Greg Craig reprised his role as John McCain in Obama's debate preparations. CBS News, October 7.

Randy Scheunemann disputed Obama advisor Michael McFaul's claim that McCain's foreign policy intends to "isolate" Russia. Bloomberg, October 8.

Lindsey Graham predicted more character politics in the debate last night. LA Times, October 7.

Who will be secretary of state in the new administration? If it's Obama, CQ thinks Susan Rice, Richard Holbrooke and Bill Richardson are in the running. If McCain prevails, the job might be filled by Joe Lieberman, James Woolsey or John Negroponte. Congressional Quarterly, October 5.

Randy Scheunemann has been in cleanup mode, clarifying a statement made by Sarah Palin about Iran's nuclear ambitions. He stated the McCain-Palin ticket won't allow Iran to develop nuclear energy or nuclear weapons. Washington Post, October 6.

Barack Obama senior foreign-policy advisor Greg Craig told EU Observer that if Obama were elected he would not trade Eastern European security for Russian help on Iran. euobserver.com, October 5.

Jake Tapper cites a report that McCain foreign-policy advisor Richard Fontaine touted McCain's former Brazilian girlfriend as evidence of his Latin America experience. He then later said it was "a bad attempt at humor." Political Punch, October 4.

Richard Danzig, one of Obama's top national-security advisors, doesn't think defense spending will decrease in the first years of a potential Obama presidency. Wall Street Journal, October 3.

The British ambassador to the United States sent a letter to his prime minister, Gordon Brown, in July 2008 analyzing Barack Obama's policies and personality. He pointed to the clear tension between neocons and realists on McCain's team, while explaining rifts on the Obama side are less visible, but still there. There is, he wrote, "a potential fault line [in the Obama camp] between progressives like Tom Daschle, Susan Rice and Samantha Power on the one hand and the more pragmatic advisers on the other (Nunn, Hamilton, Danzig, Brzezinski). Tony Lake hovers between the two." Telegraph, October 2.

Preparations for tonight's vice-presidential debate are well under way. Randy Scheunemann has been playing Biden for Palin. Michigan's Governor Jennifer Granholm has been filling in for Palin in Biden's debate camp. Newsweek, October 2.

What would the Palin Doctrine be? She seems to have taken well to McCain's stances, including Randy Scheunemann's advocacy of hard-line approaches to Iran and Russia. Washington Post, October 1.

Palin's foreign-policy adviser Steve Biegun defended her international experience, adding "Governors don't have the same opportunities or the same responsibilities that senators have. They're different, but they're not inferior." Newsweek, October 1.

Sarah Palin's debate preparation continues at John McCain's Arizona ranch. The all star lineup of foreign policy advisors helping to hone her message for Thursday's debate includes Randy Scheunemann, Mark Wallace and Steve Biegun. Scheunemann is pretending to be Joe Biden during practice sessions, while Biegun is busy defending comments Palin made during her recent interview with Katie Couric. Fox News and New York Daily News, September 30.

While these McCain groupies are focusing on Sarah Palin's diction and annunciation, Max Boot has been writing-contributing an essay on the resiliency of the American economy to a New York Times segment on the financial crisis. Editor and Publisher, September 30.

James Woolsey is reminding voters that Republicans care about the environment too. He detailed John McCain's carbon dioxide reduction plan, which includes the further development of plug-in hybrids and flex-fuel vehicles in the next few years. Science News, October 11 issue.

How would the campaigns' foreign-policy advisors fit into their candidate's presidency? John Kerry might be trying for secretary of state, but Susan Rice looks like the real pick. But she'd rather take the national-security advisor position. She might have to fight James Steinberg for that spot. When it comes to McCain, Joe Lieberman and Richard Armitage will probably duke it out to be secretary of defense, though Lindsey Graham could shake that up. Randy Scheuenmann could be McCain's national-security advisor. The Washingtonian, September 29.

