News politics 2008-07-13 Andanh.com

Analysis: Obama revels in contrasts with McCain Sat, 12 Jul 2008 23:54 EDT
Barack Obama has found something that eluded him during the primary season - contrast. And, he's basking in it.

"He will not bring change," Obama always asserts, rightly or wrongly, of rival Republican John McCain. "I will."

In McCain, the likely Democratic nominee faces an opponent who is the opposite of him in every way - an Iraq war backer who supports free-market economics, opposes abortion rights and is a Republican. Obama delights in pointing out the differences, and does so often.

To be sure, McCain returns the favor at his campaign events.

But vast disagreements with McCain - on everything from economic philosophies to security proposals - seem to have given Obama license to more aggressively and enthusiastically go after his foe. It's a turnabout from his more cautious approach in the Democratic primaries when he faced Hillary Rodham Clinton, a fellow Democrat with whom he differed little.

Poll: Obama, McCain running close nationally Sat, 12 Jul 2008 16:29 EDT
THE RACE: The presidential race nationally

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THE NUMBERS

Barack Obama, 44 percent

John McCain, 41 percent

television | News shows Sun, 13 Jul 2008 03:32 EDT

Fox News Sunday

Tribute to Tony Snow with guests including Vice President Dick Cheney and commentator Rush Limbaugh.

9 a.m., Fox-56

Meet the Press

Candidates reveal more about supporters Sat, 12 Jul 2008 04:12 EDT

The presidential campaigns of Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain moved Friday to disclose more information to the public about their top fund-raisers, after it was disclosed that they had been lax in identifying many of them.

Though not legally required, identifying elite fund-raisers who .bundle. millions of dollars in campaign contributions from acquaintances is a concern of watchdog groups devoted to promoting transparency and curbing the influence of money in politics.

In a bit of one-upmanship, the McCain organization issued a letter on Friday to a group of campaign finance watchdogs announcing that it would begin publishing on its Web site the names of all its fund-raisers who bring in $50,000 or more, instead of the $100,000 and $250,000 thresholds it had used before.

The letter, signed by Rick Davis, the campaign's manager, also said this list of bundlers would identify their occupations and employers, in addition to their home cities and states. Watchdogs say employment information is crucial to acquiring a sense of what a fund-raiser's interests may be.

Road still bumpy for McCain's retooled bandwagon Sun, 13 Jul 2008 00:14 EDT
Every presidential campaign has its hitches. For John McCain, they felt more like full-blown lurches this week, with nearly every step forward quickly offset by a misstatement or wisecrack that seemed to blow his message off course.

It was the week McCain hoped to show off his newly focused, smoother-running operation after he rearranged his campaign hierarchy and acknowledged errors in the staging of events and other matters.

But a joke about U.S. cigarettes killing Iranians, criticism of the Social Security program and word that one of his top economic advisers had called the country "a nation of whiners" suffering a "mental recession" undermined the Arizona senator's effort.

Democrat Barack Obama has had his own stumbles recently, but McCain's journey through the key election states of Colorado, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin was bumpy.

McCain said he is not worried.

McCain campaign endures week of missteps, setbacks Sun, 13 Jul 2008 03:32 EDT

HUDSON, Wis. . Every presidential campaign has its hitches. For John McCain, they felt more like full-blown lurches last week, with nearly every step forward quickly offset by a misstatement or wisecrack that seemed to blow his message off course.

It was the week McCain hoped to show off his newly focused, smoother-running operation after he rearranged his campaign hierarchy and acknowledged errors in the staging of events and other matters.

But a joke about U.S. cigarettes killing Iranians, criticism of the Social Security program and word that one of his top economic advisers had called the country .a nation of whiners. suffering a .mental recession. undermined the Arizona senator's effort.

Democrat Barack Obama has had his own stumbles recently, but McCain's journey through the key election states of Colorado, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin was also bumpy.

Counties may sue state over jails Sat, 12 Jul 2008 04:12 EDT

Facing potentially crippling jail costs, Kentucky's county judge-executives are looking to sue the state to recover the price of housing state criminals who are awaiting sentencing.

If they prevail, counties could save $60 million to $70 million a year, said LaRue County Judge-Executive Tommy Turner.

Members of the Kentucky County Judge-Executive Association, who are meeting in Lexington, voted unanimously Thursday to pursue a lawsuit, Turner said.

Specifically, they take issue with the state giving criminals credit for time served in county jails without reimbursing the counties for putting them up. County jails generally hold people charged with crimes until they are convicted and sentenced.

Chinese Dir