All Blog Posts from From The Road

From CBS News' Michelle Levi:

(ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.) Three young African-American men stood up holding a sign that read "What About the Black Community, Obama?" as Barack Obama was talking about the economy at a town hall meeting here. Once the crowd realized what the sign, many started booing loudly, which caused Obama to turn around and look at the protesters.

Obama Supporters then started chanting, "Yes We Can", a regular Obama cheer.

Obama asked the protesters, whom a local reporter said were members of the state's black panthers legacy group, to "be courteous" and "respect." The Illinois senator said the men would have their chance to speak after his opening remarks.

Obama is in St. Petersburg this morning to launch a new "emergency" economy plan which would give $1,000 credits to financially struggling families. The credits would be funded by taxes to oil companies' windfall profit.

Update: During a question and answer session, Obama called on one of the hecklers.

The man mentioned a slew of controversial issues, such as the government's response to Hurricane Katrina and the subprime mortgage crisis and asked, "In the face of all these attacks that are clearly being made on the African community, why is it that you have not had the ability to not one time speak to the interests and even speak on the behalf of the oppressed and exploited African community or Black community in this country?"

"I think you are misinformed about when you say, 'not one time,'" Obama responded. "Every issue you've spoken about, I actually did speak out about."

The Illinois senator then went on to address the man's concerns, mentioning that he was a civil rights lawyer and saying, "I may not have spoken out the way you would have wanted me to speak out, which is fine."

From CBS News' Ryan Corsaro:

(NEW YORK) Rev. Al Sharpton sent an open letter to consumer activist and independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader today following comments he made about Sen. Barack Obama, in which Nader claimed Obama "talks white" and ignores issues of poverty.

In the letter, Sharpton said he found Nader's comments divisive and "most troubling."

Nader's comments were published today in an interview with the Rocky Mountain News and quickly spread on the Internet, in which he said, "(Obama) wants to show that he is not a threatening . . . another politically threatening African-American politician...He wants to appeal to white guilt. You appeal to white guilt not by coming on as black is beautiful, black is powerful."

"I don't know how one "talks black or white," wrote Sharpton in an email which was emailed to members of the press.

"There are clearly different styles and speech cadences in every community."

In closing his letter, Sharpton wrote accused Nader's comments of being "beneath the respect many have had for you and more importantly below the level of political discourse we need at this point in history."

"Those of us that deal with real people in real pain in the black community every day need real answers and real change and that is more important than the volume or style in which it is presented."

Earlier today in Chicago, Obama dismissed the comments by Nader, who has announced earlier this year that he is running for president as a third party candidate.

"He's somebody who is trying to get attention and whose campaign hasn't gotten any traction," said Obama. "So what better way to get some traction than to make an inflammatory statement like the one that he made."

From CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic:

(LOS ANGELES) Barack Obama denounced McCain senior adviser Charlie Black after Black told a magazine that a terrorist attack would "be a big advantage" to McCain politically. Black later said he "deeply regrets" making the comment.

Obama told reporters the issue of potential attacks on U.S. soil should not be politicized. “The broader point, which has been made not just by Democrats but by Republicans, is there are certain things that should transcend politics," Obama said. "And the prospect of a terrorist attack on American soil is one of them.”

Obama also said that Black's assertion that a terrorist attack could help McCain’s campaign was factually incorrect, arguing that Republican foreign policy blunders have made the U.S. less safe.

“We've got a situation backsliding in Afghanistan, and homeland security issues that are still being unattended to here in the United States,” Obama said, “So I'm happy to have that debate about who's actually going to be stronger on terrorism.”

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From CBS News' Clifden Kennedy:

(Fresno, California) Sen. John McCain distanced himself from controversial comments made by a senior adviser to a magazine Monday. Chief strategist Charlie Black told Fortune Magazine that another terrorist attack on U.S. soil would be a “big advantage to him.”

When asked about the remarks at a media avail, a seemingly flat-footed McCain said, “I cannot imagine why he would say it. It’s not true. I’ve worked tirelessly since 9/11 to prevent another attack on the United States of America. My record is very clear. The Armed Services Committee and pieces of legislation. Sponsoring with Joe Lieberman the 9/11 Commission so we could find out the causes and how to fix the challenges that we face to fix the security of our nation. I cannot imagine it. And, uh. So, I would … If he said that, and I do not know the context, I strenuously disagree.”

Black later told reporters, "I deeply regret the comments. They were inappropriate. I recognize that John McCain has devoted his entire adult life to protecting his country and placing its security before every other consideration. "

In a statement, Obama spokesperson Bill Burton said, "The fact that John McCain's top adviser says that a terrorist attack on American soil would be a 'big advantage' for their political campaign is a complete disgrace, and is exactly the kind of politics that needs to change.”

Earlier Monday, McCain focused mainly on energy at a speech and a town hall at the University of California Fresno. He said that “energy security is the great national challenge of our time,” and proposed a $300 million dollar government prize to develop a better battery to power electric cars. He issued a “Clean Car Challenge” to American automakers saying, “For every automaker who can sell a zero-emissions car, we will commit a $5,000 dollar tax credit for each and every customer who buys that car.”

Tuesday, McCain attends an environmental briefing at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History.

From CBS News' Fernando Suarez:

LITTLE ROCK, ARK. -- After claiming victory in the Florida primary, Senator Hillary Clinton made a trip back to her home in the South. She arrived in Little Rock, Arkansas, late last night, but was up early this morning, making a quick stop for breakfast at a local eatery called Kitchen Express, a small buffet-style restaurant with primarily African-American patrons.

But Clinton wasn't the only star of the show. Dwayne Turner, a.k.a. 'Belvis the Black Elvis,' came over to her and started singing: "One for the money, two for the show, three to get ready now go Hillary go!"

"That is some suit, man," Clinton said.

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