Obama Abandons 'Presumption of Good Faith'

May 23, 2008— -- Ending the "smallness of our politics" is the stated mission of Barack Obama's White House run.

In "The Audacity of Hope," Obama recalls how he softened his website's harsh rhetoric on abortion in 2004 after he received an email from a pro-life doctor.

"[T]hat night, before I went to bed," wrote Obama, "I said a prayer of my own -- that I might extend the same presumption of good faith to others that the doctor had extended to me."

No such "presumption of good faith" was extended to Hillary Clinton on Friday.

When Clinton referenced RFK's assassination while discussing previous Democratic nomination fights which stretched into June, she was quickly scolded by the Obama campaign.

"Senator Clinton's statement before the Argus Leader editorial board was unfortunate and has no place in this campaign," wrote Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton in a missive to reporters.

Burton's e-mail included a link to a New York Post story which noted that Obama, who received a Secret Service detail early in the campaign, has been the subject of threats.

The Obama campaign's decision to target Clinton's RFK reference forced the former first lady to express regret for her remarks.

It also ensured that the dust-up would be covered on all three network newscasts.

"I regret that if my referencing that moment of trauma for our entire nation, particularly for that family, was in any way offensive," said Clinton.

Shortly after Clinton's comments drew negative coverage on the network newscasts, the Argus Leader came to the former first lady's defense.

"The context of the question and answer with Sen. Clinton was whether her continued candidacy jeopardized party unity this close to the Democratic convention," wrote the Argus Leader editorial board. "Her reference to Mr. Kennedy's assassination appeared to focus on the timeline of his primary candidacy and not the assassination itself."

The kicker:

"How's it going Sunshine? Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you everybody. It's good to be in Sunshine!"

--Barack Obama in Sunrise, Florida.

TiVo alert

1. Obama strategist David Axelrod and former Bush adviser Karl Rove appear Sunday morning on "This Week with George Stephanopoulos."

2. DCCC Chair Chris Van Hollen and NRCC Chair Tom Cole square off Sunday morning on "Fox News Sunday." National Journal's cover story looks at how the DCCC is "rolling" and the NRCC is "reeling."

3. "Recount," HBO's movie about the disputed 2000 outcome in Florida, airs May 25.

Read more about a recent DC screening of the movie here.

On the campaign front. . .

BARACK OBAMA

-- 10:15 am ET: Attends veterans event, Bayamon, PR

-- Attends event with voters, Old San Juan, PR

HILLARY CLINTON

-- 5:00 pm ET: Attends town hall meeting with voters, Aguadilla, PR

BILL CLINTON

-- 3:00 pm ET: Attends event with voters, Bozeman, MT

-- 6:00 pm ET: Attends event with voters, Lewistown, MT

-- 8:45 pm ET: Attends event with voters, Miles City, MT

Sunday, May 25, 2008

On the campaign front. . .

BARACK OBAMA

-- Delivers commencement address at Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT

BILL CLINTON

-- 10:30 am ET: Holds event with voters, Fort Thompson, SD

-- 2:00 pm ET: Holds event with voters, Mission, SD

-- 6:00 pm ET: Holds event with voters, Wagner, SD

At the White House. . .

PRESIDENT BUSH

-- 12:50 pm ET: Greets the Rolling Thunder leadership, Washington, DC

Monday, May 26, 2008

On the campaign front. . .

BARACK OBAMA

-- Attends event in Las Cruces, NM

As for the Republicans. . .

JOHN MCCAIN

-- Attends Memorial Day Event, Albuquerque, NM

At the White House. . .

PRESIDENT BUSH

-- 10:55 am ET: Participates in wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns, Arlington, VA

-- 11:15 am ET: Speaks at the Memorial Day commemoration, Arlington, VA

POLITICAL NEWS STORIES ON ABCNEWS.COM

ABC News' Kate Snow: Hillary Clinton Mentions RFK Assassination in Relation to '08 Race LINK

ABC News' Jake Tapper: Assassination Discussions LINK

ABC News' Mark Mooney: Bill Clinton Pushes Hillary for Vice President LINK

ABC News' Matthew Jaffe: GOP Targets Al Franken's Playboy Column LINK

ABC News' Jake Tapper: Hillary Mentions RFK Assassination When Discussing Why She's Staying in the Race LINK

ABC News' Yunji de Nies: Nader Calls for Bush-Cheney Impeachment LINK

ABC News' Lindsey Ellerson: First Daughter: Mom's Nickname Is 'Mommy-Zilla' LINK

ABC News' Jake Tapper: Castro Attacks McCain, No Doubt to McCain's Delight LINK

ABC News' Dan Childs: McCain Ambien Use: A Security Threat? LINK

ABC News' Ed O'Keefe: McCain-Bloomberg or Obama-Bloomberg? Mayor Flirts with Both Sides LINK

ABC News' Jake Tapper: One Scene I Wish Had Been in HBO's "Recount" LINK

ABC News' Tahman Bradley: Obama Blasts McCain on Cuba LINK

ABC News' Eloise Harper and Kate Snow: Clinton Denies Exit Strategy Talks with Obama LINK

ABC News' Jake Tapper: Tucker Carlson for President? Regrettably, No LINK

ABC News' Gary Langer: McCain: Health and Age LINK

POLITICAL VIDEO ON ABCNEWS.COM

Clinton Explains RFK Remark

Clinton says she didn't mean to offend anyone with her invocation of RFK's assassination. LINK

Veepstakes '08

ABC's Jake Tapper on who's in the running for VP on both party tickets. LINK

The Politics of Age

Will Sen. McCain's age be a factor in the general election? LINK

Where Is the Latino Vote?

ABC's Viviana Hurtado asks, "Is the Hispanic vote an invisible giant?" LINK

Laura Bush Is 'Mommy-Zilla'

Jenna Bush says mom got tough when a storm almost ruined her wedding day. LINK

'The Note' Rewinds the Week's Best Moments

ABC News' Senior Political Reporter Rick Klein on the weekly political roundup. LINK

Obama, McCain Spar Over G.I. Bill

McCain to Obama: 'I have earned the right to speak out on veterans issues." LINK

The Bottom Line on the Dream Ticket

George Stephanopoulos talks about an Obama-Clinton partnership. LINK

Kennedy: 'Feeling Well'

The senator spoke publicly for the first time since his diagnosis. LINK