Obama shows signs of trail-weariness

Few Americans can appreciate what Obama is enduring. Michael S. Dukakis, the 1988 Democratic presidential nominee, said the incessant campaigning at this stage of the contest was "insane." It is easy for a candidate to get stale, getting in and out of airplanes, repeating the same message, said Dukakis, a former governor of Massachusetts.

"As a candidate you get bored," he said. "You've been saying the same thing over and over again for the last year and a half. What they ought to do is say, 'OK, you campaign three days a week during the summer.' What is this every-day stuff?"

Obama's campaign won't say whether he is planning another vacation before the Democratic convention next month. Until then, he must settle for small pleasures where he can find them. He told reporters that he planned to take his daughters next weekend to see the animated movie "Wall-E."

"Which I'm looking forward to," he said. "It's gotten great reviews."

--

peter.nicholas@latimes.com

Times staff writer Maeve Reston contributed to this report.