Lynn Sweet

GOP hits Obama over Israel.

Mon, 12 May 2008 18:08:55 -0600

CHICAGO--That Atlantic article (see post below) about Obama and Israel triggered an attack fro GOP House leader John Boehner (R-Ohio).

Obama talks about Israel and Jewish influences.

Mon, 12 May 2008 16:47:45 -0600

CHICAGO--Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) talked about the Jewish influences in his life in an interesting interview with Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic. LINK

After expected loss in West Virginia, Obama moves on to Michigan and Florida.

Mon, 12 May 2008 12:57:05 -0600

CHICAGO—The day after an expected loss in West Virginia, likely Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) on Wednesday starts his first general election travel—to the key states of Michigan and Florida.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) is expected to win the Tuesday West Virginia primary—Obama just about conceded on Monday. After an anticipated bad night tomorrow, Obama will try to rebound—and bring the story line back to his November race against Sen. John McMain (R-Az.) by stops Wednesday in Grand Rapids and Macomb County in Michigan with Florida the next week.

Obama all but concedes West Virgnia to Clinton. Speech text.

Mon, 12 May 2008 12:17:09 -0600

CHICAGO--Stumping in West Virginia on Monday, almost Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) basically conceded the Tuesday election there to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.). In the speech, Obama talks about patriotism, veterans and invokes the name of his grandfather--Stanley Dunham--several times.

Jesse Jackson: Clinton "must run, as Barack, with one eye on competition and one eye on reconciliation."

Mon, 12 May 2008 06:13:33 -0600

CHICAGO--As a drumbeat grows for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton to concede the Democratic presidential nomination to Sen. Barack Obama, the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson has a politically pragmatic reason for urging Democrats to back off and start reconciling: They will need Clinton in the fall.

"We must work very diligently to keep both of them protected by love and care," said Jackson, an Obama supporter whose son Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. is a national co-chair of Obama's campaign.

Edwards says Obama "likely" nominee; Clinton "in a very tough place."

Sun, 11 May 2008 09:43:38 -0600

CHICAGO--Former presidential candidate John Edwards said Sunday on CBS' "Face the Nation" that Barack Obama is the "likely" nominee. Edwards is continuing to decline to endorse. David Axelrod said he expects more superdelegates to be announced in the coming days. Edwards said Hillary Rodham Clinton is "in a very tough place."

Clinton campaign chairman Terry McAuliffe sent a warning not to pressure Clinton to shut down her race or risk "alienating" her supporters. "The race is very close," said McAuliffe--counting the disputed states of Michigan, Florida and Puerto Rico, whose residents can vote in the primary but not the general election.

Obama adviser Malley resigns after meeting with Hamas

Sun, 11 May 2008 09:36:25 -0600

Rob Malley, a Middle East policy adviser to likely Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama, resigned after news surfaced that he had been meeting with Hamas -- something Obama pledged he himself would never do.

Obama campaign spokesman Ben LaBolt said Saturday Malley called the Obama campaign on Friday to sever ties with the candidate after learning the Times of London was publishing a story about his contacts with the terrorist group.

The Obama team.

Sat, 10 May 2008 17:43:49 -0600

CHICAGO---On the verge of clinching the Democratic presidential nomination, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) is flanked by advisers Valerie Jarrett and David Axelrod on the cover of the new Newsweek. LINK

Lynn Sweet column on Obama's "drama free" campaign team. LINK

Obama open to joint town hall meetings with McCain. Won't be at Trinity Church on Sunday. Will be stumping soon in Michigan. Transcript.

Sat, 10 May 2008 17:26:36 -0600

CHICAGO--At a press conference in Bend, Oregon on Saturday, likely Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) says he is open to doing joint town hall meetings with Sen. John McCain (R-Az.), the GOP presidential candidate.

Obama also:
*said he will not attend Mothers Day services at Trinity United Church of Christ, even though he will be in Chicago on Sunday. He said coming to church with the hullabaloo of a presidential candidate would be a distraction. This also lets him avoid--in case he is there--the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

*said he will be campaigning soon in Michigan. I think Obama's first campaign stop there could be as early as the night of May 20--when he is expected to gain the majority of pledged delegates.

click below for transcript

Michelle Obama talks about her role if she is First Lady

Sat, 10 May 2008 17:15:02 -0600

CHICAGO -- Michelle Obama gave a hint of what her portfolio may be if she becomes first lady at a fund-raiser Friday for Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.). Former CIA operative Valerie Plame Wilson -- of Plamegate fame -- who has been stumping for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) -- was also a featured speaker.

Obama to headline major fund-raiser in Chicago on Thursday.

Fri, 09 May 2008 17:21:18 -0600

CHICAGO--Frontrunner Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) close to clinching the Democratic presidential nomination, is launching a new round of fund-raiser events. He headlines a big dollar event Thursday in Chicago--still aimed at collecting money for the primary--not the general--election.

Chelsea Clinton talks about her mom in Mothers Day ad.

Fri, 09 May 2008 16:06:04 -0600

Obama talks about the "self-congratulatry" mood of his followers. Pool report.

Fri, 09 May 2008 09:04:38 -0600

CHICAGO--The pool report, from Politico's Carrie Budoff Brown, from a high-end fund-raiser Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) headlined Thursday night at Union Station in Washington. He talked about the "self-congratulatory" mood of his supporters.

Republicans launch anti-Obama website, video

Fri, 09 May 2008 08:50:36 -0600

CHICAGO--The Republican National Committee, in a preview of what's ahead, hits Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), the likely Democratic presidential nominee, on his present votes as an Illinois state senator, taxes, Iraq war funding votes and his remarks that some voters "cling" to God and guns.

Roger Ebert on Clinton film: "Hillary and Bill the movie."

Fri, 09 May 2008 08:31:54 -0600

CHICAGO--My Sun-Times colleague Roger Ebert has a terriffic column on the kind of movie the 2008 Clinton presidential campaign could yield and a look at past White House election films. LINK