News For Sunday Jul 20, 2008 News For Sunday Jul 20, 2008

Politics & Elections Politics & Elections

Today on the presidential campaign trail - Added 6 minutes ago

IN THE HEADLINES Obama has Sunday breakfast with troops in Afghanistan ... McCain raises more than $21 million in June, spends more than he raises as part of strategy ... Pentecostal minister planning Democratic...

Obama meets with Afghan president - Added 15 minutes ago

Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama met Sunday with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, a man Obama has chided for not doing enough to rebuild his war-torn country. Obama and Karzai held talks and lunched...

Iraqi leader: US should leave as soon as possible - Added 1 hour ago

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki says U.S. troops should leave Iraq "as soon as possible," according to a magazine report, and he called presidential candidate Barack Obama's suggestion of 16 months "the right...

McCain paying down primary funds in advance of cap - Added 1 hour ago

Faced with a spending cap for his fall campaign, Republican presidential candidate John McCain is aggressively spending more money than he is raising during summer months and methodically reducing his cash reserves. ...

Obama has breakfast with troops in Afghan capital - Added 6 hours ago

Barack Obama had breakfast Sunday with U.S. troops in Kabul as part of his visit to Afghanistan. Military spokesman Lt. Col. Dave Johnson said Obama went to an American base in the Afghan capital to dine with soldiers...

Gore pushes environment with activist bloggers - Added 14 hours ago

Last year it was about the candidates. This year it's the climate. Former Vice President Al Gore made a surprise appearance Saturday at the Netroots Nation conference, a gathering of nearly 2,000 left-leaning bloggers...

At the Democrats' party, a Pentecostal minister - Added 16 hours ago

The request befuddled Leah Daughtry. The experienced political hand in charge of planning next month's Democratic National Convention _ a self-described "black chick from Brooklyn" and ordained Pentecostal minister who...

McCain paying down primary funds in advance of cap - Added 17 hours ago

Faced with a spending cap for his fall campaign, Republican presidential candidate John McCain is aggressively spending more money than he is raising during summer months and methodically reducing his cash reserves. ...

For better or worse, McCain wedded to town halls - Added 21 hours ago

John McCain was in his favorite campaign setting, a town hall meeting, when he spotted a promising target. "I'd love to recognize you first, sir," the Republican presidential candidate said to a man in a Vietnam War...

Today on the presidential campaign trail - Added 1 day ago

IN THE HEADLINES On trip to Mideast and Europe, Obama to meet with heads of state and opposition leaders ... McCain economic adviser Gramm leaves after 'nation of whiners' flap ... John McCain, Conan O'Brien agree that...

McCain raises more than $21 million in June - Added 1 day ago

Republican presidential candidate John McCain raised more than $21 million in June and spent nearly $26 million, the campaign reported Friday night. According to filings with the Federal Election Commission, McCain...

McCain, Conan agree: Age jokes getting old - Added 1 day ago

How old is John McCain? So old, the jokes about it are getting old. So at a taping Friday night of NBC's "Late Night with Conan O'Brien," the host asked the Republican presidential candidate for some new material. "We...

Foes no more, McCain, Romney warm to each other - Added 1 day ago

Just as Republican John McCain was unloading on his Democratic presidential rival Friday, he was offering warm, effusive words for once bitter foe Mitt Romney. And Romney, the mega-millionaire former Republican governor...

McCain adviser Gramm quits after 'whiners' remarks - Added 1 day ago

Former Texas Sen. Phil Gramm resigned Friday from his role as GOP presidential candidate John McCain's campaign co-chairman, hoping to quiet the uproar that followed his comments that the United States had become a...

McCain pledges to help auto industry rebuild - Added 1 day ago

!!-- AUDIO:202,201,200,199,197 -->Republican presidential candidate John McCain pledged Friday to help auto workers rebuild their industry and in the process jump-start the entire U.S. economy. On the day McCain...

McCain adviser Gramm quits after 'whiners' remarks - Added 1 day ago

Phil Gramm, a top adviser to presidential candidate John McCain, is resigning from the role as campaign co-chairman after his comments that the United States had become a "nation of whiners" who constantly complain...

