A few odds and ends to cover this fine Thursday evening:
-- NBC's Andrea Mitchell and Rick Davis have words about the implications of John McCain's "Celeb" ad:
-- Barack Obama's campaign launched a new site today to fact check McCain's charges against him: Low Road Express. The site's catch phrase? "The Straight Talk Express has taken a nasty turn into the gutter."
-- And ICYMI, McCain said during a WI town hall today that he is "proud" of the "Celeb" spot: "So, all I can say is that we are proud of that commercial. We think Americans need to know that I believe that we should base this campaign on what we can do for Americans here at home and how we can make America safe and prosperous and that is the theme of our campaign."
And readers ... Is the McCain attack strategy effective? Backlash imminent? Will it work?
Apparently Kid Rock, American Idol also ran Kelly Pickler and John McCainwill appear 8/4 at the Buffalo Chip’s tribute to American veterans and active duty servicemen during the annual Sturgis (SD) Motorcycle Rally. So will this celebrity trio, who aren't scheduled to rock out together, hit the Miss Miller Lite contest?
Or perhaps the related footage will be used in a rival's television ads ...
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA - Barack Obama condemned John McCain's "Celeb" ad today as the latest of his rival's "predictable political attacks," and the presumptive Democratic nominee portrayed his opponent as looking out for profitable big oil contributors instead of the working class.
"While big oil is making record profits, you're paying record prices at the pump, and our economy is leaving working people behind," Obama told residents of this flood-ravaged city, hours after Exxon-Mobil announced a record $12B quarterly profit.
He defended his opposition to expanded offshore oil drilling, saying it wouldn't provide "short-term relief or medium-term relief or, in fact, long-term relief."
"Now although it won't save you dollars at the pump, I have to say that it has helped raise campaign dollars," he added. "Because last month, Senator McCain raised more than a million dollars from -- guess who? -- oil and gas company executives and employees - most of whom, most of these campaign contributions came after he went to Houston to meet with a bunch of oil executives and announce that he was in favor of offshore drilling. That's not a strategy designed to end our energy crisis, it's a strategy designed to get politicians through an election."
Obama also said that McCain is resorting to negative attacks instead of offering solutions for the nation's economic woes.
"Given the magnitude of our challenges when it comes to energy and health care and jobs and our foreign policy, you'd think that we'd be having a serious debate," he said. "But so far, all we've been hearing about is Paris Hilton and Britney Spears. I do have to ask my opponent, is that the best you can come up with? Is that really what this election's about? Is that what is worthy of the American people?"
Barack Obama's campaign is using John McCain's "Celeb" ad to raise coin before the midnight fundraising deadline. In a cyber appeal, Obama campaign manager David Plouffe calls the spot, which compares Obama's celebrity to that of Brittany Spears and Paris Hilton, "the latest and lowest in a series of misleading attack ads" and a "Karl Rove-style ploy."
Plouffe asks for $5 donations to get Obama's response ad -- called "Low Road" -- on the air and to "show the McCain campaign that there is a cost to this kind of negative politics."
Plouffe's full appeal is available after the jump.
With eight new state polls out since last week's 7/25 update, Barack Obama's Electoral College lead has increased while his margins in key battleground states have decreased. The Hotline estimates Obama now has 319 EVs to John McCain's 207 -- a 27 EV swing from Obama's 292-234 EV lead on 7/25.
But Obama interestingly now has 207 solid EVs and 61 lean EVs; last week he had 227 solid EVs and only 14 lean EVs. McCain meanwhile has 142 solid EVs and 23 lean EVs; one week ago, he had only 134 solid EVs but 50 lean EVs. Twelve EVs remain toss-ups.
The 27 EV switch was the result of a Quinnipiac Univ. poll released this a.m. showing Obama with a statistically insignificant 46-44% lead in FL. Previously, two GOP pollsters had shown FL as lean and solid McCain, respectively; in Quinnipiac's previous FL survey, completed 6/16, Obama had a statistically significant 47-43% lead.
In addition to the new FL numbers, Quinnipiac shows Obama leading 46-44% in OH and 49-42% in PA -- down from his leads of 6% in OH and 12% in PA on 6/16. While the narrow margin in OH moves its 20 EVs from solid Obama to lean Obama, PA's 21 EVs remain solid Obama. Likewise, a new Strategic Vision (R) poll shows Obama with a solid (9%) lead in PA.
