All Blog Posts from From The Road

From CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic:

(MIAMI) As Michelle and Barack Obama took the stage at Bicentennial Park tonight, a plane flew over the event with a banner that read, “Barak Repudiate Ayres, Michelle Repudiate Dorhn.” As you may have noticed, Obama's first name is spelled wrong on the banner, as is Ayers' last name.

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From CBS News’ John Bentley:

(NASHVILLE, TENN.) – The debate hasn’t even started yet, and the Republicans are already tweaking Barack Obama. The Republican National Committee is handing out padded seats to the media covering the event emblazoned with a quote from Hillary Clinton. “Maybe we should ask Barack if he’s comfortable and needs another pillow,” it reads. Check out the picture below:

From CBS News' Scott Conroy:

(FAIRBANKS, Alaska) Sarah Palin may have been introduced as the Governor of Alaska, but in her six-minute remarks to the soldiers of the 1st Stryker Brigade Team, she often sounded more like the proud but nervous mom of a soldier than the chief executive of a state.

"As you depart today, don't mind us your parents, your friends, your family if we allow for a few tears or if we hold you just a little closer once more before you are gone because we are going to miss you,” she said. “We can't help it—we are going to miss you."

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From CBS News’ John Bentley:

ABOARD THE STRAIGHT TALK EXPRESS – It’s not “Romney Road” or “Butter Pawlenty” – for those looking for running mate clues – but instead “Straight Talk Crunch.” That’s the latest flavor from Baskin-Robbins, who will also release “Whirl of Change” for Barack Obama.

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From CBS News' Allison O'Keefe:

Barack Obama’s new campaign plane is nothing short of grand. Well, for the candidate that is.

Obama’s section of the plane rivals that of any first class. Recently the front cabin of the Boeing 757 was retrofitted to install four individual chairs that resemble La-Z-Boys. They are free-standing and made of plush leather with pockets on the sides. There is also a booth which seats four for a meeting or a meal.

His chair has his name and campaign logo embroidered on the back top -- “Obama ‘08” on one line and “President” underneath. To one side is a small table stacked with newspapers ready for the candidate’s arrival. The table of the booth is always covered in snacks and cheese and is where Obama spends most of his time during flights meeting with staff and sitting for the occasional interview.

“Typically the candidate's cabin is like business class -- roomier and less chaotic than the staff and press areas, but still short of the accoutrements of a pro team's charter,” says Politico’s Mike Allen, a frequent campaign flier.

After looking at a few photos of Obama’s cabin, Allen quipped, “Air Force One may seem a tad claustrophobic.” Check it out for yourself:
















There are five sections on the 757, the first of which is Obama’s section, which can seat up to eight people at a time, although rarely are all eight seats taken. Depending on the destination or length of trip, Sen. Obama is joined by body man Reggie Love and a few senior staff members or perhaps a key Senate colleague. Recently, Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., hitched a ride from Washington, D.C., to her home state for a full day of campaign events.

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From CBS News' Jamie Farnsworth:

Las Vegas, NV – Senator John McCain unveiled the name of his energy project in Las Vegas today as he wrapped up the western swing of his two week energy tour. Deemed the Lexington Project, McCain’s plan states the U.S. will be independent of foreign energy sources by the year 2025.

“For the town where Americans asserted their independence once before,” McCain explained of the plan’s namesake in Virginia. “Let it begin today with this commitment: In a world of hostile and unstable suppliers of oil, this nation will achieve strategic independence by 2025."

McCain called for Americans to unite to complete this task in 17 years. “Much will be asked of industry as well, as automakers and others adapt to this great turn toward new sources of power,” he said. “A great deal will depend on each one of us, as we learn to make smarter use of energy, and also to draw on the best ideas of both parties, and work together for the common good.”

Foreseeing criticism, McCain listed many historical accomplishments achieved in less than 17 years—among them overthrowing Nazi Germany and landing on the moon.