Sarah Palin is prepping for her debate at John McCain's place in Arizona. Mark Wallace and Steve Biegun have been helping her get ready for Biden. Fox News, September 29.

Friday's debate dominated foreign-policy news Monday, with varying perceptions of the candidate's performances. Obama's performance can in part be credited to Greg Craig, his coach throughout his half-week debate prep. Chicago Tribune, September 29.

Craig lauded his student, as did the foreign press. The Guardian, September 29.

Apparently Greg Craig as John McCain has been keeping Barack Obama on his toes during debate prep. He should, he's done this before, standing in as George Bush for John Kerry back in 2004. Newsweek, September 26.

Obama's debate team-including Greg Craig, Susan Rice and Mark Lippert-is waiting for him in Memphis, Mississippi, prepped and ready should tonight's showdown actually go down. New York Times, September 25.

McCain advisor Lindsey Graham said it's more important for his candidate to help solve the financial crisis than debate foreign policy. Fox News, September 25.

Obama's "best and brightest" foreign-policy team includes Mark Lippert, seasoned aide and veteran of a tour in Iraq, Ben Rhodes, national-security speechwriter with the 9/11 Commission and Iraq Study Group on his resumé, and Dennis Ross, head Middle East negotiator under Bush Sr. and Clinton, among others. Reuters, September 24.

Prepping hard for tomorrow's debate, Obama's been in Florida reviewing old McCain tapes and sparring with adviser Greg Craig. Mark Salter and Charlie Black have been throwing questions at McCain as he's gone about his normal campaign schedule. CNN, September 24.

Palin's tour of world leaders is still going strong. Adviser Steve Biegun said the president of Iraq, Jalal Talabani, was particularly interested in what Palin had to say. Houston Chronicle, September 24.

There isn't much new blood on the McCain and Obama foreign-policy and national-security teams. If you're trying to tell them apart, McCain's cadre is more hawkish and tied to this administration, while Obama's harkens back to the liberal interventionist doves of the Clinton years. A laundry list of names comes courtesy of Fox News. September 24.

Obama believes in the UN and in Russia being a responsible part of the international community, says his top foreign-policy advisor, Susan Rice. Bloomberg, September 23.

Taking advantage of the UN General Assembly ceremony, Sarah Palin's getting a crash course in dealing with world leaders. Stephen Biegun and Randy Scheunemann will be by her side as she meets Saakashvili, Karzai, Talabani, Zardari and more. Washington Post, September 22.

Sarah Palin has a web of Bush/McCain insiders surrounding her. Stephen Biegun, an old member of Bush's NSC, is playing a central role. Washington Post, September 22.

To help his candidate prepare for Friday's foreign-policy debate, Greg Craig will be channeling John McCain. Wall Street Journal, September 22.

Obama's foreign-policy advisors Anthony Lake, Susan Rice and Greg Craig question the wisdom of putting missile-defense systems in Poland. Deutsche Welle, September 19.

Randy Scheunemann has been clarifying McCain's stance on Spain after the candidate wouldn't say for sure whether he'd meet with Prime Minister Zapatero if elected president-and seemed to think the head of government was from Latin America. LA Times and Boston Globe, September 19.

John McCain is often John McCain's top foreign-policy advisor, though he's surrounded himself with veteran neocons and a few realists. Obama's advisors "tend to be young" like Susan Rice, who will probably be national-security advisor if her candidate wins. The Independent, September 19.

The Senate passed an extensive defense bill yesterday. One of the eight voting against the bill was McCain's close advisor, Lindsey Graham. IHT, September 18.

Palin's kept mum when it comes to Iran. But one of her advisors, Mark Wallace, a former U.S. rep for UN management and reform in the Bush administration, is the executive director of United Against a Nuclear Iran, an organization that draws from both campaigns-Obama advisor Richard Holbrooke is a co-chair. Washington Post - The Trail, September 17.

