White House mocks McCain, Sarah Palin

The White House scoffed Thursday at Republican Senator John McCain's suggestion that President Barack Obama replace Joe Biden with Hillary Clinton, mocking the Arizona lawmaker's pick of Sarah Palin as his running mate four years ago.

Asked whether the Democratic ticket in 2012 would be Obama/Biden, press secretary Jay Carney replied: "Yes. And that was settled a long, long time ago."

"And while I appreciate, have a great admiration for, and respect for, and a long relationship with Senator John McCain the one place I would not go for advice on vice presidential running mates" is McCain, Carney told reporters at his daily briefing.

The exchange occurred after McCain, acknowledging that his own suggestion was far fetched, suggested in an interview with Fox News on Wednesday that Obama dump Bidenand replace him with Clinton.

"I think it might be wise to do that but it's not going to happen obviously, for a whole variety of reasons," McCain said.

"I'm not sure if I were Hillary Clinton I would want to be on that team," the senator added, "I think her ambitions frankly are for 2016 and I'm not sure that would enhance that likelihood."