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McCain: Obama Has No Experience in National Security, Warfare

March 31, 2008 6:48 PM

ABC News' Bret Hovel Reports: Speaking to reporters as part of his biograhipic tour, Republican Sen. John McCain attacked Democrat Barack Obama for what he called a "fundamental misunderstanding" of the history of national security and warfare in the twentieth century.

The critism of Sen. Obama, of Illinois, was some of the sharpest language to date that McCain has used against his potential general election opponet.

"Well then in all due respect he does not understand the elements, the fundamental elements of national security and warfare," McCain said, when he was asked about Obama’s comments earlier in the day. Obama had said that McCain’s had not offered a clear definition of what could be viewed as success in the war torn country.

McCain went through a litany of 20th century conflicts and the American military bases they begat, including bases in Korea, Germany, Japan and Kuwait.

Obama, he said, "displays a fundamental misunderstanding of history and how we’ve maintained national security, and what we need to do in the future to maintain our security in the face of the transcendent challenge of radical Islamic extremism. And I understand that because he has no experience or background in any of it."

He said he is not worried about Obama's interpretation of McCain's infamous "100 years" comment catching hold with the American people.

"No I think the American people are smart enough to figure that out. And I underst- they’ll understand over time if they don’t know that he has no experience or background on these issues."

Obama spokesman Bill Burton responded with a statement. "Barack Obama doesn't need any lectures from John McCain, who has consistently misunderstood American national security and the history of the Middle East in arguing for an invasion and 100-year occupation of a country that had nothing to do with 9/11.

Instead of spending trillions of dollars on permanent bases that the Iraqis don't want and that won't keep the American people safe, Barack Obama will end the war in Iraq and finally press Iraq's leaders to take responsibility for their future."

March 31, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (72) | TrackBack (0)

Obama Claims Characterization of McCain's Statement on Iraq is Fair

March 31, 2008 5:16 PM

ABC News' Sunlen Miller: Part of Sen. Barack Obama's stump speech is claiming that John McCain wants to be in Iraq for 100 years.

"John McCain has suggested that we might leave our troops in Iraq for a couple of hundred years," he said at a Penn State rally Sunday.

Obama is playing off a byte from January 6th in Derry, New Hampshire which McCain responded to a questioner who asked about President Bush talking about staying in Iraq for 50 years.

"May be a hundred," McCain cut the man off, "Make it a hundred….We've been in South Korea, We've been in Japan for 60 years. We've been in South Korea for 50 years or so. That's be fine with me as long as Americans are not being injured or harmed or wounded or killed. Then it's fine with me. I would hope it would be fine with you if we maintain a presence in a very volatile part of the world where Al Qaeda is training, recruiting, equipping and motivating people every single day."

Today at the Wo Go gas station in Lititz, Pennsylvania, Obama defended his characterization of McCain’s statement.

Watch the VIDEO HERE.

"I don't think it's unfair at all," Obama answered when questioned by ABC’s David Wright, "John McCain, I mean we can run the youtube spot, has said that we will stay there as long as it takes and if it takes another 100 years he’s up for that commitment and that implies that there is some criteria by which we would understand how long it takes. John McCain has not been clear about what exactly would lead him to decide its time to pullout……I think it is entirely fair to suggest that unless he’s got some criteria where by at some point we would be able to pull out our troops that for him to argue that, which he has repeatedly, that any suggestion that we withdraw troops is surrender. That implies that we will be there as long as he thinks it's necessary for us to be there."

Obama said this is different from his proposal for withdraw troops in Iraq but then leaving a small force to protect embassies and to maintain a strike force in the region, "That’s very different from saying that we're gonna have a permanent occupation in Iraq. And it’s certainly different from saying that we would have a high level of combat troops inside Iraq for a decade or two decades or as John McCain said, perhaps 100 years."

At the end of the exchange Obama admited that he understands McCain is talking about the Korean style bases and not a hot war like Iraq, "Well we’ve been in South Korea for 50 years and he’s used that as an example as George Bush has and that is decades and we’re spending 10 billion dollars a month in Iraq right now. Which means that John McCain is willing to sign up for the prospect of spending as much as $150 billion or more each year for who knows how long. That is something that the US cant afford and I think that is going to be a debate we are going to have in the general election should I be the nominee."

March 31, 2008 in McCain, John | Permalink | User Comments (21) | TrackBack (0)

On Econ Tour, Clinton Says She's a 'Big Believer in Attitude'

March 31, 2008 4:19 PM

ABC News' Eloise Harper Reports: A gum-chewing Hillary Clinton greeted truck drivers outside in rainy Harrisburg, PA. The drivers were protesting the high oil prices – and Clinton stopped to share their frustration and explained to a few of them what she will do address their concerns, including opening up the petroleum reserve to ease the high prices temporarily. Clinton stood in the rain for about 10 minutes taking questions and listening to these concerns before stepping into a diner to hold an economic roundtable.

On the forth day of Clinton's 'Solutions for the American Economy' tour (or as her advisers put it "Econ-a-palooza") the Senator addressed the economic news today. However, more interesting, was a possible insight to the way the Senator's thinking about the race for her party's nomination. When speaking to a young woman who voiced her desire to pursue a career in medicine, Clinton urged the woman not to give up.

"This will work out. I am a big believer in attitude. You know sometimes it looks pretty daunting but you have to believe you will be able to make it work for you to get the resources you need that something will happen and hopefully one of the things that will happen is that I will get elected president."

Clinton neglected hitting her Democratic rival, instead focused her efforts on the Republican frontrunner. "Senator McCain recently gave a speech on the economy and best I could determine his plan was not to have a plan. If he got the 3am call on the economy he would just let the phone ring and ring and ring."

Clinton left the attacking of her opponent to the Mayor of Harrisburg, Steven Reed. "Senator Clinton didn't just show up on our doorstep in 2008 and say 'I'd like to be president because I think it'd be a neat thing.' She's been busy working for us for years and years and years and frankly, I'm getting a little tired of people who try not to give her credit for that." He continued "Senator Clinton has been working for us and it didn’t start when she became a candidate for president. It didn't even start when she became a candidate for the United States Senate in our neighboring state. She's a Pennsylvanian who cares about American values and Pennsylvania values."

Addressing the news from the Treasury Department ,Clinton said “Today the administration through the secretary of the treasury has announced that finally the Bush administration is going to take some action to better regulate the financial markets. Well after years of a wait-and-don't-see approach to the regulatory failures that let to the housing and the credit crisis they've announced a plan that comes late and falls short."

Clinton said, "No amount of rearranging the deck chairs can hide the fact that our housing and credit markets are in crisis and they are sinking deeper every day."

March 31, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (43) | TrackBack (0)

New Dem Wave Cresting for Obama

March 31, 2008 2:10 PM

ABC's Z. Byron Wolf reports: When Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar endorsed Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., for President today, she buttressed his lead in a small but interesting subset of the already exclusive club of Democratic superdelegates: the Democratic New Wave.

