IRISH American supporters of Senator Hillary Clinton are hoping that Senator Barack Obama will place her on the ticket, and they want to see a far greater outreach to the Irish American community by Obama. In a widely reported move on Tuesday, Clinton told New York lawmakers that she is open to being Obama's running mate.Former Democratic Congressman Bruce Morrison, a long-time supporter of the Clintons told the Irish Voice, "Well it's never over till it's over, but obviously it's very close to being over. Obama is very close to having a combination of pledged delegates and superdelegates that gets to a majority. "It's been a very close race, and I'm disappointed that Senator Clinton is not going to be the nominee."To heal any divisions within the party that may have arisen over a very close race, Morrison said that he hoped that Obama would offer Clinton the vice presidential slot. "That will help all of their supporters to coalesce around the candidates and it would make for a strong ticket in November," he feels.Attorney John Dearie, the former New York State Assemblyman and creator of the Irish American Presidential Forum, told the Irish Voice, "I'm a Democrat and I certainly intend to support the Democratic candidate. "Speaking with Irish glasses on, I have to say that we eagerly await hearing some more reaction from Senator Obama to the past policies of the government as it affects Irish involvement in the peace process, the economic development in Ireland and the issues clustered around the Irish American political agenda."Asked if he saw the prospects improving for Obama's participation in the Irish Presidential Forum now that the nomination is finally in sight, Dearie responded, "This is not an advertisement for Obama to participate in our forum. I think it is fair to say that of the three candidates he is the one candidate that so far who has had less to say about issues that are of paramount interest to the Irish community. "I think he has his work cut out for him in several areas reaching the Catholic vote - and if we can be parochial for a minute - the Irish vote in particular. We're all ears. We haven't heard much thus far but now is the time to start hearing these responses."Dearie added, "I would certainly think that his campaign well understands the importance of responding to the Irish vote and in a more general way the Catholic vote. There are too many votes and it's a blank slate in his resume." The vice chairman of the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform (ILIR) Ciaran Staunton expressed his hope that Obama would reach out to the ethnic lobbies he has so far resisted.Echoing Tip O'Neill's famous quote that all politics is local, Staunton said, "The Irish lobby has had a good working relationship with Hillary Clinton and John McCain. They've come to our rallies in New York and Washington. "We're disappointed with the lack of reaction from the Obama campaign to date. We invited them to our rally in Washington and I'm not sure if they're getting no advice or bad advice, but clearly whoever wants to be in the White House next year should reach out to the Irish American community. I hope the Obama campaign will reach out and make some inroads."Staunton reflected on the presidential campaign run by Al Gore in 2000, claiming that many Irish Americans were unhappy with the campaign Gore waged and believe that he passed up several key opportunities to score points with Irish Americans only too anxious to side with him.Added Staunton, "I would hope that the Clinton campaign will advise the Obama campaign to reach out to Irish America now. Don't forget the earlier comments by the Obama team they weren't going to get into ethnic politics, they were just going to do a clean sweep. "How do you get elected in America without ethnic votes? The Obama campaign needs to listen to Senator Chuck Schumer or someone of his stature teach them Ethnic Politics 101."Support for Clinton remains very committed in the Irish American community. Earlier on Tuesday Irish American Democrats chair Stella O'Leary told the Irish Voice, "As of now Senator Clinton has categorically denied the reports that she's getting out of the race tonight. As long as she's in the race we don't have any plans to do anything other than stay with her and continue working for her."O'Leary just returned from Puerto Rico, where she had spent the week getting out the vote for the Clinton campaign. "If Senator Obama doesn't have the delegates and they go to the convention we would go to the convention with Clinton, and still be in full support of her," she said.O'Leary added, "We at no point plan to desert her. If the plans develop otherwise and Senator Obama has the requisite number of delegates to secure the nomination then we would take our cue from her. "Whatever way she would like to help the campaign we would just follow her direction. Whatever she thinks would be most beneficial to get a Democrat elected in November."