http://TheState.com/366/index.xml News, sports and entertainment from TheState.com en-us Copyright 2008 TheState.com Election - Wire 60 Sat, 19 Jul 2008 00:41:27 EDT http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss McClatchy Interactive's Workbench support@TheState.com http://www.thestate.com/366/story/465222.html http://www.thestate.com/366/story/465222.html Sat, 19 Jul 2008 00:40 EDT Republican presidential candidate John McCain raised more than $21 million in June and spent nearly $26 million, the campaign reported Friday night.<p/>According to filings with the Federal Election Commission, McCain spent more than $16 million on advertising during the month. That was five times more than he spent in May, when the Democratic presidential primary was still being contested by Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton. Obama clinched the Democratic nomination on June 3.<p/>McCain also increased his spending on payroll in June by 9 percent to nearly three-quarters of a million dollars a month.<p/>Overall, McCain's spending, more than twice what he spent in May, exceeded his fundraising in June by more than $4 million.<p/>June was the best fundraising month of the Arizona senator's campaign, slightly exceeding his May fundraising. The increase was due to a better performance by a joint fundraising committee that McCain set up with the Republican National Committee. http://www.thestate.com/366/story/465109.html http://www.thestate.com/366/story/465109.html Fri, 18 Jul 2008 21:15 EDT 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 of Massachusetts, was pledging to help McCain's presidential campaign financially - and in any other way.<p/>To underscore the point, Romney has decided not to spend time raising money to pay back the $44.6 million he lent his failed presidential campaign.<p/>"Mitt Romney's priority right now is raising money for other Republicans, including John McCain, and not trying to recoup the money he put into his own race," Romney spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom said Friday.<p/>At a Detroit fundraiser Friday that included a number of former Romney donors, McCain heaped praise on Romney, a man he once ridiculed by suggesting that his answer to immigration was "to get out his small varmint gun and drive those Guatemalans off his lawn."<p/>Times have changed. McCain is the GOP's presidential nominee-in-waiting and Romney is getting mentioned as a possible running mate. http://www.thestate.com/366/story/464583.html http://www.thestate.com/366/story/464583.html Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:05 EDT John McCain is facing an excitement deficit.<p/>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 McCain's do, a poll by The Associated Press and Yahoo News showed Friday. In addition, individual groups backing Obama - African-Americans, Democrats and liberals - are more enthusiastic than whites, Republicans and conservatives, who are more aligned with McCain, the GOP senator from Arizona.<p/>Obama faces hurdles of his own. The poll shows lagging fervor for the Democratic senator from Illinois by supporters of his vanquished rival, Hillary Rodham Clinton. And there are lots of dispirited and undecided independents, who are expected to be pivotal on Election Day, now less then four months off.<p/>The passion and interest shown by blocs of voters are important because they affect who will be motivated to vote. For now, the numbers favor Obama: 38 percent of his supporters say the election is exciting compared with 9 percent of McCain's. Sixty-five percent of Obama's backers say they are hopeful about the campaign, double McCain's, and the Democrat's supporters are three times likelier to express pride.<p/>"Being African-American, you know, I do have some biases," said John Douglas, 67, of Villa Rica, Ga., an Obama supporter. He said the pride and thrill he feels about the possibility of the first black president "has been building up for my lifetime, it's been building up since the inception of our country." http://www.thestate.com/366/story/464814.html http://www.thestate.com/366/story/464814.html Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:32 EDT There is a Baghdad that Sen. Barack Obama probably won't see.<p/>It's places like the dirt strip that crosses under a highway and leads to a small home - and a couple and their six grown children seeking to move forward in a city where violence has eased but life for many remains mired in economic miseries and few opportunities.<p/>"I want to believe that the future for Baghdad is now better, that we've turned a corner," said Abdul-Karim Sami, a reed-thin 60-year-old who once hobnobbed with Baghdad's elite as a tennis coach. "I truly want to believe that."<p/>Then he ticks off the family's list of woes: food costs so high they have cut back on all but essentials; jobs so scarce his oldest son peddles trinkets on the street despite a university degree in economics; not enough money left over for a doctor visit or any emergency.<p/>"I pray every day that nobody gets sick," Sami said. http://www.thestate.com/366/story/464885.html http://www.thestate.com/366/story/464885.html Fri, 18 Jul 2008 23:20 EDT 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 helicopter.