Democrats retook the Senate in 2006 when they elected six new members and replaced a Democratic-leaning Independent from Vermont with another Democratic-leaning Independent from Connecticut. They lost a member in Joe Lieberman, but he still votes with them in all issues that don't have to do with the Iraq war and Indy Joe is supporting John McCain for President.

It may not be the largest sampling of lawmakers, but in the subsection of superdelegates, Sen. Obama has a lead over Sen. Clinton.

In fact, of the five new Senate Democrats that took office in 2004, only Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., has endorsed Sen. Clinton. Democratic Sens. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Claire McCaskill of Missouri, and Bob Casey of Pennsylvania have all backed Obama. McCaskill has been one of the most vocal supporters of Obama's campaign and Casey stumped through Pennsylvania last week with Obama. The all-important primary there is the next battle in the protracted Democratic nomination fight and Casey hit the trail with Obama even though polls show Sen. Clinton with a substantial lead in the Keystone State.

Democrats, under a road map drawn by Clinton supporter and New York Democrat Sen. Chuck Schumer, made a point of recruiting moderate candidates in purple or even red states like Missouri, Pennsylvania and Virginia. It was part of a move back to a big tent sort of platform; McCaskill of Missouri opposes most Democrats where it comes to immigration. Casey of Pennsylvania is pro-life.

It is important to note that while Obama has a slight lead among New Democrats in the Senate, Clinton still has time to make up the deficit. While McCaskill is with Obama, the other poster boy for the New Democrats is Sen. Jim Webb, a former Republican and Reagan cabinet secretary. Webb may be necessarily uncommitted. He has been rumored as a possible running mate for either Clinton or Obama (Webb says he isn't interested in being Vice President). But Obama campaigned for Webb in 2006.

Liberal Democrat Sherrod Brown of Ohio and independent Bernie Sanders of Ohio also remain uncommitted, though as an independent Sanders is not a Democratic superdelegate.

In the House, another notable New Democrat, Rep. Heath Shuler, D-NC, is according to some media reports going to go with Obama, although those reports are unconfirmed. Shuler is notable because he comes from a conservative district and got elected only after distancing himself from Democrats on issues like immigration.

March 31, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (294) | TrackBack (0)

Obama: No Evidence of the "North American Union"

March 31, 2008 2:01 PM

ABC's Sunlen Miller and Z. Byron Wolf Report: During a town hall meeting in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Obama was asked about the “North American Union.”

The NAU is a theoretical governmental union merging the United States, Mexico and Canada that some conspiracy theorists and Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul have used as a rallying cry.

Obama responded that he sees no evidence of a cabal in forming this union.

“I see no evidence of this actually taking place," he said.  "I think this is something that has been ginned up on certain blogs on the internet,” and mentioned Congressman Paul buying into the theory.

Obama said a lot of the speculation that these three countries were forming an European Union-like partnership was due to a highway being built in Texas that would make it easier to facilitate more transportation between Mexico, the United States and Canada. 

Congressman Ron Paul said during the CNN/You Tube debate in November that, "there is a move on toward a North American Union, just like early on there was a move on for a European Union, and eventually ended up. So we had NAFTA and moving toward a NAFTA highway. These are real things. It's not somebody made these up. It's not a conspiracy."

"There’s no evidence that that’s taking place,” Obama repeated again and then reiterated his opposition to NAFTA.

“NAFTA helped to break down barriers on trade between those two countries and I was opposed to NAFTA because I thought it didn’t have the labor and environmental and safety standards that would look out for US workers. But I don’t think there’s some conspiracy to create this one you know, continental government between Canada and Mexico,” said the Illinois senator.

Obama was also asked by the same questioner what his status is with the Council on Foreign Relations, a nonpartisan foreign policy group which has also been targeted for similar reasons by conspiracy theorists.

“I don’t know if I’m an official member. I’ve spoken there before, it basically is a forum where people talk about foreign policy, and so there’s no official membership,” Obama respond, “I don’t have a card or a special handshake or anything like that."

March 31, 2008 in Obama, Barack | Permalink | User Comments (22) | TrackBack (0)

Day 1: McCain's Service to America Tour

March 31, 2008 1:54 PM

ABC News' Bret Hovell Reports from Meridian, Mississippi: For those members of the general electorate who have not read Faith of my Fathers, Sen. John McCain's bestselling memoir, worry not – the presumptive Republican nominee has delivered a speech for you.

In remarks Monday kicking off his "Service to America" tour in his ancestral home of Meridian, Mississippi, McCain told many of the stories in the early pages of his book, about the military service of his father and grandfather.

That the week-long campaign theme was initially billed by campaign officials as a "bio tour," is appropriate. McCain will spend the week traveling to the locations of significant events or time periods in his life as part of his tour. He will highlight formative experiences in his upbringing, and how they have shaped his character and political experience.

Monday's speech, focusing on his family, touched on many of the themes of his standard stump speech through that prism.

Taxes, McCain said, "must not rob parents of the means to care for their children."

Job training programs are important because "children learn as much from observation as instruction. The mother or father who has lost hope along with their job can unintentionally impart that hopelessness to their children."

And government spending "must not be squandered on things we don't need and can't afford, and which don't address a single American's concern for their family's security."

McCain's "Straight Talk Express" bus has been re-branded for the week with the words "Service to America." It is only the second time the campaign has changed the name of the bus; the first was during the "No Surrender Tour," in which McCain relaunched his campaign after a difficult summer of campaigning.

The Arizona Republican will visit Northern Virginia; Annapolis, Maryland; Pensacola and Jacksonville, Florida; and Prescott, Arizona, on the tour, which ends Saturday.

March 31, 2008 in McCain, John | Permalink | User Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)

Obama: Long Primary Has Been "Great for America"

March 30, 2008 3:54 PM

ABC News' Sunlen Miller Reports: Following Sen. Hillary Clinton's interview with the Washington Post in which she vowed to keep on fighting in the primary race, Senator Obama renewed his assertion that the long primary race has been a good thing, contrary to what some are saying.

"As this primary has gone on a little bit longer, there have been people who have been voicing some frustration. They’ve been saying, ‘Oh, you know – the campaigns are going at it back and forth and you know we feel like that initial hopefulness that we had now is kind of slipping away.’" Obama said but then countered, "I want everybody to understand that this has been a great contest. Great for America. It’s engaged and involved people like never before."

Obama told reporters yesterday that he believes talk of Senator Clinton withdrawing is premature, but he also insinuated that it would be best to have a nominee after the June contests finish.

"I think it’s terrific that Sen. Clinton’s supporters have been as passionate as my supporters have been, because that means that people are invested and engaged in this process," Obama said today, "And I am absolutely confident that when this primary season is all over, Democrats will be united because we understand what’s at stake in this election."

Speaking before a crowd of 22,000 at Penn State University, Obama chose rather to focus on Senator John McCain, the presumed Republican nominee, saying that he is "clinging to the past, he is running for George Bush’s third term."

