CNN=Politics Daily is The Best Political Podcast from The Best Political Team.

(CNN) — As Sen. Barack Obama prepares to head overseas, attention is turning to what his rival Sen. John McCain plans to do to hold the public's attention during Obama's much anticipated trip.

In the latest episode of CNN=Politics Daily, Dana Bash reports on McCain's plan to focus on the economy while Obama is abroad focussing on foreign policy. 

Chief National Correspondent John King breaks down how Sen. Obama's policy on Iraq is likely to be received by leaders in Europe and the Middle East.

Senior Political Analyst Bill Schneider takes a closer look at whether McCain is ripping a page from the political playbook of former President Bill Clinton.

A Congressman wants to know: why do we vote on Tuesday?  Internet Reporter Abbi Tatton has the story. 

Finally, earlier this week on CNN, you may have seen Brianna Keilar's interview with Cindy McCain.  In this week's podcast extra, we bring you something you probably haven't seen: more of Keilar's interview with the woman who may be the next first lady as McCain satisfies her need for speed.  Check it out.

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Barack Obama said conservative media is responsible for negative attacks on his wife.

(CNN)—Barack Obama blamed the 'conservative press' Wednesday for negative attacks on his wife Michelle.

“What happened was that the conservative press—Fox News and the National Review and columnists of every ilk—went fairly deliberately at her in a pretty systematic way,” Obama told Glamour Magazine.

In the latest NYT/CBS Poll, released this week, Michelle Obama is viewed in a favorable light by 29 percent of those questioned and unfavorably by 16 percent. Cindy McCain, wife of presumptive Republican nominee John McCain is viewed favorably by 18 percent and unfavorably by 8 percent.

Watch: What kind of first lady would Michelle Obama be?

Both presumptive nominees have urged media outlets to avoid bringing their wives into the battle for the White House

“[Our wives] should be treated with respect and if there's any disrespectful conduct on the part of anyone, those people should be rejected,” McCain told CNN last month.

Obama emphasized the plea in the interview released Wednesday, saying his wife and Cindy McCain are not fair game because “essentially, spouses are civilians. If you start being subjected to rants..day in day out, that’ll drive up your negatives.”

Read the rest of this entry »

Watch Brianna Keilar's one-on-one interview with Cindy McCain.

(CNN)–Cindy McCain, a lifelong racing fan, spent her Saturday taking a spin around the track at the Indy Car race in Nashville, Tennessee. In a CNN exclusive, CNN's Brianna Keilar sits down with the wife of presumptive Republican nominee, Sen. John McCain, to discuss their mutual love of car racing and the side of the potential first lady that most voters haven't seen yet.

Cindy McCain will travel to Rwanda next week.

(CNN)— Cindy McCain said Monday she will make a humanitarian trip to Rwanda next week.

The wife of presumptive Republican nominee John McCain plans to spend four days on the ground in the war-torn African nation on a trip organized by the non-partisan ONE campaign, as part of a group visiting USAID health clinics, schools, and an orphanage. Former Senator Tom Daschle will be joining the trip on behalf of Democrat Barack Obama’s campaign.

Daschle and former Senator Bill Frist are co-chairmen of the group’s ONE Vote ‘08 initiative.

Last month, Cindy McCain – who has long been involved with international relief organizations — made a similar journey to Vietnam with Operation SMILE.

WASHINGTON (CNN)—Barack Obama officially opted out of public financing for the general election Monday, leaving him the option of raising unlimited campaign cash. In the latest installment of CNN=Politics Daily, Senior Political Correspondent Candy Crowley has the details on how Obama came to the decision, and what this means for John McCain.

CNN’s Dana Bash reports on John McCain’s first-hand look at the floods that ripped through Iowa, on a trip that coincided with President Bush’s visit to the state.

While visiting Vietnam to promote Operation Smile, Cindy McCain sat down for an exclusive one-on-one interview with Chief National Correspondent John King. During the interview, she explains why she thinks she and Michelle Obama should be off-limits.

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(CNN) — Cindy McCain, wife of John McCain, said Thursday the spouses of the presidential candidates should be allowed to have some privacy.

"I do not think that spouses and family members … are fair game," she told CNN's John King.

"There has to be some decorum left in politics and in American journalism as well. Our husbands are the candidates," she said.

Full story

Watch Cindy McCain entire interview on The Situation Room, beginning at 4 p.m. ET

Watch a clip of John King's interview with Cindy McCain.

(CNN) — As the presidential campaigns of John McCain and Barack Obama tangle over which is unfairly dragging the prospective first ladies into the general election battle, Cindy McCain sent a signal this morning that she’s not about to step out of the fray.

The wife of presumptive Republican nominee John McCain stood behind her initial response to Democratic counterpart Michelle Obama’s comment that for the first time she was “really proud” of her country. She told CNN’s John King that her own remark – that she had “always” been proud of her country – had been a spontaneous response, not a planned attack.

