Today on the presidential campaign trail

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IN THE HEADLINES

After a week of setbacks, Hillary Rodham Clinton speaks of faith ... Obama subs for Kennedy at Wesleyan, promotes public service and evokes Kennedy legacy ... Libertarian Party picks former GOP Rep. Bob Barr as presidential candidate ...

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Clinton speaks of faith in face of adversity

HORMIGUEROS, Puerto Rico (AP) — Hillary Rodham Clinton offered a spiritual defense for continuing her presidential campaign, as she sought to put to rest the uproar over her comments about the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy.

Speaking to a full congregation at the Pabellon de la Victoria evangelical church, Clinton spoke in measured terms about faith in the face of adversity.

"There isn't anything we cannot do together if we seek God's blessing and if we stay committed and are not deterred by the setbacks that often fall in every life," Clinton said Sunday.

Clinton is campaigning for Puerto Rico's primary on June 1, which offers 55 pledged delegates to the national Democratic convention. The New York senator is expected to win the contest, thanks partly to her ties to the large Puerto Rican community in her home state.

Clinton spoke of her determination to stay in the race despite trailing Barack Obama, who picked up three more superdelegates in Hawaii on Sunday, giving him a total of 1,977 delegates, just 49 delegates short of the 2,026 needed to clinch the nomination. Clinton still has 1,779.

"If I had listened to those who had been talking over the last several months we would not be having this campaign in Puerto Rico today," she said, alluding to calls during the past few months for her to drop out of the race and support Obama.

In an op-ed piece in Sunday's New York Daily News, Clinton revisited her reference to the June 1968 assassination of Robert F. Kennedy during a meeting Friday with a South Dakota newspaper's editorial board when she was asked whether she would stay in the presidential race. Clinton's comments were sharply criticized, and she later said she regretted any offense she might have caused.

"I was making the simple point that given our history, the length of this year's primary contest is nothing unusual," Clinton wrote. "But I was deeply dismayed and disturbed that my comment would be construed in a way that flies in the face of everything I stand for — and for everything I am fighting for in this election."

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Obama urges Wesleyan grads to enter public service

MIDDLETOWN, Conn. (AP) — Filling in for Sen. Edward M. Kennedy and tying himself to the family's legacy, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama urged college graduates to "make us believe again" by dedicating themselves to public service.

"We may disagree as Americans on certain issues and positions, but I believe we can be unified in service to a greater good. I intend to make it a cause of my presidency, and I believe with all my heart that this generation is ready and eager and up to the challenge," Obama told Wesleyan University's Class of 2008.

The Illinois senator peppered Sunday's speech with references to the Kennedy legacy: John F. Kennedy urging Americans to ask what they can do for their country, the Peace Corps and Robert Kennedy talking about people creating "ripples of hope."

He devoted special attention and praise to Edward M. Kennedy, the longtime Massachusetts senator who had planned to deliver the graduation address. Kennedy canceled his appearance last week after he was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor.

Kennedy has endorsed Obama in the nominating contest against fellow Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton and has campaigned for him.

Obama said Kennedy has helped provide health care to children, given parents leave time to spend with new babies, raised the minimum wage and let people keep health insurance when changing jobs "and I have a feeling that Ted Kennedy is not done just yet."

Kennedy's stepdaughter, Caroline Raclin, is a member of Wesleyan's Class of 2008. Her mother, Kennedy's wife, Vicki, attended the ceremony.

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Libertarian Party picks Barr as presidential candidate

DENVER (AP) — The Libertarian Party picked former Republican Rep. Bob Barr to be its presidential candidate after six rounds of balloting.

Barr beat research scientist Mary Ruwart, who was the party's presidential nominee in 1983 and vice presidential candidate in 1992, by a vote of 324-276 on the final ballot.

Barr endorsed Wayne Allyn Root, who was eliminated in the fifth round, to be his vice-presidential nominee.

Barr left the GOP in 2006 over what he called bloated spending and civil liberties intrusions by the Bush administration.

"I'm a competitor and I'm in this to win. I do not view the role of the Libertarian Party to be a spoiler and I certainly have no intention of being a spoiler," Barr, a former congressman from Georgia, said after Sunday's votes.

Barr said he expects the party to be on the ballot in at least 48 states and perhaps all 50 if the party can qualify in West Virginia and Oklahoma.

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THE DEMOCRATS

Hillary Rodham Clinton campaigns in Puerto Rico. Barack Obama holds a town hall with veterans in Las Cruces, N.M.

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THE REPUBLICANS

John McCain visits a memorial for veterans in New Mexico.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY:

"I don't think that either one of them are a cinch yet to be the nominee. It depends a lot on what happens between now and the last few primaries." — Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear, an uncommitted Democratic superdelegate.

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STAT OF THE DAY:

Bill Clinton won 47 percent of the vote, but not the majority of votes cast, in Montana's Democratic presidential primary in 1992. Jerry Brown received 18 percent, Paul Tsongas got 11 percent and 24 percent had no preference. Clinton won the state in the general election.

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Compiled by Ann Sanner and Ronald Powers.

Back To Top

	Top Dems to push for swift end to primary race	Associated Press	Sun May 25	9
	The Clinton speaks of faith in face of adversity	Associated Press - Google	Sun May 25	1
	Democrats adopt boisterous Puerto Rican style	Associated Press	Thu May 22	0
	Barack Obama expects big day in Oregon and Kentucky primaries - Los Angeles Times	The L.A. Times	Tue May 20	0
	Dems: Obama starting search for VP mate	msnbc.com	Thu May 22	0