Obama praises nation's veterans
CHICAGO - President-elect Barack Obama honored fallen troops yesterday by placing a wreath at a memorial and making a Veterans Day pledge to the many Americans who have served in the military.
"Let us rededicate ourselves to keep a sacred trust with all who have worn the uniform of the United States of America: That America will serve you as well as you have served your country," Obama said in a statement. "As your next commander in chief, I promise to work every single day to keep that sacred trust with all who have served."
The Illinois senator, who will inherit wars in Iraq and Afghanistan from President Bush, was accompanied at the bronze soldiers memorial between the Field Museum and Soldier Field in Chicago by Tammy Duckworth, an Iraq war veteran who lost her legs in combat. She later ran unsuccessfully for Congress and now is the Illinois governor's veterans affairs director.
In his statement Obama praised "the extraordinary service and selfless sacrifice of our nation's veterans" who have "defended the American people and stood up for American values."
"Since 9/11, a new generation of American heroes has borne a heavy load in facing down the threats of the 21st century, and their families have been asked to bear the painful absence of a loved one. These Americans are the best and bravest among us, and they are all in our thoughts and prayers," he added.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Palin tells NBC's 'Today' party's loss not her fault
Sarah Palin's public relations offensive continued yesterday, with a bottom-line message: The sweeping Republican loss last week wasn't her fault.
And her running mate, Senator John McCain, rallied to her defense on NBC's "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," saying he expects her "to play a big role in the future of this country."
Palin, the GOP vice presidential nominee said on NBC's "Today" show yesterday that McCain's defeat to Democrat Barack Obama was "not so much a surprise."
"I think the economic collapse had a heck of a lot more to do with the campaign's collapse than me personally," said Palin, who also blamed the result on the Republican ticket not winning the Hispanic vote, being outspent "so tremendously," and being unable to overcome "the anti-incumbency sentiment that was spread across the land."
Plus, she said, Obama "did a great job articulating his ability to usher in change. Our ticket represented too much of the status quo."
All her explanations are true, but she did not mention that McCain's poll ratings plummeted not only because of the financial crisis but because of doubts about her readiness to be vice president.
McCain, asked by Leno yesterday about commentary from pundits who judged Palin to be a drag on the Republican ticket, denied she had hurt his campaign.
"I'm so proud of her and very grateful that she agreed to run with me. She inspired people. She still does," McCain said.
GLOBE STAFF, REUTERS
Romney supports 2 still locked in Senate races
Mitt Romney is coming to the aid of two fellow Republicans still locked in election battles that could determine the shape of the US Senate, urging his supporters to donate to their campaigns.
Through his Free and Strong America political action committee that he created after losing out for the Republican presidential nomination, Romney is featuring Senators Saxby Chambliss of Georgia and Norm Coleman of Minnesota.
Coleman is in a recount with Democrat Al Franken after a bitter, nasty campaign. Chambliss faces a runoff Dec. 2 with Democrat Jim Martin, after neither won a majority in a three-way race last week.
About 100 field operatives who worked in Barack Obama's presidential campaign are heading to Georgia to help Martin with voter turnout, two Democrats close to Martin's campaign said yesterday. It has asked Obama to visit but hasn't received any commitment yet.
John McCain will be in Georgia tomorrow, stumping for Chambliss, the former GOP presidential candidate's first foray back onto the campaign trail since the election.
Counting independents Joe Lieberman of Connecticut and Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Democrats will control 57 votes in the Senate that is sworn in in January. They need 60 for a potentially filibuster-proof majority to help push through President-elect Barack Obama's priorities, with the race in Alaska also still up for grabs.
GLOBE STAFF AND ASSOCIATED PRESS
Survey: Majority favor 1-party Congress control
While half of Americans disapprove of how Democratic leaders in Congress are doing their job, a majority believes that one-party control of Capitol Hill and the White House will be good for the country, according to a new survey.
The CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll released yesterday found that 47 percent approve of the job Democratic congressional leaders are doing and 50 percent disapprove.
But 59 percent say that Democratic control of the House, Senate, and presidency will be good for the country, while only 38 percent say it will be bad for the nation.
GLOBE STAFF 