Special Report:
U.S. presidential election
2008
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Presumptive Democratic presidential
candidate Barack Obama answers questions from the audience during a town
hall meeting as he campaigns at Kaukauwa High School in Kaukauna,
Wisconsin June 12, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
Photo
Gallery>>> |
WASHINGTON, June 13 (Xinhua) -- U.S. presumptive
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama and his Republican rival John
McCain failed in reaching an agreement on Friday to hold ten "town hall"-style
meetings where they are supposed to answer questions directly from a small
audiences.
According to McCain's campaign manager Rick Davis,
Obama's team only agreed to participate one town hall meeting before the
Democratic national convention in late August.
The Arizona Senator suggested
shortly after Obama clinched nomination last week to hold 10 joint town hall
meetings with Obama at locations that both teams agree to, starting with the one
in New York City on June 12.
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U.S. Republican presidential candidate
Senator John McCain speaks during a townhall meeting in Kenner, Louisiana
June 3, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
Photo Gallery>>> |
Every meeting would involve an audience of about 200
to 400 people who are selected by an independent poll body, and last around 60
to 90 minutes, according to McCain's proposal.
Obama's team said at first that they accepted the
suggestion on principle, but they preferred the meeting to be shorter and
informal.
The Illinois senator told reporters on Tuesday that
it's not realistic for him to attend 10 town hall meetings while doing other
campaign activities.
His senior strategist David Plouffe said on Friday
his candidate had offered to meet McCain five times between now and the election
day in November instead, including three debates, a joint town hall on economy
in July and an in-depth debate on foreign policy in August, which, however, was
refused by McCain's team.
"That package of five engagements would have been the
most of any presidential campaign in the modern era -- offering a broad range of
formats -- and representing a historic commitment to openness and transparency,"
Plouffe said.
"It's disappointing that Senator McCain and his
campaign decided to decline this proposal. Apparently they would rather contrive
a political issue than foster a genuine discussion about the future of our
country," he added.
In response, McCain said during a news conference in
Pemberton, New Jersey, he would leave it to American people to decide "which is
the preferable proposal."
WASHINGTON, June 12 (Xinhua) -- More
Americans believed that presumptive Democratic presidential candidate Barack
Obama can better handle economic issue, the current top concern to American
voters, according to a poll released on Thursday.
The poll conducted by CNN and the Opinion Research
Corporation found that 50 percent of registered voters believe Obama, the
Illinois Senator, would better handle the economy, while 44 percent prefer
McCain in this regard. Full story
Debates over economy between Obama,
McCain heat up
WASHINGTON, June 10 (Xinhua) -- U.S. presumptive
Democratic presidential Barack Obama and his Republican rival, John McCain,
heated up their debates over economy on Tuesday as they speed up their
competition for the White House.
Arizona Senator McCain attacked the Illinois Senator's
economic proposals that as he said could raise taxes and cut American jobs. Full story
WASHINGTON, June 11 (Xinhua) -- U.S.
presumptive Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama picked up more
support from women voters soon after his decisive win in the presidential
nomination race, according to a poll released on Wednesday.
The Gallup poll conducted from June 5 to 9 showed that the
Illinois Senator was supported by 51 percent of women voters, compared to 38
percent for his Republican rival, Arizona Senator John McCain. Full story
McCain's remarks on Iraq war draw
fire
WASHINGTON, June 11 (Xinhua) -- U.S. presumptive
Republican presidential candidate John McCain's remark on the Iraq war on
Wednesday invited opposition from Democrats, saying he was planning to continue
the unpopular war indefinitely.
The Arizona senator was asked if he had an estimate of
when a withdrawal process may be possible during an interview with NBC's Today
Show, and he answered "No, but that's not too important." Full story
