DEMS: OBAMA COULD LOSE, DONORS BETTER GET MOVING: WASHINGTON (AP) — In growing numbers, once-confident Democrats now say President Barack Obama could lose the November election.
The hand-wringing reflects real worries among Democrats about Obama's ability to beat Republican rival Mitt Romney, who has proven to be a stronger candidate than many expected. But it's also a political strategy aimed at rallying major donors who may have become complacent.
Interviews with a dozen Democratic strategists and fundraisers across the country show an increased sense of urgency among Obama backers. It follows a difficult two weeks for the president, including a dismal report on the nation's unemployment picture, a Democratic defeat in the Wisconsin governor recall election and an impressive fundraising month for Romney and Republicans.
OBAMA HONORS DADS, TROOPS WITH RIBS AND GREENS: WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is celebrating Father's day a few days early by having an impromptu lunch with two members of the military and two local barbers.
Obama is touting a mentoring initiative aimed at reaching out to fathers with positive parenting advice from barbers and barbershops.
He ate a barbecue lunch of ribs, collard greens and corn bread, telling his Capitol Hill lunch guests that "barbershops are a good place" to share advice on taking responsibility for children.
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PANETTA SAYS NO UNAUTHORIZED INFO TO FILMMAKERS: WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says no unauthorized information was provided to filmmakers producing a movie on the raid that killed Osama bin Laden.
Panetta, the former CIA director, told the Senate Wednesday that there is a Defense Department office that works with movie producers. But he insisted that no one in the department released any unauthorized material.
Republican Rep. Peter King of New York has argued that the CIA and Pentagon jeopardized national security by cooperating too closely with director Kathryn Bigelow and screenwriter Mark Boal. The two won Academy Awards for the motion picture "The Hurt Locker."
Last month, King cited documents obtained by Judicial Watch in a Freedom of Information Act request. He said the filmmakers received "extremely close, unprecedented and potentially dangerous collaboration" from the Obama administration.
TEXAS JURY CONVICTS MAN IN STAND YOUR GROUND CASE: HOUSTON (AP) — A Houston jury convicted a man Wednesday of murdering his neighbor during a confrontation outside the neighbor's home two years ago, rejecting his claim that he was within his rights to fatally shoot the man under Texas' version of a stand-your-ground law.
Raul Rodriguez, 47, faces up to life in prison for the 2010 killing of Kelly Danaher.
Rodriguez, a retired Houston-area firefighter, was angry about the noise coming from his neighbor's home, where a birthday party was taking place. He went to the home and got into an argument with Danaher, a 36-year-old elementary school teacher, and two other men who were at the party.
In a 22-minute video he recorded the night of the shooting, Rodriguez can be heard telling a police dispatcher "my life is in danger now" and "these people are going to go try and kill me." He then said "I'm standing my ground here," and shot Danaher. The two other men were wounded.
