Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) won the Kentucky Democratic primary Tuesday with 65 percent of the vote to Sen. Barack Obama’s (D-IL) 30 percent. In Oregon’s Democratic primary, Obama won 58 percent of the vote to Clinton’s 42 percent. Nearly 60 percent of Kentucky Democrats said they support suspending the gas tax during the summer, according to exit polls. About two-thirds of Democratic voters there said the economy is the most important issue facing the country, while 19 percent listed Iraq.

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“My administration will press the Cuban regime to release all political prisoners unconditionally, to legalize all political parties, labor unions, and free media, and to schedule internationally monitored elections. The embargo must stay in place until these basic elements of democratic society are met. Maintaining the embargo is, however, just one element of a broader approach my administration would make to the people of Cuba. I would provide more material assistance and moral support to the courageous human rights activists who bravely defy the regime every day, and increase Radio and TV Marti and other means to communicate directly with the Cuban people. My Justice Department would vigorously prosecute Cuban officials implicated in the murder of Americans, drug trafficking, and other crimes. While our Cuba policy will not always be in accord with that of our hemispheric and European partners, my administration will begin an active dialogue with them to develop a plan for post-Castro Cuba, a plan that will spark rapid change and a new awakening in that country. The Cuban people have waited long enough.”

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In a new interview, the executive secretary of the UN Framework on Climate Change Convention, Yvo de Boer, tells CFR.org’s Toni Johnson that “intelligent financial engineering” is the key to getting agreement between developed and developing worlds on limiting carbon emissions.

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In a speech in Chicago, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) promised that if he is elected president the United States will “honor its international agreements, including NAFTA, and we will expect the same of others.” McCain said he would not “undo the gains of years in trade agreements now awaiting final approval.” He also sharply criticized the farm bill recently passed in Congress, saying he would seek to end all farm subsidies “not based on clear need.”

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“When the United States and Europe subsidize our biggest agricultural producers, we distort global prices and we hurt the world’s poorest farmers in Africa and elsewhere. These men and women wonder how our government can live with such policies, even at the expense of our own citizens. They believe that our massive subsidies to American producers are a form of protectionism, helping already rich companies at the expense of people and nations in need. They think that these corporate subsidies are inconsistent with our own standards and ideals, and with the good heart of America. And my friends, they are right…If I am elected president, I will seek an end to all agricultural tariffs, and to all farm subsidies that are not based on clear need.”

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British Foreign Secretary David Miliband, who will meet with Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) this week, said the Democratic candidates’ comments on free trade throughout the campaign season have caused concern in the United Kingdom and in the European Union, the Financial Times reported Sunday. Miliband also commented on Sen. John McCain’s plan to create a “League of Democracies.”

Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) says Israel will “have to acknowledge that some of the settlement policies make it very difficult to create a functioning Palestinian state” and Palestinians must “recognize Israel” and “stop threatening violence” (Reuters).

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“By January 2013, America has welcomed home most of the servicemen and women who have sacrificed terribly so that America might be secure in her freedom. The Iraq War has been won. Iraq is a functioning democracy, although still suffering from the lingering effects of decades of tyranny and centuries of sectarian tension. Violence still occurs, but it is spasmodic and much reduced. Civil war has been prevented; militias disbanded; the Iraqi Security Force is professional and competent; al Qaeda in Iraq has been defeated; and the Government of Iraq is capable of imposing its authority in every province of Iraq and defending the integrity of its borders. The United States maintains a military presence there, but a much smaller one, and it does not play a direct combat role.”

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In a speech on Thursday, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) laid out his vision for the United States by 2013, which could be the end of his first term in the presidency. He said he expects Iraq to be a “functioning democracy” by then. He also predicted that a “League of Democracies” will have been established and will have pressured Sudan to stop what U.S. officials have termed as genocide in Darfur.

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Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) released a plan (PDF) to strengthen domestic manufacturing Wednesday. The plan includes the creation of a $150 billion Clean Technologies Deployment Venture Capital Fund, which would “advance clean energy and create green manufacturing jobs in the United States.” He also reiterated his commitment to “crack down” on Chinese market manipulation.

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