"With his lack of experience, it should be no surprise that Barack Obama's response to the problems facing Social Security is to raise Social Security taxes, while making misinformed partisan attacks. His proposal for billions upon billions in tax increases on Social Security is just another example of his weak economic judgment."
While turning most of its focus to McCain, the Obama campaign will continue to make stops in the handful of remaining primary states. Today, for example, Obama will be in South Dakota and Montana, which vote June 3.
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Thursday, May 22, 2008 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 1 inches; 43 words Type of Material: Correction
Democratic primaries: A graphic in Monday's Section A showing how Oregon voted in the 2004 presidential election said George W. Bush won the state. As the graphic showed, Bush won more counties in the state but John F. Kerry won the popular vote.
"We're straddling two worlds," said Obama spokeswoman Jen Psaki. "We are clearly focused and committed to spending time in all the remaining primary states. But we also feel John McCain has gone unchallenged."
Some of Obama's supporters were less diplomatic. "I think it's pretty well wrapped up," said Megan Peterson, 24, a business consultant in Sioux Falls, S.D., who wore an Obama T-shirt while waiting for her candidate to take the podium at the arena there Friday.
On Sunday, Obama mentioned Clinton only to reassure the audience that the Democrats would be united in the fall. He said he knew some were worried that the bitter, drawn-out primary would leave the party divided.
"Sen. Clinton and I have had a terrific contest, and she has been a formidable candidate," Obama said. "She has been smart and tough and worked as hard as she can, and she has run an extraordinary campaign.
"But whatever differences exist between myself and Sen. Clinton pale in comparison between the differences we have with the other side," he said.
At a forum in the southern Oregon town of Roseburg on Saturday, Obama was asked about how he would mend the split in the party.
Obama and his staff have taken pains not to declare Clinton out of the race, but in his reassurance that the two would campaign jointly this fall, his choice of pronouns may have been telling.
"Whoever the Democratic presidential nominee is," he said, "the other person is going to be standing right next to him."
--
nicholas.riccardi@latimes.com
