All Blog Posts from From The Road

From CBS News' John Bentley

(ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.) John McCain will go after Barack Obama this morning at a town hall here on his plans to talk about his policy for Iraq and Afghanistan before his scheduled visit to the region.

“He is speaking today about his plans for Iraq and Afghanistan before he has even left, before he has talked to General Petraeus, before he has seen the progress in Iraq, and before he has set foot in Afghanistan for the first time,” McCain will say, according to excerpts released by the campaign.

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From CBS News' John Bentley:

(PORTSMOUTH, OHIO) While John McCain has vociferously supported the surge strategy in Iraq, he has been less vocal about the ongoing war in Afghanistan. He called on NATO and other allies of the U.S. to send more troops today, but stopped short of advocating additional American soldiers be deployed to the region until he spoke with commanders on the ground.

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From CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic:

(WASHINGTON) Barack Obama will travel to Iraq and Afghanistan before the Democratic convention in August, Democratic sources tell CBS News. Earlier today, Obama spoke to Iraqi president, Jalal Talabani, and told Talabani he will be visiting the war zone soon.

The Obama campaign issued the following statement after the telephone conversation: “I was pleased to speak with President Talabani during his stay here in the United States. We discussed the security situation in Iraq, and the political accommodation that is necessary for long-term stability. We also discussed the ongoing negotiations with the Bush Administration over a Status of Forces Agreement and the Strategic Framework Agreement, which I believe must be subject to congressional approval, and done in the context of planning for a responsible removal of American troops. It is not in America’s interest or Iraq’s interest for there to be an open-ended commitment to keep U.S. troops in Iraq.”

Obama came under fire by John McCain earlier this month for not visiting Iraq since 2006, and proposed that they visit the country together. Obama declined the offer but expressed interest in visiting the war zone on his own.

Obama met with Talabani during his last trip to Iraq in 2006.

From CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic:

(FLINT, Mich.) Barack Obama told Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari on the telephone this morning that he would end the U.S. occupation in Iraq and promised to visit the country before the general election in November.

“I told him that I look forward to seeing him in Baghdad,” Obama said to reporters.

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From CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic:

SEATTLE -- After a full day of fund-raisers in Los Angeles and picking up the endorsement of Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D-N.H.), Barack Obama made it to Seattle for a late night concert.

“I am in Seattle and I am sleepless,” Obama said, “I don’t get enough sleep. That’s what happens when you’re running for president.”

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From CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic:

SEATTLE -- After a full day of fund-raisers in Los Angeles and picking up the endorsement of Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D-N.H.), Barack Obama made it to Seattle for a late night concert.

“I am in Seattle and I am sleepless,” Obama said, “I don’t get enough sleep. That’s what happens when you’re running for president.”

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