Democrats, including Pelosi, have helped to push an offshore drilling bill-albeit a tamer version-forward in the House. There are still fears the effort could be thwarted by McCain advisor Lindsey Graham and company. Time, September 17.

MoveOn targets McCain's lobbyist friends in an ad, pointing the finger at top foreign-policy advisor Randy Scheunemann among others. Washington Post - The Trail, September 16.

Pat Buchanan wonders if the neocons who drove Bush's policy will hurt Sarah Palin, too. Palin is being tutored by Randy Scheunemann and Stephen Biegun. San Francisco Chronicle, September 16.

It's been suggested that Obama didn't want the Bush administration to negotiate a deal with the Iraqi government about drawing troops down. McCain advisor Randy Scheunemann said Obama had committed an "egregious act." New York Post, September 16.

While some have seen parallels between Obama's campaign promises and new Bush administration policies in international affairs, McCain advisor Randy Scheunemann blasted such contentions as "rank hypocrisy." Washington Post, September 15.

Seems the old guard of the GOP is a little wary about Sarah Palin's foreign-policy inexperience. McCain advisor Robert Kagan came to her defense. Another McCain advisor, Max Boot, had a tepid initial reaction to her nomination. Politico, September 11.

Richard Holbrooke, an Obama advisor, James Woolsey and Dennis Ross are co-chairing United Against a Nuclear Iran, a nonpartisan effort that hopes to help form effective U.S. policy toward Tehran. The Forward, September 11. 

John McCain is prepared to reach across the aisle for Cabinet members. Maybe even Zbigniew Brezezinski, current Obama advisor. The New American, September 11.

Lindsey Graham and Joe Lieberman, both close to McCain, proposed an amendment to the defense programs bill that will recognize the "strategic success of the troop surge." Congressional Quarterly, September 10.

Among those helping to get Palin up to speed on national security is Steve Biegun, a former staff member of Mr. Bush's National Security Council. New York Times, September 11.

Obama national security advisor Richard Clarke thinks that McCain has been "forced to move on issues like Iraq and Afghanistan in Obama's direction," while McCain's senior national security advisor Randy Scheunemann thinks the candidates are "profoundly different on a range of issues." Los Angeles Times, September 11.

Scheunemann was quoted more extensively in the Washington Post, arguing "Obama persists in the fiction that Iraq was never a central front in the war on terror…" Here Richard Clarke counters by saying that Obama "called for sending two brigades of U.S. forces to Afghanistan 13 months" before the Joint Chiefs. Washington Post, September 11.

Obama foreign policy advisor Susan Rice also helps Obama on the campaign trail, telling a group of Michigan voters that their state will play a crucial role in the election. She discussed Obama's plans for withdrawing troops from Iraq with the voters as well. Detroit Free Press, September 10.

Lobbyist issues are still haunting John McCain. The dealings of Randy Scheunemann with the Georgian government and senior advisor Charlie Black's involvement with African dictatorships provide fodder for the opposition on the campaign trail. CNN, September 9.

McCain advisor Douglas Holtz-Eakin stressed the national-security components of importing oil and touted McCain's energy plans. USA Today, September 10.

Susan Rice, a central driver of Obama's foreign policy, is a "principled pragmatist" when it comes to international affairs. U.S. News & World Report, September 8.

Ted Koppel quizzed Randy Scheunemann on McCain/Palin's foreign-policy expertise and advisors. Scheunemann lauded Palin's executive experience running a state with two international borders, going on to outline McCain's foreign-policy vision and advisor base. Talk of the Nation, September 8.

The Sudanese government is more worried about the United States under a new president than under Bush. They're fearful of Biden's calls for intervention and the carryovers from the Clinton administration on Obama's foreign-policy team. LA Times, September 6.

Randy Scheunemann has a long history with Georgia. Not surprising, then, that his interview with Newsweek about McCain's foreign policy focused on Russia and Saakashvili. September 6.

