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Watch for the character assassination of Obama
Jamaica Observer - Kingston,Jamaica
Now that Senator Hillary Clinton has suspended her campaign for the United States presidency and given her unqualified endorsement of Senator Barack Obama, we can now brace ourselves for a vicious campaign of character assassination against Mr Obama by his political rivals. In fact, since Saturday, when Senator Clinton urged her supporters to use their energy, passion and strength to put Senator Obama in the White House, news services in the USA have been focusing on the likely content of the anti-Obama advertisements or Internet chatter that will be published across that country in the run-up to the presidential elections in November.

Feisty campaign start as Obama, McCain war on economy
AFP -
WASHINGTON (AFP) — White House contenders Barack Obama and John McCain are rolling up their sleeves for a gruelling, five-month slog to the election as they trade fire over the economy and the wrenching US housing crisis. Obama was able to turn a full-bore offensive on his Republican adversary for the first time Monday after his rival in the Democratic nomination battle, Hillary Clinton, staged an emotional exit from the race at the weekend.

Clinton Backers' Support of Obama Not Universal
U.S. News & World Report - Washington,DC,USA
Barack Obama, she provided welcome relief to party stalwarts worried about deep fractures come fall. But perhaps more important, Clinton, in a speech salted with references to the women's movement and stay-strong encouragement, gave supporters like Deborah Kahn of McLean, Va., a reason to stay in the Democratic fold. "She did a wonderful job in placing the emphasis on America—moving forward for America," said Kahn, standing in the sweltering heat after Clinton's speech in Washington. "You don't have to love [Obama] to vote for him because you love America more."

Obama gets help from DC in VP search
Houston Chronicle - United States
WASHINGTON — Barack Obama ramped up his search for a running mate on Monday, consulting with one congressional ally by phone and dispatching members of his vice presidential vetting team to the Capitol for meetings. Sen. Dick Durbin said he had spoken with Obama, his fellow Illinois senator.

Obama tells donors that McCain has head start
Boston Globe - United States
Barack Obama is putting the hard sell on his army of online donors, declaring that he will be the first presidential candidate in a generation to deploy staff in all 50 states and warning that Republican John McCain has a three-month head start because he clinched his nomination in March. In a message today to supporters, Steve Hildebrand, Obama's deputy campaign manager, set a goal of 30,000 new donors and asked for $25 that would be matched by a previous donor.

Obama Launches National Tour
Washington Post - United States
Barack Obama touted his proposals to improve the economy and blasted his rival's ideas in a speech touting his core message for November: electing John McCain would be akin to a third term for George W. Bush. "For all his talk of independence, the centerpiece of his economic plan amounts to a full-throated endorsement of George Bush's policies...." Obama said in a formal economic speech here before a smaller than usual (by design) crowd of several hundred. "This is the choice you will face in November. You can vote for John McCain, and see a continuation of Bush economic policies -- more tax cuts to the wealthy, more corporate tax breaks."

 Will Obama's Hopes Be Tied to 'Angry White Women'?
AlterNet - San Francisco,CA,USA
... of the race for the Democratic nomination for president, the dominant narrative has been the angry white women who are holding back from Barack Obama. Some even suggest that John McCain can make a major play for these disaffected Clinton supporters. The problem with this narrative is that it is mostly wrong, ignoring history and failing to understand Obama's real challenge among women voters.

McCain, Obama To Speak At NAACP Convention
Atlantic Online - USA
Barack Obama have accepted invitations to speak at the NAACP convention next month in Cincinnati. McCain will speak on July 16, keynoting a plenary session. Obama, and former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, are currently scheduled to speak on July 17, according to the group.McCain accepted the invitation as soon as it was issued. Then Gov. George W. Bush spoke to the group in 2000 but only returned once as president.