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Obama pushes second stimulus plan

CHICAGO, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- A stimulus package to spur U.S economic growth should be passed sooner not later, President-elect Barack Obama said Friday.

"A fiscal stimulus plan that will jump-start economic growth is long overdue," Obama said during his first post-election news conference in Chicago. "I've talked about it ... the last few months of the campaign. We should get it done."

He said he wanted to see a package pass "sooner rather than later," and if it doesn't pass during the lame-duck congressional session, "it will be the first thing I get done as president of the United States."

Obama also outlined his priorities for the next few weeks.

First would be a "rescue plan for the middle class" that includes the stimulus and would invest in immediate efforts to create jobs, extend unemployment benefits and provide relief to families.

Second, Obama said the spreading impact of the U.S. financial crisis into other economic sectors must be addressed, keeping in mind that "the financial crisis is increasingly global and requires a global response."

Third, the Bush administration's financial program must be reviewed to ensure it is stabilizing financial markets "while protecting taxpayers, helping homeowners and not unduly rewarding the management of financial firms that are receiving government assistance."

Some choices would be difficult, he said.

"It is not going to be quick, and it is not going to be easy for us to dig ourselves out of the hole that we are in," Obama said

"And I know we will succeed," Obama said, "if we put aside partisanship and politics and work together as one nation."

Poll indicates Obama aiding race relations

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- The election of U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., as the next U.S. president has most citizens hopeful that race relations will improve, poll results indicate.

A USA Today/Gallup Poll found that of the 1,036 people polled since Obama's victory on Election Day, two-thirds of respondents said race relations between black and white citizens would improve dramatically in the future, the newspaper said Friday.

Two-thirds of all black respondents in the poll said the United States would one day solve its racial problems.

The results marked a dramatic increase from a similar poll five months ago that found only half of all black respondents were that hopeful about improving race relations nationwide, USA Today said.

Civil rights leader Roger Wilkins said the election of Obama and the results of the poll, which had a margin of error of 3 percent, were a reflection of a changing nation.

"Barack didn't elect himself; we Americans elected him," Wilkins told USA Today. "And I think that there are lots and lots of people who say, 'Damn, we're not as racist as we thought we were,' so they're pleased."

Sen. Byrd to step down as committee chair

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- Robert Byrd, the longest-serving senator in U.S. history, voluntarily gave up his chairmanship of the Senate Appropriations Committee Friday.

Byrd, D-W. Va., who is about to celebrate his 91st birthday, is also the oldest current senator. Majority Leader Harry Reid had reportedly wanted Byrd out of the important post.

In a statement, Byrd said that Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, will replace him when the new Congress convenes in January, The Hill reported.

"A new day has dawned in Washington, and that is a good thing," Byrd said. "For my part, I believe that it is time for a new day at the top of the Senate Appropriations Committee. I will step away from the chairmanship of the Appropriations Committee effective January 6, 2009."

Byrd, who was in his first Senate term when President-elect Barack Obama was born, has been hospitalized three times this year. His current term ends in January 1913.

S. Africa to push Zimbabwe to name Cabinet

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- A spokesman for the South African government says his country will push Zimbabwe to complete appointments to its Cabinet.

Government spokesman Themba Maseko said Thursday that South Africa will use an upcoming Southern African Development Community summit to call on Zimbabwean leaders to end the controversial Cabinet selection process, SW Radio Africa said.

Maseko said the political battle in Zimbabwe "is becoming a matter of extreme concern to us and we will be taking quite a hard stance."

The aggressive stance from South Africa is similar to opinions voiced by African National Congress President Jacob Zuma regarding the summit, starting Sunday, in Johannesburg.

Zuma has told Zimbabwean officials, "You can't leave South Africa without resolving this matter. That is what I am expecting."

Officials with the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front and the Movement for Democratic Change have been deadlocked in the naming of a new Cabinet under a government power-sharing deal.

Gun sales skyrocket amid Obama concerns

DENVER, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- Sales of handguns and rifles have skyrocketed across the United States amid fears President-elect Barack Obama will curtail firearm laws, figures show.

A Colorado Bureau of Investigation spokesman said a one-day record for background check requests for firearm purchases was set last weekend in the state thanks to concerns that an Obama administration would mean stricter gun laws, The New York Times said Friday.

"We're not really sure who is promoting the concept that a change in federal administrations might affect firearms possession rights," agency spokesman Lance Clem said of last Saturday's record, "but we do know that it's increased business considerably."

David Nelson, who owns a gun supply store in Missoula, Mont., said his store's firearms sales have increased 30 percent since the Illinois Democrat began his presidential run.

"People are concerned about overreaching legislation from Washington," the Montana Ordnance & Supply owner told the Times. "They are educating themselves on the Internet."

Paloma takes aim at Cuba

MIAMI, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- Cuba issued a tropical storm warning and hurricane watch for Granma province Friday as Hurricane Paloma strengthened and moved northward in the Caribbean.

Hurricane warnings remained in effect for the Cayman Islands, the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said. Paloma, a Category 2 storm with sustained winds of 105 mph at 4 p.m., was about 40 miles south of Grand Cayman and about 290 miles southwest of Camaguey, Cuba.

Forecasters warned strengthening was expected to reach Category 3 status with minimum winds of 111 mph by Saturday.

Hurricane-force winds extended outward up to 25 miles and tropical storm-force winds reached 120 outward up to 70 miles, the report said.

The NHC advised authorities in Jamaica and Cuba to monitor the hurricane as it moved northward at 6 mph, with a turn to the northeast expected Friday night.

The storm was forecast to bring as much as 15 inches of rain to the Cayman Islands and generate "dangerous battering waves," the report said.

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