Obama advisor Susan Rice talked up her candidate to U.S. News & World Report, focusing on getting forceful with Russia and rejecting the idea of an Obama doctrine. September 5.

Filling in for Randy Scheunemann, Joe Lieberman lauded McCain's planned foreign-policy "shake-up" with veiled criticism of President Bush and big plans for the State Department. Washington Times, September 4.

James Woolsey and Randy Scheunemann are under fire for their critiques of Barack Obama's take on the war on terror. The New Republic, September 4.

VP candidate Sarah Palin's foreign-policy team might look eerily familiar. That's because if they're not already on the McCain team, they're probably former-Bush administration aides like Steve Biegun, who worked for Condi Rice, and Matt Scully, a Bush foreign-policy speechwriter. The New Republic, September 2.

To prep for her debates with Biden, Republican VP candidate Sarah Palin has been receiving a crash course in McCain's foreign policy from none other than top advisor Randy Scheunemann. WSJ, September 3.

The New York Times is a dubious about top McCain advisor and Iraq War vet Lindsey Graham's endorsement of Palin. Graham is certain Palin will do what's right when it comes to the world's foreign-policy hotspots, but that may only be because she's "tended" by McCain's advisors. September 2.

Giorgi Baramidze, a Georgian vice prime minister, is in Denver trying to enlist support from Democratic bigwigs. He's chatted with Obama advisors Susan Rice and Tony Lake and former-Clinton advisor Richard Holbrooke so far. National Journal, August 28.

According to Obama national-security advisor Greg Craig, President Barack would visit a Muslim capital within a year of taking office as a gesture to the Islamic world (Sydney Morning Herald). As for talking to Iran, and who Obama would talk to, Craig says that's "yet to be decided" (Jewish Daily Forward). August 28-29.

A new cold war? Obama advisor Susan Rice says no. She's also against the league-of-democracies proposal: "John McCain's notion is a very exclusionary one." Economic Times (India), August 29.

A slew of foreign dignitaries are at the Democratic convention in Denver this week shilling for their countries. Representatives from Kurdistan and Georgia, among others, are busily chatting up Obama advisors like Tony Lake, Susan Rice and Greg Craig. Bloomberg, August 28.

As Democrats dominate the airwaves, Republicans are trying to paint Obama as a foreign-policy weakling: Robert Kagan says Obama seems to believe that "all you ever need to do is get everyone in the same room and have a nice, pleasant chat and work everything out." But Barack advisor Jeremy Rosner lambastes the "toxic and dangerous effects of a neocon unilateralist style that has nearly shattered our alliances and made Americans weaker." The Washington Post, August 28.

Former Navy secretary and Obama advisor Richard Danzig is concerned about the GOP nominee's temper: "I think John McCain is well-known for ‘losing it' in a variety of circumstances." The New Republic, August 26.

Will Joe Biden affect Barack's foreign policy? Obama advisor Greg Craig says it's too early to tell. The Irish Times, August 27.

McCain advisors Lindsey Graham and Joe Lieberman say "Russia's aggression" will not stand in this Wall Street Journal op-ed. August 26.

Cindy McCain flew to Tbilisi on Monday to meet with embattled Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili. Foreign-policy chief Randy Scheunemann said only his candidate understood the threat posed by Moscow's policies. The Guardian, August 26.

McCain advisor Robert Kagan outlines George W. Bush's conversion from realism to idealism and lays out an ambitious democracy agenda in the September/October edition of Foreign Affairs.

Obama aide Greg Craig says that Barack is JFK's heir, now that Caroline and Ted Kennedy have given the Illinois senator their stamp of approval: he gushes over the "passing of the torch" on NPR. August 25.

But some see Barack as more Jimmy Carter than John Kennedy: indecisive in the face of a crisis. The Jerusalem Post, August 26.

