The presidential campaign of Sen. John McCain says it's purely coincidental, but three of the guests scheduled to drop by the senator's Arizona home over the Memorial Day weekend happen to be on the shortlist of vice presidential contenders.
NEW YORK - Sen. Barack Obama would talk directly with adversaries, without the fig leaf of multilateralism.
Joe at the ready
Sen. Barack Obama has edged ahead of Sen. John McCain in the Gallup Poll's latest daily tracking survey of registered voters, but the Illinois Democrat's narrow, three-percentage-point advantage is within the poll's margin of error.
John McCain has been relentlessly pounding Barack Obama on his weakest ground: experience, fighting the war on terrorism and his judgment in world affairs.
They say familiarity breeds contempt. And that certainly seems true when it comes to Washington politicians. Americans are livid with President Bush and Congress these days - a natural human reaction to falling home values, soaring gas prices, a slowing economy and a war with no end in sight.
The youth vote is rockin' if not rollin'. Young voters who blog - and there are lots of them - boast they're the voting bloc that's hot. "Young voters are the New Pink," a Rock the Vote blogger shouts. "Or the new orange? The new indigo?" They're like that little black dress, always poised to save the moment.
The Republican Party has lost much credibility among its base and has not yet established a comprehensive general election strategy or platform. This portends disaster as the general election is only five-and-half months away. The lack of direction and unity in the party was confirmed in two on-the-record meetings held May 19 at The Washington Times with former Virginia Gov. James Gilmore and Republican Chief Deputy Whip Rep. Eric Cantor, also of Virginia.
John McCain effectively clinched the Republican presidential nomination on Feb. 5. However, his fund-raising since then has been dwarfed not only by Barack Obama but also by Hillary Rodham Clinton, who has been fighting a losing battle with Mr. Obama for the Democratic nomination.