<p/>Originally carrying a hefty price tag at $6.1 billion, the fleet of 28 helicopters being built to fly the next president is now projected to cost $11.2 billion.<p/>At $400 million apiece, the helicopters far exceed a prime example McCain uses on the campaign trail to rail against congressional pork-barrel spending, a $230 million "bridge to nowhere" in Alaska. The British have bought the same base model helicopter for $57 million each.<p/>In separate interviews with The Associated Press, the Republican and Democratic presidential candidates pledged to look at the program but stopped short of saying whether it should be canceled. Any review after the next president takes office in January would butt up against the first deliveries of the helicopters, slated for 2010.<p/>McCain labeled the contract growth a "scandal" before asking to revise his assessment "in a more polite way." He said the program is part of "an out-of-control procurement system that has to be fixed." http://www.thestate.com/366/story/464026.html http://www.thestate.com/366/story/464026.html Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:14 EDT 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 an end to the U.S. combat role in Iraq.<p/>"The stakes are very high for Obama," said Lee Hamilton, president of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and a supporter of the Illinois Democrat.<p/>While Obama currently leads in the polls, "foreign policy is one area where they (voters) have their doubts" about him, Hamilton said.<p/>Campaign officials have announced stops in Jordan, Israel, Germany, France and England. Obama also has pledged to travel to Iraq and Afghanistan this summer, but aides have not said whether those war zones will be part of the same trip.<p/>The trip is planned to put Obama into settings often occupied by presidents, including formal meetings with foreign leaders, public speeches and visits to historical sites. http://www.thestate.com/366/story/464192.html http://www.thestate.com/366/story/464192.html Fri, 18 Jul 2008 02:39 EDT 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 decision said Thursday.<p/>By law, the effort would be prohibited from coordinating with either Obama's presidential campaign or with the DNC. The ads would be financed with party money, however.<p/>The Democrats asked for anonymity because the decision had not yet been formally announced.<p/>Prince was deputy campaign manager for John Edward's presidential campaigns this year and in 2004, and has experience running independent advertising efforts for Democrats. In 2004, he headed Citizens for a Strong Senate, which spent $10 million airing ads that supported Democratic Senate candidates. The group's ad maker was David Axelrod, now a senior adviser to Obama.<p/>The decision by the DNC puts to rest doubts about whether the party had any intention of helping Obama through independent expenditures. http://www.thestate.com/366/story/464585.html http://www.thestate.com/366/story/464585.html Fri, 18 Jul 2008 07:19 EDT An Associated Press-Yahoo News poll found differences in how engaged various groups of voters are in the presidential campaign.<p/>A RACIAL GAP<p/>In the AP-Yahoo News poll conducted in June, 49 percent of blacks said they are excited by the election campaign, compared to 16 percent of whites. Enthusiasm by African-Americans has also grown far more: 32 percent more African-Americans and just 6 percent more whites say they are excited now than said so in an AP-Yahoo News survey in November.<p/>DIVIDES AMONG WHITES<p/>Whites who say they are not excited by the campaign back Republican John McCain by a 2-to-1 margin. Whites who say the election is exciting lean toward Democrat Barack Obama, by 2-to-1. Overall, 46 percent of whites said they were interested in the presidential race in November while just 41 percent say so now. http://www.thestate.com/366/story/464815.html http://www.thestate.com/366/story/464815.html Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:32 EDT Some comments from around Iraq on Sen. Barack Obama's expected visit:<p/>---<p/>"We are worried that he might win the presidency and pull out (American) forces because chaos would prevail in Iraq and militias would return." - Mohammed Abbas, 19, Shiite primary school teacher in southern city of Hillah.<p/>---<p/>"We hope Obama will fulfill his promise of pulling out American forces if he wins the election. If he is sincere with this pledge, we hope he wins." - Hussein Jassim, 35, Shiite laborer in the Baghdad neighborhood of Sadr City. http://www.thestate.com/366/story/464967.html http://www.thestate.com/366/story/464967.html Fri, 18 Jul 2008 19:35 EDT 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 a high profile trip to Baghdad.<p/>McCain's sharply worded criticism was not limited to the ad. He said Friday that Obama would be facing a far less secure Iraq "if we had done what he wanted to do."<p/>The 30-second ad, running on national cable and in 11 battleground states, is the hardest hit aimed at Obama so far by McCain.