Obama's and Biden's differing views on Iraq have converged in recent months.  Politico reports that the reconciliation was "engineered by Obama foreign policy guru Susan Rice and Biden's highly regarded committee staff director Tony Blinken."  Politico Online, August 24.

McCain advisor Robert Kagan argued recently that great power battles, and not Islamic terrorism, will be America's greatest challenge in the future.  Telegraph (UK), August 22.

After slamming McCain for employing lobbyists in his campaign, it turns out that Obama now has one of his own: David Shapiro. Mr. Shapiro is a foreign-policy advisor to Senator Obama and also lobbies for the American Petroleum Institute-the main lobbying organization for "Big Oil."

While we wait for the pick, Veep candidate Joe Biden continues to be vetted by Jeffrey Goldberg of the Atlantic, who cites the Democratic Senator's 2005 New Yorker profile to argue that he really "gets" the political significance of 9/11.  Says Goldberg, "it certainly has power in parts of the country ill-disposed to Obama." Atlantic Monthly Online, August 22.

McCain's approach to national security issues demonstrates a "pattern here of recklessness," according to Obama's senior foreign-policy advisor Susan Rice.  Richard Clarke-also an Obama advisor-adds that McCain's rhetoric on national security has been "reckless, trigger happy, and largely discredited." Congressional Quarterly Online, August 21.

Also, Obama said today that his foreign policy team would include the "best and the brightest." Some names he mentioned: Sam Nunn, Richard Holbrooke, former Defense Secretary William Perry, and Republican Senators Richard Lugar and Chuck Hagel.  Reuters, August 21.

Obama advisor and former ambassador to Israel Daniel Kurtzer tells Eli Lake about his conversation with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem while on a trip to the region. A possible peace deal between Damascus and Jerusalem came up, naturally. The New York Sun, August 20.

The latest on the Obama VP watch is that Barack will appear in Washington on Saturday with his choice. Joe Biden, Tim Kaine, Evan Bayh and Kathleen Sebelius are believed to be the ones in the running. McCain's top choices are said to include Tim Pawlenty, Mitt Romney, Tom Ridge and Joe Lieberman. USA Today, August 20.

It appears that both presidential candidates don't see the U.S.-Russia relationship improving anytime soon. McCain advisor Steven Biegun says "It's going to be in pretty bad shape for the next president of the United States"; Obama aide Michael McFaul is concerned about the lack of American leverage. Reuters UK, August 19.

Gerald Seib of the Wall Street Journal thinks that people should be focusing on what the candidates would have done before the Georgia-Russia war, not what they're saying now. McCain advisor Randy Scheunemann says the West should have been tougher on Moscow; Obama aide Tony Lake argues more engagement was the answer. August 19.

McCain advisor Robert Kagan says that "history's back"-the West needs to have more spine and confront revisionist, autocratic powers like Russia. The Weekly Standard, August 25 issue.

Barack Obama looks to be ready to pick a running mate. Will he go with Sen. Joe Biden, in an attempt to counteract his perceived foreign-policy weakness? Agence France-Presse, August 19.

Addressing the controversy over advisor Randy Scheunemann, whose lobbying firm has come under scrutiny for representing the Georgian government, John McCain said he's "proud" of his top advisor. USA Today, August 18.

Who will be the next secretary of state? Joe Biden seems to be a possibility for Obama; Bob Gates and Richard Lugar could head Foggy Bottom if McCain wins. The Christian Science Monitor, August 18.

Obama confidante Zbigniew Brzezinski and many neoconservatives have embraced Georgia's cause. Yet some Bush I realists in the McCain camp are skeptical. The Financial Times, August 16.

Obama semi-advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski poses this question in Time: "Russia is now on watch: Will it continue to rely on coercion to achieve its imperial aims or is it willing to work within the emerging international system that values cooperation and consensus?" August 14.

