IN THE HEADLINES

Obama says he'll work for Mideast peace _ Israelis, Palestinians need to be stronger, unified ... Speculation increases about a McCain running mate ... Obama sees security progress in Iraq; calls situation in Afghanistan 'perilous'... Ron Paul supporters secure larger venue for event to rival GOP convention ... Obama to bask in Europe's adulation amid hopes for new era in America politics

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Obama begins Mideast visit, vows to work for peace

AMMAN, Jordan (AP) _ Democrat Barack Obama stepped into the thicket of Mideast politics Tuesday, declaring in Jordan that neither the Israelis nor the Palestinians are strong enough internally to make the bold concessions necessary for peace.

Obama said he would work to bring the two sides together "starting from the minute I'm sworn into office." But he cautioned it is "unrealistic to expect that a U.S. president alone can suddenly snap his fingers and bring about peace in this region."

After meeting with Jordan's King Abdullah II, Obama flew to Israel for talks with Israeli leaders. He'll also meet with Palestinians.

Upon his arrival in Jerusalem, he spoke of a "historic and special relationship between the United States and Israel, one that cannot be broken" and one that he hoped to strengthen as president.

In Jordan, he made his comments on the struggle for Mideast peace after touring war zones in Afghanistan and Iraq with two fellow senators.

With the Amman city skyline as his backdrop, Obama declined repeatedly to concede that President Bush's decision to dispatch 30,000 troops to Iraq in 2007 had succeeded. Still, he said, "I believe that the situation in Iraq is more secure than it was a year and a half ago."

The Illinois Democrat predicted at the time the troop increase began that it would not succeed.

On Tuesday, he also stood by his call for the withdrawal of U.S. combat forces from Iraq over a 16-month period and said the United States, NATO and the Afghanistan government must do more to counter a resurgent Taliban and al-Qaida.

Back home, Republican rival John McCain renewed his criticism of Obama's pledge to pull U.S. combat troops out of Iraq by the second year of his administration if he wins the presidency.

"Sen. Obama would rather lose a war in order to win a political campaign," McCain said at a town hall meeting in Rochester, N.H.

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McCain may be zeroing in on a running mate

ROCHESTER, N.H. (AP) _ Speculation swirled Tuesday that Republican John McCain might name his vice presidential partner within the next few days _ right in the middle of the overseas tour of his Democratic rival, Barack Obama.

McCain aides were not helping tamp down the speculation with their comments of "no announcement today."

But what about tomorrow? Or where? On Tuesday, McCain campaigned in New Hampshire, not all that far from a lakeside summer home of vanquished GOP rival Mitt Romney. Romney was nowhere to be seen.

Last Sunday, McCain was in the Bronx at a Yankees game with another former rival, one-time New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

Later, when reporters asked if this was a good week to announce his own running mate with Obama overseas, McCain chuckled and said, "We have the same answer we always have. ... We'll let you know when we have an announcement."

Half a world away, reporters were trailing Obama as he visited Jordan in route to Israel.

McCain has told reporters he doesn't care if Obama's trip was stealing attention and thinks it "doesn't in the slightest" undercut his own message. But his campaign on Tuesday released two videos set to love songs and encouraged viewers to choose which one best conveyed this message: "The media is in love with Barack."

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Obama: Iraq now needs a political solution

AMMAN, Jordan (AP) _ Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama declined Tuesday to rate the Bush administration's troop surge in Iraq a success despite a reduction in violence, and expressed understanding of Gen. David Petraeus' opposition to a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops.

"Not surprisingly he wants to retain as much flexibility as possible," Obama said of the general, with whom he met in recent days while touring Iraq.

"I think he wants maximum flexibility to be able to _ to do what he believes needs to be done inside of Iraq.

"But keep in mind, for example, one of Gen. Petraeus' responsibilities is not to think about how could we be using some of that $10 billion a month to shore up a U.S. economy that is really hurting right now," Obama said.

"If I'm president of the United States, that is part of my responsibility."

Obama commented at a news conference after arriving in Jordan. It was the first stop of an election-season trip to the Mideast and Europe paid for by campaign funds.

His remarks about Iraq drew criticism from Tucker Bounds, spokesman for Republican candidate John McCain. "By admitting that his plan for withdrawal places him at odds with Gen. David Petraeus, Barack Obama has made clear that his goal remains unconditional withdrawal rather than securing the victory our troops have earned," the aide said.

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Ron Paul's political event moves to larger venue

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) _ Supporters of maverick Rep. Ron Paul who are organizing a rally as an alternative to the Republican National Convention are moving their crosstown event to a larger venue.

The Rally for the Republic featuring Paul _ the Texas conservative failed in his bid to win the GOP nomination for president _ is scheduled for Minneapolis' Target Center, home of basketball's Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Target Center can accommodate at least 15,000 people for such an event. Planners for the Paul event had originally considered a college basketball arena that seats about 11,000 people.

Paul is scheduled to speak during the 10-hour rally on Sept. 2, local coordinator Marianne Stebbins said. That's the second day of the GOP convention, which takes place Sept. 1-4 at the Xcel Energy Center. Continued...