TRAIL MIX: McCain Wants a Win in Iraq, Barack Racks Up the Donations

By: Kathryn Carlson

Obama to Donors: Stay Cool
The Trail
The Washington Post
By Shailagh Murray

At a fundraiser in San Francisco Sunday night, Obama raked in $7.8 million -- representing his most lucrative haul at a single such event so far, according to Shailagh Murray at The Washington Post's The Trail. "He repaid the 1,300-plus donors with fighting words about the campaign he intends to wage against his Republican rival, Sen. John McCain," said Murray, adding, "The Democratic candidate addressed three separate groups and posed for hundreds of photos at the event, held at the ritzy Fairmont Hotel." So what was the price tag on the main reception? Oh, just a mere $2,300 a ticket. But that was pocket change to the about 350 people who paid $28,500 for a VIP dinner.

In Monday's edition of Trail Mix: McCain Still Wants to win in Iraq, Barack racks up the campaign bucks, and hundreds of people work to "prepare the field" for next week's Democratic National Convention in Denver.

McCain on Iraq War: 'I Intend to Win It'
The Swamp
Chicago Tribune
By Mark Silva

"Republican John McCain, addressing fellow veterans of foreign wars in Orlando today, is telling them that both he and Democratic rival Barack Obama plan to bring U.S. forces home from the war in Iraq -- 'the great difference is that I intend to win it first,'" said Mark Silva at the Chicago Tribune's The Swamp. According to Silva, McCain's prepared remarks include references to troop morale and Obama's "varying positions on the surge." The Illinois senator is scheduled to address the VFW convention Tuesday.


T Minus One Week: DNC Prep Gathering Speed
Politics West
The Denver Post
By Jessica Fender

In an effort to meet the Aug. 25 deadline for the set-up of the DNC, a 600-person crew is working hard through Denver's recent downpours, "sweeping up construction dust, furnishing leaky media tents and individually checking thousands of electrical and Internet hookups in and around the Pepsi Center," said Jessica Fender at The Denver Post's Politics West. According to Fender, the stage is nearly set, though "organizers must wait until Saturday to start prepping for the event's banner night at Invesco Field at Mile High. Apparently, when organizers get their hands on Invesco less than a week before Obama's speech, they'll dispatch yet another 250 workers.


Combing Barack Obama's Schedule for VP-Pick Clues
Top of the Ticket
Los Angeles Times
By Don Frederick

"Obama this afternoon stumps in Albuquerque, an easy drive from Santa Fe, where Bill Richardson resides as New Mexico's governor. Might Richardson -- mentioned as a veep prospect both in 2000 and 2004 -- finally get the nod?" asks Don Frederick at the L.A. Times' Top of the Ticket. Frederick said the Ticket is betting against it, "in part because he under-performed as a presidential contender this year." Adds Frederick: "Far more intriguing is Obama's planned Wednesday stop in Martinsville, Va., a small city in the state's south-central area. What better place for Obama to unveil Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine as his choice?"

Trail Mix's Featured Blogs:

Chicago Tribune: The Swamp

Los Angeles Times: Top of the Ticket

The Boston Globe: Political Intelligence

The Denver Post: Politics West

The New York Times: The Caucus

The Wall Street Journal: The Washington Wire

The Washington Post: The Trail and The Fix

USA Today: On Politics