In London, Obama Defends Overseas Tour
Barack Obama is spending the day in London, where he took some tough questions from reporters about the validity of his overseas trip. "This was important for me not only to try to highlight or amplify how the international situation affects our economy back home," Obama said, "but also hopefully to give people at home, but also leaders abroad, some sense of where an Obama administration might take our foreign policy."

McCain: Obama's Tour Is Leaving Us All Out
John McCain is now attacking Barack Obama for traveling the world during the campaign, with the angle that Obama is ignoring the American people -- and John McCain. From McCain's weekly radio address: With all the breathless coverage from abroad, and with Senator Obama now addressing his speeches to 'the people of the world,' I'm starting to feel a little left out. Maybe you are, too."

Obama: McCain Has Travelled Abroad During Campaign, Too
Also during this his press conference in London, Barack Obama rebutted John McCain's charges that his overseas tour was some how inappropriate: "John McCain has visited every one of these countries post-primary that I have. He has given speeches in Canada, in Colombia, Mexico, he made visits. And so it doesn't strike me that we have done anything different than the McCain campaign has done which is to recognize that part of the job of the next president, commander in chief is to forge effective relationships with our allies."

Obama Caught On Tape Discussing Vacation Plans For August
Barack Obama apparently plans to take a week's vacation in August, having been caught on tape discussing it with UK Conservative Party leader David Cameron. "Do you have a break at all?" Cameron asked. Obama replied: "I have not. I am going to take a week in August."

Jack Reed Takes Self Out Of VP Consideration
Sen. Jack Reed, the Rhode Island Democrat and Democratic point man on foreign policy who is accompanying Barack Obama on his overseas trip, has taken himself out of consideration for the vice presidency. Reed told the Providence Journal that he would refuse the running-mate position if he were asked, "but I frankly I don't expect to be offered the position."

Wisconsin Dems Oust Pro-McCain Delegate
The Democratic Party of Wisconsin's administrative committee voted unanimously yesterday to disqualify Debra Bartoshevich, a pledged delegate for Hillary Clinton who has said she'll now be voting for John McCain. "I won't drink the Kool-Aid," Bartoshevich told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

GOP Rep. McHenry Digs Into His Own Pockets For Campaign
In a sign that he could be facing a tough race for what is usually a safe Republican seat, Congressman Patrick McHenry (R-NC) has loaned his campaign $175,000 for his race against Democratic nominee Daniel Johnson, a disabled Navy veteran. If not for the loan, McHenry would have been roughly tied with Johnson for cash on hand. (Via BlueNC.)

Marine Corps veteran Daniel Johnson is considering a run for Congress as a Democrat against Congressman Patrick McHenry (R-NC), who hails from a heavily Republican district and was re-elected with 62% of the vote in 2006.

"So far, my entire professional career, I've been in one type of service or another," said Johnson, adding that a campaign "would be another way to serve a lot of people in a wide range of issues. It's very appealing and something worth considering."

Johnson lost both legs below the knee, plus a finger, while saving another man in a 1999 accident. He was awarded the Navy Marine Corps Medal, the highest peacetime award given to an officer.

(Via Kos)