- Daily Photo: Obama Jokes Around at G-20
- Blackwater gets replaced in Iraq
- Daily Photo: U.S. Marines Look Out for Taliban in Afghanistan
- Hillary Clinton the Tomboy and Her "Ah-Ha" Moment
- Obama Administration Sudan Envoy Headed to Region
- Daily Photo: Potential Flashpoint in Iraq
- Clinton Says New Afghanistan-Pakistan Plan Depends on Diplomacy
- Exclusive: Three Israeli Airstrikes Against Sudan
- Additional 4,000 Troops to Be Ordered to Afghanistan
- Daily Photo: Navy Submarine Trains in the Arctic
- Alarm Over North Korea Missile Prep
- Anti-Terror Stimulus? US Offers Rewards for Top Terrorists
- Daily Photo: Pakistani Women in Refugee Camp
- Condoleezza Rice Appears on "The Tonight Show"
- Diplomat and Aid Group Sound the Alarm on Darfur Camp Situation
- auto industry rescue
- Ballotwatch
- Biden, Joe
- Bush, George W.
- Clinton, Bill
- Clinton, Hillary
- Dodd, Chris
- Edwards, John
- Giuliani, Rudy
- Gravel, Mike
- Huckabee, Mike
- Hunter, Duncan
- Inauguration
- Iraq
- Kucinich, Dennis
- McCain, John
- Obama, Barack
- Palin, Sarah
- Paul, Ron
- Romney, Mitt
- Tancredo, Tom
- Thompson, Fred
- Veepstakes
- Vote 2008: Democrats
- Vote 2008: Republicans
- Washington
- White House
« Previous | Main | Next »
The Note: Obama Seeks New Image in Foreign Travel
Email
ShareJune 30, 2008 8:29 AM
ABC News' Rick Klein Reports in Monday's Note: What -- 50 states aren’t enough for these guys?
The latest odd turn in the race that’s seen everything has Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain seeing places that presidential candidates just don’t visit very often.
McCain is next up with a three-day trip to Colombia and Mexico that starts Tuesday, after two previous foreign trips this year brought him to Europe and the Middle East.
Obama is planning an extensive itinerary for next month: Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel, Jordan, England, France, and Germany -- just as foreign policy is set to resonate on the trail again, as Obama talks patriotism, and as Democrats seek to grab the national-security mantle from McCain (under the cover of downed fighter planes).
This latest Obama introduction starts at home, with a “major speech” on patriotism scheduled for Independence, Mo., Monday morning. (Fun game: Count the American flags -- including the pin on Obama’s lapel -- at the event site.)
Read the rest of The Note -- and get all the latest on the 2008 election, Congress, the White House and the wide world of politics every day -- from Rick Klein by bookmarking this link.
Independence Day means patriot’s week for Obama: “The message will be that love of country is not defined only by such traditional measures as serving in the military or tracing one's ancestors to the Mayflower,” John McCormick writes in the Chicago Tribune. “Patriotism, he and his supporters will say, can be reflected in living the national dream, which in Obama's case means rising as the Hawaiian-born son of a Kenyan father and Kansan mother to professional and political prominence.”
“In the coming days, Obama is expected to visit some traditionally red states as he seeks to broaden the electoral battleground,” McCormick writes. “Over the weekend, his campaign also announced a trip this summer to Europe and the Middle East, where Obama's popularity could be on display and his standing as a diplomatic figure boosted.”
We’ve done the math for you: The candidates’ foreign destinations award a grand total of zero electoral votes.
But the coming trips provide opportunities for both men in the tentative definitional dance of the early stage of the general election. And risks: Gaffes carry a multiplier of approximately three when committed abroad, and the visuals are not always under the control of a campaign operating in foreign territory.
Continue reading today's Note by clicking HERE.
ABC News' John Santucci and Alexa Ainsworth contributed to this report.
June 30, 2008 in Biden, Joe, Bush, George W., Hunter, Duncan, Kucinich, Dennis, Romney, Mitt, Tancredo, Tom, Thompson, Fred | Permalink | User Comments (56)
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
Well Obama has to start his on the job training somewhere!
Make it a 6 month tour, grab a gun and helmet and do some REAL work.
Posted by: HP Boston | Jun 30, 2008 8:56:47 AM
I think it is a mistake for McCain to go overseas this week. This week is 4th of July week thus he should stay at home pushing his own agenda.
What's he doing in Columbia and Mexico?
Posted by: history | Jun 30, 2008 9:02:43 AM
I think that Americans will be surprised to learn that Obama is EXTREMELY loved throughout the world.
Posted by: Betty | Jun 30, 2008 9:04:31 AM
Obama went to Pakistan during his college years, and Kenya to see his relatives....(who killed a whole bunch of Christians)
And his Pastor of 20 years met up with Quadaffi...
Oh...Obama was in the Virgins Isles for a long weekend during the primary....
Foreign Policy guy for sure.....
