Book profits elevate Obamas' income

PHILADELPHIA — Democratic Sen. Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, made $4.2 million last year as widespread interest in the presidential candidate pushed the sales of his two books.

In tax returns the campaign released Wednesday, the Obamas reported a significant jump in their income from the previous year as profits from the books "Dreams From My Father" and "The Audacity of Hope" accounted for some $4 million. The Obamas paid federal taxes of $1.4 million and donated $240,370 to charity.

Their salaried income was $260,735, which included his $157,102 salary as a U.S. senator and hers of $103,633 as vice president of community and external affairs at the University of Chicago Medical Center.

For part of 2007, Michelle Obama collected a salary for serving on the board of Westchester, Ill.-based TreeHouse Foods. She resigned in May. The Obamas reported $29,443 from Treehouse Foods.

Among the charitable donations in 2007 was $26,270 to Trinity United Church of Christ, where the sermons of Obama's former pastor have created problems for the candidate. The Obamas' largest charitable donation was $50,000 to the United Negro College Fund. They also gave $35,000 to CARE.

By comparison, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and her husband reported $20.4 million in income for 2007. Almost half the former first couple's money came from Bill Clinton's speeches. Likely Republican nominee Sen. John McCain has not released his tax returns for 2007.

Murtha: Presidency is no place for old men

WASHINGTON — Democratic Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., said Wednesday that Republican Sen. John McCain, 71, is too old to be president.

Murtha is 75, four years older than McCain. He said the rigors and stress of running the country are too much for guys their age.

"I've served with seven presidents," Murtha told a union audience. "When they come in, they all make mistakes. They all get older. ... Let me tell you something, it's no old man's job."

McCain told CNN on Wednesday: "All I can tell you is that I admire and respect Jack Murtha. Speak for yourself, Jack. I'm doing fine. Thanks."

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton is 60 and Sen. Barack Obama is 46.

Also

Rock star Bruce Springsteen endorsed Sen. Barack Obama for president Wednesday, saying "he speaks to the America I've envisioned in my music for the past 35 years."

Seattle Times news services