Montana, S. Dakota close out primaries
WASHINGTON, June 3 (UPI) -- The American Indian voting bloc, and state geographic and demographic breakdowns characterize the last primaries in Montana and South Dakota.
Sen. Hillary Clinton's campaign is hoping for good showings to press her argument that she is the better candidate to face presumptive Republican nominee Sen. John McCain in November. Sen. Barack Obama's campaign, inching closer to the 2,118 delegates needed to cinch the Democratic presidential nomination, is looking for an end to the long primary run.
South Dakota's demographics -- white, older and working class -- favor Clinton. However, Obama has endorsements from top Democratic leaders, leaders, including former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and Sen. Tim Johnson, Politico.com reported Tuesday.
Different polls show different winners, the Washington publication said.
In Montana, Obama lead Clinton 52 percent to 35 percent in a Mason-Dixon poll, but his support base was nearly all in the western part of the state.
"We had Clinton ahead in eastern Montana," poll director Brad Coker said.
Political analysts said they're not sure which candidate is more favored among American Indians, which make up about 8 percent of the population in both states. Both candidates courted the Indian vote, which is difficult to poll because of the shortage of phone service on reservations.
Clinton open to VP slot, lawmakers say
WASHINGTON, June 3 (UPI) -- Sen. Hillary Clinton told New York legislators Tuesday she would consider being Barack Obama's running mate if he leads the ticket, two lawmakers say.
Rep. Charles Rangel, a senior member of the New York Democratic delegation, told CNN, "I have reason to believe she is open to the (vice president) slot."
On the last day of the Democratic primary season, Obama, the senator from Illinois, was inching closer to the 2,118 delegates needed to clinch the Democratic presidential nomination. Various news organizations said he was between 24 delegates and 30 delegates away from becoming the party nominee.
A close friend and adviser of Clinton has told CNN the former first lady would say Tuesday after Montana and South Dakota polls close that "she will do whatever it takes" to elect a Democratic president and is "committed to Democrats winning in November."
New U.S. travel requirements take effect
WASHINGTON, June 3 (UPI) -- U.S. security officials say they will soon impose a 72-hour prior notification requirement for travelers coming in from countries where visas aren't required.
The new rule means that passengers from most Western European nations, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and others whose citizens don't need visas to visit the United States will now be required to register with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security at least 72 hours prior to their visit, The Financial Times said in a report Tuesday.
U.S. officials said the rule will become mandatory in January and that registration can be accomplished through travel agents, airline Web sites or through a special U.S. government Web site, the Times said.
Part of the rationale behind the new requirements are to dissuade homegrown European terrorists from traveling freely to the United States, such as Richard Reid, a British citizen who smuggled a "shoe bomb" onto an airliner. Reid, like French citizen and convicted Sept. 11, 2001, conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui did not need visas to enter the country, the newspaper said.
Kennedy up and walking hospital halls
DURHAM, N.C., June 3 (UPI) -- Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., was walking the day after he underwent brain surgery at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., his office said Tuesday.
"Senator Kennedy had a restful night's sleep and is recuperating well from (Monday's) procedure," the senator's office said in a statement posted on USA Today's Web site.
"He is experiencing no complications, and has been walking the hallways, spending time with family and actively keeping up with the news of the day," the statement said.
Kennedy underwent surgery Monday at the Durham, N.C., facility, known as a leader in brain tumor surgery. He is expected to be hospitalized for about a week, then return to Massachusetts for radiation and chemotherapy treatments at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Polygamists agrees to marriage restrictions
SAN ANGELO, Texas, June 3 (UPI) -- Leaders of a Texas polygamist sect have agreed to restrictions on underage marriage that will allow an estimated 430 children to be released from foster care.
District Judge Barbara Wather agreed to rescind the largest mass roundup of children in Texas history after an agreement was hashed out with the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Some 129 children were returned to their parents Monday while child abuse investigations continue, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported.
The legal action came after a surprising announcement by sect leaders.
"In the future, the church commits that it will not preside over any marriage of any woman under the age of legal consent in the jurisdiction in which the marriage takes place," said Willie Jessop, the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints' Texas spokesman. "We hope this modest clarification will alleviate recent concerns and allow this church and its families to reside in peace among its neighbors."
