Barack Obama's campaign appears to be making extra efforts to smooth the ruffled feathers of the primary, with both Clintons being offered high-profile roles at the upcoming Democratic National Convention.

Democratic officials told FOX News late Thursday that Bill Clinton will give a speech on the third night of the convention, before the vice presidential nominee addresses the delegates. Hillary Clinton is expected to speak on the convention's second night.

The former president's role was confirmed following fresh concerns that Obama's and Hillary Clinton's supporters still have not dropped the rivalry that formally ended in early June. Clinton recently told a group of California supporters, who called for her to put her name in for nomination, that she's leaving open the option for a roll-call vote or some other way to have her delegates' voices "respected."

The comments set off speculation about whether any ill will remains between Obama and the Clintons following the hard-fought primary race.

Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs told MSNBC Friday that the speculation is "110 percent" manufactured cable news drama, and he downplayed the significance of Bill Clinton's speaking role.

"We will release a full schedule of who is speaking but the notion that a former president just got added to the convention schedule is a little bit, I think, laughable idea," Gibbs said.

Hillary Clinton is also scheduled to hold her first solo rally for Obama Friday afternoon.

But while a roll-call vote on the convention floor for Clinton is more symbolic than anything, it could present an image of disunity that has haunted the Democratic Party throughout the year.

The Denver Post reported Friday that a small group is trying to gather the signatures needed to put Clinton's name back on the ballot. Clinton has not said whether she would support such a move.

Earlier Thursday, Obama dismissed suggestions that tension between his supporters and hers could upset the gathering.

Obama told reporters that their staffs were working out mutually agreeable convention logistics. At the same time, Clinton was assuring her supporters during an online chat that she and Obama were "working together to make sure it's a big success."

Neither answered questions about whether Clinton's name should be placed in nomination so that her backers could record their votes.

Flying home to Chicago, Obama also told reporters that he had talked separately this week to Clinton and her husband, and that they were enthusiastic about having a smooth convention.

"He's been very supportive," he said of Bill Clinton.

Hillary Clinton is expected to deliver a prime-time address to delegates on Aug. 26, the second night of the convention. With the delegate roll call planned for the next evening, Obama was set to accept the nomination with a speech on the convention's fourth and final night.

The Clintons' stance toward Obama's candidacy is being closely scrutinized as the convention nears -- particularly after remarks by Bill Clinton earlier this week during a trip to Africa. Asked whether Obama was prepared to become president, the former president replied, "You can argue that nobody is ready to be president," and said he, himself, learned a lot in his first year on the job.

The remark was widely viewed as tepid and unenthusiastic, particularly in light of Republican candidate John McCain's frequent criticism that Obama is not ready to be president.

FOX News' Major Garrett and The Associated Press contributed to this report.