Germany Denies Being Pressured on Obama

Officially, the final say on where Obama will be allowed to speak belongs to Berlin's mayor, Klaus Wowereit. A political rival of the chancellor's, Wowereit has said that Obama can campaign wherever he pleases, including the gate.

"It's embarrassing, this situation that the chancellor has caused," said Richard Meng, a spokesman for the mayor. "We don't think it's appropriate to tell an American in Berlin he or she cannot speak at the Brandenburg Gate. We can't agree with her, and no one here understands her."

He acknowledged, however, that Obama may pick another site rather than risk alienating Merkel, who has been a close ally of the Bush administration and has restored close relations with Washington after some chilly years under her predecessor, Gerhard Schroeder. Other spots under consideration include the plaza outside Berlin's city hall.

"He has said he won't speak anywhere that would upset the chancellor," Meng said. "If he still wants to speak at the Brandenburg Gate, we would support him."

Even members of Merkel's party, including Ruprecht Polenz, the chairman of the German Parliament's foreign relations committee, are coming out against her comments.

Obama's trip to Europe is being treated as big news in London, Paris and Berlin. British papers were buzzing about his expected arrival on July 18, only to report today that London is being snubbed because Obama will touch down first in Berlin.

House aides confirmed yesterday that Rep. Richard E. Neal (D-Mass.) is encouraging Obama to add a visit to Ireland to his agenda, holding the nation out as a model of conflict resolution. Appearing there would also serve as a boost for Obama among the tens of millions of Irish in the United States.

He will also visit Israel and Jordan. Although Iraq is not an announced part of his itinerary, Obama has said he will also go there soon. Also going will be Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), an Armed Services Committee member and former Army officer.

Campaign and congressional sources confirmed yesterday that Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.), an opponent of the Iraq war and a dark horse candidate to become Obama's running mate, will join the senator from Illinois in Iraq.

That part of Obama's trip, which almost certainly would be the most important politically, has been obscured by the chatter around his Berlin visit. A poll commissioned by Bild Am Sonntag, Bild's Sunday edition, found that 72 percent of Germans surveyed wanted Obama to win the U.S. presidency, compared with 11 percent who supported Sen. John McCain.

Merkel's aides have said the chancellor thinks only elected foreign leaders should be allowed to use the Brandenburg Gate as a backdrop, and only for nonpartisan addresses. But the site has been employed by people other than heads of state before. On May 19, the Dalai Lama spoke there.

The gate, built in 1791, is a popular stop for American presidents. George H.W. Bush gave a brief speech there last week for the grand opening of the new U.S. Embassy nearby. Bill Clinton spoke there in 1994.

In 1963, John F. Kennedy spoke in another part of Berlin when he gave his famous Cold War address and declared, "Ich bin ein Berliner" -- "I am a Berliner."

Weisman reported from Washington. Staff writer Dan Eggen in Washington, correspondent Mary Jordan in London and special correspondent Shannon Smiley in Berlin contributed to this report.