“I’m an emotional woman when it comes to service to our country. I’ve watched many people’s children leave and go serve,” she said. “This is something that is the fiber of the McCain family. It was nothing more than me just saying, look, I believe in this country so strongly.”

“I think [Obama is] a fine woman and a good mother” but that both women were just “in an interesting line of work right now.”

Watch King’s full interview on The Situation Room at 4 p.m. ET

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A new poll shows Americans see Cindy McCain in a more positive light than Michelle Obama.

(CNN)—In a comparison between the wives of the presumptive Republican and Democratic nominees, Americans know more about Michelle Obama than Cindy McCain, but not necessarily in a positive way according to a new poll.

WATCH What kind of First Lady will Michelle Obama and Cindy McCain be?

In the latest Pew research poll conducted June 13 through 16, 78 percent have heard a least a little bit about the wife of Barack Obama, but up to 26 percent of those said the coverage of Michelle Obama has been mostly negative. In contrast, 54 percent of those surveyed claim to know a little bit about Cindy McCain and of those polled 31 percent say the coverage they have seen has been mostly positive, while only 7 percent felt she has been represented negatively.

WATCH How Cindy McCain views her role in the White House

The results, tallied from approximately 1,000 adults over the age of 18 with a sampling error of plus or minus 3.5 points show the overall image of the two is positive among their respective parties. 54 percent of Republicans surveyed hold a favorable view of John McCain’s wife, while 65 percent of Democrats have a positive view of Barack Obama’s wife.

Cindy McCain appeared on Leno Wednesday night.

BURBANK, California (AP) — John McCain wants to take the helm of the country. Just don't let him take the wheel of the car.

His wife, Cindy McCain, confided to Jay Leno on Wednesday that the former Navy fighter pilot is a not exactly Dale Earnhardt Jr. on the freeways.

"He's not the best of drivers," she said on "The Tonight Show" on NBC. "I drive most of the time."

Even Leno joked about the Republican presidential candidate's command of the roads.

"If he was elected president, he would be the only president ever to do a burnout in my Corvette," Leno said.

McCain has faced questions about his age throughout the campaign — if elected in November, he'd be 72 and the oldest man to become president. But his wife said the Arizona senator is so vigorous he plans to hike in the Grand Canyon with his sons this summer.

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The McCain camp pulled the offending passion fruit recipe.

(CNN) – For a few hours Tuesday morning, the latest campaign trail drama seemed to center not on policy or politics — but on pasta farfalle.

At least three “McCain Family Recipes” posted on John McCain’s campaign Web site and credited to his wife Cindy – including Ahi Tuna with Napa Cabbage Slaw, Passion Fruit Mousse, and Farfalle Pasta with Turkey Sausage, Peas and Mushrooms — appeared to be direct copies of dishes created by the Food Network. Another seemed to be a slightly altered version of a dish prepared by TV chef Rachael Ray.

The similarity was first noted by a New York attorney and appeared in a report on the Huffington Post Monday night.

The McCain campaign quickly moved to quell the controversy over cabbage slaw. “Apparently a web intern added Rachael Ray to our policy team without her knowing it,” McCain campaign spokesman Tucker Bounds told CNN Tuesday morning. “He was swiftly dealt with and the page is down for revision. Our apologies to Food Network …but according to our press assistant the passion fruit mousse is really worth trying.”

Cindy McCain appears to be the only candidate spouse this year to devote a share of the official campaign Web site to recipes; neither Bill Clinton nor Michelle Obama currently have posted their favorite dishes on their spouse’s presidential sites. No word yet on when the Arizona senator's wife might unveil a new plan for the nation's Ahi tuna lovers.

Published on: April 15, 2008 at 8:45 am

Cindy McCain said she was proud of the United States during a campaign event Tuesday.

(CNN) — Tuesday morning seemed to bring the debut of yet another McCain-Obama flap – this time, Cindy McCain and Michelle Obama.

As she introduced her husband John McCain, the likely Republican nominee, at a campaign event, Cindy McCain told the crowd I “am proud of my country. I don’t know about you, if you heard those words earlier — I am very proud of my country.”

The comment seemed to be a response to a remark from Michelle Obama the day before. On Monday, the wife of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama told a Wisconsin audience that “For the first time in my adult life, I am really proud of my country, because it feels like hope is making a comeback… not just because Barack has done well, but because I think people are hungry for change."

After Tuesday’s event, the McCains were asked if the Arizona senator’s wife had been responding to that comment. Cindy McCain did not directly answer the question, responding: “I just wanted to make the statement that I have and always will be proud of my country.”

On Monday, Obama spokesman Bill Burton released a statement in response to the controversy: “Of course Michelle is proud of her country, which is why she and Barack talk constantly about how their story wouldn't be possible in any other nation on Earth.

