Details from Obama's Plane Avail En Route to Chicago

Reporting from TIME's Jay Newton-Small:

Obama gaggled with reporters on his plane between Minneapolis and Chicago. He made brief opening remarks underscoring his energy message of the week before taking questions.

Obama was pressed repeatedly to say whether or not he'd grant Clinton a speaking role at the convention. All he'd say is they're staffs are talking. “I spoke to Senator Clinton this week, she's campaigning for me in Nevada and Florida and she's very enthusiastic about the need for a unified party and I think we're going to have a terrific convention, as is true with all conventions we're still working out the mechanics of the four days and our staff is in communications with Senator Clinton's staff but I don't anticipate any problems,” he said.

“There hasn't been controversy other than what you guys are projecting right now,” Obama added. When asked about reports of angry Hillary supporters, Obama said: “We're not talking to those people and we're talking to directly to the Clinton campaign people and it has gone seamlessly.”

Obama also spoke with President Clinton this week. “He was very supportive. I thought he showed extraordinary restraint in a fairly provocative interview while he was on his trip.”

Asked about Obama fatigue and why he's ceding a week of press coverage to McCain Obama said:
“I'm going to see my grandma who I haven't seen in almost 18-19 months and who's getting to the age where I want to make sure I'm spending time with her on a consistent basis so that she can see her great grand children and I want to spend time with those children as well.”

“We had a very long primary, we had the longest primary in history so I can imagine that folks need a break from politics,” Obama said. “The majority of people have been fed a constant stream of political chatter and I'm sure that a couple of weeks off to enjoy the Olympics is exactly what the doctor ordered.”