Obama, on day three of his six day tour throughout Pennsylvania, started the day playing basketball with PA Senator Bob Casey. Afterward he took a tour of the dairy complex at the Pennsylvania State Agriculture Facility where he fed a calf milk though a bottle.

March 30, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (91) | TrackBack (0)

Clinton Supporter Gov Rendell Supports Cuomo Plan to Guarantee Dream Ticket

March 30, 2008 12:31 PM

ABCNews' Mary Bruce Reports: Clinton supporter Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell backed this morning Former New York Governor Mario Cuomo's proposal to guarantee a "dream ticket". Cuomo has suggested Obama and Clinton agree now that whoever does not win the nomination will become the vice presidential candidate regardless of the outcome. "Well, I can't speak for Senator Clinton, but I would love that," Rendell said in an exclusive "This Week" interview. "I think that this duo, regardless, is a history-making duo.  They are both tremendous candidates.  They both would make great executives, and I'd love to see that happen," Rendell said.

Obama supporter Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., however, disagreed. "That's the privilege of the nominee, and it's certainly one of the options available to him, and it would be terrific in a lot of people's minds.  But you have to leave the nominee that option," he said. But Kerry also noted that "whatever judgment he [Obama] makes will be the right judgment."

In addition, Kerry said he believes a nominee can be determined by July 1st. "I think that the superdelegates ought to decide early. I would even say earlier than July.  As a former nominee, I will tell you, this time right now is critical to us.  We began four years behind George Bush, and I think every day does give John McCain an ability to organize nationally.  So the sooner we resolve it, the better, but it has to be resolved, obviously, by letting voters have their say."

Rendell supported Sen. Clinton's plan to continue the fight until the convention. "Hopefully, the Obama forces will allow all 10 states that remain on the calendar vote, and allow Florida and Michigan to vote. It's a disgrace that the Obama forces say, well, he's won the popular vote so he should be the nominee. There are 10 states left.  I think Senator Clinton's going to eat into the popular vote," he said. "I think if Michigan and Florida actually voted again, Senator Clinton would come out on top of the popular vote.  So I think the key is to let the party -- it's too late for the states, but let the party run the primaries in Michigan and Florida."

March 30, 2008 in Vote 2008: Democrats | Permalink | User Comments (93) | TrackBack (0)

Obama: 'Clinton Can Run as Long as She Wants'

March 29, 2008 5:55 PM

ABC News' David Wright, Sunlen Miller and Alyssa Litoff report: On day two of his six-day bus tour throughout Pennsylvania, Sen. Barack Obama said he does not completely agree to Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy’s assertion that Sen. Hillary Clinton should get out of the race.

Responding to reporters' questions in Johnstown, Obama said the calls for her to withdraw are still premature in his eyes.

"I hadn't talked to Pat about it," Obama said. "My attitude is that Sen. Clinton can run as long as she wants. Her name is on the ballot ... she should be able to compete and her supporters should be able to support her for as long as they are willing or able."

Obama did hint to a time frame, saying he thinks a nominee should be chosen as quickly as possible after the contests wrap up in June so that person can start preparing for the general election.

"Some time in early June that at that point there are no more contests and I think it is important to pivot as quickly as possible, for the super delegates or others to make a decision as quickly as possible so that we can settle on a nominee and give that nominee some time before the convention to select a vice president or presidential nominee to start thinking about how the convention should be conducted," he said.

In addition to the need for general election prep, Obama added that after the June primaries there will not be any further information to be had.

"We will have had contests in all 50 states plus several territories," he said. "We will have tallied up the pledge delegate vote. We will have tallied up the popular vote, we will have tallied up how many states that were won by who. And then at that point I think people should have more than enough information to make a decision."

Obama said that he also does not agree completely with the idea that the Democratic Party will be hurt by the length of this nomination process.

"I think that the notion that the party has been divided by this contest is somewhat overstated. There's no doubt that among some of my supporters or some of her supporters there’s probably been some irritation created, but I also think that in every contest you've seen in every state huge jumps in Democratic registration, including independents and Republicans who are changing registration to vote in the Democratic primaries," Obama said. "Those are people who are now invested in what happens. I think that bodes very well for us in November. I think the party is going to come together."

Recent polls that found large percentages of Citon and Obama supporters said they would either vote for Sen. John McCain or sit the election out if their candidate is not the Democratic nominee. But Obama said that he’s sure Clinton’s supporters will be able to support him over McCain in the end, and vice versa for his supporters if Clinton were the nominee.

"You can't tell me that some of my supporters are going to say, 'well, we'd rather have the guy who may want to stay in Iraq for a hundred years because we are mad that Sen. Clinton ran a negative ad against Sen. Obama," he said. "I think the converse is true as well. I think Senator Clinton’s supporters will ultimately look at a comparison and say we think an Obama administration will be very different from a McCain administration."

Obama admitted earlier in a town hall that his road in Pennsylvania will be a hard one. He called himself the "underdog" in the state, where polls have consistently found Clinton to be ahead in the polls.

The campaign, launching the six-day bus tour across the state from west to east is an attempt to introduce Obama to voters –- with smaller town halls and events planned aiming at some voting blocks Obama has struggled with, such as white blue collar voters.

Obama said that he didn’t think it was naturally a difficult state for him but rather blamed it on Clinton’s name notoriety and institutional endorsements such as that of Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell.

"I’m not as well known as Sen. Clinton is in this state, which is reflected in the polls, and she’s got a popular Democratic governor who gave her a good head start, and provided her with some institutional support," Obama said.

On the other hand, Obama admitted his recent endorsement by the state's Sen. Bob Casey Jr. helps in Pennsylvania but he still downplayed expectations.

"We may not be able to win, but I think we’ve got a good chance and we’re going to work as hard as we can," he said.

This morning Obama and Casey hit the basketball courts before a full day of campaigning, shooting hoops at a local high school.

"You were boxing out, which is what we need," Obama said to Casey, insinuating that they will need a good defensive effort off the court as well.

March 29, 2008 in Clinton, Hillary, Obama, Barack | Permalink | User Comments (417) | TrackBack (0)

Chelsea's Choice: Will Mom or Dad Be a Better President?

March 28, 2008 5:27 PM

ABC News' Eloise Harper Reports: It was Chelsea's choice: who would be the better president, her father or mother?

"His question is, 'Do I think my mother will be a better president than my father," the former and aspiring first daughter said during an event at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown, Penn.

Then came her choice.

"Well, again, I don't take anything for granted, but hopefully with Pennsylvania's help, she will be our next president, and yes, I do think she'll be a better president," Ms. Clinton said.

Watch the VIDEO HERE.

Asked about the exchange at a press availability in Hammond, Indiana, Senator Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., seemed surprised and smiled as she replied, "I have to talk to her before I answer that question."

No word yet on from former President Bill Clinton, who is campaigning for his wife in North Carolina, though he frequently tells crowds that his wife is and will be his better half including in a potential role as the second Clinton in the White House.

