Obama Placed Under Secret Service Protection

Article Link

‘Not aware it was based on any threat,’ agency spokesman says
WASHINGTON – The Secret Service said Thursday that Sen. Barack Obama was being placed under their protection, the earliest ever for a presidential candidate.Secret Service spokesman Eric Zahren said Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff authorized Obama’s protection after consultations with the congressional advisory committee.Officials said Obama had requested the protection. Such requests are then sent to the congressional panel for approval or rejection.Zahren would not provide details of what led to the extra security, but said, “I’m not aware it was based on any threat.”

Earlier reports said Obama had received a threat of some sort.

But a Homeland Security official said it was not in response to a specific threat.

Obama’s campaign office deferred all questions to the Secret Service and Homeland Security.

The Illinois Democrat’s schedule for Thursday had him traveling from Washington, D.C., to New York for fundraising events on Friday.