Obama defends tour, says McCain shifting on war

LONDON — Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama brushed aside Republican criticism of his overseas trip on Saturday and stood outside the famed 10 Downing Street to say that both President Bush and Sen. John McCain were moving his way on the key issues of Iraq and Afghanistan.

Hours before flying home, Obama also suggested his poll numbers might dip in the coming days, adding: "We have been out of the country for a week. People are worried about gas prices and home foreclosures."

At the same time, he said the journey to two war zones, the Mideast and Europe was important because "many of the issues that we face at home are not going to be solved as effectively unless we have strong partners abroad."

Obama flew home to Chicago Saturday night.

Republicans have criticized Obama throughout his trip, and McCain's campaign said recently the Democrat was taking a "premature victory lap" with more than 100 days remaining in the presidential campaign.

In Arizona on Saturday, McCain took a swipe at the headline-making trip in a radio address on Iraq and energy that his campaign made available to the media: "With all the breathless coverage from abroad, and with Sen. Obama now addressing his speeches to the people of the world, I'm starting to feel a little left out. Maybe you are, too."

But Obama sought to turn that back on his critics. He said McCain had earlier been "telling me I was supposed to take this trip. He suggested it and thought it was a good idea."

"John McCain has visited every one of these countries post-primary that I have," he said. "So it doesn't strike me that we have done anything different than the McCain campaign has done, which is to recognize that part of the job of the next president, commander in chief is to forge effective relationships with our allies."

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The trip was designed by the campaign to show Obama on an international stage in a way that aides hoped would reassure voters who have doubts about his ability to become commander in chief or chart a course for American foreign policy. Jews at home were an audience of particular concern, reflected in his two-night stay in Jerusalem.

McCain has long opposed Obama's call for a 16-month timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraq. On Friday, though, McCain said, "I think it's a pretty good timetable, as we should _ or horizons for withdrawal," echoing a phrase Bush used in recent days. "But they have to be based on conditions on the ground."

At his news conference, Obama jumped on that to say there was now some convergence "around a proposal that we have been making for a year and a half."

He also said McCain supports sending additional U.S. troops to Afghanistan, "and the Bush administration acknowledges that as well. I have been talking about that since last year," he said.

The senator also said he had canceled a planned trip to visit wounded members of the armed forced in Germany after officials told him a retired two-star general who is an adviser was considered campaign staff and "it would therefore be perceived as political because he had endorsed my candidacy but wasn't on the Senate staff."

He said that as a result, he scrapped the trip to avoid injecting political controversy into a visit to wounded troops.

Obama's final day in Europe included meetings with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown at the official residence at 10 Downing Street and with Conservative Party Leader David Cameron in the opposition party's offices in Parliament. Brown's government is unpopular, and his party recently lost a local election that underscored its weakness.

Still, Obama said he had no advice for Brown. "You are always more popular before you are actually in charge of things. And then, you know, once you are responsible then you are going to make some people unhappy, and that is just the nature of politics," he said.

He also breakfasted with former Prime Minister Tony Blair, now a Middle East envoy.

Comments

[abigail1]

To all those people saying that polls are where they are because Obama is black and America is racist, STOP IT.
I do not believe that America is some bastion of racial equality or that there aren't many people who won't vote for Obama because of his race. But I know that calling people who don't already support Obama in polls racist is the absolute best way to make them less likely to vote for him.
Most of those people are not racist, many just aren't paying attention. they have kids and jobs and it's summer and they are outside enjoying it instead of holed up inside with us blogging.
they can be convinced. And if you'd stop insulting them, even here, many of you possess the knowledge and have the ability to convince them, go do it.

[williamg]

"The polls don't account for the force multiplier effect that O bama's campaign will almost certainly bring to bear with its millions of volunteers and thousands of paid staffers. Whether that effect is 1.01, 1.05 or even 1.3 -- we don't know yet. But even the Mc Cain campaign acknowledges its existence."

- Marc Ambinder


http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/07/first_the_dukakis_analogy_does.php

[mesmerize]

Polls are just a bunch of foolishness. They are all fake news makers for the candidate people want to win.

[Dreamers101]

"Foolishness" maybe but please base your argument on fact and not talking points.

[LiberTLover]

It's just funny that when the polls show O behind, he has a problem with all these different categories of people, you know: white women who use hair curlers, latino men who like strawberry ice cream, old black women who drive Harleys and unmarried jewish women who like action movies. But when he is ahead, the polls don't mean anything...

[williamg]

"The polls don't account for the force multiplier effect that Obama's campaign will almost certainly bring to bear with its millions of volunteers and thousands of paid staffers. Whether that effect is 1.01, 1.05 or even 1.3 -- we don't know yet. But even the McCain campaign acknowledges its existence."

