Daily Political Wire

George Wenschhof

Republicans Withdraw from Budget Talks - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) accused the GOP of playing "Chicken" with the budget. Republican Congressional Leaders say they were at an impasse in the negotiations with Vice President Joe Biden. At issue is Democratic calls for 400 Billion in new taxes.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) called on President Obama to engage directly in the budget talks. The Washington Post has more here.

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Obama Releases 30 Million Barrels of Oil - from the emergency oil supply. Critics say the supply level is fine and prices had already started to fall. Others point out with the fragile economy, lower gas prices will aid summer vacation travel and encourage more spending. The amount of the release represents half of the total emergency supply. Reuters.com has more here.

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Michelle Obama Winds Down Africa Trip - yesterday, meeting with Bishop Desmond Tutu in Cape Town and today visiting teen centers for children infected with HIV in Botswana. you can read more of her visit here.

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President Obama Heads to Pittsburgh to Promote Emerging Technologies - he continues his effort to shed light on the new to invest in new technology to create jobs in the manufacturing area. He will tour Carnegie Mellon University National Robotics Engineering Center today and address the press before returning to Washington.

The problem with these staged press events by the president is they are not creating jobs now and as a result, voters are not impressed.

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Desperate Gingrich Slams Obama Looking For Campaign Boost - However, the former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is "toast" in the GOP sweepstakes race for the presidential nomination. The latest from Newt? - "Black people will vote Republican". TPM.com has more here. Just say good-bye, Newt!

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Bin Laden Courier Cell Phone Linked To Pakistani Intelligence - in what should come as no surprise, numbers found on the cell phone of Bin Laden's courier, who was also killed in the recent raid, have been linked to a group; Harakat-ul-Mujahedeen, who have long standing ties to the Pakistan Spy Agency. The NY Times has more here.

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