McCain TV ad accuses Obama of shifting Iraq views - Added 1 day ago

Republican John McCain launched a new television ad Friday that accuses presidential rival Barack Obama of switching positions on Iraq "to help himself become president" just as the Democratic candidate prepared to make...

McCain, Obama hedge on costly new Marine One - Added 1 day ago

John McCain and Barack Obama vow to reform the nation's defense procurement if elected president, yet each is unwilling to take a firm stand against the skyrocketing cost of a plum White House perk: the new Marine One...

Obama to meet with leaders in Mideast, Europe - Added 1 day ago

Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama intends to sit down with European leaders as well as King Abdullah of Jordan, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as part of a...

Analysis: Accord may blur disputes over Iraq war - Added 1 day ago

A new U.S.-Iraqi agreement raising the possibility of a withdrawal timeline threatens to complicate the war policies of presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain. It bolsters Obama's call for a quick exit...

Today on the presidential campaign trail - Added 1 day ago

IN THE HEADLINES McCain TV ad accuses Obama of shifting views on Iraq for political gain ... Poll: Excitement over presidential race grows, but McCain's backers less fired up than Obama's ... McCain tells auto workers...

Adwatch: McCain criticizes Obama on Iraq - Added 1 day ago

TITLE: "Troop Funding." LENGTH: 30 seconds AIRING: National cable and Colorado, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin. SCRIPT: VOICEOVER: "Barack...

Poll: McCain backers' excitement lags Obama voters - Added 1 day ago

John McCain is facing an excitement deficit. While overall interest in the presidential campaign has swelled since last fall, backers of Barack Obama are more fired up and express more loyalty to their candidate than...

Method for AP-Yahoo poll on voters - Added 2 days ago

The AP-Yahoo News Poll is a unique study that is tracking the moods and opinions of a group of people throughout the presidential election campaign. The fifth wave of this study included re-interviews of 1,759 people...

Poll finds racial gap over excitement of campaign - Added 2 days ago

An Associated Press-Yahoo News poll found differences in how engaged various groups of voters are in the presidential campaign. A RACIAL GAP In the AP-Yahoo News poll conducted in June, 49 percent of blacks said they...

Obama to meet with German leader Merkel - Added 2 days ago

Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman says the German leader will welcome U.S. presidential hopeful Barack Obama to her office in Berlin next Thursday. Spokesman Ulrich Wilhelm says the meeting at the chancellery is...

Obama's trip: 1st high-profile step on world stage - Added 2 days ago

Sen. Barack Obama 's trip to the Middle East and Europe marks his first high-profile step onto the international stage, a campaign-season audition of sorts for a presidential hopeful pledging a new era in diplomacy and...

Obama raises $52M in June, setting torrid new pace - Added 2 days ago

Though he's raking in the cash so far, Barack Obama's decision to forgo public funds for the fall campaign means he must keep up his torrid pace _ a tall order that will tax his time, test his Internet support and...

DNC sets up independent operation to help Obama - Added 2 days ago

The Democratic National Committee plans to target Republican John McCain and help Democrat Barack Obama with an independent ad campaign run by veteran Democratic strategist Jonathan Prince, Democrats familiar with the...

McCain says he's glad Obama going to Iraq, sort of - Added 2 days ago

John McCain's presidential campaign had a hard time Thursday with Barack Obama's upcoming overseas trip. The Democratic presidential candidate will visit the Middle East and Europe, with announced stops in Jordan,...

Obama calls criticism of wife 'infuriating' - Added 2 days ago

What gets under Barack Obama's skin? Criticism of his wife, Michelle Obama. In an interview with Glamour magazine, Obama said attacks on his wife are "infuriating." The likely Democratic presidential nominee blamed the...

Fact Check: Obama's position on Afghanistan - Added 2 days ago

Just what is the best way to explain Barack Obama's stand on Afghanistan _ has he shown great leadership or is he a Johnny come lately? Potential Obama running mate Sen. Joe Biden has used both descriptions. ...

Clinton says he's ready to campaign for Obama - Added 2 days ago

Former President Clinton said Thursday he is eager to campaign for Barack Obama whenever the Democrat needs him, but has not given any thought to whether he wants to speak at the party convention in Denver. "I told him...

