[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/06/11/art.jim.ap.jpg caption="Jim Johnson is no longer involved in Obama's VP search."]
WASHINGTON (CNN) - A key member of Barack Obama's vice-presidential search team, James Johnson, is stepping down after criticism over a mortgage he received, the Obama campaign said.
"Jim did not want to distract in any way from the very important task of gathering information about my vice presidential nominee, so he has made a decision to step aside that I accept," the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee said in a statement.
Republicans had been hammering Johnson since the Wall Street Journal reported Saturday that he received a good deal on a mortgage from Countrywide due to his friendship with the company's CEO Angelo Mozilo. Obama has criticized Countrywide in connection with the subprime mortgage crisis.
WATCH Obama defend Johnson Tuesday
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Oh no!!! Scandal in OBAMA's camp??? Say it isn't so!!
===mcBush, go home, i will NEVER vote for mcBush.=======
Good man stepping down because of people. I wish him well. Not Obama's fault.
LOL, another one under the bus!!!!!!!!!!!
one word... INTEGRITY. Obama has it in spades!!!!!
Politics as usual, I wish a Independent would run
WOW this is gonna be a nasty campaign. So sad the republicans are ruthless
Might as well. This is an issue without a lot of substance, but it'll clearly be blown all out of proportion by McCain's campaign. I'm sure there is another equally qualified person that can help with the VP search.
Why do we always focus on Obama's people? What about the lobbying scumbags McCain has looking for his VP? The media is starting to make me sick!!!
wow, let them now say anything else.
How would Obama have known what is in this guys closet?
This is another example of politics of personal destruction. He should not have yielded grounds to those McPublicans.
I find it amazing...a negative Obama story gets a paragraph. Anything negative about McCain gets two or three paragraphs and multiple headlines. CNN=Liberal news bias. The only way Obama is going to get elected is if the liberal news media gets him elected. The question is, do we want another "Jimmy Carter?". Get ready for Billy Beer all over again and gas shortages again. The liberal news media should be ashamed.
Hmmmm.... a relationship problem?
How is he going to accomplish anything with only 2 remaining on his search team when one of them was selected possibly for pure "BLING!"
who would have thought a campaign living up to what it has promised. It has been decades since we have seen a Real candidate for President!
I can not wait till January 09 so that we can start progressing again and finally dump all these failed republican fear mongers and lyers
A shame... but a good idea – shows that Obama really will clean shop in Novemeber 09.
They are running away from him already. McCain08
We the Republicans are in control. Hillary supporters are on the right side now. Bush may not be the best but he is better the Obama and Hillary. She just let them walk all over her. McCain would not allow anyone to do that. Welcome to the right side.
McCain08 Vote For LIFE
Nevermind. BO will only replace him with another elitist who drew blood from the poorer Americans so he can be ultra-wealthy himself.
Another nonsense resignation...who cares they all do abuse their power I dont care who it is its human nature...I love all the holier than thous out there who will use this too discredit obama....BOTTOM LINE= Id rather vote for someone who is a gamble but could do good things (Obama) than vote for A SURE LOSS (McLame)
Use your brains......
Oh–YOU are scared of being vetted. You don't want us looking into your dirty laundry!! OK–better that you stepped aside now, rather than draog Obama and his camp down with your foolishness later.
GOTTA START VETTING THE VETTERS.
WHO WILL VETT THEM?
Just another in a developing line of people who have to step aside after some vetting......is there not a pattern starting to develop here?
I'm now more convinced Obama is being pushed to the nomination with a bunch of unanswered questions...people, lets slow down before the convention and rethink this....the possibility of the October surprise seems to be growing......
Good. Now if Obama would just do the same we can get down to business.
If this indeed is true, i dont think its a good thing especially that Obama sort of defended the guy.
Exactly the right thing to do... we have no room for error.
Wow.
Typical media bias right here.
A short, one sentence vague statement, kinda like everything Obama says.
Why don't you go into detail that Mr Johnson received preferential loans from Countrywide while people were being foreclosed upon and kicked out of their homes.
It's easy to see that Obama is surrounded by corruption. As long as the media is dishonest, America will never know.
Sad.