WASHINGTON, June 5 (Reuters) - Likely U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama and former rival Hillary Clinton were meeting privately on Thursday night at her home in Washington, news media reported.

CNN reported it was "a small meeting" with perhaps just the two senators and a few aides in attendance.

There were no details of what was being discussed.

There is intense speculation Obama might pick Clinton as his running mate for November's presidential election against Republican John McCain.

Obama has said the process would take time. Clinton, who has expressed an interest in running as vice president, sought to distance herself on Thursday from efforts by supporters to convince Obama to pick her, saying the choice was up to him.

Obama, an Illinois senator, clinched the Democratic nomination on Tuesday. Clinton, a New York senator and former first lady, did not immediately concede but told supporters in a letter she would formally back Obama on Saturday.

The meeting with Obama was initiated by Clinton after a daylong series of talks between their aides, The New York Times reported on its Web site.

Obama had been scheduled to fly back to Chicago on Thursday evening after a rally in northern Virginia but stayed behind for the meeting, shedding his campaign plane and the traveling press corps and entourage, the newspaper said. (Writing by JoAnne Allen; Editing by John O'Callaghan)

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