( CNN ) -- After emerging as victor in the long and bruising contest to seize the Democratic nomination for the U.S. presidential race , Barack Obama 's next move is to choose a running mate . And that search for a vice president is getting some added support . Caroline Kennedy has joined Obama 's vice presidential selection team , a campaign spokesman said Wednesday . Former Fannie Mae CEO Jim Johnson is heading up the search team , and former Deputy U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder is also serving on the committee . Kennedy , the daughter of President Kennedy , formally endorsed Obama late January in a New York Times op-ed piece titled , `` A President Like My Father . '' `` I have never had a president who inspired me the way people tell me that my father inspired them , '' Kennedy wrote . `` But for the first time , I believe I have found the man who could be that president -- not just for me , but for a new generation of Americans . '' Sen. Hillary Clinton , whose tenacious refusal to surrender the nomination contest turned the Democratic race into one of the most nail-biting in modern U.S. political history , has indicated that she would be willing to sign up on a joint ticket . But while Clinton 's appointment could help heal rifts in the party after weeks of divisive campaigning from both candidates , Obama has the pick of a broad field of candidates from across the political spectrum . iReport.com : Whom do you see as VP ? Here is a list of possible front-runners : . Other names mentioned in the running include : Former South Dakota Sen. Tom Daschle , former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards , Virginia Gov . Tim Kaine , Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill , Arizona Gov . Janet Napolitano , former Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Sam Nunn and Ohio Gov . Ted Strickland . CNN 's Candy Crowley and Roland Martin contributed to this report .
NEW : Obama picks Caroline Kennedy , Eric Holder for search committee . Obama faces tough choice of whom to pick for running mate . Hillary Clinton has indicated that she is open to a joint ticket . There is a wide field of contenders from across political spectrum .