'Oh Mexico'

July 1, 2008— -- John McCain continues his foreign trip, waking up in Colombia for morning events before flying (sans satellite TV on the new Straight Talk Express with Wings) to Mexico.

In case tonight's media availability isn't enough, McCain will take questions from the press again Wednesday in Cartagena.

Tivo Alert! John McCain will be live from Cartagena, Colombia in an exclusive interview on Good Morning America.

Barack Obama heads to Colorado Springs on Wednesday for remarks on national service.

Per the Obama campaign, he will lay out his "comprehensive national service agenda," the third in a series of speeches this week focusing on "enduring values."

This is Obama's first visit to the Centennial State as the presumptive Democratic nominee, but will certainly not be the last. The Democrats would love to flip Colorado from red to blue on Election Day and the state will get the Party's undivided attention at the convention in August.

With an eye on flipping Colorado in 2004, John Kerry launched his cross-country biography tour in Colorado Springs, his birthplace, but ultimately lost the state to Bush 51.7 percent to 47 percent. The political landscape this election year looks better for Democrats than it did in 2004 which makes it one of the key battlegrounds heading into the fall campaign season.

Obama also holds meetings (James Dobson? NORAD? John Elway?) and a fundraiser in Colorado on Wednesday.

Today in a media availability in Zanesville, OH, Obama guaranteed that the Gen. Wes Clark/McCain service comments would live to see another few hours of the media cycle. Obama denied that Clark's critique was on par with the Swiftboat attacks of 2004 and said that a line in his speech on patriotism yesterday was not in response to the uproar over the Clark comments and had actually been written two months ago.

ABC News' Sunlen Miller reports that Obama said his reference yesterday ("[N]o one should ever devalue that service, especially for the sake of a political campaign, and that goes for supporters on both sides. We must always express our profound gratitude for the service of our men and women in uniform.") was not directed at Gen. Clark.

"I think in at least one publication was reported that my comments yesterday about Senator McCain were in a response to General Clark. I think my staff will confirm that that was in a draft of that speech that I had written two months ago," Obama told reporters in Zanesville, Ohio today.

Miller reports that Obama responded "curtly" to a question on whether Clark's comments in relation to the Swiftboat Veterans for Truth attacks on John Kerry in 2004 and did not answer a question on whether he believes Clark should apologize to McCain.

"I'm happy to have all sorts of conversations about how we deal with Iraq and what happens with Iran but the fact that somebody on a cable show or on a news show like General Clark said something that was in artful about Sen. McCain I don't think is probably the thing that is keeping Ohioans up at night."

On the campaign front. . .

JOHN MCCAIN

--12:05 pm ET: Speaks to members of the media, Cartagena, Colombia.

BARACK OBAMA

-- Speaks on 'A New Era of Service,' Colorado Springs, CO

At the White House. . .

PRESIDENT BUSH

-- No public events.

POLITICAL NEWS STORIES ON ABCNEWS.COM

ABC News' Sunlen Miller: Obama: Clark's Critique Not a Swiftboat LINK

ABC News' Rick Klein: Bill & Barack: Smoking Buddies? LINK

ABC News' Teddy Davis and Gregory Wallace: Obama Shifts on Welfare Reform LINK

ABC News' Rick Klein: Obama Moves on MoveOn LINK

ABC News' John Berman and Mark Mooney: Retired Gen. Wesley Clark Keeps Up Fire on McCain LINK

ABC News' Rick Klein: Al Gore's "Black" Mark LINK

ABC News' Nitya Venkataraman: Clark Stands By Comments About McCain War Record LINK

ABC News' Rick Klein: Al Gore's "Black" Mark LINK

ABC News' Rick Klein: Isn't it Ironic? Obama vs. Obama, McCain vs. McCain LINK

ABC News' Emily Friedman: Which Vice President Are You Voting For? LINK

ABC News' Bret Hovell: Will New Plane Be Gain or Pain for McCain? LINK

POLITICAL VIDEO ON ABCNEWS.COM

Obama's Faith-Based InitiativesSen. Obama reaches out to evangelical voters. LINK

Obama to Expand Bush's Faith MissionObama plans to build partnership between the White House and faith-based groups. LINK

An Inside Look at McCain's Press PlaneWelcome to the new "airplane edition" of the Straight Talk Express. LINK

McCain Targets Obama on Judicial ChoiceSen. McCain discusses the critical role of judicial nominations. LINK

Gen.Clark: I Respect McCain's ServiceThe general clarifies his controversial comments about John McCain. LINK

Patriot GamesBarack Obama is on the defensive against attacks on his patriotism. LINK

McCain Unveiled Truth SquadRepublican nominee fires back at attacks on his Vietnam War record. LINK