Morning Road Map
By Michelle Levi and Steve Chaggaris
Today is Barack Obama's 47th birthday.
Obama will outline what the campaign is billing a "New Energy for America" plan at an 11am speech in Lansing, Mich. this morning. According to his campaign, the plan includes an energy rebate to help with high gas prices, the creation of five million new green jobs, and decreasing dependence on Middle Eastern oil within 10 years. Later, he has a fundraiser in Boston, Mass. before flying to Ohio.
McCain has an 11:25am ET tour & roundtable at the National Label Company in Lafayette Hill, Pa. He then flies to South Dakota for the Sturgis motorcycle rally where McCain will participate in the annual Tribute to American Veterans and Active Duty Servicemen at 8:30pm ET.
McCAIN vs. OBAMA
The Obama campaign is releasing a new TV ad today attacking McCain for taking contributions from oil companies in exchange for a tax break. A narrator says, "Every time you fill your tank, the oil companies fill their pockets. Now Big Oil's filling John McCain's campaign with 2 million dollars in contributions. Because instead of taxing their windfall profits to help drivers, McCain wants to give them another 4 billion in tax breaks. After one president in the pocket of big oil… We can't afford another."
Washington Post's new economy poll, "Obama Leads, Pessimism Reigns Among Key Group"
Newsweek's Thomas, Bailey and Darman, "Obama, McCain and Partisan Warfare"
USA Today's Kiely and Jackson, "McCain and Obama tweak views on Iraq"
New York Times' Harwood, "McCain Takes a Page From Clinton's Playbook"
VEEPSTAKES
Former Gov. Mitt Romney, R-Mass., heads to Beijing for the Olympics on Thursday and is scheduled to return to the U.S. August 20.
Gov. Tim Kaine, D-Va., will be in Washington, DC speaking at the NAPO Convention on Obama's behalf.
Gov. Tim Pawlenty, R-Minn. will be in Fort Sill, OK today at speak at the Departure Ceremony for the 34th Combat Aviation Brigade.
Politico's Kuhn, "VP pick may chafe Hillary supporters"
Philadelphia Inquirer's Eichel, "Obama, McCain have tough choices choosing running mates"
NY Daily News' Saltonstall, "Running mate stock rises for Democrat Evan Bayh, Republican Eric Cantor"
Stu Rothenberg writes, "Obama's Choices for Veep Are Far Better Than McCain's"
San Francisco Chronicle's Marinucci, "Candidates' VP picks could decide the race"
NY Sun's Berman, "Republican's Ready Lines of Attack on Obama's Vice Presidential Pick"
OFFSHORE DRILLING
Wall Street Journal's Chozick, "Obama Offers Support For Offshore Drilling"
NY Times' Knowlton, "McCain Leans Toward Compromise on Offshore Drilling"
Wall Street Journal's Brown, "Can $4 Gasoline Drive McCain Campaign?"
BATTLEGROUND STATES
Washington Post's MacGillis and Craig, "Reliably GOP State Is Up for Grabs - As Obama Steps Up Intensive Voter-Registration Effort, Republicans Say Old Dominion Remains Conservative"
Detroit News' Trowbridge, "Obama: Give Michigan delegates full vote"
Associated Press, "Democrats think Obama can win Indiana"
ALSO:
Wall Street Journal's Williams, "The Race Issue Isn't Going Away"
Washington Post's Kurtz, "Rerouting McCain's Bus - Frustration Leads Campaign To Limit Reporters' Access"
LA Times' Rainey, "Obama's crime? Acting too presidential"
LA Times' Silver, "Why McCain is still in it"