Posted by: carpenter.nyc | Jun 30, 2008 9:07:50 AM
Obama will sell out our country at a drop of a hat. That is why the europeans "love" him.....
Obama is busy cloating himself in the flag like he's Yankee Doodle Dandy. Is Michelle Obama going to pick up the flute and toot the tune behind him....?
Posted by: carpenter.nyc | Jun 30, 2008 9:11:44 AM
i say go obama they really respect you in those other countries and i think they should meet the future president since you will be dealing with those countries alot as far as mccain goes stay mccain stay in mexico be their president!!!
Posted by: angie | Jun 30, 2008 9:14:28 AM
HEY CARPENTER FROM NYC i think its great you post blogs like this the more you do the more people are driven to research on obama and then they come to realize the things you post are lies from FOX(FAKE NEWS) RUSH LIMBURGH want to be talk show host oh and lets not forget the wonderful GOP the only way they know how to win is LIE CHEAT STEAL and you see people will come to know obama like him and vote for him so keep up your post only makes obama stronger!!!!!!
Posted by: angie | Jun 30, 2008 9:18:58 AM
The arrogant one is going to campaign overseas but he is afraid to campaig nin Kentucky or West Virgnia. Who is paying for this trip anyways?
Posted by: geevill | Jun 30, 2008 9:22:39 AM
While I think it's nice if our president is respected, and our country not hated, I do not care one iota if the rest of the world LOVES Obama. The presidency isn't a popularity contest. I'd prefer someone competent.
Posted by: Beth | Jun 30, 2008 9:23:01 AM
hey gee evil whos paying for mccains trips the summer is isnt over yet how do you know hes not planning wv and ky remember they said all 50 states do you not know how to read or hear are you one of the children from the no child left behind act that bush created well obamas right we do need to work on our education!!!!!
Posted by: angie | Jun 30, 2008 9:25:37 AM
I don't think every European loves Obama. I live here and I think he is a corrupt liar. I will never understand why the Americans love him...
Posted by: Bridget | Jun 30, 2008 9:26:43 AM
HEY BETH i thought popularity meant something for hillary with her popular votes but its not popularity for obama so you just said it its not based on popular votes!!!!!!
Posted by: angie | Jun 30, 2008 9:27:22 AM
Weird how ABC doesn't mention the Obamanut Wesley Clark's mental illness outburts against John McCain. When Wesley Clark was eating pork grinds in Arkansas, John McCain was vacationing in the Hanoi Hilton. Apparently, Wesley Clark, who allowed the genocide against refugees in Bosnia, has decided 5 1/2 years of POW isn't enough of a sacrifice for a soldier. The Obama camp and its spoiled generals are truly a disgrace to this country.
Posted by: Karen | Jun 30, 2008 9:27:55 AM
the only thing john mccain is good at is military dont get me wrong i do respect him for that but what about the economy the housing crisis unemployment healthcare energry crisis mccain is clueless he even said with his own mouth and i quote IM NOT THAT FAMILIAR WITH THE ECONOMY I HAVE TO EDUCATE MYSELF as far as the other things the man has flipped flop on all depending on the audiance and polls john mccain shifts on his policies little panda bear stop saying anything just to get votes get a plan mccain stick to it already
Posted by: angie | Jun 30, 2008 9:32:21 AM
Whether he goes to Iraq or not, this war is still a sham created by the $$$$ war mongers. What will his visit accomplish?
Posted by: DAVID NH | Jun 30, 2008 10:03:38 AM
Obama has to start making up for his inexperience and lack of real knowledge. I wonder how he'll play his 'bring the troops home now' position when he actually meets with people in Iraq; 43% of whom apparently believe that their country is now on the right track and making progress versus the 17% of Americans who believe Iraq is making progress. Why the gap in perception?
Posted by: MPCT | Jun 30, 2008 10:07:34 AM
Obama: All talk and no substance.
Posted by: Soetoro No! | Jun 30, 2008 10:13:52 AM
Good Ole Bill! From London...Telegraph.co.uk.... Bill Clinton says Barack Obama must 'kiss my ass' for his support. Bill really has a way with words and occasionally a good idea!!
Posted by: RKTSCI3127 | Jun 30, 2008 10:27:36 AM
All you have to do is look at Obama's record and his shim shaming while in Chicago.
OBAMA DIDN"T DO ANYTHING....but to shoomooze with money men and wrote out favors for funds.( even to buy his own house lol)
Emil Jones created this Obama's legislature Record....and in return Obama sent a 3 MIllion Dollars in Earmark to Emil Jones.
ANGIE: Obama's own record and past doing will bring him down.
This is a fact.
That is why Obama wants all and any diversion----anything so people would not look into his History and "Work" while in Chicago.
Obama is as close to going to jail as his Buddy Rezko.
Posted by: carpenter.nyc | Jun 30, 2008 10:33:34 AM
Obama is lecturing us about patriotism today. Yeah right.
Posted by: geevill | Jun 30, 2008 10:54:26 AM
Post a comment
