From the Associated Press:
The United Auto Workers union has given its expected endorsement to Democrat Barack Obama, while criticizing Republican John McCain as an heir to President Bush's policies. UAW President Ron Gettelfinger says McCain "is content to rely on the failed policies of President Bush," which Gettelfinger says cost millions of U.S. manufacturing jobs. ...Gettelfinger issued a statement Monday saying Obama "is taking action to support American workers and American companies." Gettelfinger cites Obama's promise of $4 billion in low-cost financing for automakers to retool to make more fuel-efficient vehicles.
From the Washington Post:
Sen. Barack Obama has detailed a comprehensive space plan that includes $2 billion in new funding to reinvigorate NASA and a promise to make space exploration and science a significantly higher priority if he is elected president. ...While Obama's ambitious plan embraces President Bush's 2004 "vision" to send astronauts to the moon by 2020 and later to Mars -- a plan McCain co-sponsored in the Senate -- the Democratic presidential candidate said the administration's "poor planning and inadequate funding" have undermined the effort and jeopardized U.S. leadership in space. In particular, he criticized administration policies that will lead to a five-year period after 2010 when "the United States will have to depend on foreign rockets and spacecraft to send Americans to orbit" -- even to the largely U.S.-funded $100 billion international space station. "As president, I'll make our space program a priority again by devoting the attention and resources needed to not only inspire the world with feats of exploration but also improve life here on Earth," Obama said. His plan also calls for reestablishing the National Aeronautics and Space Council to coordinate all civilian, commercial and military space programs; the body was in place in earlier decades but disbanded in 1992. As a signal that NASA will be a higher priority for him, Obama said the council would report directly to the president.
From the Concord Monitor:
For $25, Ed Prouty got four minutes with Barack Obama. Like many others, Prouty has given money to Obama's presidential campaign. But the Atkinson resident made his donation at an opportune time: Prouty has the distinction of being Obama's 2 millionth donor, which landed Prouty a conversation with the candidate himself. Prouty had no time to prepare for his brief brush with Obama. Before the conversation Friday evening, all he knew was that members of Obama's staff wanted him to dial in to a conference call. But once on the call, Prouty said, "someone said, 'Barack Obama would like to speak with you.' That was it. And then I was talking with Sen. Obama." In many ways, Prouty is precisely the sort of donor Obama hopes to attract. There's the fact that Prouty has never before given money to a campaign. He was spurred to contribute $25 after receiving campaign e-mails, one of which explained Obama's efforts to attract 2 million donors. "I just wanted to be a part of that," said Prouty, 63. ...And what does a conversation with Obama sound like? Last week's phone call - saved online at YouTube.com - began with Obama thanking Prouty. "It's folks like you who really help to make this campaign work," Obama said. "So it's a wonderful symbolic moment for us." The conversation turned to the economy, as Obama asked Prouty about the state of his industry. "We're just hanging on," Prouty replied, saying that in 25 years in the business, "this is the worst we've ever seen." Obama then asked Prouty whether there were "any issues you want me to make sure to pay attention to." "All of them," said Prouty, who listed the economy and air quality before saying, "I'm so nervous, I can't even think. There's so many issues: health care, environmental issues. There's no end to what's gone wrong in the past eight years." Obama replied with a note of optimism. "We've got a lot of work to do," Obama said. "But I think we've got a great shot."
From the Canton Repository:
More than five months after … the Stark County presidential primary vote … [Obama's] staffers are back in the area, seeking to mobilize local volunteers. ...The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee's campaign said Monday that it will open a general election office in Canton on Wednesday, likely followed by the establishment of offices in Massillon and Minerva. That would be out of at least 56 planned campaign headquarters statewide, according to Obama's Web site. …An interesting strategic decision by the Obama camp was to set up shop in Minerva, a village of about 3,900 people. It the first time in recent memory that a presidential candidate has set up an office there during a general election season. Shirla Waller, wife of Minerva Mayor Jim Waller, said it's the most exciting thing politically that's happened in the town since former Vice President Dan Quayle visited several years ago. Obama's logo is already painted on the office's windows, she said. Former Minerva solicitor Martin Chapman donated the use of the building at 215 N. Market St., said Dixie Wadsworth, a retired nurse and Minerva resident who volunteered for Obama during the Ohio primary ...His campaign field organizer called her last week, seeking her help again. Since then, she's been setting up the office's computers and phone lines and has already helped organize phone banks. "It's the first time any ... presidential candidate Republican or Democrat has ever paid attention to us in this part of the country," she said.
Comments are closed for this post.
