A first for McCain campaign?

One of the McCain campaign's new themes, that Sen. John McCain has always put his country first, has been seen by some analysts as a subtle suggestion that his Democratic opponent, Sen. Barack Obama, has not.

As he introduced McCain, R-Ariz., at a campaign event in York, Pa., on Tuesday, Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., made the attack explicit, calling the election a choice "between one candidate, John McCain, who has always put the country first, worked across party lines to get things done, and one candidate who has not."

Lieberman was the Democratic vice-presidential nominee in 2000.

The Obama campaign did not comment Tuesday on Lieberman's remarks.

GOP moderate backs Obama

DES MOINES, Iowa — A leading Republican moderate with a foreign-policy background endorsed presidential candidate Barack Obama on Tuesday as the Democrat sought to show his appeal to members of both political parties.

Former Rep. Jim Leach of Iowa was among Republicans the Obama campaign said were crossing party lines to support Obama. The Illinois senator's campaign said he was also being backed by Jim Whitaker, the Republican mayor of Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska. The campaign did not release the names of other GOP supporters or the size of the group.

"I'm convinced that the national interest demands a new approach to our interaction with the world," Leach, 65, a foreign-service officer before being elected to Congress, said in a conference call with reporters.

Pelosi, Obama's wife to speak in Denver

DENVER — Michelle Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will be the featured first-night speakers at the Democratic National Convention, which also will include a videotaped message from Massachusetts Sen. Edward Kennedy.

Michelle Obama will be introduced Aug. 25 by her brother, Craig Robinson, a former basketball star at Princeton and now coach at Oregon State. Barack Obama's half sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, also will have a role.

Other opening-night speakers are to include Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper and Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill, an early Obama supporter, organizers said Tuesday.

Ron Paul's wife in serious condition

HOUSTON — The wife of Republican Rep. Ron Paul remains in intensive care at a Houston hospital and is expected to undergo her third surgery since being admitted Thursday.

Spokesman Jesse Benton said in a message on a Ron Paul Web site Tuesday that Carol Paul, 72, "is fighting hard and remains in serious" condition.

Benton would not say what Carol Paul is being treated for.

Seattle Times news services