POLITICS AND THE HOLIDAY
UNDATED (AP) – Barack Obama and his family are celebrating the Fourth of July in Butte, Montana.
It’s a state that usually gives its three electoral votes to a Republican. Only two Democrats have carried Montana since 1948. Republicans typically take it for granted and Democrats usually write if off. But this year, Obama is spending a sizeable amount of time and money to try to win it.
John McCain after his trip to Colombia and Mexico is back home in Arizona. He’s planning to spend the Fourth of July holiday at the family compound outside Sedona, with no campaign events on his schedule for the next few days.
The McCain Website hopes you have a “safe and happy 4th of July” and asks that you remember the troops.
FOURTH OF JULY-BUSH
President spending holiday with Jefferson
WHITE HOUSE (AP) – President Bush will spend some time this July 4th at the home of the man who virtually wrote the Declaration of Independence.
Bush plans to visit Thomas Jefferson’s hilltop home, Monticello (mahn-tuh-CHEL’-oh), in Charlottesville, Virginia. He’ll taking part in Monticello’s annual naturalization ceremony, addressing 76 new American citizens.
Since 1963, some 3,000 Americans have taken the oath of citizenship at Jefferson’s home on the Fourth. This year, 76 men and women from 30 nations will join them.
On previous Fourths, Bush has witnessed the creation of new Americans on New York’s Ellis Island and at Washington’s Walter Reed Army Hospital.
Today the president will also get a tour the historic shrine overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains and the University of Virginia that Jefferson founded.
