Today on the presidential campaign trail

[Ron Burgundy]

AP - IN THE HEADLINES

The bruising Democratic nomination contest settled, Obama reaches out to win the peace ... White House says Bush wishes Obama congratulations on clinching Democratic nomination ... Obama adds to delegate cushion in South Dakota primary ... Exit polls show Obama, McCain face doubts on economy, have other weaknesses

___

Election pits McCain vs. Obama

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Democratic presidential nomination his, Barack Obama reached out Wednesday to mend fences with his defeated rival as Republican opponent John McCain tried to frame the fall campaign on his own terms. "I think he has exercised very bad judgment on national security issues and others," McCain said.

Hillary Rodham Clinton was angling to become Obama's running mate and her aides ramped up the speculation on that matter Wednesday. "I think a lot of her supporters would like to see her on the ticket," Clinton campaign chairman Terry McAuliffe said. But Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs cautioned "there is no deal in the works."

Clinton has yet to acknowledge Obama's victory in the bruising Democratic race and her aides — also dodging that conclusion — said on the morning talk shows that she would take a few days to decide what comes next for her. Obama spoke by phone with her Tuesday night and both sides predicted he and Clinton would sit down together before long.

"When the dust settles and it makes sense for her, he'll meet whenever she wants to," Gibbs said. "She's accumulated a lot of votes throughout this country. We want to make sure that we're appealing to her voters."

___

Bush wishes Obama congratulations

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Bush is congratulating Sen. Barack Obama for clinching the Democratic presidential nomination.

Just don't expect a phone call between the two.

In her morning briefing with reporters on Wednesday, White House press secretary Dana Perino said the president congratulates Obama. The Illinois senator has gained enough delegates to become the Democratic Party's nominee, besting Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York.

Perino said "Senator Obama came a long way in becoming his party's nominee. And his historic achievement reflects the fact that our country has come along way, too."

Perino said she does not anticipate Bush will call Obama. She said President Clinton did not call Bush when he clinched the Republican nomination in 2000.

___

Obama adds to delegate cushion

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Barack Obama moved well beyond the goal line Tuesday night by picking up delegates in the last two Democratic primaries, hours after he clinched the party's nomination for president.

Obama won at least 15 delegates in South Dakota and Montana, while Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton won at least 13. There were three delegates still to be allocated in Montana.

Obama also picked up more superdelegate endorsements — including some who had endorsed Clinton — as those waiting for the end of the primaries went public.

Overall, Obama has 2,154 delegates, including endorsements from party and elected officials known as superdelegates. Clinton has 1,919.5, according to the Associated Press Count.

It will take 2,118 delegates to win the nomination at the party's national convention this summer in Denver. Obama surpassed the milestone Tuesday afternoon with endorsements from superdelegates as well as delegates who had been won by former Sen. John Edwards.

___

Exit polls: Obama, McCain both have weaknesses

WASHINGTON (AP) — Barack Obama and John McCain start their showdown for the White House as a pair of vulnerable candidates, including real doubts about how each would right a struggling economy, according to exit polls of voters in this year's primaries. The crucial question: Whose weaknesses will cost him the election?

Obama, battling to become the nation's first black president and one of its youngest, cast himself as an agent of change, the quality Democratic voters were seeking more than any other, polls from this year's Democratic primaries showed. In a sharp contrast with his 46-year-old opponent for November, McCain, 71, towered over his Republican rivals as the one with the most experience, according to exit polls from his party's contests.

The two candidates' problems start with the economy, which members of both parties agreed is the country's top issue. Neither man got even half the votes of his party's voters who worried most about the economy.

Compounding their problems: McCain conceded months ago that the economy was not his strong point, while Obama has run weakest with Democratic voters who say they've been hurt by the troubled economy, a growing group.

Each also has other problems to resolve within their party's coalitions.

___

THE DEMOCRATS

Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama speak at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee's conference in Washington. Obama also addresses the Service Employees International Union via satellite before heading to New York to raise campaign cash.

___

THE REPUBLICANS

John McCain speaks to voters Baton Rouge, La., before attending a fundraiser in St. Petersburg, Fla.

___

QUOTE OF THE DAY:

"I am the last of the Mohicans, but it is over." — Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, a dogged Clinton supporter, speaking on CNN.

___

STAT OF THE DAY:

There were 56 contests in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination. Barack Obama won 14 caucuses; Hillary Rodham Clinton won 3. Obama won 19 primaries; Clinton won 20.

___

Compiled by Ann Sanner.

source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080604/ap_on_el_pr/2008_race_rundown [link]