Senator Obama originally built his campaign on his opposition to the Iraq war, but his message has shifted to the economy. The question remains whether Mr. Obama can define his candidacy around the economy, as other Democrats have done, and be seen as connecting with the struggles of Americans.
The US Attorney General for Denver, Troy Eid, said there was no credible or “true threat” against Senator Obama. However, Mr. Eid he could not explain the presence of firearms, including a sniper rifle, body armour and wigs in the suspect’s truck. He said the threats against the presumptive Democratic nominee were “more aspirational than operational”.
Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, who grew up on a farm as one of 12 children, is part of a new vanguard of Democratic leaders west of the Rocky Mountains placing great store in the demographic changes that he thinks will help deliver Democrats the White House in November.
According to Denver TV station CBS4, one of the suspects told authorities they were “going to shoot Obama from a high vantage point using a … rifle sighted at 750 yards”. Law enforcement officials told CBS4 one of the suspects “was directly asked if they had come to Denver to kill Obama. He responded in the affirmative.”
The first letter arrived at the Republican’s campaign headquarters in a suburb of Denver, Colorado. A second letter was later reported at a McCain office in Manchester, New Hampshire. Staff members were sent to medical facilities for treatment under quarantine while FBI and Secret Service agents joined hazardous materials experts at both scenes.
Police said the man showed a badge and left a business card from the police “age verification unit” in Longmont, Colorado. Commander Tim Lewis said there was no such unit.
Many of the social measures on the ballots are being pushed by evangelical groups that hope to force Senator John McCain of Arizona, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, to pay closer attention to their agenda. The proposals that are likely to attract the most attention are same-sex marriage and abortion amendments, along with proposals to ban affirmative action.