ABC News' Z. Byron Wolf contributed to this report.

March 28, 2008 in Clinton, Hillary, Vote 2008: Democrats | Permalink | User Comments (240) | TrackBack (0)

Whistle Stop Clinton

March 28, 2008 4:36 PM

ABC News' Z. Byron Wolf Reports: When former President Clinton arrived at the train station in Salisbury, North Carolina, it was reminiscent of a whistle-stop campaign rally of yore.

Mr. Clinton arrived in latter day whistle stop fashion, with a train of  SUVs and a police escort. He spoke outside in the sun in front of the station with an American flag behind him.

The train station is the perfect spot for a campaign rally, restored, as it is, to its 1920s glory with gray brick and a red tile roof.

It's featured extensively in the upcoming George Clooney period football movie "Leatherheads" and anchors the downtown here.

But for its architectural beauty, the train station is still located next to the train tracks. And Mr. Clinton, famously late, cannot be counted on, like trains, to run on schedule.

He was an hour late for the event and an hour into his speech, segueing from an indictment of the way President Bush handled the Hurricane Katrina disaster to an impassioned plea with the several hundred Salisburians gathered about why his wife is the right candidate for president when the train whistles started in the distance.

But the train, unlike automobile traffic in small towns when the former President comes to town, did not stop. The din of the locomotive drowned out the former President out for a minute as it passed by thirty feet from his podium, though he barely budged from his speech.

He could, however, be heard to say, "Must be a Republican train."

March 28, 2008 in Clinton, Hillary, Obama, Barack, Vote 2008: Democrats | Permalink | User Comments (29) | TrackBack (0)

McCain Kicks of Biographical Tour with New Ad

March 28, 2008 4:34 PM

ABC News' Bret Hovell Reports: The campaign of Senator John McCain has launched what it’s calling its first television advertisement of the general election, to coincide with a number of stops over the next week intended to introduce McCain to the general electorate.

Watch the ad HERE.

The ad, titled “624787,” which was McCain’s Navy serial number when he was shot down over Vietnam, runs 60 seconds long and is scheduled to first air statewide in New Mexico, which his expected to be a battleground state in the general election. The campaign says it will air in other states as well, but the decision as to when and where has not yet been made.

Though billed as the first ad of the general election, the ad is actually paid for with money for the primary. McCain does not officially accept the nomination of the Republican Party until the Republican National Convention in September.

The ad features images of McCain on the campaign trail, and concludes with video of McCain being interviewed as a prisoner of war.

At the end of the ad, a voice-over intones that John McCain is “the American president Americans have been waiting for.”

The Democratic National Committee released a statement from its chair, Howard Dean, on the ad.

“John McCain can try to reintroduce himself to the country, but he can't change the fact that he cast aside his principles to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with President Bush for the last seven years,” Dean’s statement read.

Over the next week, McCain, R-Ariz., will travel around the country on a “Service to America” tour, described by the campaign as an effort to introduce McCain to voters across the country.

The ad was produced by Foxhole Productions, led by McCain’s media advisor Mark McKinnon.

March 28, 2008 in McCain, John | Permalink | User Comments (5) | TrackBack (0)

Obama: Primary 'A Good Movie That Lasted About A Half An Hour Too Long'

March 28, 2008 3:29 PM

ABC News' Sunlen Miller Reports: Calling it a lengthy primary season, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., offered a Pittsburgh, Pa. crowd an analogy on the Democratic primary race, saying it is like "a good movie that lasted about a half an hour too long."

Obama said he and Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., have been running in the Democratic primary so long that they could reverse roles and recite each others' lines without missing a beat.

"I think there are some people who felt like, 'God, when will this be over?'" he said.

Obama added that the lengthy campaign has been tough because both he and Clinton understand what's at stake during the campaign.

One of Obama's top supporters, Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., told a radio station today he thought Clinton should get out of the race.

Obama picked up an endorsement Friday from Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. Bob Casey, who said he called Clinton last night to let her know. Casey said she was gracious with his decision to support Obama.

Casey told reporters that he didn’t quite agree with Leahy’s assertion that Clinton should withdraw, but did say he hopes the end of the primary draws near.

"I would hope that after Pennsylvania, then we got a couple more primaries, I would hope this wouldn’t go much further beyond the end of May," Casey said. "I think we would be better off having a nominee in the time period, certainly in late May or early June, that would be ideal. Because if you get too far into the summer, I think positions begin to harden and we lose time to not just unite and bring people together but we are also giving the Republican nominee more time to make the case against our nominees without having enough rebuttal."

Obama kicked off his six-day bus tour throughout Pennsylvania with former Pittsburgh Steeler Jerome Bettis, nicknamed "the bus" and Franco Harris, a retired Pittsburgh Steelers player in the football Hall of Fame.

Obama posed for pictures with the football players and waved a rally towel in the air above his head to fans in the streets before getting on the bus, off to the next campaign stop.

March 28, 2008 in Obama, Barack, Vote 2008: Democrats | Permalink | User Comments (85) | TrackBack (0)

Democrats Divided? Bill: 'That's a Bunch of Bull'

March 28, 2008 2:28 PM

ABC News' Z. Byron Wolf Reports: At a campaign stop for his wife in Kannapolis, North Carolina, former President Clinton weighed in on the protracted Democratic nomination fight.

Clinton dismissed talk about whether the nomination battle between Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., is dividing Democrats.

"That's a bunch of bull," he said.

"I wasn't nominated until June 2nd, 1992," he argued, then said maybe it was June 3rd.

Watch the VIDEO HERE.

He told several hundred North Carolinians that the race should continue because, "you have a right for your votes to get counted."

March 28, 2008 in Clinton, Hillary, Vote 2008: Democrats | Permalink | User Comments (83) | TrackBack (0)

Obama's 'View'

March 28, 2008 12:33 PM

ABC News' Sunlen Miller Reports: Barack Obama cozied up on the couch with the women of ABC's "The View".

"I am surrounded by women, well you guys always surprise me, always something up your sleeve," the Senator remarked.

When questioned by co-host Joy Behar if he was tough enough to survive the attack machine in this race, Obama responded, "I'm skinny but I'm tough."

"There (have) been some tough punches thrown in this primary, it's not like I've been taking a cake walk though this primary," Obama said.

Obama said the best way to withstand the negative criticism is the let it roll off your sleeve, and realize that not everyone he says is going to make everybody happy. But the presidential candidate said not to expect him to be swiftboated, a la John Kerry in the 2004 election, saying he will respond faster if under a similar attack.

"I don't think it's gotten dirty," Obama said, in reference to his tight contest with Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y.

Race was the predominant issue of the interview.

"I never heard him say some of the things that have people upset," Obama said in reference to the controversial remarks of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Obama's pastor of 20 years. 

Rev. Wright, the retired pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ, has a long history of what even Obama's campaign aides concede is "inflammatory rhetoric," including the assertion that the United States brought on the 9/11 attacks with its own "terrorism."

