Black newsman removed at GOP rally

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A newspaper is asking John McCain's campaign why a black reporter assigned to cover a rally was singled out by security and told to leave a backstage area.

Stephen Price, a reporter for the Tallahassee Democrat, was among four Florida capital- press-corps reporters behind the scenes at a Panama City rally on Friday when a Secret Service agent asked if he were part of the national media traveling with McCain. Price said no, and the agent told him to leave. Price said he pointed out that there were other state reporters in the same area but was still told to leave. The other reporters were white.

A Panama City police officer quickly approached with his hand on his holster and asked what the problem was, Price said. At the same time, Palm Beach Post reporter Dara Kam came to Price's defense and was told she also had to leave, Price said.

The other two reporters, Alex Leary of the St. Petersburg Times and Marc Caputo of The Miami Herald, weren't removed. Leary said nobody questioned why he was in the area.

The McCain campaign said it asked the Secret Service to look into the events. "The campaign looked into this, and found that no one from the campaign was involved," said McCain spokesman Brian Rogers.

McCain's campaign called Price and Bob Gabordi, the Tallahassee newspaper's executive editor, on Tuesday and apologized.

"I accept the apology," Price said. "I definitely wish I was never singled out. I came up there to do a story; that's all I wanted to do is write a story."

Secret Service spokesman Eric Zahren said two other Florida reporters were removed along with Price and any other reporters who weren't with the national press also should have been removed. At all campaign events, national and local press are separated for logistic reasons. "Race played absolutely no role in any actions," Zahren said.

Price said he could think of no other reason why he was approached other than his race. "We were being carted out of there and everyone was looking," Price said, adding that he felt upset and humiliated.

Cheney may not attend convention

WASHINGTON — There are doubts about whether Vice President Dick Cheney will attend the GOP convention.

Cheney press secretary Megan Mitchell left the question open Tuesday, saying Cheney's schedule has not been set for September. Delegates are scheduled to meet in St. Paul, Minn., on Sept. 1-4, to nominate Arizona Sen. John McCain for president.

Separately, six Republican senators have decided to skip the GOP convention. Sens. Ted Stevens of Alaska, Gordon Smith of Oregon, Elizabeth Dole of North Carolina and Susan Collins of Maine all face tough re-election campaigns. Two others, Wayne Allard of Colorado and Larry Craig of Idaho, are retiring.

Clinton to stump solo for Obama

WASHINGTON — Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton plans to campaign for Barack Obama in Nevada and Florida this month, events expected to be her first solo campaign appearances for Obama since she lost the Democratic nomination contest.

The Obama campaign said Tuesday that Clinton will host rallies and voter-registration events Friday in Las Vegas and in South Florida on Aug. 21.

The announcement came a day after former President Clinton defended his role in the hard-fought Democratic primary. He said that while he may have some regrets, he was not a racist and had never attacked Obama personally.

Sen. Clinton is scheduled to deliver a speech at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, but her husband's role there is still unclear.

Seattle Times news services