From the LVRJ (via HoldemRadio):

“Let me get back to you on it,” he said. “I haven’t thought about the issue.”

He did say he had concerns about Internet gaming originating in foreign countries. Of course, this happens because of U.S. policy and restrictions, but never mind.

McCain also spoke about oversight and making sure the kiddies don’t have access.

“I’ll call you back,” he added.

The $10k buy-in World Poker Tour main event of the L.A. Poker Classic got underway today at Commerce Casino. The final number of entrants was 665 - less than last year but impressive nonetheless. First prize will be over $1.6 million.

Walking around the tournament tables at the beginning of the day, it was obvious that it was a stacked field with pros everywhere - Phil Ivey, Barry Greenstein, Freddy Deeb, Phil Hellmuth, Huck Seed, Erik Seidel, David Benyamine, Tom Schneider, Daniel Negreanu, Johnny Chan, Gavin Griffin, Bill Edler, John Juanda… etc. Also in the field were the WPT’s own Mike Sexton and Vince Van Patten, both of whom are obviously now (WPT change of contract terms?) allowed to play. And the celebrity quotient was filled by Montel Williams and Rick Salomon, if the latter is considered a celeb by anyone other than the tabloids.

Side note: Daniel Negreanu was sporting an Obama ‘08 shirt. That Barack guy is all the rage these days, eh?

Official live updates reveal that David Singer led the pack at the end of Day 1.

PokerListings and PokerPages are also in the media hizzouse (excuse the lame attempt at hipness - it’s late) providing updates as allowed.

It seems that Doyle Brunson has made his decision in the presidential race. He stated in his most recent blog post that he is throwing his support behind Barack Obama and is urging the poker community to do the same.

In other obvious news, Doyle’s blog will now be appearing on PokerRoad.

After Sen. Hillary Clinton received the public endorsement of Nevada Rep. Shelley Berkley this month, Clinton seems to have a newfound interest in studying online gaming. While she probably won’t be found grinding it out in the Full Tilt ring games, she has admitted a bill to study online gambling. Is it a coincidence that Berkley is the one who introduced HR 2140, which is the Internet Gambling Study Bill?

According to the Las Vegas Sun, Clinton does support the study, while Sen. John Edwards does not, citing doubt that legal online gambling could be controlled.

Sen. Barack Obama does support the study, though he has concerns about the internet being a “Wild West of illegal activity.” Strange that he wouldn’t be a bigger supporter of online gaming, specifically poker, when poker is such an important pastime to him. He not only started a weekly game in the Illinois legislature when he was a state senator but reportedly took his game pretty seriously.

Today is the Nevada caucus, so a few hours will tell who gets the support of the state’s voters.

Strange. Just listened to the latest episode of Beyond the Table, the first of the new year. If you haven’t queued up “ . . . Who Needs Enemies?” yet, let me forewarn you. The guys talk about poker. That’s right. Poker. I mean like all the way through.

What the hell?

After a brief rundown of the several January tourneys presently ongoing, Tom offers some winning wisdom regarding tourney selection. Then, prompted by a question from Karridy, there follows a smart, insightful discussion about differences between cash game players and tourney players. Yeah, I know. “Smart” and “insightful” usually ain’t what us BTT fans are looking for. But there it is.

Next the trio turn their attention to Dan’s first poker session after moving to Vegas, as well as the rambling, gambling fortunes of Dan’s friend, Bob. The show concludes with a stunner of sorts regarding CardPlayer’s recent 12-page, comprehensive overview of “Poker’s 2007 Odyssey: A Review of the Year’s Historic Events.” (Hint: The article ain’t as comprehensive as one might have hoped.)

Oh, there were opportunities for the hosts to get away from the pokery content. Other topics arise, such as Dan’s sex life, Barack Obama, and froteurism. (Not at the same time. Ahem.) But somehow none of these offered enough turbulence to divert Beyond the Table from its poker-specific flightpath.

Do let the BTT hosts know how you feel about this strange new development by calling the listener line at (888) 820-8091 or emailing theshow(at)beyondthetable(dot)com.

Barack Obama giving his best impression of Phil Hellmuth. [Photo by Flap]

The Associated Press just put a story on the wire about Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama’s outlook on poker. Not from a legal standpoint — he publicly acknowledges he played for money while on duty as an Illinois state senator, despite laws prohibiting as much — but about his style as a player.

Obama studied the odds carefully, friends say. If he had strong cards, he’d play. If he didn’t, he would fold rather than bet good money on the chance the right card would show up when he needed it.

That reputation meant that he often succeeded when he decided to bluff.

“When Barack stayed in, you pretty much figured he’s got a good hand,” said Larry Walsh, a former senator.

More than one lawmaker teased Obama about his careful style of play.

“I always used to kid him that the only fiscally conservative bone in his body I ever saw was at the poker table with his own money,” said state Sen. Bill Brady, a Republican from the central Illinois city of Bloomington. “I said if he would be half as conservative with taxpayer dollars, the state would be a lot better off.”

Hmm, sounds pretty much like a rock, not to be confused with Iraq.

(Thanks, Venita, for the tip!)