Targeted Outreach

June 17, 2008— -- In the new ABC News/Washington Post poll, John McCain has a 20-point advantage (56-36) over Barack Obama among married white women. ABC News' George Stephanopoulos said today on Good Morning America that this was a "danger sign" for Obama.

"This is a huge gap that Obama has to close if he's going to do well," Stephanopoulos said, while noting that President Bush won this voting group in 2000 and 2004.

Obama himself pushed back against this polling data point in an interview yesterday with ABC News' Jake Tapper, saying that "on almost every single issue that's important to women, he [McCain] has been on the wrong side."

"You know, he's in favor of judges who would overturn Roe v. Wade. He has opposed equal pay," Obama said, and charged that McCain also fought a program to insure children and to protect women from discrimination, per Tapper.

On Wednesday, Michelle Obama co-hosts The View, perhaps one of the more effective platforms to reach white suburban female voters. Could another appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show be in the near future too?

Tomorrow's chat session could provide an opportunity for Michelle Obama to re-introduce herself to the show's overwhelmingly female audience. Given that the hosts of The View are not a quiet, timid bunch of women, Obama may also be called on to directly address several of the storylines about her that have been buzzing for a few weeks: the fist jab on stage with her husband, the rumors of a tape where she talks about "whitey" and how she felt when she was identified as her husband's "baby mama."

ABC News' John Hendren took a look this weekend at Michelle Obama as the potential First Lady and found that many "compare her arrival on the national stage to Hillary Clinton's after she infuriated conservatives when she said, "I could have stayed home and baked cookies.'"

Notes Hendren: "It's likely to get worse. 'It's going to be very ugly stuff,' Democratic strategist Tad Devine said. 'They're going to try to depict her as someone who is angry, outside the mainstream and not proud to be an American.'"

Cindy McCain co-hosted The View earlier this year. Obama was scheduled to appear on the program during the primary season but cancelled because of the Writers Guild strike.

It's not just the presidential candidates' spouses that get to have all the fun on the pop culture circuit. Tonight John McCain will chat with Jimmy Kimmel prior to game six of the Celtics-Lakers NBA championship on ABC. ABC News' Ed O'Keefe reports that McCain will do a live interview from Dallas on "Jimmy Kimmel Live: Game Night." Obama appeared on Kimmel's show last week.

On Wednesday it's back to policy for the presumptive Republican nominee. McCain holds a briefing on economic and energy policy in Missouri. Expect McCain to continue to promote his plan to lift the federal ban on offshore drilling and continue to hit on Obama for his energy positions, including his opposition to a gas tax holiday.

Foreign policy will be at the top of the agenda for Obama on Wednesday in Washington, when he holds several closed press policy meetings. The presumptive Democratic nominee will also attend an AFL-CIO event and an evening fundraiser in McLean, VA.

Russert Memorial

A private funeral will take place Wednesday morning for NBC newsman Tim Russert. A private memorial service will take place at the Kennedy Center's Concert Hall in Washington, D.C later in the afternoon.

The Kicker:

"I remember my quote, Jake...I was there, it was just yesterday."

-- Barack Obama to ABC News' Jake Tapper, when he tried to read back the Senator's comments from Monday on the Bush Administration's anti-terrorism actions.

On the campaign front. . .

BARACK OBAMA

-- Holds foreign policy meetings, Washington, DC.

-- Attends AFL-CIO event, Washington, DC.

-- Attends evening fundraiser, McLean, VA

MICHELLE OBAMA

-- 11:00 am ET: Co-hosts The View, live on ABC.

As for the Republicans. . .

JOHN MCCAIN

-- 3:00 pm ET: Holds briefing on economic and energy policy, Springfield, MO.

At the White House. . .

PRESIDENT BUSH

-- 11:00 am ET: Meets with the Prime Minister of Bulgaria in the Oval Office.

-- 1:40 pm ET: Meets with the Chinese delegation to the U.S.-China Strategic Economic Dialogue, Washington, DC.

-- 7:05 pm ET: Speaks at the 2008 President's Dinner, Washington, DC.

VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY

-- 2:30 pm ET: Speaks at Heritage Foundation sponsored event on US policy toward Asia, Washington.

POLITICAL NEWS STORIES ON ABCNEWS.COM

ABC News' Gary Langer: Close Race: McCain Stays in Range Amid Challenges for Obama LINK

ABC News' Jake Tapper: McCain Camp Hits Obama for Terrorism Remarks LINK

ABC News' Jake Tapper: 'Danger Signs' as Clinton Supporters Resist Obama LINK

ABC News' Z. Byron Wolf: For Now Sans Clinton, Democratic Women Rally LINK

ABC News' Jake Tapper: Obama Hits at McCain's Appeal to Women LINK

ABC News' Jake Tapper: Obama on Vet Drug Tests: 'Outrageous' LINK

ABC News' Sam Donaldson: Commentary: McCain's Position on Torture Could Alienate Base LINK

ABC News' Sunlen Miller: Gore Formally Endorses Obama in Michigan LINK

ABC News' Teddy Davis, Tahman Bradley, Gregory Wallace, and Alexa Ainsworth: Obama Labor Backer Open To VP Vetting LINK

ABC News' Teddy Davis, Gregory Wallace, and John Santucci: Defense of Marriage Act Splits '08ers LINK

ABC News' Jake Tapper: Rudy Weighs In LINK

ABC News' Jake Tapper: Obama Hates the Cheney Energy Task Force! (But Not the So-Called "Cheney Energy Bill") LINK

ABC News' Jake Tapper: Where is McCain on a Windfall Profits Tax? LINK

ABC News' Jake Tapper: Do the Saudis Support a Gas Tax Holiday? LINK

ABC News' Jake Tapper: Gore Raises Age Issue -- to Defend Obama's Youth LINK

POLITICAL VIDEO ON ABCNEWS.COM

Obama Ahead in Early Polls

George Stephanopoulos gives his take in "The Bottom Line. LINK

Interrogation Techniques

The debate over interrogation techniques was renewed today on Capitol Hill. LINK

Obama Defends Gitmo Decision

Senator says detainees could have been put on trial like after first WTC attack. LINK

Gore Endorses Obama

The former vice president throws his support behind Democratic candidate Obama. LINK

Obama's Big Event

Al Gore is the latest politician to endorse the Senator. LINK

Obama Camp Restructured

Staff changes include hiring former Clinton campaign manager Patti Solis Doyle. LINK