The Washington Post says that John McCain has been acting too presidential when it comes to the Georgia crisis. Foreign-policy chief Randy Scheunemann and Obama advisor Susan Rice make appearances. August 15.

McCain advisor Bill Kristol says that Colin Powell, previously identified as a McCain confidante, will endorse Barack Obama and speak at the Democratic convention (Fox News). The general had the following to say about that: "I do not have time to waste on Bill Kristol's musings. I am not going to the convention. I have made this clear" (Agence France-Presse). August 13-14.

Obama and McCain continue to wage a war of words over the situation in Georgia. The GOP nominee has dispatched Senators Lindsey Graham and Joe Lieberman to Tbilisi; Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili told CNN that he was talking to McCain "several times a day." But Obama aide Susan Rice says that the Arizona senator has handled the crisis poorly and "shot from the hip." Agence France-Presse, August 13.

The New York Times has more on McCain foreign-policy chief Randy Scheunemann's lobbying history and ties to the Georgian government. August 13.

Yesterday on Hardball, Obama advisor Susan Rice said John McCain was too quick to judge on the Georgia conflict: "John McCain shot from the hip, [with a] very aggressive, very belligerent statement. . . . He may or may not have complicated the situation." The Politico, August 13.

McCain advisor Randy Scheunemann confirms that Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili and the Arizona senator are great friends: they went jet-skiing on the Black Sea together in 2006 (CNN). The Washington Post also has a piece on the ever-present Scheunemann, who faces a stream of criticism for his lobbying ties to Tbilisi. August 13.

Virginia Governor Tim Kaine is giving a lot of credit to Barack Obama for the cease-fire between Georgia and Russia. Guess someone wants to be vice president. . . YouTube, August 12.

McCain advisor Robert Kagan adds his voice to the chorus of vitriol directed at the Kremlin: "The details of who did what to precipitate Russia's war against Georgia are not very important. Do you recall the precise details of the Sudeten Crisis that led to Nazi Germany's invasion of Czechoslovakia?" The Washington Post, August 11.

It's not just Republicans that are coming down hard on Russia in the war with Georgia: an Obama elder statesman, Zbigniew Brzezinski, says that Russian PM Vladimir Putin is "following a course that is horrifyingly similar to that taken by Stalin and Hitler in the 1930s. . . . Georgia is to an extent the Finland of today, both morally and strategically." The Guardian, August 12.

The Austin American-Statesman does a rundown of foreign-policy advisors to both campaigns. The usual suspects here: Madeleine Albright, Henry Kissinger, Obama's mini-State Department. There is this gem from McCain aide Randy Scheunemann, though: "Sen. McCain needs foreign policy advisers like Tiger Woods needs a golf coach." August 10.

Randy Returns: McCain advisor Scheunemann, who has received unwanted attention in the past for his business activities, is again under the microscope now that war has broken out between Georgia and Russia. Though he is no longer a registered lobbyist, he's a part owner of Orion Strategies, which just signed a $200,000 contract with Tbilisi in April. Obama spokesman Hari Sevugan says this is evidence of a McCain campaign "ensconced in a lobbyist culture" (Wall Street Journal). Meanwhile, McCain aide Tucker Bounds calls Democratic criticisms, from New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, among others, "disgraceful" and "bizarrely in sync with the Kremlin" (New York Sun). August 11.

Scheunemann was quick to attack Barack Obama and the Kremlin: "[Obama's] first statement was very weak and did not distinguish between the aggressor and the victim." But Barack foreign-policy adviser Michael McFaul says it's too early to start pointing fingers at Russia: "I just don't think at that point it was useful to start assigning blame. The first thing you need to do is stop the violence." Wall Street Journal, August 11.

Another of John McCain's advisors, Bill Kristol, asks if "Russia will get away with it" today in his New York Times column. He argues that because Georgia is a democratic country, and a contributor of troops to the Iraq effort, "we owe Georgia a serious effort to defend its sovereignty." August 11.