Destination: Unity
Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama boarded a campaign plane to Unity, New Hampshire Friday morning, the site of their first public joint campaign appearance. CNN's Sasha Johnson reports upon arrival on the tarmac the two shared a polite kiss and then shook hands with airport workers. (Getty Images)
CNN's Electoral Map: Two states shift to Obama
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/06/26/art.newmap.cnn.jpg caption="CNN's New Electoral College map."](CNN) - Two more states have shifted to Barack Obama's column in the new CNN Electoral Map that charts the candidates’ strength leading up to the November election.
"Toss-up" states Minnesota and Wisconsin were re-designated to "Lean-Obama" Friday, giving the presumptive Democratic nominee another 20 electoral votes in CNN's current estimate. The Illinois senator now has 231 electoral votes - 39 shy of winning the presidency.
CNN made the change after new polling conducted by Quinnipiac University showed that Obama holds double-digit leads over presumptive Republican nominee John McCain in both states. CNN's analysis estimates McCain has 194 electoral votes.
This is only a CNN estimate and is likely to change many more times in the lead up to the election.
The Quinnipiac surveys, released Thursday, showed Obama with a 17-point lead in Minnesota, 54-37 percent, and a 13 point lead in Wisconsin, 52-39 percent.
McCain highlights devotion to country in new ad
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/06/27/art.mccainad.jpg caption="McCain's campaign released its latest ad Friday called 'Purpose'."]
(CNN)— John McCain’s presidential campaign released its latest ad Friday coinciding with the week long push to highlight the Arizona senator’s dedication to the United States.
The 30-second spot, called “Purpose,” centers around McCain’s plans to achieve energy independence by 2025, stressing his strategy to lower gas prices, reduce dependence on foreign oil, and create energy alternatives.
It also seeks to draw parallels between achieving energy independence and some of America’s past monumental accomplishments.
“We went to the moon, not because it was easy, but because it was hard” The announcer says as 1960’s-esque photos of space exploration appear on the screen.
“John McCain will call America to our next national purpose: Energy Security,” the announcer says.
“Putting country first, McCain.” The announcer concludes.
The ad is set to air in key battleground states of: Nevada, New Hampshire, Colorado, Missouri, New Mexico, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconnsin, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Iowa and on national cable. The campaign would not release the specific size of the buy, but did say it was "large."
Portman sidesteps VP questions
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/06/27/art.portman.ap.jpg caption="Is Portman being considered for VP?"] CINCINNATI, Ohio (CNN) - Former Ohio congressman Rob Portman said Thursday he wasn’t interested in being John McCain’s running mate, even if the Arizona senator called him to ask.
“Well, you know, I’m happy to be home,” he told CNN after McCain’s town hall meeting in Cincinnati yesterday. “I commuted between Washington and Ohio where we are now for 15 years, and about nine months, so I made the decision to come home and it’s been great. I’ve got three teenagers, so I’m not looking for a way back to Washington right now."
Watch: Portman explain why he would say no to being VP
Portman, who also served as United States Trade Representative and White House budget director, said he is open to helping McCain in other ways.
“I love public service,” he said. “I want to help him. I think he’s the right person to lead the country at this critical time, but I’m not interested in going back to D.C. right now.”
At a fundraiser in the Cincinnati suburbs Thursday night, McCain praised Portman, who was in attendance, as “one of the outstanding public servants in the next generation of leadership of our Republican party and our nation.”
CNNMoney: What Obama means by tax the wealthy
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/POLITICS/06/22/obama.speculators.ap/art.obamageneric.gi.jpg caption="Sen. Barack Obama says he wants to raise taxes on high-income taxpayers."]
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - Most voters are aware that Barack Obama wants to raise taxes on high-income taxpayers if he's elected president in November.
But what does the Democratic candidate mean by high-income? Who'd be affected and how? While the Obama campaign must still settle on more details about their plans, outlines are starting to emerge.
To start, Obama frequently cites $250,000 as the line between those who would be subject to higher taxes and those who wouldn't.
Indeed, under Obama's tax plan, married couples with at least $250,000 in gross income are likely to see their taxes go up if Obama is elected president.
But what about single filers? The line for them would likely be about $200,000, according to an Obama adviser.
Those groups could end up paying anywhere from several thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars more to Uncle Sam than they do now, according to estimates from the Tax Policy Center.
Obama donates to Clinton campaign
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/POLITICS/06/26/clinton.obama/art.unity.gi.jpg caption="Sen. Obama and Michelle Obama donated to Clinton's debt."]
(CNN) - Sen. Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, each donated $2,300 Thursday to the campaign of his former opponent, Sen. Hillary Clinton, which is millions of dollars in debt.
In addition, Obama's national finance chairman, Penny Pritzker, and her husband donated another $2,300 each, said Obama communications director Robert Gibbs. The $2,300 is the maximum individual contribution allowed.
"[Obama] wrote a check himself, as well as his finance chairman, so I got two checks in my pocket for Hillary," said Clinton adviser Terry McAuliffe.
Asked how much the checks were for, he responded, "They maxed out."
Obama communications director Robert Gibbs confirmed the Obamas' donations.
The move comes nearly three weeks after Clinton suspended her campaign and endorsed Obama, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee.
POLITICAL HOT TOPICS: Friday, June 27, 2008
Compiled by Mary Grace Lucas
CNN Washington Bureau
CNN: Obama donates to Clinton campaign
Sen. Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, each donated $2,300 Thursday to the campaign of his former opponent, Sen. Hillary Clinton, which is millions of dollars in debt. In addition, Obama's national finance chairman, Penny Pritzker, and her husband donated another $2,300 each, said Obama communications director Robert Gibbs.
CNN: Photos, audio from Obama-Clinton event
Barack Obama donated the maximum allowed to the campaign of his former opponent, Sen. Hillary Clinton.
NY Times: An Inexhaustible Energy Source: Heated Words. But Can It Be Tapped?
Fourth of July fireworks came early on Capitol Hill. With angry constituents waiting for them back home, lawmakers clashed fiercely on Thursday over how to address high gasoline and oil prices. But with all sides recognizing that there is virtually nothing Congress can do to lower fuel prices any time soon, Democrats and Republicans focused as much on finger-pointing as on policy making.
Boston Globe: Recent rulings spotlight election's supreme stakes
A series of highly anticipated Supreme Court rulings in recent days and weeks has injected the high court into the presidential campaign, underscoring the likelihood that the next president will almost certainly get the opportunity to dramatically shift – or solidify – the judicial balance of power for decades to come.
FULL POST
ON THE TRAIL: Friday, June 27, 2008
Compiled by Mary Grace Lucas, CNN Washington Bureau
* Sen. John McCain holds an employee town hall meeting at a General Motors plant in Warren, OH.
* Sen. Barack Obama is joined by Sen. Hillary Clinton at a “Unite for Change” rally in Unity, NH.
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