WASHINGTON—Likely Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) has penciled in a foreign trip before the Democratic convention—with an Iraq visit possible, Obama spokesman Bill Burton told the Chicago Sun-Times.
The Obama team for some time had wanted Obama to travel overseas after securing the nomination—Israel was one country under consideration-- only to put plans on hold because of the extended primary season as Obama has battled Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.)
Burton said a working visit to Iraq is under consideration. GOP presumptive nominee Sen. John McCain (R-Az.) had challenged Obama to visit Iraq with him—noting that he had been there eight times and Obama visited once. Obama traveled to Iraq in early 2006 on an official congressional trip. Obama will not accept McCain’s invitation.
Obama stopped in Kuwait on that Iraq swing to play basketball with troops. Obama's last international trip was a multi-nation visit to several African nations. Before jumping in the race for president, Obama had mulled a visit to Indonesia—where he lived as a youth—in the summer of 2007.
Lynn Sweet is a columnist and the Washington Bureau Chief for the 
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If, Lynn, IF he clinches nomination.