IN THE HEADLINES Two candidates, two weeks: Obama, Clinton plot endgame to marathon campaign ... Obama criticizes McCain for hiring lobbyists ... McCain to host possible running mate candidates at Arizona home ... Clinton willing to take delegate fight to convention if Fla., Mich. willing ... United Mine Workers endorses Obama ... Obama builds delegate total, closing in on Democratic nomination ___ Obama, Clinton chart an endgame NEW YORK (AP) _ Two weeks before the final primary in their marathon battle, Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton were campaigning hard Wednesday. Both were in Florida, but their goals could hardly have been more different _ or said more about how each one hopes to conclude their historic race. Obama, feeling sure of the Democratic nomination, was trying to stake an early claim to a state that could be crucial in the general election against Republican John McCain. Clinton, insisting she can still be her party's nominee, was making an impassioned plea for the state's disputed primary results to be counted. Obama plans to contest the final three primaries in Puerto Rico, South Dakota and Montana, but he already is moving on, well into the early stages of a general election plan that will take him to other critical swing states in the coming weeks. As for Clinton, aides said she has two immediate goals: to see the results of the Florida and Michigan primaries restored, and to persuade the remaining uncommitted superdelegates that she would be the better candidate in November against McCain. ___ Obama questions McCain's ties to lobbyists TAMPA, Fla. (AP) _ Democrat Barack Obama on Wednesday criticized his likely general election rival John McCain where it could hurt most _ the Arizona senator's reputation as a champion of ethics. The Illinois senator confidently detoured from the three remaining Democratic primary states to campaign in Florida, a crucial state in the November general election. He also kept his focus on McCain, the Republicans' certain nominee in the fall. Obama said the Arizona senator has lost faith with his own good-government principles. Ten years ago, Obama said, McCain proposed barring registered lobbyists from working for candidates' campaigns. "John McCain then would be pretty disappointed in John McCain now, because he hired some of the biggest lobbyists in Washington to run his campaign," Obama told a crowd of 15,000 at a Tampa arena. McCain recently enforced a new no-lobbyist policy on his campaign, forcing out some top aides. "And when he was called on it, his top lobbyist actually had the nerve to say the American people won't care about this," Obama said. With McCain fundraising in California, campaign spokesman Tucker Bounds responded: "Despite his own rhetoric, Senator Obama still refuses to disclose the list of lobbyists advising his campaign. What is Senator Obama hiding?" "We challenge Senator Obama to meet our standard" for keeping lobbyists out of the campaign organization, Bounds added. ___ McCain to host possible veeps at Ariz. home CLEVELAND (AP) _ The Memorial Day guest list at Sen. John McCain's Arizona home runs to at least three Republicans mentioned as vice presidential running mates, but a top aide said Wednesday that vetting possible veeps is not on the agenda. "It's purely social," said Mark Salter, a senior adviser to McCain. He said Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and their wives were invited to a Memorial Day gathering at the senator's home in Sedona. Romney ran for the Republican presidential nomination in last winter's primaries, but dropped out months ago and has endorsed McCain. Salter said 10 couples in all were invited, adding that McCain often hosts friends and political acquaintances at his compound. McCain said more than a month ago that he was in the "embryonic stages" of selecting a running mate for the fall campaign, but neither he nor aides have disclosed additional information in the weeks since. ___ Clinton talks of delegate fight BOCA RATON, Fla. (AP) _ Hillary Rodham Clinton said Wednesday she is willing to take her fight to seat Florida and Michigan delegates to the convention if the two states want to go that far. Asked in an interview with The Associated Press whether she would support the states if they appeal an unfavorable rules committee decision to the convention floor, the former first lady replied: "Yes I will. I will, because I feel very strongly about this." Clinton is calling for delegates from both states to be seated at the convention based on the primaries. Both states were stripped of their delegates because they voted early, violating national party rules. Clinton won both states; Barack Obama's name wasn't on the Michigan ballot. The DNC's rules committee will hear an appeal on May 31. Clinton pressed this issue publicly at an appearance in Palm Beach County, a key site in the battle between George W. Bush and Al Gore over the Florida presidential vote recount in 2000 that was decided in the Supreme Court. ___ Mine Workers union endorses Obama for president WASHINGTON (AP) _ The United Mine Workers of America endorsed Barack Obama for president Wednesday despite his recent defeats in primaries in coal-producing states where many of the union's members vote. The endorsement continues organized labor's swing to the Democratic front-runner as the primaries wrap up. Obama lost heavily to Hillary Rodham Clinton in Tuesday's Kentucky primary and last week's West Virginia primary. "Senator Obama shares the values of UMWA members and our families. He understands and will fight for the needs our members have today and the hopes our members have for a secure future for themselves and their families," union president Cecil E. Roberts said. The Mine Workers _ along with the United Steelworkers union _ had originally endorsed former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina. However, Edwards dropped out of the race and threw his support to Obama last week and was immediately followed by the Steelworkers union. ___ Continued... |