Stories related to: presidential campaign

Obama Family Goes Hollywood

ABC News  |  Jul 9, 08 10:00 AM CDT

(Newser) - Barack Obama took the unusual step of sitting down with Access Hollywood, but the interview took a decidedly precocious tone when daughters Malia and Sasha joined in, dishing on mommy and daddy holding hands and potential White House bedroom decor. The first interview of the Obamas is airing over four evenings, beginning last night, and is expected to draw millions of viewers—at a time when John McCain is struggling to stay in the spotlight. More »

McCain: Skip the Bombs, Send Smokes to Iran

Reuters  |  Jul 9, 08 4:12 AM CDT

(Newser) - Told that cigarette exports to Iran rose tenfold under President Bush’s reign, McCain pondered aloud:“Maybe that's a way of killing 'em." When his wife nudged him, he quickly clarified to Reuters: "I meant that as a joke—as a person who hasn't had a cigarette in 29 years.” Known for his acerbic humor, McCain once sang "Ba-ba-ba, ba-bomb Iran" to the Beach Boys' tune Barbara Anne . More »

No More Baby Face: Long Campaign Is Aging Obama

Politico  |  Jul 4, 08 6:50 AM CDT

(Newser) - "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 »

6 Maxims for Navigating the VP Search

Men's Vogue  |  Jul 2, 08 2:10 PM CDT

(Newser) - 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 »

Obama Got 'Good Deal' on Mortgage

Washington Post  |  Jul 2, 08 11:32 AM CDT

(Newser) - 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 »

TV Sees Big Bucks in Campaign

USA Today  |  Jun 23, 08 1:19 PM CDT

(Newser) - 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 »

McCain Blasts Obama for Declining Funds

Politico  |  Jun 19, 08 1:00 PM CDT

(Newser) - 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 »

Cindy McCain Wraps Vietnam Charity Stop

Associated Press  |  Jun 19, 08 11:28 AM CDT

(Newser) - 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 »

Obama Shifts DNC Power to Chicago

Politico  |  Jun 13, 08 11:01 AM CDT

(Newser) - 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's Next Challenge: Paying Bills

New York Times  |  Jun 10, 08 7:35 AM CDT

(Newser) - 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 »

Mrs. O Gets Her Own View

Associated Press  |  Jun 5, 08 10:42 AM CDT

(Newser) - 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 »

In '08, Drudge Coming More Out of Left Field