An ABC News review of dozens of the Rev. Wright's sermons, offered for sale by the church, found repeated denunciations of the United States based on what he described as his reading of the Gospels and the treatment of black Americans.

"The government gives them the drugs, builds bigger prisons, passes a three-strike law and then wants us to sing 'God Bless America.' No, no, no, God damn America, that's in the Bible for killing innocent people," he said in a 2003 sermon. "God damn America for treating our citizens as less than human. God damn America for as long as she acts like she is God and she is supreme."

In addition to damning America, he told his congregation on the Sunday after Sept. 11, 2001, that the United States had brought on al Qaeda's attacks because of its own terrorism.

"I'm not vetting my pastor," Obama told "The View", "I didn't have a research team during the course of 20 years to go pull every sermon he's given and see if there's something offensive that he's said."

The senator agreed Wright's remarks are "rightly offensive" but described the Reverend who baptized his children and married he and his wife as a "brilliant man who was still stuck in a time warp."

"View" co-host Elisabeth Hasslebeck expressed concern that Obama's choice of pastor may show a lack of judgment.

The candidate explained, "Part of what my role in my politics is to get people who don't normally listen to each other to talk to each other, who [say] crazy things, who are offended by each other, for me to understand them and to maybe help them understand each other."

Obama said he talked to Wright after the controversy erupted.

"I think he's saddened by what's happened, and I told him I feel badly that he has been characterized just in this one way, and people haven't seen this broader aspect of him," Obama said.

On another subject, when asked for specifics by co-host and frequent critical Elisabeth Hasslebeck on his plan for the economy, Obama spoke about the need to roll back President Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans.

"You're in trouble, Barbara," co-host Sherri Shepherd interrupted, warning the renounced journalist as the audience rolled in laughter, "You're gonna be in trouble when he rolls back tax cuts!"

The Senator arrived about 20 minutes late from a lunch fundraiser at the Credit Suisse building in Manhatten to the Thursday taping of the episode which aired nationwide on Friday.

During the brief breaks for commercials, Obama whispered to Barbara Walters, each with their hand over their microphone to protect their conversation from being shared with the studio audience.

Obama greeted co-host Whoopi Goldberg's daughter and granddaughter, who sat front row in the audience.

"I want your vote," Obama said to the eighteen-year-old high school senior.

Actress Angela Bassett was also in the audience, prompting Obama to comment, "You got some fancy folks in the audience."

Barbara Walters, seen carrying Obama's book "Dreams of My Father" introduced the candidate to her two longtime friends who were also in the front row.

"They've never come before," Walters commented beforehand.

Joy Behar carried four books out to be signed by the Senator after the show, passing them off for to the staff.

Sherri Shepherd, who said she dressed up in there church outfit and "Obama-fit" before the show, was clad in a skinny black dress and white sweater overtop, and said the picture her and Obama took together during the commercial break was her prom picture.

Shepherd told Obama during the show that she was planning on voting for Hillary Clinton, but after his speech on race last Tuesday she switched and will be voting for him.

"I want to be leave "The View" to campaign for you," she joked.

Before the taping started, the predominantly female crowd, many sporting Obama buttons or shirts, were entertained by Maura McGinnis reading her poem entiteld "Obama for Rainbows", about the bridging of racial divides.

Walters graced the crowd before the taping, saying that it was a "historic day" for the show and assured the crowd they will also have Sen. Hillary Clinton on the show soon.

March 28, 2008 in Clinton, Hillary, Obama, Barack, Vote 2008: Democrats | Permalink | User Comments (106) | TrackBack (0)

Bill Clinton: Caucuses 'Killing Us'

March 27, 2008 8:54 PM

ABC News' Teddy Davis, Sarah Amos, and Talal Al-Khatib Report: While speaking by phone Thursday to his wife's Texas supporters, former President Bill Clinton downplayed the importance of caucuses and argued that his wife, Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., would capture the Democratic presidential nomination by outperforming Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., in primary states.

"Right now, among all the primary states, believe it or not, Hillary's only 16 votes behind in pledged delegates," said Bill Clinton, "and she's gonna wind up with the lead in the popular vote in the primary states. She's gonna wind up with the lead in the delegates [from primary states]."

"It's the caucuses that have been killing us," he added.

Bill Clinton's decision to flatly predict that his wife will finish ahead of Obama in the pledged delegates and popular vote which come strictly from primary states comes as his wife's advisers concede that the former first lady will not be able to catch Obama in the total number of pledged delegates.

Obama's campaign has used his seemingly insurmountable pledged delegate lead to make the case to the party leaders and elected officials who will ultimately decide the Democratic presidential nod that to back Clinton would amount to overturning the will of the voters who participated in the 2008 Democratic nominating contests.

The former president's conference call comments to Sen. Clinton's precinct delegates in Texas were monitored by ABC News. He was urging them to turn out on Saturday when Texas Democrats hold state senate and county conventions in approximately 279 locations around the state.

Saturday's conventions are the second step in the Texas Democratic Party's process of selecting delegates to the Democratic National Convention.

The roughly 88,000 Texans who were chosen as either Clinton or Obama delegates at the precinct convention level will be winnowed down to just over 7,000 Clinton or Obama delegates who will get to attend the Texas Democratic Party's state convention, the third step in the process, which will be held June 6 - 7 in Austin.

Although Clinton won the March 4th Texas primary, Obama emerged ahead of the former first lady in the Texas caucuses based on a partial tally of precinct convention results compiled by the Texas Democratic Party.

According to an ABC News estimate of the Texas caucuses, Obama earned 33 delegates to Clinton's 24 with 10 still left to be allocated based on the presidential preferences stated in the next steps of the process.

The Texas Democratic Party will not declare a winner of the Texas caucuses until June 7, the second day of its state convention, since the state's Obama and Clinton delegates are free to change their presidential preference prior to the state party convention.

By contacting the caucus chairs in approximately 279 locations around the state, the Associated Press expects to be able to project a winner of the Texas caucuses by Saturday evening.

"We can still win this thing," said Bill Clinton, referring to his wife's bid to be the Democratic Party's presidential nominee. "She's running great in Pennsylvania, great in West Virginia, great in Kentucky, and she's got a real chance now to win Indiana."

March 27, 2008 in Vote 2008: Democrats | Permalink | User Comments (367) | TrackBack (0)

Clinton Not Ready to Call it Quits, Urges Democrats Not to Choose McCain

March 27, 2008 8:04 PM

ABC News' Eloise Harper Reports: Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., addressed those who think she should get out of the race Thursday evening in Winston-Salem, North Carolina saying, "Some people have been saying we should just end these primaries we should just call it quits I that think a lot of people still want their voices heard and their votes counted." She added, "this is a very close election I think that is exciting because so many people have been brought into the process and there is a real anticipation about what we can do.

Mrs. Clinton, who was running about an hour and a half late, apologized to the crowd and said she knew that the UNC game was starting in thirty minutes and understood if they had to leave. Clinton later appealed to the residents of the Tar heel state saying "I am excited and I am really looking forward to crisscrossing North Carolina in the spring what could be better than that?’ Clinton asked.

