McCain: Abortion rights veep possible

Republican presidential candidate John McCain on Wednesday floated the prospect of picking a running mate who supports abortion rights and cited former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge as someone worth considering.

"I think that the pro-life position is one of the important aspects or fundamentals of the Republican Party," McCain said in an interview with The Weekly Standard.

"And also I feel that - and I'm not trying to equivocate here - that Americans want us to work together," McCain added. "You know, Tom Ridge is one of the great leaders and he happens to be pro-choice. And I don't think that that would necessarily would rule Tom Ridge out."

McCain had been asked about comments he made to several reporters during the GOP primary season about the prospect of picking New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg for vice president. The Arizona senator praised Bloomberg, but said the mayor's support for abortion rights would make it tough to choose him.

Ridge, McCain told the magazine, would be more palatable to social conservatives who make up the base of the Republican Party.

"I think it's a fundamental tenet of our party to be pro-life but that does not mean we exclude people from our party that are pro-choice," McCain said. He called the gap between the two sides a disagreement - "albeit strong."

"And I think Ridge is a great example of that," McCain added. "Far moreso than Bloomberg, because Bloomberg is pro-gay rights, you know, a number of other issues."

McCain opposes abortion rights.

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Clinton backers to make noise at Dem convention

WASHINGTON (AP) — Still sore from an epic primary battle, some of Hillary Rodham Clinton's supporters aren't buying the unity theme planned for the Democratic National Convention.

They weren't mollified when nominee-in-waiting Barack Obama gave prime-time speaking slots to Clinton and her husband, the former president. Instead, they're itching for a fight and plan to wage one in Denver.

One group intends to paper the city with fliers, promote a video detailing what they contend were irregularities in the nominating process and unleash bloggers to give their take on the proceedings. Another group has purchased newspaper advertisements demanding that Clinton be included in a roll-call vote for the nomination.

"I am a very realistic woman," said Diane Mantouvalos, co-founder of the Just Say No Deal Coalition. "I don't think that anything is going to change, but I do think it is important to be heard, and this is our way of doing it."

These groups are not affiliated with Clinton, who has endorsed Obama and campaigned for him.

"Senator Clinton understands and appreciates that there are supporters who remain passionate, but she has repeatedly urged her supporters to vote for Senator Obama," Clinton spokeswoman Kathleen Strand said.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi took a swipe at the Clinton die-hards Wednesday.

"I think Hillary Clinton has been very gracious," the San Francisco Democrat told Bay Area talk show host Ronn Owens. "I think some of her supporters have been less than gracious."

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Pelosi chides Lieberman over Obama remarks

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi criticized former Democratic Sen. Joe Lieberman Wednesday for campaigning against Barack Obama, calling Lieberman's characterizations of the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee "totally irresponsible."

Speaking on a local radio program where she was promoting her new book, Pelosi, D-Calif., responded to a caller who asked what could be done to keep Lieberman from undermining Obama's bid for the White House.

"You are right. Joe Lieberman has said things that are totally irresponsible when it comes to Barack Obama," Pelosi said. "Here we have a leader for the future, really a great leader for the future and one that comes along only every now and then, and they know it so they have to undermine him. And one of their best weapons, of course, is someone who is considered by some to be a Democrat."

Lieberman was the Democratic vice presidential candidate in 2000, but has since switched to be an independent and become a strong supporter of John McCain. He also has been mentioned as a possible McCain running mate.

While campaigning with McCain in New Jersey and Pennsylvania on Tuesday, Lieberman compared McCain's role as a Vietnam War hero with Obama's lack of military experience.

The November election, Lieberman said, is a choice "between one candidate, John McCain, who has always put his country first, worked across party lines to get things done, and one candidate that has not."

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THE DEMOCRATS

Barack Obama vacations in Hawaii.

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THE REPUBLICANS

John McCain holds fundraisers in Colorado and speaks at the Aspen Institute in Aspen, Colo.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY:

"I have been voting Democratic for 18 years. ... I will be voting for someone other than Barack Obama come November." — Will Bower, co-founder of the Just Say No Deal Coalition of anti-Obama Democrats.

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STAT OF THE DAY:

Ronald Reagan was the last Republican presidential candidate to win Hawaii in a general election. In 1984 Reagan beat Democrat Walter Mondale, 55 percent to 44 percent.

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-- Compiled by Lou Kesten and Ann Sanner.

--  By The Associated Press

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