<p/>"Barack Obama never held a single Senate hearing on Afghanistan," the ad's announcer says. "He hasn't been to Iraq in years. He voted against funding our troops. Positions that helped him win his nomination. Now Obama is changing to help himself become president."<p/>The ad suggests that Obama was placing politics ahead of the country's interests. "John McCain has always supported our troops and the surge that's working. McCain. Country first," the ad states. http://www.thestate.com/366/story/465120.html http://www.thestate.com/366/story/465120.html Fri, 18 Jul 2008 20:35 EDT How old is John McCain? So old, the jokes about it are getting old.<p/>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.<p/>"We all agree on a take on you, which is your seniority," O'Brien said, as McCain, 71, pretended to fall asleep in his chair.<p/>Speaking for all late night comedians, O'Brien said, "we're tired of this take on you," and asked the Arizona senator to give them some fresh material.<p/>"Do you have a kooky uncle, do you have bad breath, webbed toes, anything?" O'Brien asked. http://www.thestate.com/366/story/463460.html http://www.thestate.com/366/story/463460.html Fri, 18 Jul 2008 03:10 EDT IN THE HEADLINES<p/>New York governor and NAACP condemn New Yorker magazine's satirical cover of Obamas ... Barack Obama says criticism of his wife is 'infuriating,' blames conservative news media ... McCain approves of Obama visit to Iraq, Afghanistan, says rest of foreign trip is political ...<p/>---<p/>New York governor, NAACP condemn magazine cover<p/>CINCINNATI (AP) - New York Gov. David Paterson and the NAACP condemned the New Yorker magazine's satirical cover depicting Democrat Barack Obama and his wife as flag-burning radicals. http://www.thestate.com/366/story/464556.html http://www.thestate.com/366/story/464556.html Fri, 18 Jul 2008 06:55 EDT Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman says the German leader will welcome U.S. presidential hopeful Barack Obama to her office in Berlin next Thursday.<p/>Spokesman Ulrich Wilhelm says the meeting at the chancellery is expected to take place on Thursday morning.<p/>Obama's stop in Berlin is part of a tour of the Middle East and Europe aimed at burnishing the Democratic candidate's foreign policy credentials.<p/>Obama also is expected to deliver a speech in Berlin. It remains unclear where that event might take place. http://www.thestate.com/366/story/464673.html http://www.thestate.com/366/story/464673.html Fri, 18 Jul 2008 21:35 EDT 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.<p/>On the day McCain visited one of the areas hardest hit by the economic downturn and rising gas prices, one of his top advisers, former Sen. Phil Gramm gave up his campaign position a week after saying the country was a "nation of whiners" facing merely a "mental recession."<p/>Earlier in the day McCain was standing in a town hall meeting with hundreds of people and several shiny new cars and sounding at times like a confident, encouraging salesman as he praised General Motors' plans for a long-range electric car.<p/>"The key, integral, vital part of our ability to eliminate our dependence on foreign oil will be directly related to that sign over there," said McCain, pointing to a sign for the Chevrolet Volt. "I wish you every success, and I want to help in every way."<p/>Trailing Democrat Barack Obama in polling on economic issues, the likely Republican nominee sought to bolster his appeal to voters by speaking to those who've seen fellow workers lose jobs and homes in Michigan. http://www.thestate.com/366/story/464680.html http://www.thestate.com/366/story/464680.html Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:35 EDT IN THE HEADLINES<p/>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 that the electric car is a key to freedom from foreign oil ... Germany's Merkel to meet Obama at Berlin chancellery next week<p/>---<p/>McCain TV ad hits Obama on Iraq policy<p/>WASHINGTON (AP) - 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 a high-profile trip to Baghdad. http://www.thestate.com/366/story/465075.html http://www.thestate.com/366/story/465075.html Sat, 19 Jul 2008 00:05 EDT 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 campaign-season trip that aides described Friday as substantive rather than political.<p/>The Illinois senator also is slated to meet with opposition leaders in Israel and Britain.<p/>Officials have yet to provide precise dates for the trip, and have confirmed few details about the itinerary, citing security details. On a conference call with reporters, they said they were not yet ready to disclose where in Berlin Obama will speak when he delivers an address on U.S.-European relations.<p/>"The trip is not at all a campaign trip, a rally of any sort," said spokesman Robert Gibbs. He said Obama would hold "a series of substantive meetings with our friends and our allies to talk about the common challenges that we face and the national security dangers for the 21st century."