Senator Clinton kicked off her "Solutions for the American Economy" tour across the state today, with a strong emphasis on the economy. Most of her digs were not focused towards her democratic rival, but instead to the republican presumed nominee Senator McCain.

In Fayetteville, NC, Clinton was asked what he should tell Democrats who are thinking for John McCain "Please think through this decision," Clinton said, laughing "It is not a wise decision for yourself or your country."

March 27, 2008 in Clinton, Hillary | Permalink | User Comments (77) | TrackBack (0)

Clinton Praises "Moderate" McCain

March 27, 2008 7:30 PM

ABC's Z. Byron Wolf Reports: At a stop in rural Pennsylvania, over winding roads and through rolling hills in small Lewistown, PA, where people lined the streets to watch his motorcade approach, former President Bill Clinton had high praise for the man who has clinched the nomination for the other party.

Mr. Clinton said all three major candidates remaining in the race are talented and special people.

He did not go into detail on Sen. Barack Obama, the Illinois Senator still locked in political combat with Sen. Clinton's wife for the Democratic nomination. Their next battle takes place next month in Pennsylvania.

But McCain, who Mr. Clinton said is a "moderate", "has given about all you can give for this country without dyin' for it."

He said McCain was on the right side of issues like being against torture of enemy combatants and global warming, which "just about crosses the bridge for them (Republicans)."

The praise from Clinton comes as McCain, with the Republican nomination locked up and trying to rebrand his Maverick label, has tried to distance himself from President Bush, most notably on foreign policy. In a speech this week McCain talked about the need for more diplomacy.

But Clinton told the audience in the Lewistown High School auditorium - less partisan than his events in more populated areas if the man in the Huckabee shirt that Clinton pointed out is any indication - that the race should not be about the past, it is about who is going to do more for the country in the future. And that person, he said, is his wife Hillary.

March 27, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (113) | TrackBack (0)

NY's Bloomberg (Heart) Obama?

March 27, 2008 12:22 PM

ABC News' Sunlen Miller Reports: Picking up tab at breakfast goes a long way, but will it be enough to impress the billionaire Mayor of New York City? Senator Barack Obama hopes so.

"As you know, I have not endorsed a candidate for president," Mayor Michael Bloomberg, I-New York City, teased when introducing Obama, D-Ill., to deliver an economic address at Cooper Union, site of then-presidential candidate Abraham Lincoln's famous 1860 anti-slavery address. 

"But I have been clear in my hope that all the candidates explain in great deal how they would handle the challenges of the country."

Bloomberg, after deciding not to run in his own presidential bid, said recently that he is looking at all the candidates as he decides where to throw his support.

The mayor jokingly reminded the New York crowd that Obama "picked up the check when we had breakfast together."

Watch the VIDEO HERE.

The political pair had breakfast at the New York Luncheonette, a diner in midtown Manhattan on December 1, 2007. Wisely, Obama picked up the $17.34 check and left a $10 tip.

At Cooper Union four months later, Obama called Bloomberg a "cheap date" and hinted that the he had a little more on his mind than just breakfast when eating with the Mayor.

"I have to tell you that the reason I bought breakfast is because I expect payback in something more expensive. . . I'm no dummy," joked Obama. "The mayor was a cheap date that morning and I figured there are some good steakhouses here in New York."

March 27, 2008 in Obama, Barack, Vote 2008: Democrats | Permalink | User Comments (110) | TrackBack (0)

Mitt Romney to Fundraise With John McCain

March 27, 2008 11:27 AM

ABC News' Bret Hovell reports: Sen. John McCain will be joined on the campaign trail by a sometimes contentious former rival Thursday for a fundraising swing through the mountain west.

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, the onetime Republican presidential candidate, will join McCain to raise money in Salt Lake City and Denver.

Romney will meet McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, in Utah, and travel with him aboard his campaign plane to Denver.

The race between Romney and McCain was heated throughout the primary process, as the two battled for the Republican nomination. Romney dropped out of the race at the beginning of February, two days after the Super Tuesday primary, in which McCain pulled ahead of the field. Romney endorsed McCain one week later, on Valentine’s Day.

"Governor Romney is a very important leader in the Republican party," said Steve Schmidt, a senior advisor to McCain’s campaign. "Sen. McCain is thrilled that he’s going to be joining him on the campaign trail today."

McCain is in the early stages of a process to pick his vice presidential nominee. Romney, with his passionate supporters and deep pockets, is widely believed to be under consideration for that role.

March 27, 2008 in McCain, John, Romney, Mitt, Vote 2008: Republicans | Permalink | User Comments (28) | TrackBack (0)

Chelsea Speaks

March 26, 2008 8:28 PM

ABC News' Eloise Harper Reports: Chelsea Clinton decided tonight to make the case for her mother's presidency with her mom by her side.

Chelsea, who has stood by her mother's side for many campaign events, introduced her mother, Democratic presidential hopeful New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, for the first time this evening in Washington DC at a low dollar fundraiser.

Chelsea decided tonight to make the case for her mother's presidency with her mom by her side.

In front of a crowd of about 2,500 people Chelsea sung her mothers praises saying, "I am biased admittedly because she is my mom and because I love her too. But I also passionately believe in my mother as a young woman and as a young voter and I now have been traveling the last few months on behalf of my mom and I have been just amazed by the number of people whom I’ve met whose lives have already been affected by my mothers work."

In closing Chelsea joked about her mothers desire to be a grandmother "not only for us and our generation, but for our children and grandchildren that I know my mother wants to have."

Senator Clinton beamed off to the side and said "I believe you just heard the best speech you will hear tonight but I could not be more grateful for the extraordinary work and commitment that Chelsea has made to this campaign over the last moths it means the world to me – but I as a mom I m just so proud of her what she believes is important for not just her life but our county."

Clinton said that she was "honored and thrilled to be competing for the democratic nomination" but admitted "this has been a spirited contest and it should be that is how America works best." After listing all of the things Clinton wanted to do, she said "none of this can happen by making a speech." The crowd cheered on Clinton's jab to her top rival - Chelsea Clinton held her hands by her waist and did not clap or express emotion for this line.

March 26, 2008 in Clinton, Hillary | Permalink | User Comments (31) | TrackBack (0)

Party-Run Do-Over May Now Be Dead In Michigan

March 26, 2008 7:17 PM

ABC News' Teddy Davis Reports: A federal judge struck down a provision of Michigan law Wednesday that allowed only the Republican and Democratic parties access to voter information from the state's Jan. 15 presidential primary.

Since the provision of state law which was struck down on Wednesday was part of statute with a non-severability clause, Sen. Hillary Clinton's, D-N.Y., presidential campaign was hoping that Wednesday's ruling would increase political pressure on the Michigan Democratic Party to hold a delegate-awarding do-over contest.

