Obamas hit campaign trail for Fourth

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BUTTE, Mont. (AP) | It was a family Fourth of July for Democrat Barack Obama as his wife, daughters, sister and other relatives helped him make an Independence Day play for this reliably conservative state.

Mr. Obama paid tribute to a nation in which the son of a single mother could rise to such heights.

"I know that there is no other country out there where I could be standing before you as somebody who could potentially be president of the United States," he said at a campaign-sponsored "family picnic" for hundreds of people - part rally, part birthday party for his oldest daughter, Malia, who turned 10 on Friday. "We are going to change the world."

Cheers greeted Mr. Obama, his wife, Michelle, and their two daughters everywhere. As they arrived to watch the Fourth of July parade, the crowd broke into a rendition of "Happy Birthday" for Malia.

Mr. Obama joked that he had to tell the birthday girl not to get caught up in all the fuss.

"All the fireworks and stuff are not just for her," he said to laughs.

That appeared in part a reference to the special treat the family got Thursday night. The Obamas' motorcade ferried the family from their private jet to a home high above town that provided a stunning view of the city's late-night fireworks display.

Friday's picnic was held on a sunny, green hillside, a mountain vista all around, with checkered tablecloths and plenty of food dotting the property of the World Mining Museum.

Introducing her husband, Mrs. Obama spent almost more time talking about all the relatives who were there than "the other guy" running for president. She led the crowd in another round of "Happy Birthday," then noted that Mom singing into a microphone might not be the best present for a young girl.

"Now, she's thoroughly embarrassed," she laughed.

Only two Democratic presidential candidates have carried Montana and its three electoral votes since 1948. But Mr. Obama has visited four times - twice to the rough-and-tumble mining town of Butte, the hometown of daredevil Evel Knievel, where drinking in the streets is allowed. This area is the state's Democratic and union stronghold - so Democratic that a parade float dedicated to local Republican officeholders drew complete silence from the otherwise boisterous crowd.

Mr. Obama's presumed Republican rival, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, was spending the long holiday weekend at home in Phoenix. The widely distributed Parade weekly magazine featured essays on patriotism by the two men.

"Patriotism is deeper than its symbolic expressions, than sentiments about place and kinship that move us to hold our hands over our hearts during the national anthem," Mr. McCain wrote. "It is putting the country first, before party or personal ambition, before anything."