Respectful reception for McCain at NAACP

CINCINNATI — John McCain ventured into solid Barack Obama territory on Wednesday, when he addressed the 99th annual convention of the country's venerable civil-rights organization, the NAACP.

He did not draw the crowd that greeted his Democratic opponent here on Monday, where, as one organization official put it, "even the overflow room had an overflow room," but he received a respectful reception for his speech on education reform and fielded some testy audience questions.

McCain called for more education opportunities for children in poor schools, partly through vouchers for low-income children to attend private school.

Obama has the overwhelming support of black voters, few of whom are Republican. But McCain's appearance had symbolic value and might be viewed as a plus by independent or undecided voters who might not have appreciated it if he had snubbed the group.

Potential VP picks

join Obama on panel

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Democrat Barack Obama warned Wednesday about the danger of "fighting the last war" as he pledged to focus on emerging nuclear, biological and cyber threats if elected president.

Among those joining him for a panel discussion at Purdue University were two potential running mates, Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., and former Sen. Sam Nunn, D-Ga. As the former governor of a Republican state, Bayh could help Obama. Nunn, a military expert from the South, would burnish the ticket's experience.

When asked if he were interested in the job or had provided material to Obama's campaign, Bayh referred reporters to the campaign. Nunn said he thought an Obama-Nunn ticket was unlikely.

Obama said two goals of his administration would be to secure all loose nuclear material during his first term, as well as rid the world of nuclear weapons.

Details revealed

on Jackson remarks

WASHINGTON — The Rev. Jesse Jackson was apparently caught on tape using the "n-word," the racial epithet he has railed against for years, adding an ironic new twist to the controversy over his recent remarks about Barack Obama during an off-air break in a televised interview.

A chagrined Jackson issued a renewed apology to the Democratic presidential candidate late Wednesday while traveling overseas, without specifically confessing to using the slur while he waited to speak on a recent Fox News program.

Advisers to Jackson declined to confirm that Jackson used the word, but Fox host Bill O'Reilly said in an evening interview that Jackson did use the term.

Friends and family say Jackson is deeply pained by the controversy, begun earlier this month after he whispered to a fellow guest on "Fox & Friends" during a break that Obama was "talking down to black people."

Obama accepted Jackson's apology last week. Obama spokesman Ben LaBolt said Wednesday the senator had no additional comment.

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