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 On the eve of Democrat Barack Obama's overseas tour, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told employees at U.S. embassies to provide only minimal help to visiting presidential candidates.

 

The orders went to all overseas posts and told government employees not to do anything that might show favoritism or amount to improper campaign activity. A spokesman said the State Department issued similar orders ahead of presumed Republican nominee John McCain's similar overseas tour four months ago, but limited the communication to embassies in countries the Republican planned to visit.

 

Obama traveled to Afghanistan and Iraq in his capacity as a member of Congress and was joined by Sens. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., and Jack Reed, D-R.I. Like his Afghanistan stop, his visit to Iraq had heavy security and limited media access. Visiting U.S. officials and lawmakers often invite reporters to cover their visits and some hold news conferences with leaders in Baghdad, but Obama has been shielded from the media.

 

In Iraq, journalists were able to watch him depart from meetings and managed to shout questions, but the replies were brief and Obama didn't break stride. His movements around Iraq were also kept secret by U.S. officials.

 

 

The Defense Department released three brief videos of Obama meeting with troops in Basra and President Jalal Talabani and Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki in Baghdad's heavily secured Green Zone.

 

Obama's advisers have insisted the visit is not a campaign trip but a chance to strengthen international relationships. Still, he traveled to the war zone with two potential vice presidential candidates - Hagel and Reed.

 

State Department spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos said there was nothing unusual about either set of Rice's instructions or their timing, but would not provide the full text.

 

"I don't have any information to show that it was anything but us providing information to the field about what we're expecting our folks to be doing," Gallegos said Monday.

 

Gallegos said there was no "specific reason that because he, this specific candidate, is going out that we now have to remind everybody," but said embassy employees did have questions about what was appropriate. Rice's all-points memo was meant to make sure that "everybody is singing off the same sheet of music," Gallegos said.

 

Government employees are prohibited from certain political activity on the job and cannot perform campaign work. Rice's orders give examples of things embassy employees should not do, such as arrange high-level meetings for visiting candidates or get involved in nitty-gritty logistical details.

 

As an example of appropriate logistical help, Rice's memo, sent late Thursday, said, "If the campaign staff wants to rent a bus for press, tell them where they can rent a bus."

 

Rice's order, first reported by The Washington Times, makes clear that the rules apply to either candidate. The rules are more complicated this year because both candidates are members of Congress, who are normally accorded extensive embassy support when they travel overseas.

 

Under ordinary circumstances, diplomats might meet congressional delegations at the airport, set up briefings with the host government, and arrange sightseeing or shopping tours.

 

Obama's trip is further complicated by the fact that two fellow senators traveled with him during his visits to Afghanistan and Iraq over the past several days, but Obama will continue solo for other stops in the Middle East and Europe.

 

Gallegos could not say whether embassy employees made any distinction between Obama and the others when arranging the senators' Iraq visit on Monday. The visit included meetings with top Iraqi officials.

 

The orders tell diplomats and bureaucrats overseas to treat the candidates as "members of Congress visiting in personal or semi-personal capacities," but "with additional restrictions based on rules related to political activity."

 

Gallegos said such warnings are standard procedure "every four years."