WASHINGTON (CNN) – As speculation over the number two slot rises, presidential candidate Barack Obama and potential v.p. contender Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana joined forces Monday, signing a letter with eight other senators that urges Defense Secretary Robert Gates to increase medical coverage and care for Iraq war veterans left with serious brain injuries.
Watch: Obama pledges help for veterans
The senators point to a recent study from the RAND Corporation that estimates 320,000 troops from the two Iraq wars experienced a traumatic brain injury, or TBI.
Earlier: Obama camp launches military families working group
"We are concerned that at a time when TBI is recognized as the signature wound of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan," the senators write, "one of the most widely accepted and critical rehabilitative treatments for this injury… cognitive rehabilitation therapy, is excluded by the military's … health insurance program."
The other senators signing on to the letter include political notables Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-New York, Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass, Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass and Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-CT. Obama and Bayh's name are clearly perched at the top.
From CNN Politics
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Yea! Go Obama/Bayh. He's a great choice for VP. Kaine has too little experience and Biden will overshadow Obama. Clinton is a mess for so many reasons... though I think Senator Feingold of Wisconsin would be the best choice, Bayh is a great option.
Ho Ho! ONE trip to Iraq and he's and authorithy and sympathizer? REALLY. Get real. Elect him and see how fast he flip – flops on this too!
You'd think Sen. McCain, a military vet who suffered crippling injuries in Vietnam, would be leading this effort....
The GOP needs to understand that supporting your troops includes PAYING for their health care when they come home.
Ummm, Sen. Joe Lieberman is not a D-CT. He's a CTfL-CT, right?
It is about time that someone has noticed the trauma of TBI. I hope the help also extends to the Vietnam Veterans.
So is Sen. Obama playing politics by not challenging Sen. McCain and the Bush administration over there failure of our soldiers. McCain for his lack of oversight from the committee he sits on and Bush for his total lack of caring for the troops post deployment needs. Sen. Obama it's not rocket science .
I don't think McCain sees a serious problem. I think he is just saying what ever he reads of his note cards. And concerning his ads he just agrees to the last part............I'm John McCain and I approve blah blah
He has not addressed real issues everything is a joke. Where is the substance he is constantly insisting from the Dems???
Get real. It's all a politial stunt. Puh-lease! Nobama 08! Flip flops are for feet. Not for politics!
Thats why you have my vote Mr. Obama
Obama needs Hillary...I will not vote for a ticket with Evan Bayh on it. His stance on gays and civil libirties is not what this country needs, and is not change. Hillary with Obama, or this democrat rides it out.
Obama decided not to visit wounded U.S. troops because he could not take television cameras. and he is now talking about "medical coverage "
Obama is phony.
While McCain is having fun with his campaign mocking Obama for everything that he says and does, and for everything that he does not say and he does not do, here we have Obama supporting our troops offering solutions. Will McCain dare to go this far and make fun of the troops?
Now, that's what we call leadership. OBAMA is offering real solutions while all mcCain and his cronies can come up with are childish attacts that are baseless. anyone can see how desperate the McCain camp is getting that is why they are resorting to trying to tear down the hopeful and high minded Obama. the American people are not stupid not to realise this and too many of the are really hurting. They need real help and that is what OBAMA is offering, and that is why has support in traditionally red states besides the blue states. He is winning in November regardless of what they say.
He's not even the nominee yet and he will never be president so why does he even bother. His ship is sinking and the potential VP candidates can see it. They don't want anything to do with him.
Hillary or McCain.
Bayh would be alright as V.P.
Keep up the good work Obama while McSame(MrBurns) plat games with Mitt and the boys.
Hey Mitt, Obama doesn't think that he is the Messiah but your leader Joseph Smith did. He was a true racist and you live by his every word. Jesus is the way the truth and the life. You my friend are a follower of the dark side. Joseph Smith was the dishonest one if you ask me and those that follow him and his teachings are going to be cast into the FIRE. That is what the Holy Bible says. The only way to God is through the Son and Joseph Smith is not him and has never seen him or met him.
So be careful when you call another the Messiah.
Obama backs our injured troops as well as those in combat. Draft dodgers like Rush Limbaugh,the dropout,made his fortune as a bottom feeder,pretending to support the troops.
Another publicity stunt by Obama.
It is sad and unacceptable when politicians use our troops.
I wish CNN journalists would do some research before they attack Obama or continue to play sound bites from McCan that attack Obama.
According to another news agency the following:
"But Obama's metaphor - "He doesn't look like all those other presidents on the dollar bills" - wasn't random; it was a reference.
A McCain ad from 27 June - more than a month before Obama's remark - suggested that the very idea of Barack Obama's face - i.e., the face of a black man - on the Statue of Liberty, Mount Rushmore, and the $100 bill was absurd."
Can we just get some truth from someone – PLEASE?
This is outrageous I am so outraged that I am outraged by my outrage.
Happy Birthday Obama, and keep on fighting. They can not push you and your entire familly down any further.
Anyone considering voting for John McCain should really take a look at how he is running his campaign. Full of lies, hateful comments, low blows, and when our nation is still hurting, sarchastic comments. Just think, he will run the country the same way. Just like G. W. Bush did. And look at whre you are at today.
Keep fighting Obama, for the American people.
Obama's Energy speech was right on the mark. McCain needs to follow Obama's lead and get on board.
I'm looking forward to the Obama tax cuts. They are much bigger than McCain's and we need tax relief for the bottom 90% of income earners.
B.O. is ful of B.S. he cares about our troops as much as Carter did...NADA-ZILCH-NEVER.
wow.. i never been so proud..... having someone who is smart , caring and has good judgement.
someone who voted for the GI Bill,,and Obama represents that already.
why go for mccain who is exactly the same 8 years we have had.
terrible policies and bad ecomomy, bad judement and
as for mccain he voted agaist the gi bill..and claimed he supports troops when he voted against everything needed to help troops,,. very sad!!!
im a us marine and everyone in Iraq is extremely proud of obama .
us troops for obama 08
Iguess obama is lookin for a cure for himself.