- Marc Ambinder


http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/07/first_the_dukakis_analogy_does.php

[personalpolitical]

OH MY GOD! Someone suggested Obama take a break, and he said he might, and they CAUGHT it ON TAPE???!!!

HURRY! FIRE UP THE PRESSES!!! WE GOT HIM THIS TIME!!!!

[williamg]

Shock and Awe - O'bama style:

"In an O'bama campaign memo given to PolitickerOH.com by the Ohio Democratic Party, the O'bama campaign stated its goal to recruit 10,000 unpaid volunteers to bring its total Ohio volunteer number to 14,000, or enough to have every one of the state's 11,500 precincts covered by a volunteer.

"By September 1st, we want every precinct covered by at least one volunteer, and ‘heavied up' with multiple canvassers in our most important precincts," the memo said.

This will be on top of 515 "trainings of activists, operatives, and elected officials" across the state, according to the memo.

Furthermore, the Ohio Democratic Party has spent $250,000 on "polling, modeling, and micro-targeting" and wants to commission more to improve voter targeting. The memo said that its "technology infrastructure - voter files, phones, connectivity, networking, and more - are now scaled to meet peak election demands."

In recent weeks the O'bama campaign hired Greg Schultz as its deputy political director. Schultz is a former legislative liaison for Gov. Ted Strickland, which means the Ohio campaign is now led by two Strickland men, with former Strickland campaign manager Aaron Pickrell in charge.

http://politickeroh.com/how-obamas-campaign-will-coordinate-ohio

[williamg]

Shock and Awe - O'bama style:

"In an O'bama campaign memo given to PolitickerOH.com by the Ohio Democratic Party, the O'bama campaign stated its goal to recruit 10,000 unpaid volunteers to bring its total Ohio volunteer number to 14,000, or enough to have every one of the state's 11,500 precincts covered by a volunteer.

"By September 1st, we want every precinct covered by at least one volunteer, and "heavied up' with multiple canvassers in our most important precincts," the memo said.

This will be on top of 515 "trainings of activists, operatives, and elected officials" across the state, according to the memo.

Furthermore, the Ohio Democratic Party has spent $250,000 on "polling, modeling, and micro-targeting" and wants to commission more to improve voter targeting. The memo said that its "technology infrastructure - voter files, phones, connectivity, networking, and more - are now scaled to meet peak election demands."

In recent weeks the O'bama campaign hired Greg Schultz as its deputy political director. Schultz is a former legislative liaison for Gov. Ted Strickland, which means the Ohio campaign is now led by two Strickland men, with former Strickland campaign manager Aaron Pickrell in charge.

(if you are interested in viewing full article, place an "o" in front of "bamas" in below link)

http://politickeroh.com/how-bamas-campaign-will-coordinate-ohio

[flydoghead]

convensional wisdom from the Fifties: McCrashTest style:

Hill has the Dem nod locked up.

Iraq has WMD

We will be greeted with Candy and Flowers, in Bagdad.

Older voters always vote.

Note: I'm approaching being an Older voter and I'm voting for Obammma

Shall I go on ?

[flydoghead]

above meant as a reply to BradinPitt's post

[Chillinout]

Every time someone says that McClone has the older vote locked up I think about my own family. I am an older voter, and my mom and step-father are ancient voters and we are all voting for O'bama, meanwhile, My two brothers are died-in-the-wool religious right types, and one is going for O'bama while the other is going for Barr.

That's five older and ancient votes and not one is going to McClone.

[rain]

Some right wingers are complaining saying Obama's acting as if he's already president. I say.. It's about damn time that someone starts acting as if they're president.

[williamg]

Mc Cain endorses O bama?:

"First the Iraqi government gave Senator B arack O bama a boost by seeming to embrace his proposal for a 16-month timetable for withdrawing American troops from Iraq. But could Senator J ohn Mc Cain, who built his candidacy in large part on his opposition to a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq, possibly be following suit?

“I think it’s a pretty good timetable,” Mr. Mc Cain said Friday in an interview on CNN’s “The Situation Room,’’ before adding that it should be based “on the conditions on the ground.’’

For months Mr. Mc Cain, the presumptive Republican nominee, has railed against setting timetables for withdrawing from Iraq, and has criticized Mr. O bama, his Democratic rival, for suggesting one. But in recent days the debate has shifted as Iraqi officials, including Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, moved closer to Mr. O bama’s position."

- NYTimes

[nellie]

Of all the slips Mc Cain has made, I think this is the worst. If it's gets any coverage, it will affect his chances.

[Dreamers101]

Spot on

But with all the barbeques and back slapping from McDiapers campaign for he’s base (the MSM) don’t count on it.

[DesertLight]

It is more like, which one do you choose on which day. He has so many of them, it isn't even news anymore. It is just the same ole J0hnny Mac

[mesmerize]

He made a big slip when he said timetable. McCain quickly tried to correct himself and use the word Bush came up with " Horizon". How can anyone think Mccain is not going to be another Bush.

