Foreigners make US more secure

International education’s importance to national security was discussed by foreign policy advisers to the three presidential candidates at a conference held by NAFSA: Association of International Educators. Advisers alluded to many foreign policy topics but the majority of the discussion centered on education. Advisers stressed the need to increase study abroad opportunities for American students.

Panelists said that increasing the number of international students studying in the United States would not only help to mend its image in the world but that increased international interactions would also help to maintain the United States’ security. Denis McDonough of Obama for America said that drawn out background checks cause the United States to be viewed as unfriendly and withdrawn.

Richard Fontaine of John McCain for President explained Sen. McCain’s (R-Ariz.) proposal to mandate study abroad programs for students at the United States’s military academies. Fontaine noted the lack of knowledge within the US military of languages like Arabic and Pashto. Mara Rudman of Hillary for President said that a grasp of other cultures is critical, adding that President Bush and Sen. McCain have failed in the past to fully understand Iraq.

Clinton campaign holds State of the Race campaign call with high display of confidence

Today the Clinton campaign held a “State of the Race” conference call. Terry McAuliffe, campaign chairman and Phil Singer, Deputy Communications Director, were both on hand to comment. McAuliffe started off by discussing last night and the scope of their victory. He stated that Clinton won by 41 percent and that, “we are in this thing.” The campaign also posted a seven figure plus day for online contributions and the top forty to fifty financial contributors to the campaign were going to meet with the campaign today. McAuliffe made sure to say that there is tremendous enthusiasm within the campaign and that the issue is, “who is it that can best win the general election?”

Phil Singer spoke next on the conference call. He again applauded their victory last night noting that it was in a key swing state. He mentioned the fact that no democrat has won the White House since Wilson in 1916 without taking West Virginia. Singer also made the claim that Clinton can take WV against McCain and mentioned that there are still five contests left. With the campaigns continual push to have the votes from Michigan and Florida to be counted, the staff is relentless is making this come to fruition, all while saying, “those votes out to be honored.”

Obama Campaign Conference Call with Big Name Supporters

Obama Campaign supporters Senators John Kerry, Amy Klobuchar, Claire McCaskill, and Governors Janet Napolitano and Deval Patrick in addition to campaign manager David Plouffe were on a conference call today to discuss the State of the Race.

Kerry was the first to speak and called last night’s victories a “giant and decisive stride” toward the nomination. McCaskill thought last night was “extraordinary” in many ways and believed that Obama squared off the electability argument and gained the trust of the voters. Now that there are more superdelegates outstanding than pledged delegates, Napolitano believes that now is the time for the superdelegates to begin bringing this process to a close and to begin announcing their preference. Klobuchar finished with “the heart of the heartland is with Barack Obama.”

Newest polls show Clinton is the strongest candidate to take on McCain in November

The newest polls show that Senator Hillary Clinton is the strongest democratic candidate to take on John McCain in November, winning by 10 points.

Over the past two weeks since the Pennsylvania primary, there has been a dynamic shift in opinion on who would be the strongest democratic candidate against McCain in the general election, said Geoff Garin, chief strategist for the Clinton Campaign in a conference call today. Clinton has a comfortable lead on McCain in key swing states like Ohio and Florida, which is not the case for Obama.

According to the newest polls, Clinton is gaining more ground with blue collar voters as well as independent and swing state voters, which were previously for Obama.

“There is a dominant issue in the election – who had the knowledge and the leadership to turn this economy around,” Garin said. Clinton has been doing progressively well and voters believe she is the stronger candidate to fixing the problem of the economy.

Another endorsement leaves Obama with big day in delegate race

Congressman Bruce Braley (D-IA) announced his endorsement for Barack Obama today adding another superdelegate to Obama’s list. This was the third superdelegate vote from a member of Congress that Obama received today alone, making this lead 140 and on their way to the 285 delegate votes they need.

Braley was introduced as a champion for workers and families. His work to raise minimum wage and trade laws that benefit workers was also noted. Braley said that he initially pledged his superdelegate vote to John Edwards, but when he dropped out of the race, Braley decided he would take his time on making his decision as to who his vote would go to. After much deliberation, he decided to endorse Obama, making him the 19th superdelegate that had supported Edwards and now supports Obama.