Today on the presidential campaign trail

In this Friday, Jan. 18, 2008 file photo, former Texas Sen. Phil Gramm, left, stumps for Republican presidential hopeful, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., right, at a campaign event in Myrtle Beach, S.C.,. Gramm, a top adviser to presidential candidate John McCain, is resigning from the role as campaign co-chairman Friday, July 18, 2008 after his comments that the United States had become a "nation of whiners" who constantly complain about the state of the economy. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

IN THE HEADLINES

On trip to Mideast and Europe, Obama to meet with heads of state and opposition leaders ... McCain economic adviser Gramm leaves after 'nation of whiners' flap ... John McCain, Conan O'Brien agree that age jokes are getting old, look for new punch lines ...

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Obama visits Afghanistan to tour war zone

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama arrived in Afghanistan on Saturday, the first stop on a campaign-season tour of war zones, a spokesman said.

Less than four months before the general election, Obama's first visit to Afghanistan, with a subsequent stop in Iraq, was rich with political implications, although the Illinois senator flew as part of an official congressional delegation.

Rival John McCain has criticized Obama for his lack of time in the region, and the Republican National Committee had a running ticker tallying the more than 900 days since his last visit to Iraq.

Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs said Obama arrived in Kabul early Saturday.

"I look forward to seeing what the situation on the ground is," Obama told a pair of reporters who accompanied him to his departure from Andrews Air Force Base on Thursday.

"I want to, obviously, talk to the commanders and get a sense both in Afghanistan and in Baghdad of, you know, what the most, their biggest concerns are, and I want to thank our troops for the heroic work that they've been doing," he said before his flight overseas.

Obama advocates ending the U.S. combat role in Iraq by withdrawing troops at the rate of one to two combat brigades a month. But he supports increasing the military commitment to Afghanistan, where the Taliban has been resurgent and Osama bin laden is believed to be hiding.

On his trip, Obama intends to meet with Hamid Karzai, the Afghan president. Also on his itinerary is a meeting with Nouri al-Maliki, the Iraqi leader.

Later, Obama is scheduled to meet with leaders of Jordan, Israel and the Palestinians. After leaving the Middle East, Obama travels to Europe for more meetings.

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McCain adviser Gramm leaves

NEW YORK (AP) -- Former Texas Sen. Phil Gramm resigned from his role as GOP presidential candidate John McCain's campaign co-chairman, hoping to quiet the uproar that followed his comments that the United States had become a "nation of whiners" whose constant complaints about the U.S. economy show they are in a "mental recession."

Gramm, a past presidential candidate, made the remarks more than a week ago. McCain immediately distanced himself from the comments, but they brought a steady stream of criticism just as McCain is trying to show he can help steer the country past its current financial troubles.

Gramm said in a statement late Friday that he is stepping down to "end this distraction."

"It is clear to me that Democrats want to attack me rather than debate Senator McCain on important economic issues facing the country," Gramm said. "That kind of distraction hurts not only Senator McCain's ability to present concrete programs to deal with the country's problems, it hurts the country. To end this distraction and get on with the real debate, I hereby step down as co-chair of the McCain campaign and join the growing number of rank-and-file McCain supporters."

Gramm made the comment to The Washington Times and later explained that he was talking about the nation's leaders not the American people. Democrats claimed at the time that the Gramm comments showed that McCain is out of touch with voters' concerns over high gas prices, the struggling housing industry and the shaky economy in general.

The campaign of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said Gramm's departure will make little difference to McCain's economic policies.

"The question for John McCain isn't whether Phil Gramm will continue as chairman of his campaign, but whether he will continue to keep the economic plan that Gramm authored and that represents a continuation of the polices that have failed American families for the last eight years," said Obama campaign spokesman Hari Sevugan.

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McCain, Conan agree: Age jokes getting old

NEW YORK (AP) -- How old is John McCain? So old, the jokes about it are getting old.

So at a taping Friday night of NBC's "Late Night with Conan O'Brien," the host asked the Republican presidential candidate for some new material.

"We all agree on a take on you, which is your seniority," O'Brien said, as McCain, 71, pretended to fall asleep in his chair.

Speaking for all late night comedians, O'Brien said, "we're tired of this take on you," and asked the Arizona senator to give them some fresh material.

"Do you have a kooky uncle, do you have bad breath, webbed toes, anything?" O'Brien asked.

"All of the above," McCain answered before offering up alternative fodder.

"I was able to get shot down, intercept a surface-to-air missile with my plane," said the former Navy pilot and Vietnam War prisoner of war.

"People don't really laugh at that," O'Brien pointed out.

McCain got in some jokes of his own, poking fun at "the cable monsters," his new name for cable news networks.

McCain, who has already had one cable movie made about his life, was then subjected by O'Brien to a series of casting suggestions for another movie about his quest for the presidency and his current search for a running mate.

Playing McCain? Tim Conway. Playing one-time Republican rival Mitt Romney? "Any local weatherman," said O'Brien.

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THE DEMOCRATS

Barack Obama has no public schedule.

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THE REPUBLICANS

John McCain holds a fundraiser in New York.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY:

"I believe that we can modify Iranian behavior. We need to exhaust every possible option before we can ever consider a military option. Americans have made great sacrifices and it has grieved us all." -- John McCain.

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STAT OF THE DAY:

Originally carrying a hefty price tag at $6.1 billion, the fleet of 28 helicopters being built to fly the next president is now projected to cost $11.2 billion.

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Compiled by Ann Sanner and Ronald Powers.