Obama Speaks With Bill Clinton

John McCain visited two factories in Pennsylvania ahead of a trip to Latin America, which will begin today. (By Lm Otero -- Associated Press)

Accompanied by the company's president and CEO, Stephen Worth, and a phalanx of other officers, McCain inspected several workstations that help produce units for schools, universities and other institutions. The most lighthearted moment of the tour came when McCain stopped by a station that cuts metal to help create duct systems. He watched a Worth employee cut out the word "McCain" on a metal sheet, surrounded by a handful of stars.

The senator began giggling as soon as he recognized his name. "Thank you, it's great," he told the employee before moving onto another station. Then it was on to a town hall meeting with Worth employees -- a more familiar setting for the senator.

-- Juliet Eilperin

NEW PLANE FOR MCCAIN

Straight Talk in the Friendly Skies

ABOARD THE STRAIGHT TALK EXPRESS -- The Straight Talk Express has gone airborne.

Monday morning marked the inaugural flight of John McCain's new campaign plane, even though he wasn't on it. Wife Cindy and the traveling press corps tested out the airplane equivalent of McCain's legendary bus by hopping a short flight from Dulles International Airport to Harrisburg, Pa., where the senator had spent the night.

The Boeing 737-400, operated by Arizona-based Swift Air, represents a serious upgrade from the JetBlue charters McCain has been using for several months. Specially configured for the candidate, it features an area toward the front where McCain will conduct group interviews, in the same way he does on his chartered bus. That section features a couch and two captain's chairs, along with an area where cameras can film him. McCain stopped conducting interviews on his plane several weeks ago, with his aides saying he prefers a setting where he can sit down with reporters rather than while journalists throng him in the aisle.

Senior aide Mark Salter quipped Monday morning that "only the good reporters" would get to sit in the section for interviews. "You'll have to earn it," he said.

The aircraft features 10 first-class seats in the front section, where McCain and his immediate associates sit, along with a second section for Secret Service agents and additional campaign staff members. The media sit in the main section of the plane, where there are standard coach-class seats. Even the coach section, however, features leather seats and thick blankets for passengers.

McCain spokeswoman Kimmie Lipscomb noted that the plane also has "phone and fax capability," which members of the media can use -- for a price.

On the outside, the plane touts McCain's new campaign message -- "Reform, Prosperity, Peace" -- along with the Straight Talk Express logo. And even the plane's tail is aimed at boosting the candidate's fortunes, with "JohnMcCain.com" emblazoned on it. Asked whether this means McCain is fully committed to his three-pronged campaign slogan, Salter replied, "It's on the plane."

-- Juliet Eilperin