Presidential Elections

EMPORIA, Va - Barack Obama says he's decided on a running mate, but he won't say who. "I've made the selection, that's all you're gonna get," Obama said told reporters while campaigning in Virginia Thursday. Obama didn't say whether he's informed his pick yet.

WASHINGTON - Several prospective running mates of Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain campaigned for their candidate on Thursday, while other potential picks spent time at home or at work.

WASHINGTON - A conservative nonprofit group with a past link to Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign is spending $2.8 million on an ad questioning Democrat Barack Obama's relationship to a founder of the 1960s radical group Weather Underground.

RICHMOND, Va. - Democrat Barack Obama Thursday depicted John McCain as rich, out of touch and less a foreign-policy expert than he claims — part of the increasingly negative tone of the presidential hopeful's message as he tries to fight the perception that his campaign has stalled.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Sen. Barack Obama isn't just inspiring black voters to register in large numbers as he gets closer to being the Democratic presidential nominee. Evidence indicates that he's motivating some black Republicans to switch parties.

WASHINGTON - Barack Obama likes to say, "We can't afford to give John McCain the chance to serve out George Bush's third term."

WASHINGTON - John McCain and Barack Obama have agreed to hold three presidential debates and one vice presidential debate this fall, the campaigns said in a joint statement Thursday that outlined formats, dates and locations.

WASHINGTON - The Federal Election Commission voted unanimously Thursday to belatedly approve Republican presidential candidate John McCain's withdrawal from public financing for the primaries — a move that spared him potential embarrassment on one of his signature issues.

WASHINGTON - After tightening his expenditures in June, Barack Obama spent far more freely in July, cutting into his cash reserves while mounting an advertising campaign against Republican presidential rival John McCain.

WASHINGTON - Former Georgia Sen. Sam Nunn appears to have dropped from the running to be Barack Obama's vice presidential choice.

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Democratic dominance in presidential elections has been the norm for decades throughout much of the country's union-strong industrial Great Lakes region.

OLYMPIA, Wash. - There were few surprises when Washington unveiled its new primary system, but a handful of statehouse races spotlight one of the system's most interesting facets: two people from the same party moving on to the general election.

WASHINGTON - Cindy McCain and Michelle Obama star in a new television ad that highlights successes in helping the world's poor and encourages people to do more this election year.

CHICAGO - In a city where the mayor holds the same job his father once did, politics can seem little different from the years of the legendary Democratic Machine. But the faces of political privilege — long dominated by white ethnic groups — have changed as powerful black politicians use their clout to build new dynasties.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain have agreed to speak at a New York City forum on public service to be held on September 11, the organizers said on Thursday.

CHESTER, Virginia (Reuters) - Democrat Barack Obama attacked Republican John McCain on Thursday for not knowing how many houses he owns and said it proves his presidential rival is out of touch with the economic struggles of most Americans.

THE RACE: The presidential race in Minnesota.

Although surveys show the presidential race could be a squeaker, Barack Obama is winning women 51 to 39 percent, according to a poll conducted for EMILY's List. The group, which supports Democratic, pro-choice women candidates and is behind Obama in '08, found that Obama leads among women voters of all age groups, but his advantage is narrowest among baby boomers.

CHESTER, Virginia (AFP) - Democratic White House hopeful Barack Obama said in an interview Thursday he had chosen his running mate, and had sought out an independent thinker who was ready to be president.

CHESTER, Virginia (AFP) - Democrat Barack Obama ripped into John McCain Thursday saying he was out of touch with economic reality after the Republican confessed to being in the dark about how many properties he owns.

So much for conserving resources. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama spent a staggering $57.2 million in July, by far the most spent in a single month during this election and nearly $20 million more than his Republican rival John McCain.

CHESTER, Virginia (Reuters) - Presidential candidate Barack Obama said on Thursday he would assemble a foreign policy team of the "best and the brightest" and mentioned some people who may be considered for jobs if he wins the White House.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Hillary Clinton may not end up as Barack Obama's running mate, but her role at his nominating party will be crucial, with her army of voters apparently not yet fully sold on the new Democratic champion.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - It's show time for Barack Obama and John McCain, with back-to-back presidential nominating conventions offering them tightly-scripted spectacles designed to polish their images and highlight their messages.

WASHINGTON - What is wrong with Michelle Obama?

Aug. 21 (Bloomberg) -- Barack Obama spent more on advertising last month than Republican rival John McCain spent on his campaign, new Federal Election Commission filings show.

Asked how many houses he and his wealthy wife own, McCain not really sure ... Obama outspends McCain in July $55 million to $32 million; most of money pays for advertising ... After years of Democratic dominance, McCain sees opportunity in the upper Midwest ... McCain, Obama agree to 3 presidential debates, 1 vice presidential

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Just a few weeks ago, John McCain's critics were carping at his stuttering, off-message White House campaign, warning it could be steamrolled as Democrat Barack Obama took Europe by storm.

LANSING, Mich. - Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's legal issues will cause Gov. Jennifer Granholm to miss some of the Democratic National Convention.