WASHINGTON, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Democratic
presidential nominee Barack Obama didn't know his aunt might be living illegally
in the United States, his campaign said Saturday.
"Senator Obama has no knowledge of her status but
obviously believes that any and all appropriate laws (should) be followed,"
campaign spokesman Bill Burton told reporters.
U.S. Democratic presidential nominee
Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) gestures that there are four days left until
the U.S. presidential election at a rally in Gary, Indiana, Oct. 31,
2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
U.S. media reported that a court refused four years
ago to accept the asylum application of Zeituni Onyango, 56, the half-sister of
Obama's Kenyan father.
However, she has continued to live in a public
housing complex in South Boston.
Onyango's refusal to leave the country would be an
administrative violation, not a criminal matter, according to the reports.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
spokeswoman Kelly Nantel declined to comment on the issue.
Democratic U.S. Rep. John Conyers of Michigan asked
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff to investigate whether someone
leaked the information to the media in an effort to damage Obama.
The Department of Homeland Security had no immediate
response to the letter.
The Obama campaign did not indicate whether Obama has
been in touch with his aunt, whom he described in his book "Dreams from My
Father."
It is not clear when Onyango arrived in the United
States.
She once told media that she travels back and forth
between the United States and Kenya.
Federal records indicate Onyango contributed at least
65 U.S. dollars to Obama's campaign in July and September, in 5-dollar
and25-dollar increments.
The Obama campaign said it has identified 265 dollars
in contributions from Onyango, including those not yet reflected in federal
filings, and plans to return the funds.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The two U.S. presidential candidates intensified competition in their respective battleground states as the elections drawing to an end, ABC News reported Saturday.
Democrat nominee Barack Obama, who is leading in the polls, campaigned to secure victories in traditionally Republican states Nevada, Colorado and Missouri on Saturday. Full story
DAR ES SALAAM, Nov.1 (Xinhua) -- A local newspaper on Saturday reported that United States presidential candidate Barack Obama has Tanzanian blood flowing in him as well.
The Weekend African newspaper said in a bylined frontpage
story that Obama's grandmother on his father's side had hailed from the Kowak
Village in Tarime in Tanzania's Mara Region which borders southwestern Kenya. Full story
WASHINGTON, Oct. 31
(Xinhua) -- U.S. Republican presidential nominee John McCain got much more
negative news coverage than his Democratic opponent Barack Obama, according to a
new study by Center for Media and Public Affairs (CMPA).
Since the general election campaign started in June,
comments about Obama on the network evening news shows have been 65 percent
positive, compared to only 36 percent positive comments about McCain, according
to the study, which was released Friday. Full story
WASHINGTON, Oct.
31 (Xinhua) -- Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama's home city of
Chicago is beefing up security before election night on Nov. 4.
Chicago Mayor Richard Daley told reporters Friday that a
million people might show up for an election night rally for Obama in the
downtown Grant Park, and said Secret Service will conduct security
screenings. Full story
