Romney weeps at memory of slain soldier
Londondberry, N.H.-Tears filled Mitt Romney’s eyes Monday as the Republican presidential contender recalled watching a dead soldier’s body coming home from Iraq and imagined one of his five sons in the casket.
Adding a poignant twist to a story he often tells on the campaign trail, Romney recalled the scene at Boston’s Logan International Airport while he was Massachusetts governor to make the point that the country remains united despite its differences over the Iraq war or other national challenges.
It was a counterbalance to a moment earlier this year, when Romney told a woman in Iowa that his grown sons — none of whom has served in the military — were serving the country by helping with his campaign. Romney later apologized for the remark, saying it was wrong to equate military service with campaign involvement.
Farm bill tilts toward big business, Obama says
Spencer, Iowa-Powerful interests in Washington have swayed a new farm bill toward big business, Democrat Barack Obama said Monday, campaigning in the most rural region of this crucial early voting state and promising to do better as president.
“Once again the lobbyists stepped in to make sure that big agribusinesses got the multimillion-dollar giveaways that they’ve come to count on,” Obama said.
The issue is crucial in rural sections of the country because the new farm bill will set food and farm policy for the next five years, including subsidy levels farmers will receive.
Last summer, Obama held more than 30 hearings around the state getting grassroots input before issuing a package of farm and rural development policies last fall. He was touting that package of proposals as he swept through northwest Iowa.
Biden warns Pakistani leader on elections
Concord, N.H. –Presidential hopeful Joe Biden on Monday told Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf there will be consequences if his nation’s elections are in any way shoddy.
Biden, chairman of the Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee, said he spoke with the embattled president by phone. Biden said U.S. aid may be in doubt if the upcoming elections don’t meet expectations.
Denver Post wire services