<p/>Denis McDonough, a senior foreign policy adviser, said Obama would meet with Chancellor Angela Merkel and Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Germany, President Nicolas Sarkozy in France and Prime Minister Gordon Brown as well as Conservative Party Leader David Cameron in Britain. http://www.thestate.com/366/story/463451.html http://www.thestate.com/366/story/463451.html Fri, 18 Jul 2008 06:39 EDT 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 require the help of Democratic donors who once wished for his defeat.<p/>The Democratic nominee-in-waiting had his second-best fundraising month in June, a $52 million haul that swamped presidential rival John McCain by more than 2-1. He also got a big boost from his party, which raised nearly five times as much as it had in May.<p/>The new figures underscore the Illinois senator's status as a fundraising star. He has raised $340 million during his presidential run to McCain's $132 million.<p/>Obama's June total also reversed a three-month decline and helped close a cash-on-hand gap between the Democratic and Republican presidential operations. Together, Obama and the Democratic National Committee had $92 million in the bank at the end of June compared with $96 million for McCain and the Republican National Committee.<p/>But the totals also set a tough new standard for Obama's presidential campaign: The $52 million he raised in June is now a baseline, not a high water mark. http://www.thestate.com/366/story/463682.html http://www.thestate.com/366/story/463682.html Thu, 17 Jul 2008 22:05 EDT What gets under Barack Obama's skin? Criticism of his wife, Michelle Obama.<p/>In an interview with Glamour magazine, Obama said attacks on his wife are "infuriating." The likely Democratic presidential nominee blamed the conservative press for going after his wife as if she were the candidate.<p/>"If they have a difference with me on policy, they should debate me. Not her," Obama told the magazine.<p/>Michelle Obama has been highly active in her husband's campaign, appearing with him at events and by herself at other times in an effort to help tout his candidacy. She promotes his policy agenda at fundraisers and gives interviews to reporters in support of his views.<p/>An Associated Press-Yahoo poll suggests Michelle Obama has higher favorable ratings than Cindy McCain, wife of presumptive Republican nominee John McCain. However, Michelle Obama's unfavorable ratings are also higher. http://www.thestate.com/366/story/463954.html http://www.thestate.com/366/story/463954.html Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:30 EDT 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.<p/>The state's Democratic presidential primary contest between Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton drew a record 2.8 million votes in March. Just two years after sweeping Dallas County's elected offices, Democrats are threatening to repeat that in Harris County, which includes Houston. And the party is attempting to retake the Texas House by gaining five more seats in November.<p/>With party prospects rising, Democratic National Chairman Howard Dean made Texas the first stop on his bus tour of the South designed to boost Democratic registration. The eye-catching bus wrapped in the red, white and blue of Obama's campaign logo traveled Thursday from Crawford, Bush's hometown, to Austin.<p/>There, Dean and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi are to speak to Netroots Nation, the influential network of liberal bloggers and organizers, that chose Austin for their annual meeting. The Texas capital, home to the University of Texas' largest campus and a robust community of liberal bloggers, is the state's most liberal Democratic city, derided by conservatives as "The People's Republic of Austin."<p/>"We're down here," Dean told a voter registration rally in Austin, "because we know that if Barack Obama wins Texas or does well enough in Texas to pick up five House seats in the Texas state House of Representatives that we're going to undo all those evil things that Tom DeLay did." He referred to the former Republican U.S. House leader who masterminded a Texas redistricting designed to ensure GOP control of the Legislature. http://www.thestate.com/366/story/464310.html http://www.thestate.com/366/story/464310.html Fri, 18 Jul 2008 06:44 EDT John McCain's presidential campaign had a hard time Thursday with Barack Obama's upcoming overseas trip.<p/>The Democratic presidential candidate will visit the Middle East and Europe, with announced stops in Jordan, Israel, Germany, France and England. The Illinois senator also has pledged to visit Iraq and Afghanistan this summer, but aides haven't said whether the war zones will be part of that trip.<p/>McCain's spokeswoman, Jill Hazelbaker, said early Thursday that the trip "is about politics. It's a way for Obama to try and compete on foreign policy."<p/>Republicans are trying to cast doubts on Obama's ability to handle foreign crises, particularly wartime decisions, given that he is a first-term senator. McCain has become experienced in foreign policy during his four terms in the Senate.<p/>McCain has visited Iraq eight times, Obama just once, and the Republican Party on its Web site is counting the number of days until Obama visits again. It was 921 days as of Thursday.