Campaign Chatter

Obama is in Amman, Jordon today - he will meet privately with King Abdullah. USA Today has more here. The press being received by Senator Obama so far has been favorable and he has certainly captured the headlines away from McCain.

McCain's best counter so far has been attending a Yankee game with former mayor Rudy Guiliani and a photo-op with him visiting with former President George H. W. Bush. Even columnist Robert Novak said maybe McCain would announce his VP pick this week. CNN.com has more here.

Don't count on that happening for all the press is with Obama. The more likely announcement date would be immediately following the Democratic convention in an attempt to blunt the media attention Obama is sure to receive following his acceptance speech at the Mile High stadium in Denver.

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Obama on to talks with Israel and Palestine tomorrow - the middle east is not a simple region to understand and will be a test for Senator Obama. The New York Times, TheCaucus.com has a good read entitled "For Obama, Israel-Palestinian Conflict Looms".

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British Prime Minister Gordon Brown also talks about reducing troops in Iraq - Time.com has more here.

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T. Boone Pickens meets today with the House Democratic caucus - He takes his plan on wind power to the Hill. Politico.com has a column today entitled "Pickens' words more than just wind".

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Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and the Bush administration press Congress to pass Housing bill - the bill would help stabilize Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac who are estimated as securing or owning half of the mortgages in the country. The New York Times has more here.