“That is the scale of our achievement when we set our minds to a task,” he said. “That is what this country can do when we see a danger, and declare a purpose, and find the will to act.”

From CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic:

WASHINGTON – After hosting his first meeting with his Senior Working Group on National Security today, Barack Obama told reporters that captured terrorists should be dealt with according to international law.

In a response to a question on how he would handle the capture of Osama bin Laden, Obama said, “One of the hallmarks, one of the high water points, I think, of US foreign policy, was the Nuremburg Trials because the world had not seen before victors behave in ways that advanced a set of universal principles. And that set a tone for post-war reconstruction and creation of an international order that I think was extraordinarily important.”

Although Obama would not speculate on how he would bring bin Laden to justice, he said it is important not to make him into a martyr.

“I think what would be important would be for us to do it in a way that allows the entire world to understand the murderous acts that he's engaged in and not to make him into a martyr and to sure that the United States government is abiding by the basic conventions that would strengthen our hand in the broader battle against terrorism,” he said.

In recent days, John McCain’s senior advisors have portrayed Obama’s policy on dealing with captured terrorists as “naïve” and “delusional.” McCain foreign policy advisor, Randy Scheunemann described Obama as “the perfect manifestation of the Sept. 10 mindset."

Although Obama did not respond to these comments specifically, he told reporters that the McCain campaign is using fear to win elections.

“I think it's my impression that John McCain has adopted not only George Bush's policies but George Bush's playbook,” he said.

From CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic:

TAYLOR, MI – Barack Obama took his economic tour to the next generation of workers today, speaking to students at Wayne County Community College about the link between the economy and education.

“Our economy is changing at a breathtaking pace. You need different skills to make a good living than you did twenty years ago,” Obama told the small group of students. “As folks in Michigan know all too well, young people today will be competing throughout their lives with people halfway around the world – in Beijing and Bangalore, Japan and South Korea.”

He presented his plan on college affordability, which includes a $4,000 tax credit for all students. Obama also had harsh criticism for his Republican opponent, John McCain, whom he accused of being out of touch with the working people.

“When it comes to education, Senator McCain is out of touch with the needs of hardworking Americans,” Obama said, “It’s not just that he doesn’t have a real plan to make college affordable; it’s that he’s voted time and time again to stop us from making college affordable.”

The McCain campaign quickly noted that he has been discussing his plan to reform the unemployment system and strengthen community colleges for over a year. Campaign spokesman Tucker Bounds said McCain discussed the importance of community colleges in a speech in Memphis in April, 2007.

Earlier in the day, Obama met with a student from the college and her financial aid counselor. Marilyn Pace, who is studying to be a dental hygienist, said she is $1,500 short of paying her tuition due, in part, to high gas prices.

Pace said, “Gas prices being $4 a gallon and I can’t work hardly as much as I used to before and I’ve started using that money for gas money.”

From CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic:

CHICAGO -- John Kerry defended Barack Obama’s Vice Presidential vetter James Johnson today.

“Jim Johnson is a very experienced, very discrete, very capable individual who is performing a voluntary function without pay, without any interest,” Kerry said on a conference call. “He's not seeking a job and he is acting completely independently to gather information about somebody.”

Johnson served on Kerry's vice presidential search committee in 2004.

Johnson has come under fire in recent days for obtaining low interest rate mortgage loans from Countrywide Financial. Kerry repeated Obama’s defense of Johnson, saying that said his sole function is to gather information. “He's not at a position to do anything except provide information to somebody who wants information and he's proven himself somebody who has a great skill at gathering that information,” Kerry said. “I have no complaint about what he did for me."

Obama continued his economy tour today, hosting a roundtable on predatory lending and credit cards. He was supposed to be campaigning in Iowa, but the trip was cancelled due to floods.

“We didn’t want to divert state resources from going directly to flood relief, that’s why we’re here today,” Obama explained, “My heart goes out to the families that are struggling with having to flee their homes, leaving their businesses and communities behind.”