But in a negative turn of events for Clinton, a spokeswoman for the Michigan Democratic Party reacted to Wednesday's ruling by saying that it essentially ends any chance of a party-run do-over election because without a list of which voters participated in the Jan. 15 primary, the Michigan Democratic Party cannot guard against voters who participated in the Jan. 15 Republican primary also participating in the do-over contest.

"If this ruling stands, it will kill our ability to hold a do-over election because under D.N.C. rules, the people who voted in the Republican primary can't vote in the Democratic primary," said Michigan Democratic Party spokeswoman Liz Kerr.

"It would really open the door to a lot of cross-over problems," Kerr added. "People would get a chance to vote for a candidate in both parties. That's just not fair."

Chances of a state-run do-over died last week when the Michigan legislature adjourned without approving a re-vote.

The lawsuit was not filed by the Clinton campaign. It was filed in January by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of The Green Party, Libertarian Party, and Reform Party as well as a weekly newspaper and political consultant.

March 26, 2008 in Vote 2008: Democrats | Permalink | User Comments (99) | TrackBack (0)

Launching the Rocket Man

March 26, 2008 4:49 PM

ABC News' Eloise Harper Reports: Senator Hillary Clinton's campaign has held multiple fundraisers over the course of the year featuring high-profile singing groups including the Goo-Goo Dolls and Elvis Costello.

So, when Elton John agreed to host a "one-night only" concert for the Senator, one would think it would be a sold out event.

Campaign aides assure ABC News that orchestra and mezzanine tickets sold out in an hour after they put the tickets online, and only a limited amount of tickets are still available.

But since the initial announcement, the Clinton camp has sent out at least eight nine reminders about the concert, raising some question as to just how available the hottest ticket in town might be.

On March 17th, Hillary Clinton supporters and donors got an email in their inboxes that said "I'm Throwing a Party." It was from Elton John. The campaign also sent out a text message announcing tickets were on sale. 

That same day the campaign sent out two emails to reporters announcing the concert.

On March 20th in the Morning "Hubdate" -- a daily note sent to reporters -- one of the announcements read, "Rocket Man Lends Star Power: Elton John will headline a major fundraiser for Hillary in New York on April 9th."

Five days later, Hillary Clinton wrote an email to donors and reporters, with the subject "You, Me and Elton John," encouraging supporters attend a contest for the show.

Chelsea Clinton then followed up on March 26th with a personal email inviting guests saying,  "My mom's campaign is bringing two supporters and their guests to New York on April 9 for both Elton John's one-night-only concert and the party after the concert. It's going to be a great night and a great time."

That same day came a text message from Hillary Clintons campaign's campaign for a contest to win tickets to the concert.

"Want to see Hillary and Elton John on April 9th? You could win tickets to the 1 night only concert. Enter at HillaryClinton.com."

The campaign tells ABC News that this is standard protocol for high profile events. One aide said, "It's a huge deal," and asked why they wouldn't want to do everything thing they could to promote the concert.

March 26, 2008 in Clinton, Hillary, Vote 2008: Democrats | Permalink | User Comments (30) | TrackBack (0)

Obama: The Campaign Has Been Long For You? Imagine How I Feel

March 26, 2008 3:47 PM

ABC News' Sunlen Miller Reports: As the race for the Democratic nomination stretches into the end of March and likely well beyond, Sen. Barack Obama made mention of the drawn out battle between himself and Sen. Hillary Clinton.

"It has been a little over a year; about 15 months now, since I first announced that I was running for president. Since that time babies have been born and are walking and talking," the senator from Illinois joked at a Greensboro, North Carolina event.

"I know it seems like it's been long for you, imagine how it feels for me."

Watch the VIDEO HERE.

A recent Gallup poll released today showed that the extended and fractious nomination period on the Democratic side may have some impact in the general election race against Sen. John McCain. The results show 28 percent of Clinton supporters opted to vote for McCain over Obama and 19 percent of Obama supporters voted for McCain over Clinton.

"Senator Clinton's a smart person, she's a capable person, and I, you know, I want to make sure that the tone of this campaign remains, it creates the situation where the Democrats are going to win in November," Obama said before speaking about a difference he regularly highlights between himself and Clinton, D-NY, over taking money from lobbyists.

On Monday, Obama's communications director, Robert Gibbs responded to questions on a conference call about a small drum beat that is starting for Clinton to get out of the race.

"Senator Obama has said that is not his decision to make for others," but Gibbs stated that if Obama's pledged delegate lead remains, it will be difficult to come to a different conclusion.

Obama, who just returned from a mini-vacation to the US Virgin Islands with his family, made light of the short time off in the grand scheme of this marathon of a nomination process.

"Two and a half days is not a vacation, two and a half days is a weekend," he said.

March 26, 2008 in Obama, Barack | Permalink | User Comments (111) | TrackBack (0)

Obama Blasts McCain On The Economy

March 26, 2008 3:12 PM

ABC News' Sunlen Miller and Bret Hovell Report: Revving up for what his campaign is calling a "major" speech on the economy tomorrow, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., blasted the economic plan of presumptive Republican nominee Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.

At his first campaign event after a short family vacation in the US Virgin Islands,  Obama hit at McCain's economic speech Tuesday, and noted, as he often does on the stump, that McCain once joked that the economy is not his strong suit.

Watch the VIDEO HERE.

“John McCain has admitted he doesn't understand the economy as well as he should. Yesterday he proved it in a speech he gave on the housing crisis.” Obama told a town hall audience Wednesday in Greensboro, North Carolina.

"According to John McCain he said the best way for us to address the fact that millions of Americans are losing their homes is to just sit back and watch it happen. In his entire speech yesterday he offered not one policy, not one idea, not one bit of relief for the nearly thirty five thousand north Carolinians who were forced to foreclose on their dream in the last few months. Not one, not one single idea or a single policy prescription.”

Obama cast McCain as more of the same, arguing Americans don’t need a third terms of the Bush administration.

As president, Obama said he will address the situation by reworking existing subprime loans into affordable long-term fixed loans, creating a foreclosure prevention fund, and cracking down on mortgage fraud and predatory lenders.

“John McCain may call helping struggling homeowners pandering, but I don’t think the families in North Carolina who are losing their homes would see it that way,” Obama said, referring to McCain's comment yesterday that he "will not play election year politics with the housing crisis."

Differing with his Democratic opponents, McCain yesterday argued against widespread government intervention in dealing with the home mortgage and foreclosure crisis.

Today McCain repeated his distaste for a government bailout. "I'm not interested, nor do I think it's appropriate to help speculators or people who –- they may have abided by the letter of the law but not the spirit when they gave people mortgages that were really not appropriate or fair to them."

The Arizona senator cast the differing housing crisis plans as a "classic contrast between a far left, liberal Democrat and a conservative Republican."

"Senator Obama believes that the government should do everything, I believe that the government should do as little as possible," he said. 

Obama is set to give a major economic speech on Thursday in New York City at Cooper Union, where he’s expected to outline more differences with McCain on their economic agendas.