[Bitsko]

I was stunned by this story in the Times. But, knowing the Times, they'll run a story tomorrow telling us the opposite.

I suppose McCain is saying this to make us think he's hip to the current thinking, that he can adjust to changing circumstances (he's on the cutting edge!), and that we'll forget everything he's said up to now about timetables equaling appeasement. Not the first idea he's taken from Senator Obama this month.

[olderdem]

Obama defines Presidential. Its been awhile.

[BradPittsburgh]

Mac has a lock on the older voters and older voters always vote, young voters who like O will not all vote, very few will. O will lose so prep yourself for it now.

[nellie]

I can't let the wrong facts stand. Mc Cain does not have a lock on older voters. And the Democratic primary has motivated new voters of all ages. Not only supporting O. Clin ton also mobilized many new voters.

That's it. No more reply.

[luvobama]

Big surprise you are wrong yet again.

[Fabienne]

I am a 62-year-old voter with a large body of friends over 50 and nearly ALL of them are voting for Barack Obama. What a silly generalization.

[gladys46]

You're wrong!!

FIRED UP AND READY TO GO!!

[Dreamers101]

Your argument may carry some historical fact but this is a change election and I deeply believe you are absolutely wrong on this point. The younger generations see a planet in peril and one that they will inherit the overall censuses of what you are seeing now is that the only prep we will need to be ready for is O’s inauguration

[jialfpar]

I don't believe the polls that show that this presidential race is such a close thing. First: polls are notoriously inaccurate. Second: it's in the media's interest to keep this race close. If people really knew what a blowout in favor of Obama this election is going to be, they would stop watching/reading/listening to the news, hanging on each new Controversy of the Hour.

[levibatgirl]

With Obama as our next president we can live in confidence that there will be no unsolicited neck rubs forced on German Chancellor Merkel, talking with a mouth full of food, or shouting at anyone across a crowed room like a teenager. No more embarrassing moments that make us cringe.

It will also be refreshing to hear speeches from someone with intelligence and candor who doesn't whine and giggle inappropriately. I absolutely cannot take it anymore.

[williamg]

Gallup on O bama's largest lead yet:

"O bama's particularly large leads over Mc Cain in Friday and Saturday's tracking suggest that the massive publicity surrounding Ob ama's speech at the Victory Tower in Berlin on Friday -- the only major public event of the trip -- and coverage of O bama's meetings with the heads of state in France and Britain may have tilted U.S. voter preferences more in his favor.

Notably, O bama's current seven-point lead over Mc Cain ties his widest since the start of Gallup Poll Daily tracking of the general election in early March, and was achieved only once previously. He led Mc Cain by seven points immediately after Hilllary Cllinton suspended her campaign for the Democratic nomination in early June. "

[Dreamers101]

Thanks Will for your fact based reporting but you know telling facts to most of theses inbreeds will be ignored.

[gladys46]

We must remember to stay focused and not get cocky ... even though "we're ALL FIRED UP AND READY TO GO!!"

Get out the VOTE come Nov.!! Pleeeeeeeese!! And watch those strongarmed ballot bandits!!

[nellie]

It's so important to check your registration, get out the vote, monitor the polls, and volunteer to be a precinct captain if you can.

[MorningJoeMikaIsMarried]

Come this Monday it will be 100 days until November 5

We must stay humble, we must stay focus; we must know that it is up to us to bring about change.

I am FIRED UP AND READY TO GO

[williamg]

There is nothing humble about our Get-out-the-vote network we are putting together. It's simply audacious.

[cbates]

I hope that Barack's campaign does not take the polls as they are currently being analyzed as his guide. I believe he should put people on the ground in the red states to get as much anedoctal and or focused information as possbile to guide him in how to address the gaps. That is he (his ground people) needs to sit down with a group of folks who will not folk for him currently and understand what their issues are in voring for him.

The current polls are trying to get to a yes and no (binary) answer that can be published under a pollsters name. He really needs focused information to assist in converting the hold outs and or stand offs.

[williamg]

Gallup on O bama's largest lead yet:

"O bama's particularly large leads over Mc Cain in Friday and Saturday's tracking suggest that the massive publicity surrounding Ob ama's speech at the Victory Tower in Berlin on Friday -- the only major public event of the trip -- and coverage of O bama's meetings with the heads of state in France and Britain may have tilted U.S. voter preferences more in his favor.

Notably, O bama's current seven-point lead over Mc Cain ties his widest since the start of Gallup Poll Daily tracking of the general election in early March, and was achieved only once previously. He led Mc Cain by seven points immediately after Hilllary Cllinton suspended her campaign for the Democratic nomination in early June. "

http://www.gallup.com/poll/109099/Gallup-Daily-Obama-Retains-Lead-48-41.aspx