Who paid for Obama's trip?

[Onlooker]

Who paid for McCain's trip to Columbia?

I'm guessing in both cases the campaigns paid, but I'd like to find a link.

[rox63]

1. The Middle Eastern part of the trip was as part of a Senate delegation

So I imagine that would be covered by his Senate Office's travel budget. The European leg of the trip was covered by his campaign, since it was not part of the Senate trip.

[Pirate Smile]

2. Obama's trip was paid by taxpayers during the CODEL part - the part in

Kuwait, Afghanistan and Iraq. Once he got to Jordan, it was paid for by the campaign. He visited wounded troops during the CODEL (in Iraq) but didn't in Germany because it was a campaign trip and would be seen that way according to the Pentagon.


McCain's trips to Mexico and Columbia were paid for by the campaign, as was the trip to Canada.

McCain to Travel to Colombia to Talk About Trade, Drugs

Elizabeth Holmes reports from Costa Mesa, Calif., on the presidential race.

John McCain announced Tuesday that he will make a campaign trip to Colombia next week. The Republican presidential candidate is expected to talk about trade relations — a trade deal between the two countries is pending–and drug traffic from the Latin American country.

“It is a vital ally in our struggle against the scourge of drugs, a great amount of cocaine that comes into the United States of America as we know comes from Colombia,” the Arizona senator said during a press conference in Riverside, Calif.

McCain told reporters he has traveled to Colombia before, and he emphasized his strong relationship with President Alvaro Uribe. “I know the struggle that nation has undergone,” McCain said, adding that he was going there to thank Uribe for his efforts to strengthen the ties with the U.S.

This is not the unofficial nominee’s first trip overseas during the 2008 campaign. In March, the senator traveled to Iraq and other countries in the Middle East. That trip was part of a Congressional Delegation, known as a CODEL, and taxpayers footed the bill. This trip will be a campaign trip, McCain confirmed. “We’ll pay for it because we don’t obviously want any criticism from that direction,” he said.

On his way back to the U.S., McCain will visit Mexico City."

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/06/24/mccain-to-travel-to-colombia-to-talk-about-trade-drugs/

[Muttocracy]

3. thanks for asking - good to know. nt

[Barack_America]

4. I'm hoping he had an espresso on me in Paris.

With "on me" meaning, with my money.

But if he ever wanted... ;)