N.H. contractor lands on Obama milestone
The 2 millionth donor to Barack Obama's campaign turned out to be a heating and air conditioning contractor from New Hampshire.
Ed Prouty of Atkinson received a surprise phone call from Obama himself, and the campaign posted the audio on its website.
"It's folks like you that really helped make this campaign work," Obama told Prouty. "It's a wonderful symbolic moment for us," the presumptive Democratic nominee said of the milestone reached late last week.
Then, the conversation turned to the sour economy.
"How's business going?" Obama asked.
"Terrible. We're just hanging on," Prouty said, adding that "this is the worst we've ever seen" in 25 years in business.
"We've got to put people back to work," Obama said, pledging to deal with the home foreclosure crisis, push alternative energy, and turn the economy around. "Small businesses like yours are the bedrock of the economy."
Prouty also mentioned his concern about the environment, healthcare, and what has "gone wrong" over the past eight years. "I'm so nervous I can't even think," he said.
"We've got a lot of work to do," Obama replied, "but I think we've got a great shot this election."
FOON RHEE
A series of political ads starring the fictional couple back in 1994 helped sour the public's view of then-President Clinton's plan for universal health coverage.
Now, the two are back asking the presidential contenders to make healthcare their top domestic priority. The latest ads, starring the same actors as the earlier ads, will run during the Democratic and Republican Party conventions.
While the kitchen table scene will look familiar, the concerns the couple raises will differ. Previously, Louise warned of rationing. This time, she laments that someone they know has cancer but no health insurance. Harry, shaking his head in sympathy, says that "too many people are falling through the cracks."
Sponsors of the new ad include one group that fought the Clinton efforts back in 1994, the National Federation of Independent Business. There's also a major supporter of the Clinton plan, the advocacy group Families USA.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Democratic National Convention Committee said 44 percent of delegates elected to attend next week's convention in Denver are minorities, 50.1 percent are women, 17 percent are age 65 or older, and 14 percent are age 36 or younger.
The committee said more women, African-Americans, Asian-Americans, Native Americans, Hispanics, gay and lesbian delegates, and disabled delegates will attend than ever before.
The oldest delegate is Sophie Masloff, 91, from Pennsylvania, and the youngest is David Gilbert Pederson, a 17-year-old from Minnesota.
"As we gather in Denver to change the course of our nation, we will truly represent the strength and diversity of our party and our country," said Alice Germond, DNC secretary.
FOON RHEE
Change to Win, made up of seven unions with a total of 6 million members, says McCain's proposals would hurt workers and be "worse than Bush."
Anna Burger, chairwoman of Change to Win, said McCain's "campaign of distortion . . . disguises a Bush-inspired agenda that will bankrupt our economy for four more years."
FOON RHEE 