In other campaign news, Democratic presidential hopeful Senator Barack Obama has been put under the protection of the United States Secret Service. The Associated Press reported the decision was made in part because racist messages have been posted on white supremacist websites. It is the earliest time in an election cycle that the Secret Service has ever placed a presidential candidate under its protection. The New York Times reports that the Rev. Jesse Jackson also drew early Secret Service protection because of violent threats during his campaigns for president in 1984 and 1988.