Today on the presidential campaign trail

IN THE HEADLINES

In visit to Puerto Rico, Obama criticizes McCain for not supporting new GI Bill ... Obama picks up delegates in Georgia, Alaska and Wyoming; Clinton gains 1, loses 1 ... Former President Clinton says Hillary Clinton could still win nomination ...

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Obama criticizes McCain on veterans' benefits

BAYAMON, Puerto Rico (AP) _ Barack Obama told veterans he can't understand why Republican John McCain opposes legislation that would provide college scholarships to people who have served in the U.S. military.

"Now, let me be clear: No one can dispute John McCain's love for this country or his concern for veterans. But here's what I don't understand. I don't understand why John McCain would side with George Bush and oppose our plan to make college more affordable for our veterans," the Democratic presidential candidate said Saturday. "George Bush and John McCain may think our plan is too generous. I could not disagree more."

Obama's criticism renews a clash that turned personal after the Senate approved the scholarship bill Thursday.

During the Senate debate, the Illinois senator questioned why McCain a Navy veteran and former prisoner of war would oppose the measure.

McCain responded with a sharp statement saying that he wouldn't listen to any lectures on veterans' affairs from Obama, "who did not feel it was his responsibility to serve our country in uniform."

Obama, speaking to reporters aboard his plane Saturday, countered that the idea that he can't speak on veterans' issues because he didn't serve in the military "makes no sense whatsoever."

"I didn't serve, as many people my age, because the Vietnam war was over by the time I was of draft age and we went to an all-volunteer Army. But obviously I revere our soldiers and want to make sure they are being treated with honor and respect," he added.

The Arizona senator opposes the scholarship measure, as does the Pentagon, because it applies to people who serve just three years. He fears that would encourage people to leave the military after only one enlistment even as the U.S. fights two wars and is trying to increase the size of the Army and Marine Corps.

Hillary Rodham Clinton spoke at an evening rally in Aguadilla, where she reminded the crowd of her ties to Puerto Rico as a first lady and then as senator from New York, which has approximately 1 million Puerto Rican residents.

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Obama picks up 4 delegates

ATLANTA (AP) _ Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton each picked up a delegate in Georgia on Saturday as state Democrats selected their delegation to the party's national convention in Denver this summer.

Obama picked up another superdelegate later Saturday in Wyoming, then one more in Alaska. Obama also took a pledged delegate from Clinton at Alaska's Democratic party convention Saturday.

That brings Obama's overall delegates to 1,974 _ only 52 shy of the 2,026 needed to secure the presidential nomination _ to Clinton's 1,779.

The two add-on delegates in Georgia are state party secretary Stephen Leeds, an Obama supporter, and Verna Cleveland, who was Clinton's Georgia state director.

The add-on in Wyoming was state Rep. W. Patrick Goggles, who told the Associated Press after his selection that he will support Obama at the convention.

In Alaska, former Gov. Tony Knowles said he would support Obama for president.

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Former President Clinton: primary win could persuade party leaders

BOZEMAN, Mont. (AP) _ Former President Bill Clinton said Saturday that a victory by his wife in next month's Democratic primary in Montana could force party leaders to reassess her bid for the presidential nomination.

Hillary Rodham Clinton has been scrambling to close a widening delegate lead held by Barack Obama with only three contests yet to be decided.

Her husband told a crowd at Montana State University in Bozeman that Clinton victories in Montana and South Dakota on June 3 would boost her claim that she deserves the party's nomination _ and could persuade key superdelegates to support her.

"She can still be nominated. Don't let anybody kid you," Clinton said as the crowd of several hundred cheered. "All these superdelegates that have said they're for this one or that one or the other, they can all flip. So you do matter."

The former president also said his wife, if elected, would turn around the nation's ailing economy, end the war in Iraq and enact universal health care.

His appearance in Montana came as Obama edges ever-closer to capturing enough delegates for the nomination. ___

THE DEMOCRATS

Hillary Rodham Clinton campaigns in Puerto Rico. Barack Obama delivers the commencement address at Wesleyan University.

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THE REPUBLICANS

John McCain has no scheduled public events.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY:

"I think everyone knew realistically that he was starting as an underdog." _ Valerie Jarrett, a longtime friend and adviser to Barack Obama.

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STAT OF THE DAY:

The Republican National Committee had more than $40 million in the bank at the start of May. The Democratic National Committee had $4.4 million.

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Compiled by Ann Sanner and Ronald Powers.