“What she meant is that she's really proud at this moment because for the first time in a long time, thousands of Americans who've never participated in politics before are coming out in record numbers to build a grassroots movement for change.”

UPDATE: In an interview with San Antonio radio station WOAI Tuesday, Barack Obama said his wife's comment has been taken out of context.

"Statements like this are made and people try to take it out of context and make a great big deal out of it, and that isn't at all what she meant," he said.

"What she meant was, this is the first time that she's been proud of the politics of America," he also said. "Because she's pretty cynical about the political process, and with good reason, and she's not alone. But she has seen large numbers of people get involved in the process, and she's encouraged."

– CNN Associate Political Editor Rebecca Sinderbrand

Jeri Thompson, Michelle Obama, Ann Romney, Elizabeth Edwards, and Cindy McCain put aside the competitiveness of the campaign trail on Tuesday to talk about being political spouses.

(CNN) – Fifteen years after Hillary Clinton made her then-controversial comment about being a career woman and not staying home to bake cookies, the wives of five contenders for the White House gathered in California Tuesday to discuss their involvement in their husband’s presidential campaigns.

The wives’ discussion with moderator Maria Shriver, wife of California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, began with Shriver pointing out that the gathering was historic. “Never before,” Shriver said, have political spouses, “gathered together to talk about their lives, to talk about the campaign trail, to talk about what it’s like when someone from your family gets up and runs for president.”

And talk they did. Shriver asked Barack Obama’s wife, Michelle, what she had feared or worried about in the early days of her husband contemplating a run for the White House. “You always worry about your life getting sucked out from under you,” Mrs. Obama responded. “I’m very practical, I have to know how is this going to play out.”

For her part, Jeri Thompson, wife of Fred Thompson, sought to dash persistent reports that she has a prominent, strategic role in her husband’s presidential campaign. “I have a one-year-old,” Thompson said. “And, I have a four-year-old. That’s my main role,” Thompson said. “Other than that, I do what I can to help when he asks me.”

Elizabeth Edwards was not as modest as Jeri Thompson in explaining her involvement in John Edwards’ campaign. “We do know our husbands best. Sometimes if we think he’s being misrepresented or misserved by something, it’s our jobs as wives to say, ‘you know, I don’t think that’s really the best thing,’” said Edwards.

Cindy McCain, wife of Sen. John McCain and a veteran of a past White House run, brought a different perspective to the discussion. “My boundaries changed from 2000 to this race,” she said. “I have now myself learned to say no” to some of the demands of a presidential campaign.

Mitt Romney’s wife, Ann, spoke about the pressures of being a political wife. Gesturing towards Elizabeth Edwards, Romney rejected the assumption that statements or stances taken by the women always originate from their husband’s campaigns. “You have to be who you are. You have to have the flexibility and the luxury of expressing yourself for who we are as individuals,” said Romney.

The discussion was part of the 2007 Women’s Conference, a non-partisan annual event put on by California’s governor and first lady for the last twenty years. In an interview with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer on Tuesday, Shriver said former President Bill Clinton did not participate in the spouses’ panel because of a scheduling conflict and that Judith Giuliani, wife of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, “declined to attend.”

– CNN Associate Producer Martina Stewart

Cindy McCain did not let a recent knee injury stop her on Tuesday.

CONCORD, New Hampshire (CNN) — Cindy McCain, wife of Republican presidential candidate John McCain, is walking with the aid of crutches after she twisted her knee two weeks ago.

Mrs. McCain slowly walked into the auditorium of Concord High School Tuesday to introduce her husband and told students she tore the ligaments in her right knee when she turned her body the wrong way while on a trip to the grocery store. With a laugh she referred to the incident as very "glamorous." She told CNN later that she will need surgery but is hoping to "hang on" through the primary season. McCain says she had the knee replaced several years ago.

– CNN Sr. Political Producer Sasha Johnson

Cindy McCain talks about her sons in a new McCain video.

LOS ANGELES (CNN) – In a new campaign video, Cindy McCain ventures into territory her husband, John, takes pains to avoid on the trail: citing the wartime military service of two McCain sons as a reason she believes her husband should be the next commander-in-chief.

“Our sons are serving and will serve, and I just think we need a commander in chief that understands that,” Cindy McCain says in the video, which the McCain campaign provided to CNN. “I just couldn’t really see my sons serving for someone else who didn’t get it.”

The candidate himself seemed surprised when CNN raised the issue in Wednesday’s interview in Los Angeles.

“We don’t talk about our sons,” Senator McCain said. “We’re proud that they’re in the military, but we don’t talk about it any more than that. My wife, like any mother, is proud of her children and all our children. But the fact is I am the most experienced and the most prepared and my family has long generations of service to this country and I am proud of that.”

With regard to the other candidates running for president, he added, “I don’t say they are unqualified or unprepared. I’m saying I am the most prepared.”

– Chief National Correspondent John King