Stories related to: presidential campaign

"By the time I’m sworn in, I will look the part," Barack Obama quipped to donors Wednesday. Indeed, the long and grueling campaign is swiftly aging the relatively fresh-faced candidate, Politico writes; he's showing more wrinkles and his hair is getting grayer by the day. In sharp contrast to the unflattering coverage given to erstwhile rival Hillary Clinton's appearance, however, many say that Father Time is giving Obama's image a boost. More »

While pundits stoke the frenzy around potential vice-presidential candidates, they rarely see what actually happens behind the campaign curtain. In Men's Vogue , Lloyd Grove offers six maxims to help make sense of the "veepstakes" hype: Presidential hopefuls seek input from several quarters to curry favor, though most of it is for show.   Potential VPs should have ambition, but accept playing second fiddle. More »

Barack Obama is taking heat for accepting a better-than-average interest rate that saves him $300 a month on his $1.32 million mortgage, the Washington Post reports. The 30-year, fixed 5.625% rate on the Democrat's Chicago home was under the 6% being offered other buyers in June 2005 by Northern Trust, and included no origination fee or discount points. More »

This election season is shaping up as a windfall for television stations, with some $3 billion likely to be spent on TV ads, about 27% of that on the presidential race, reports USA Today. Democrat Barack Obama’s campaign—with no spending cap because Obama turned down public campaign funds—will likely lead the charge into broadcast and cable TV spending. More »

Following fast on Barack Obama’s decision to abandon public financing, a McCain rep said the Dem has failed “the true test of a candidate”—whether he'll stick to his word, Time reports. But Politico notes that an Obama rep blamed McCain: “Our campaign counsels met, and it was immediately clear that McCain’s campaign had no interest in the possibility of an agreement.” More »

While her rival would-be first lady made a high-profile appearance on "The View" yesterday, Cindy McCain today highlighted her charitable work with a trip to Vietnam to visit a group of children awaiting surgery for facial deformities. The children, born with cleft palates and lips, will receive free corrective surgery from a charity McCain has involved herself with since 2001. More »

The Democratic National Committee is moving its field operations to Chicago as part of Barack Obama's strategy to centralize the party and streamline efforts for the general election. The move has been welcomed publicly by the DNC, even though it clearly shifts power from Washington to Obama's unassuming headquarters in the Windy City, Politico notes. Chicago hasn't had such national political focus since the 1968 convention. More »

Hillary Clinton's White House bid made history—by ending with what is believed to be the largest presidential campaign debt ever. The New York senator had approximately $9.5 million in unpaid bills at the end of April, not to mention $11.4 of her own money that she lent the campaign. The Clinton campaign is still adding up the final tally, but her options for retiring her debt are limited. More »

Following Cindy McCain's lead, Michelle Obama will co-host The View on June 18, the AP reports. ABC’s mid-morning gabfest asked the wife of the presumptive Democratic nominee to be a guest, but she said she’d rather jump into the often-lively chat and guest interviews, as McCain did in April. More »

The powerhouse news-aggregating Drudge Report is surprising its loyal fan base by straying from typically conservative output, Politico observes. Editor Matt Drudge had gained the affection of Republicans and ire of Democrats through previous election cycles, but this time the reclusive blogger has displayed a certain fondness for Barack Obama, while damaging Hillary Clinton and John McCain's presidential bids. More »

Hillary Clinton is banking on a sizable victory today in Puerto Rico to bolster her argument that she’s received more votes than Barack Obama and is a stronger draw for Latinos. Key points to keep an eye on: The second wave: While many Puerto Ricans sleep in, it's going to be clear by 1pm whether there will be a big turnout. And polls are open til 3pm. The battle for San Juan: Puerto Rico's biggest urban district represents Obama's best chance, but Clinton has campaigned vigorously. More »

Jimmy Carter's former chief of staff, Hamilton Jordan, has died at the age of 63 after battling cancer for more than 20 years, AP reports. Jordan was at the core of Carter's "Georgia Mafia," and helped propel the Democrat into the White House in 1976. "He was a great strategist," said Carter's former communications chief. "He just couldn't strategize his way out of this." More »

Although renowned for his fiery temper, John McCain turned up on Saturday Night Live last night to poke a little fun at his age. "What should we be looking for in our next president?" he asked. "Certainly, someone who is very, very, very old.” If elected McCain, 71, would be the oldest American president in history. More »

Mike Huckabee's as busy as ever two months after dropping out of the GOP race, giving speeches around the country and campaigning for GOP candidates everywhere—including, of course, John McCain, who is said to have the former preacher on the top of his list of potential veeps. So would he accept? "It's impolite to start saying that if the captain of the football team were to invite me to the prom, that I already have a dress picked out," Huckabee told Newsweek. More »

Washington is investigating Al Sharpton and his companies for nearly $1.5 million in back taxes and penalties, the AP reports. Sharpton, who has been negotiating the size of his federal debt, brushed off the government's latest move today. “Whatever retaliation they do on me, we never stop," the civil rights agitator said. "I think that that is why they try to intimidate us." More »

Former rivals John McCain and Mike Huckabee stumped side-by-side in Arkansas today, reviving rumors that they may form a joint ticket for the November election, CNN reports. Huckabee "can be a great asset to our campaign," McCain said. Huckabee, who has announced a new book and political action committee, joined McCain on his tour of economically depressed—and historically Democratic—regions. More »

If voters judged the Democratic candidates by the standard Hillary Clinton has been promoting—competent leadership—her own performance at the helm of her campaign isn't making her case, write Jim VandeHei and David Paul Kuhn in Politico. While Clinton’s had two major staff shakeups, major money problems, and a constant message crisis, Barack Obama has led what one Hillary supporter calls “one of the best-run presidential campaigns in the last 20 years.” More »

John McCain will take a tour of his own biographical highlights, reports USA Today. His campaign intends the “Service to America” tour of schools and military installations to help the candidate define his brand before the Democrats do—and help offset a significant fundraising disparity. He will visit places that have “played a significant role in shaping who I am today," he told potential donors. More »

Hillary Clinton's campaign manager quit today, reports ABC News, giving no explanation in an email to staffers other than the campaign "has required enormous sacrifices from all of us and our families." Patti Solis Doyle will stay on as a senior adviser, but passes the torch to Maggie Williams, who led Clinton's staff when she was first lady. More »

Barack Obama is pulling out in front of Hillary Clinton in Missouri and California the day before all-important Super Tuesday, according to the latest Reuters/C-Span/Zogby poll. GOP contender John McCain is well ahead of Mitt Romney in New York and New Jersey, but Romney has boosted his lead in California, the delegate jackpot of tomorrow's 24 contests, which could puncture McCain's frontrunner status. More »