Today on the presidential campaign trail

[Ron Burgundy]

AP - IN THE HEADLINES

McCain says Obama's opposition to NAFTA smacks of protectionism ... Obama: McCain's offshore drilling proposal "makes absolutely no sense at all" ... Obama to campaign with former rival Hillary Clinton in step toward unifying Democrats ... NY Mayor Bloomberg defends Obama before Jewish audience in Florida ... Burns replaced as McCain speaker a week after saying he reluctantly supports candidate

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McCain criticizes Obama's opposition to NAFTA

OTTAWA (AP) — In a cross-border political attack, John McCain said Friday that Barack Obama's opposition to the North American Free Trade Agreement is "nothing more than retreating behind protectionist walls."

The Republican presidential nominee-in-waiting added that if he wins the White House, "have no doubt that America will honor its international commitments — and we will expect the same of others."

McCain did not mention Obama by name as he spoke before the Economic Club of Canada, a business organization whose membership cheered his remarks.

His trip to Canada was unusual if not unprecedented for a presidential candidate, one that his campaign paid for yet aides insisted was not political.

Democrats criticized plans for a scheduled $100-per-person "finance event" and raised questions about U.S. Ambassador David Wilkins' involvement in the trip. McCain's aides said Wilkins had done nothing wrong. They also countered that the money was to pay the cost of the Economic Club luncheon — then canceled the event without explanation.

The free trade agreement is intensely controversial in the United States — supported by most businesses, opposed by many unions — and has already emerged as a flashpoint in the presidential race.

McCain supports it, while Obama and former rival Hillary Rodham Clinton vied for support among blue-collar workers in the Democratic primaries by stressing their desire to force changes.

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Obama criticizes McCain on offshore drilling

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Democrat Barack Obama on Friday said rival John McCain's proposal to allow offshore drilling will not lower gas prices for families "this year, next year, five years from now."

Opening up the U.S. coastline to oil exploration would not give Americans any appreciable savings until 2030, Obama said, adding that he would keep in place the federal government's 27-year moratorium on offshore drilling.

The Illinois senator also criticized McCain on changing his position on drilling offshore. In McCain's 2000 campaign, the Republican said he favored the moratorium. This week, he said he supports lifting it to give states the option to drill.

Obama said, "We can't drill our way out of the problems we're facing."

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Obama, Hillary Clinton to campaign together

CHICAGO (AP) — Democrat Barack Obama's campaign announced Friday that he will campaign with former rival Hillary Rodham Clinton next week, a step toward unifying a fractured Democratic Party after a bruising primary fight.

Obama's campaign said in a brief e-mail that the two senators and former opponents will campaign together for the first time on Friday, June 27, and more details would be forthcoming.

A day earlier, Obama and Clinton also plan to meet in Washington with some of her top contributors in an effort to calm donors who remain frustrated with Obama's presidential campaign. The former first lady will introduce Obama to her financial backers.

Clinton, a New York senator and former first lady, suspended her campaign for the Democratic nomination earlier this month after Obama, an Illinois senator, secured enough delegates to clinch the nomination.

Obama's campaign disclosed the joint appearance — but offered few details.

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Bloomberg defends Obama before Jewish audience

NEW YORK (AP) — Mayor Michael Bloomberg urged Jewish voters to denounce the whisper campaign that for months has pushed the false rumor that Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is secretly a Muslim.

Bloomberg, mentioned as a possible vice presidential candidate for both parties, warned a Jewish group in Boca Raton, Fla., on Friday that the attempt to portray Obama as a shadowy Muslim with a hidden agenda often targets Jewish voters online and with e-mails.

The deceptive campaign against Obama, who is Christian, "threatens to undo the enormous strides that Jews and Muslims have made together in this country," the New York mayor said.

The lies are "cloaked in concern for Israel, but the real concern is about partisan politics," said Bloomberg, who is Jewish. "This is wedge politics at its worst, and we've got to reject it — loudly, clearly and unequivocally."

Obama, asked about Bloomberg's comments at a news conference, said he hadn't heard them but was happy to know the mayor was defending him.

"I like Mayor Bloomberg," Obama said. "I think he's a terrific mayor."

Bloomberg, a billionaire independent, had considered making his own run for the White House this year, but decided against it. He has said his endorsement and potential financial backing could still be up for grabs, and there has been occasional chatter about how the Democrat-turned-Republican-turned independent might make a good running mate for either Obama or Republican John McCain.

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Burns replaced as McCain speaker

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Republican John McCain's campaign has replaced former Sen. Conrad Burns as its speaker at the Montana GOP convention, a move that comes a week after Burns remarked that he only reluctantly supports McCain.

A McCain campaign spokesman said the events were not related.

Burns, the campaign's state chairman, was scheduled to speak on behalf of the Republican nominee-in-waiting on Friday. Instead, Rod Knutson, who spent time in Vietnamese prisoner of war camps with McCain, will be the speaker. A McCain campaign spokesman said last week's comments were not the reason for the switch. Jeff Sadosky said Knutson brings a unique perspective on McCain's time in the Navy.

Last Friday, Burns told Idaho State Republican Convention delegates that he would rather have seen the party choose someone else for chief executive. Burns told Idaho Republicans, "I'm sitting here campaigning for John McCain. He wasn't my first choice, but he is now."

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THE DEMOCRATS

Barack Obama discussed the economy with Democratic governors in Chicago before he held a news conference in Jacksonville, Fla.

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THE REPUBLICANS

John McCain gave a speech in Ottawa.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY:

"I think anybody, anybody would have to consider it. Doesn't mean you'd do it, doesn't mean you'd accept it, could be too many gaps there, but you'd have to consider it, it's the only thing you could do. Why wouldn't you?" — Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel, on whether he'd serve as Democrat Barack Obama's running mate if asked.

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STAT OF THE DAY:

In the 2004 presidential election, 72 percent of voting-age citizens were registered to vote, according to the Census Bureau. That's 2 points more than in 2000 when 70 percent of those eligible were registered.

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Compiled by Ann Sanner.

source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080620/ap_on_el_pr/2008_race_rundown [link]