Obama trip no campaign stunt: aides (ABC)

Barack Obama 's campaign has rejected Republican claims that his five-nation Middle East and Europe tour is a political stunt, as it unveiled a packed agenda of talks with leaders. Campaign spokesman said the Illinois senator would avoid negotiating or trying to make policy during the meetings, in deference to the duties of current President George W Bush. The campaign of Republican presidential candidate John McCain has branded Senator Obama 's tour, which is expected to draw massive media coverage, as nothing more than a political stunt, especially as it will include a high-profile speech in Berlin. "That is not what we are doing," Senator Obama 's communications adviser Robert Gibbs said "The speech in Berlin will be a substantive speech about American and European relations, the trip is not at all a campaign trip, a rally... [read full story]