Ann Veneman's putative vice presidential candidacy went away quickly.

Two anonymous Democratic lawmakers had told the Politico newspaper that the Modesto native and former agriculture secretary was being mentioned as a potential running mate for Democrat Barack Obama.

But today, Veneman's spokesman said she was paying attention only to her work as executive director of the United Nations Children Fund, better known as UNICEF. By itself, that's not precisely a denial. In context, though, the word out of Veneman's office appears to squelch the gossip.

"She has not been contacted by the [Obama] campaign and is solely focused on her current travels and the important mission of UNICEF," the agency's media chief, Christopher de Bono, said by e-mail.

--By Michael Doyle