Today on the presidential campaign trail

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IN THE HEADLINES

Obama and Bill Clinton talk by phone ... Obama speaks about patriotism in Independence, Missouri ... Obama disowns Clark's comment about McCain ...

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Obama, Bill Clinton finally speak

WASHINGTON (AP) — The silence between Barack Obama and Bill Clinton has been broken.

In a telephone conversation Monday, their first since the end of the primary, the Democratic White House hopeful asked the former president to campaign for him.

Obama spokesman Bill Burton said they had a "terrific conversation" and that Obama is honored to have Clinton's support.

"He has always believed that Bill Clinton is one of this nation's great leaders and most brilliant minds, and looks forward to seeing him on the campaign trail and receiving his counsel in the months to come," Burton said.

Clinton spokesman Matt McKenna said the former president renewed the offer he made last week to do whatever he can to ensure Obama wins the presidency.

"President Clinton continues to be impressed by Senator Obama and the campaign he has run, and looks forward to campaigning for and with him in the months to come," McKenna said.

Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs said the Illinois senator called Clinton after landing in Missouri on Monday, and they spoke for about 20 minutes. Gibbs said Obama asked Clinton to campaign with him and on his own.

Bill Clinton often was Obama's harshest Democratic critic during the primaries, calling his opposition to the Iraq war a "fairy tale" and raising questions about whether the first-term senator was experienced enough to lead the country.

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Obama: I will never question others' patriotism

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (AP) — Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said Monday he will never question others' patriotism during the race and blamed his own "carelessness" for some of the criticism of him so far.

Obama sought to reassure voters about his commitment to the country, choosing the aptly named town of Independence as his backdrop.

Questions about his patriotism persist, and Obama recently started wearing a flag pin on his lapel in one attempt to answer them. But a weeklong focus on American values in the run-up to Friday's July 4 holiday represents his most concerted effort so far to do so.

Obama said he chose the topic in part because of his experience during the race, even though he has always considered his love of country a given and his inspiration for running for office.

"I have found, for the first time, my patriotism challenged — at times as a result of my own carelessness, more often as a result of the desire by some to score political points and raise fears about who I am and what I stand for," he told a few hundred people at the Truman Memorial Building. "I will never question the patriotism of others in this campaign. And I will not stand idly by when I hear others question mine."

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Obama disowns Clark comment on McCain

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Democrat Barack Obama on Monday rejected a retired general's suggestion that Republican John McCain's military experience didn't necessarily qualify him to be president.

At a news conference here, McCain himself said of the comment by retired Gen. Wesley Clark, now an Obama supporter: "That kind of thing is unnecessary" and distracts from real issues voters care about.

At about the same time, Obama told an audience in Independence, Mo., that McCain — a Navy pilot who was shot down and held as a prisoner of war in Vietnam — had "endured physical torment in service to our country" and that "no one should ever devalue that service, especially for the sake of a political campaign, and that goes for supporters on both sides."

The dustup began Sunday on CBS' "Face the Nation." Clark, the former supreme commander of NATO under President Clinton, said McCain's military service was not the same as executive experience.

"In the matters of national security policy making, it's a matter of understanding risk," Clark said "It's a matter of gauging your opponents, and it's a matter of being held accountable. John McCain's never done any of that in his official positions. I certainly honor his service as a prisoner of war. He was a hero to me and to hundreds of thousands and millions of others in the armed forces, as a prisoner of war.

"He has been a voice on the Senate Armed Services Committee and he has traveled all over the world, but he hasn't held executive responsibility," Clark said. "That large squadron in the Navy that he commanded — that wasn't a wartime squadron."

Clark has said as much before, but drew little notice. CBS moderator Bob Schieffer cited Clark's earlier remarks and noted that Obama hadn't had those experiences either nor had he ridden in a fighter plane and been shot down. "Well, I don't think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president," Clark replied.

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THE DEMOCRATS

Barack Obama gave a speech about patriotism in Independence, Mo.

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THE REPUBLICANS

John McCain tours a company in Harrisburg, Pa., followed by a "town hall" meeting in Pipersville, Pa.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY:

"Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it." — Obama, quoting author and Missouri native Mark Twain.

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STAT OF THE DAY:

Twenty-eight percent of respondents in an AP-Yahoo News survey said they would be more likely to vote for the Democratic ticket if Hillary Rodham Clinton were Barack Obama's running mate, 25 percent said they would be more likely to vote for the Republican ticket if Clinton were the No. 2, and 47 percent said it wouldn't make much difference.

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Compiled by Natasha T. Metzler and Ronald Powers.

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