with them in the coming weeks but ultimately this will be his decision and his alone," spokesman Bill Burton said.

Obama clinched the nomination on Tuesday and will face Republican John McCain in November's U.S. presidential election.

(To read more about the U.S. political campaign, visit Reuters "Tales from the Trail: 2008" online at blogs.reuters.com/trail08/)