All Blog Posts from From The Road

From CBS News' Scott Conroy:

(CANTON, Ohio) Sarah Palin has been a star for John McCain on the campaign trail, and at her first national fundraiser in Canton, Ohio, she proved she can raise a buck for the Republicans, too.

According to local businessman Tim Timkin, who hosted the event at the Brookside Country Club, the Palin fundraiser pulled in “just shy of $1 million” for the Republican Party. The McCain/Palin campaign is prohibited from raising money directly, since it chose to accept public funds for the general election.

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Comedian Bernie Mac shocked the Obama campaign last night at a high-dollar fundraiser, where the Chicago-native introduced the presumptive Democratic nominee with some colorful comments.

Mac, who is known for his crass standup routines, joked about having a black First Lady and offered some unsolicited campaign advice.

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(NEW YORK) Barack Obama made his way to New York City tonight, with Hillary Clinton and Caroline Kennedy by his side. The three were heading to fund-raisers for Obama, and in part, for Clinton. The goal of the evening was to gather contributions for Clinton’s primary debt, but Obama almost forgot to ask for donations for his former opponent.

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From CBS News' Ryan Corsaro:

(NEW YORK) Senator Barack Obama is giving the green light to his financial contributors to help pay off Senator Hillary Clinton’s campaign debt from her failed election bid, sources tell CBS News.

CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic, who is traveling with the Obama campaign, confirms the Illinois senator gave the go-ahead on a conference call with his National Finance Committee tonight.

A Democratic source says that on the call, Obama’s donors asked to help Clinton pay off her debt. Obama replied that if they have the ability and interest to raise or give money to Clinton, he encourages them to do so.

CBS News chief political consultant Marc Ambinder says that as far as how much Obama’s campaign will give Clinton, “It likely figures to the tune of $10 million, which is what Clinton owes in addition to the money she lent herself.”

From CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic:

(JACKSONVILLE, Fla.) Barack Obama today defended his decision to opt out of public financing, arguing that the system cannot control outside lobbyist groups who will launch personal attacks against him and his wife.

“We’ve already seen attacks on my wife from the Tennessee Republican party,” Obama told reporters, “I don’t think that I am off the wall here to see that a lot of outside groups that are potentially going to be going after us hard.”

He said his commitment to overhaul campaign financing stands; however, he argued that he is in a better position to withstand Republican attacks if he doesn’t partake in it.

Obama said he will have to campaign harder in states like Florida in order to change misconceptions about him.

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From CBS News' Scott Conroy:

GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. -- Though he wouldn’t say whether the state is an absolute must win, Mitt Romney is banking his campaign on the idea that he can stop the bleeding in Michigan.

“I will win Michigan,” Romney told reporters after a town hall here this evening.

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From CBS News' Scott Conroy:

BOSTON -- About 550 bundlers and donors rolled up their sleeves at the convention center here to try to convince supporters around the country to dip into their pockets once again for Mitt Romney.

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From CBS News' Joy Lin:

OSCEOLA, IOWA – As Mike Huckabee and his campaign manager Chip Saltsman left the hunting headquarters after a morning of shooting, Saltsman bent down next to their SUV to pick up a pile of coins that had fallen there. Huckabee remarked all the cameras were shooting the minor event, but that didn’t stop Saltsman.

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From CBS News' Nancy Cordes, who's covering the Huckabee campaign:

Governor Mike Huckabee may be surging in the polls but he's at a serious disadvantage when it comes to money. As of September 30, Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani had raised $63 million and $47 million respectively, dwarfing Huckabee's $2.3 million.

Looking to close the gap, Huckabee held fundraisers in Dallas and Houston yesterday.

I joined him on his private plane Tuesday and we discussed his decision to start firing back at his opponents.

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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