March 26, 2008 in McCain, John, Obama, Barack, Vote 2008: Democrats, Vote 2008: Republicans | Permalink | User Comments (37) | TrackBack (0)

Nancy Reagan Endorses McCain

March 25, 2008 2:51 PM

ABC News' Bret Hovell Reports: Senator John McCain received the endorsement Tuesday of former first lady Nancy Reagan at her home in the Bel Air neighborhood of Los Angeles.

Reagan, 86, walked into her driveway slowly, holding onto McCain’s arm.

"I’m very pleased and honored to have the opportunity again to be with Mrs. Reagan and to receive her endorsement for the nomination of my party, and for president of the United States," McCain said.

Watch the VIDEO HERE.

The support of Reagan, the widow of the 40th President Ronald Reagan, was highly coveted during the Republican primary, when most of the candidates running tried regularly to cloak themselves in the Reagan mantle.

McCain, R-Ariz., has been no exception, saying regularly on the stump that he was a "foot-soldier in the Reagan Revolution," and referring to his desire to get so-called "Reagan democrats" to cross over and support his candidacy.

Nancy Reagan’s staff advised that the first lady would not be making any remarks, but as she stood arm in arm with McCain in her driveway, she did jump in to answer a question about the timing of her endorsement.

"Ronnie and I always waited until everything was decided and then we endorsed," she said, patting McCain on the arm. "Well obviously this is the nominee of the party."

March 25, 2008 in McCain, John, Vote 2008: Republicans | Permalink | User Comments (44) | TrackBack (0)

Clinton Laughs Off McCarthy Reference During Warm Welcome in Kentucky

March 25, 2008 12:37 PM

ABC News' Sarah Amos Reports: Former President Bill Clinton tested out the waters in Kentucky this morning, campaigning for his wife in Frankfort, KY.

The crowd of 2500 was extremely energized to hear Clinton speak, with a line having formed nearly three hours before the former president was scheduled to speak.

While talking about his wife's energy plan, Clinton briefly made a reference to this past weekend's controversy over comments he made to veterans in North Carolina which led an Obama surrogate to compare Clinton to Joe McCarthy.

"This is really what this election oughta be about, these kind of things, not a lot of this ya-ya-ing I hear about all the time," Clinton told the crowd while talking about energy.

The extremely large applause from the crowd led Clinton to add - "You know, let me just tell you something. One of Clinton's laws of politics - the level of sanctimony in the rhetoric is inversely related to the public benefit of the policy. But let's talk," Clinton continued, interrupting his own train of thought for a quick chuckle.

"I need to quit this. Somebody will probably figure out how to call, accuse me of being Joe McCarthy again on that," joked Clinton before continuing on with more examples of how to make America more energy efficient.

Watch the VIDEO HERE.

The former president's opening acts included former Governor Julian Carroll, who talked to the crowd about why he was endorsing Senator Hillary Clinton. "I've known the Clintons since 19 and 74," Carroll told the crowd, fondly sharing stories about their friendship over the years. The former governor was so enthused during his introduction that he couldn't help but kick up his heels at one point with excitement.

Not too shabby a welcome for Clinton's first visit to the Bluegrass State.

March 25, 2008 in Vote 2008: Democrats | Permalink | User Comments (58) | TrackBack (0)

Pentagon Admits Mistaken Missile Shipment

March 25, 2008 11:52 AM

ABC News' Jonathan Karl and Luis Martinez Report: In a morning briefing, the Pentagon announced that it had accidentally sent sensitive technology used in the US nuclear program to Taiwan.

The devices were returned to U.S. territory this morning.

Watch a portion of the briefing HERE.

At the briefing, Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne said the Defense Department learned last week that "four non- nuclear nose cone assemblies and their associated electrical components" used to ignite a warhead in an intercontinental ballistic missile were mistakenly sent to Taiwan in lieu of a sales order for a battery shipment.

The fuses only work on the Mark-12 weapons package/warhead and are not nuclear, but are electrical fuses. Wynne said they are "the electrical firing mechanism that allows the rest of the system to detonate."

Wynne said the assembly 'does not contain any nuclear or fissile material'.

Taiwan notified the United States that they sent the wrong items. Informed of the mistake, the military immediately ordered a Navy cargo ship to pick up the devices and return them to the U.S.

Ryan Henry, a senior adviser to Defense Secretary Robert Gates, said "all our dealings with the Taiwan authorities have been up-front, and they have in no way tried to be uncooperative in any sort of way."

Henry described the shipment as "a system that was built and designed in the '60s, and so theretofore the technology that is in there is quite dated."

Still, he said "we're taking this extremely seriously, and we feel quite confident we'll be able to determine if there has been any tampering or exploitation."

Concerned about how China will take the news, Henry went to great lengths to say that China had been quickly notified and that the shipment was an "error" and a "mistake" and was in keeping with US defensive military sales to Taiwan. "This specific incident was an error in process only and is not indicative of our policies, which remain unchanged. Our policy on Taiwan arm sales have not changed."

Henry said that both the Gates and the president were notified on Friday of the shipment mistake and the actions in place to recover it.

Said Henry, "The department will determine the facts and take appropriate corrective action regarding this regrettable incident. " He also said that Gates has made the incident a "personal priority." .

Gates has also ordered the Air Force and the Navy "to conduct a comprehensive review of all policies, procedures, as well as a physical site inventory of all nuclear and nuclear-associated material and equipment across their respective programs."

The investigation will be headed by Admiral Kirkland Donald, director of the U.S. Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program.

March 25, 2008 in Washington | Permalink | User Comments (33) | TrackBack (0)

McCain Cites Bin Laden on Iraq's Importance

March 24, 2008 8:51 PM

CHULA VISTA, CALIF -

ABC News's Bret Hovell Reports: John McCain returned to the campaign trail from his weeklong trip to Europe and the Middle East Monday talking about successes in Iraq, and the need to stay the course there.

He cited the recent release of a tape by Osama bin Laden as proof that Iraq is the central front in the war on terrorism. That’s a contention McCain, R-Ariz., has been making for weeks on the stump, often quoting General David Petraeus, the leader of multinational forces in Iraq, who has expressed the same view.

"General Petraeus and I and Osama bin Laden are in agreement," McCain said speaking with reporters after a town hall-style meeting at a VFW post a few miles south of San Diego.

"It is hard to understand why Senator Clinton and Senator Obama do not understand that," McCain continued. "I don't know if it is naiveté or what the problem is, but it's obvious that they are dead wrong and they are wrong when they say we should leave Iraq immediately."

McCain's remarks come on his first day campaigning since an overseas trip which took him to Iraq, Jordan, Israel, the United Kingdom and France. McCain, the Republican presidential nominee-in-waiting, reiterated repeatedly that he took the trip in his role as the ranking member of the Senate armed services committee, but there is no question that what he saw in Iraq is directly tied to his fortunes as a presidential candidate.

"The surge is succeeding and it's time that [the Democrats] ackno