IN THE HEADLINES Clinton tells Oregonians she won't give up, unveils 3 new ads ... McCain asks staff to disclose lobbying connections ... Huckabee quips about gun aimed at Obama in speech to NRA, later issues apology ... ___ Clinton to Oregonians: Don't count me out PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) _ Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton said Friday she wasn't ceding Oregon _ or the nomination _ to opponent Barack Obama, who is heavily favored to collect another victory here next week as he comes closer to winning the Democratic nomination. "I've been declared dead so many times, and luckily it's been premature, and I'm hoping it stays premature," Clinton said. "If I'd listened to people a month ago, three weeks ago, last week, you wouldn't be here trying to make up your minds about who you're going to vote for," she added. Clinton spoke during a televised town hall-style meeting with voters in Portland on Friday night, wrapping up a day of campaigning in Oregon, which votes Tuesday along with Kentucky. She unveiled three new ads in both states, including one that pokes fun at Washington pundits fixated on the presidential horse race. Just outside Eugene, Ore., the New York senator chatted with a retired couple and several other local residents at a dining room table about the financial impact of rising fuel costs and food prices. During that appearance, Clinton criticized President Bush for what she said was inaction during his trip to the Middle East this week. "I think it's very important that we do something more dramatic than going to have tea with the Saudis," she said. Saudi leaders made clear Friday, despite a personal appeal from Bush, that they see no reason to increase oil production until buyers demand it. ___ McCain asks staff to disclose lobbying ties WASHINGTON (AP) _ John McCain's campaign is asking staff members to disclose all previous lobbying ties following the resignation of two officials employed by a public relations firm that worked for Myanmar's repressive military junta. A memo from McCain's campaign manager, Rick Davis, also instructs staff to make certain they are no longer registered as lobbyists or foreign agents. It was issued following the resignations of Doug Goodyear, who was to run the Republican National Convention, and Doug Davenport, a regional campaign director for the mid-Atlantic states. Both worked for DCI Group, a consulting firm hired to improve the image of Myanmar's military junta. "I found out that two people had, some years ago, been involved with the government of Burma, so I needed to fix the problem, and we needed to fix it policy-wise," McCain told reporters Friday on his campaign bus. Past lobbying work does not automatically disqualify someone from working for the campaign. Davis and another senior adviser to McCain, Charlie Black, were longtime lobbyists but now have severed their lobbying ties. Like Goodyear and Davenport, Black and Davis have lobbied for foreign governments. And the campaign has other staffers and advisers who are registered lobbyists. ___ Huckabee quips about gun aimed at Obama LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) _ Republican Mike Huckabee responded to an offstage noise during his speech to the National Rifle Association by suggesting it was Barack Obama diving to the floor because someone had aimed a gun at him. Hearing a loud noise and interrupting his speech, Huckabee said: "That was Barack Obama. He just tripped off a chair. He's getting ready to speak and somebody aimed a gun at him and he _ he dove for the floor." There were only a few murmurs in the crowd after the remark. The Obama campaign had no comment. Later Friday, Huckabee issued a statement saying: "During my speech at the NRA a loud noise backstage, that sounded like a chair falling, distracted the crowd and interrupted my speech. I made an offhand remark that was in no way intended to offend or disparage Sen. Obama. I apologize that my comments were offensive, that was never my intention." Continued... |