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Presidential Picture - April 10, 2008
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WASHINGTON- Pennsylvania's primary is about two weeks away, but the Indiana primary tw weeks after that has the Democratic candidates taking notice.

Barack Obama is in the middle of a bus tour this week through Indiana, but the campaign is still working his momentum in Pennsylvania. The Obama campaign is spending more than $2 million each week on TV ads there.

Obama is not only taking on Hillary Clinton in primary states, but is looking ahead to the general election as he contrasts his ideas with the current president and the Republican who wants to be.

"We now know after 7 years of Bush economic policy, pain trickles up. Because when folks can't afford to pay their mortgage, now credit is bad for everybody," Obama said. On the issue of the mortgage meltdown, Obama says McCain is willing to, "sit idly by" in the face of a national housing crisis.

After Barack Obama outraised Hillary Clinton last month by around $20 million, the search for cash is as important to the campaigns as polls and progress in the remaining states. One analyst put it simply: without money, you can't have the other two.

And to that end, Clinton and Obama are increasingly turning to Hollywood, and its money. So far each candidate has received $2 million from Tinsel Town. Just last night Elton John held a fundraising concert for Clinton.

Her list of support also includes Elizabeth Taylor, Ellen DeGeneres, and Barbra Streisand.

Barack Obama famously received the support of Oprah Winfrey. And since then, actors Will Smith and Robert DeNiro have jumped aboard his campaign.

Hillary Clinton, who's leading in Pennsylvania, is working the state in hopes of keeping her lead there. On the campaign stump, she's been telling audiences that she's the person to end the war in Iraq.

President Bush will address the nation about the ongoing war Thursday, and in trying to contrast her opinion on the war with the president, she said Wednesday that she wants two issues resolved when the president speaks.

"So, I have two requests of President Bush for his speech on Thursday. First, I call on the president to answer the question that Petraeus did not: what is our end game in Iraq? Given the failure of the surge to achieve the objectives that the president outlined for it? Second, I call on President Bush to pledge to the American people who have sacrificed greatly for this effort. That the U.S. Congress will have the chance to review and vote on any long-term security agreement he has negotiated with the Iraqis," Clinton said.

Also on the foreign policy front, Clinton is urging President Bush to not attend the opening ceremonies of the summer olympics in Beijing. She says his attendance would signal U.S. approval of China's human rights policies.

And this week for John McCain has meant little campaigning, but continued strong support for the war in Iraq. McCain says there's no substitute for victory in Iraq, and withdrawal is the same as defeat.

He says when he talks to veterans, one thing is sure: they have a deep understanding of the consequences of defeat. For that reason, McCain says we need to stay in Iraq.

"Today it is possible to talk with real hope and optimism about the future of Iraq and the outcome of our efforts there," McCain said.

McCain's support for the war is unwavering... And to that end he uses a familiar line to contrast himself with Democrats.

"To promise a withdrawal of our forces, regardless of the consequences, would constitute a failure of political and moral leadership," he said.

And from security in Iraq to security on the campaign trail, John McCain is working with the secret service on whether he'll finally accept security protection. To date McCain has rejected offers of protection, saying it would interfere with the way he interacts with voters.

With 12 days to go until the Pennsylvania primary and contests in Indiana and North Carolina 26 days away that's your Presidential Picture: Race for the White House.

: Rebekah Heil

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