McCain eyes longer gas tax reprieve to aid drivers - Added 2 days ago

John McCain said Thursday that his proposal to suspend the gas tax for three months this summer may need to be extended longer if high gas prices continue to take a toll on the economy. "I think we ought to seriously...

Obama's summer travel partly courtesy of taxpayers - Added 2 days ago

Burnishing his foreign policy credentials, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is traveling this summer to Iraq and Afghanistan _ and the taxpayers will be footing the bill. His Republican opponent, John...

Today on the presidential campaign trail - Added 2 days ago

IN THE HEADLINES Obama's trip to Mideast, Europe: Campaign-season audition for pledge of new era in diplomacy ... Obama campaign raised $52 million last month, has $92.3 million in bank with DNC ... Evangelicals...

Texas Democrats look to Obama to help them rebound - Added 2 days ago

Democrats are climbing out of the political graveyard in Texas where George W. Bush buried them. But winning local and legislative races is a far cry from delivering the state for their presidential nominee. The...

Political Play of the Day: Obama becomes a gym rat - Added 2 days ago

Sometimes it's hard to tell if Barack Obama is running for president of the United States or Mr. Universe. The Democratic presidential contender exercises regularly, but over a 24-hour span this week, he took it to a...

McCain gets Social Security but criticizes system - Added 2 days ago

Although Republican presidential candidate John McCain has called Social Security "a disgrace," he still cashes his own retirement check every month. "I'm receiving the benefits, the system is broken and,...

Minn.'s senator of 62 days seeks 6 more years - Added 2 days ago

Dean Barkley _ lawyer, political kingmaker, and bus driver _ has spent 62 days in the U.S. Senate, which he calls "the most prestigious club on earth." Now he wants back in. As a perennial third-party candidate with...

McCain hasn't ignited the passions of evangelicals - Added 2 days ago

Stirring her morning coffee, lifelong Republican Grace Droog voiced her doubts _ and those of many evangelical voters _ about what she isn't hearing from John McCain in this year's presidential election. "I look for...

CORRECTION: McCain-Week in Review story - Added 2 days ago

In a July 12 story on Republican John McCain's bumpy week as he tried to retool his campaign, The Associated Press incorrectly reported the link to the McCain campaign Web site. The correct link is !a...

Obama warns against 'fighting the last war' - Added 3 days ago

Democrat Barack Obama warned Wednesday about the danger of "fighting the last war" as he pledged to focus on emerging nuclear, biological and cyber threats if elected president. Among those joining him for a panel...

McCain at NAACP pledges more education options - Added 3 days ago

John McCain told the NAACP and some skeptical black voters Wednesday that he will expand education opportunities, partly through vouchers for low-income children to attend private school. The likely Republican...

As economy dominates, Obama, McCain seek answers - Added 3 days ago

The economy is deteriorating so quickly and dramatically that it threatens to overtake many proposals the presidential candidates have been offering for months. Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain are...

Obama predicts black voter increase, Southern wins - Added 3 days ago

If Barack Obama's historic campaign to become the first black president boosts black turnout as drastically as he predicts, he could crack decades of Republican dominance across the South. That's a big "if." Still, an...

Today on the presidential campaign trail - Added 3 days ago

IN THE HEADLINES McCain tells NAACP he backs vouchers for private schools ... Obama warns against 'fighting the last war' instead of adapting ... Obama predicts huge increase in black voters, opening up usually...

Ex-Clinton aide checked before joining Obama team - Added 3 days ago

Hillary Rodham Clinton's former campaign manager, now on Barack Obama's team, says she could easily work for her old boss again if Clinton were on the Democratic ticket. Clinton replaced Patti Solis Doyle after poor...

Penn. mayor fights to keep immigration issue alive - Added 4 days ago

Mayor Lou Barletta, whose bid to unseat a 12-term congressman is based largely on his reputation as an anti-illegal immigration crusader, is trying to keep his signature issue alive even as voters turn their attention...

Analysis: GOP, Dems using wars to define Obama - Added 4 days ago

Democrat Barack Obama wants to prove he's ready to be a wartime commander in chief. Republican John McCain hopes to sell the idea that his rival is not. The return of Iraq and Afghanistan to the forefront of the...