Meanwhile a new Research 2000 survey in SC -- the first poll taken in the state -- shows McCain leading Obama 53-40% and moves SC from the Bush/Bush projection to solid McCain. Finally, new polls out in CA, ME and WA all confirm these states as Obama strongholds.
As always, the chart includes all WH '08 state polling data published in The Hotline since 5/23. The most recent poll, the one used to identify each state's winner, is listed on the same line as the state symbol with older surveys below. In addition, only the most recent poll from a pollster is retained for each state. For the 15 states (including DC) without current polling data available, the winner has been estimated based on WH '00 and WH '04 results. For a full explanation of the symbols in the far right column see the key below the chart.
Here are the scheduled guests for the Sunday public affairs shows and other weekend programs:
SUNDAY:
Meet the Press hosts Sens. John Kerry (D-MA) and Joe Lieberman (I-CT), and a roundtable with NBC's Andrea Mitchell, NBC's Chuck Todd and PBS' Judy Woodruff.
Face the Nation hosts McCain Victory Chair Carly Fiorina and ex-Treasury Sec. Robert Rubin.
This Week hosts Speaker Nancy Pelosi and ex-PA Gov. Tom Ridge (R), and a roundtable with George Will, Dem strategist Donna Brazile and ex-WH adviser David Gergen.
Fox News Sunday hosts Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC). The "Power Player" is Ashley Judd.
Late Edition hosts Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, Undersec. of State for Public Diplomacy Jim Glassman, Obama economic adviser Laura Tyson, McCain economic adviser Nancy Pfotenhauer, Maj. Gen. Mark Hertling, and a roundtable with CNN's Bill Schneider, Joe Johns and Gloria Borger.
RICHMOND, VA -- During an hour-long program on Richmond talk radio station, Gov. Tim Kaine said he has not been approached to speak at the Democratic convention.
"I haven't been contacted about that," he said when asked if he'd be speaking in Denver. "If they want me to, I'd be glad to."
Kaine was introduced by the station's producers with a tongue-in-cheek promo: "Ask the future possible Vice President." But Kaine told his interviewers on WRVA that he does not publicly discuss his conversations with Obama's team.
"I'm not going to make a case for myself for VP, because I haven't ever asked to be considered," he told a call-in questioner who asked about his foreign policy qualifications as a veep. But he quickly added, "You're right. I'm an economy and education guy. That's what governors do."
The governor also touted the news this morning that, for the third time, Forbes magazine has named Virginia as the nation's most business-friendly state. Kaine also voiced his support for exploratory efforts to investigate oil reserves off of the Virginia coast, a position that's at odds with Obama's opposition to offshore drilling.
"I do favor an exploration to determine the size of the reserve," he said, adding that he would only support drilling if the reserve was sizeable and environmental consequences were negligable.
Later in the morning, the governor visited a Richmond child development center, where he was serenaded by elementary school-age kids from disadvantaged backgrounds. After a week of feverish speculation and the resulting criticism from opponents, it may have been a relief to him that the only attack he faced there was one from a rambunctious 3-year old, who surprised him with a hearty splash of water from a play pool.
Democrats might say... at least he's getting his feet wet.
Remember the barrage of attacks Barack Obama endured during the primary after he asserted that he would meet with leaders of rogue nations? Well, it seems Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) is gung-ho about speaking with Cuban President Raul Castro and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez during a trip to Latin America next month, the AP is reporting today.
Hey readers ... If you see Barack Obama's new spot -- "Low Road" -- airing in your state, let us know. Campaign officials haven't said in which states the the television ad, a response to John McCain's much-maligned "Celeb" spot, is running.
"Vote Both" -- an effort to push the ticket pairing of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton -- is closing its cyber shop. Word of the group's decision comes with reports that Clinton will address the Democratic convention in Denver Tuesday evening, not Wednesday, when the veep nom traditionally speaks.
A message from "Vote Both" co-founders is available after the jump.
A new Quinnipiac survey of voters in three battlegrounds -- FL, OH and PA -- shows Barack Obama leading John McCain, but the Dem's edge in each of the three states is narrower than in last month's poll.
FL
Obama leads 46%-44%, compared to 47%-43% in mid June
OH
Obama leads 46%-44%, compared to 48%-42% last month
PA
Obama leads 49%-42%, compared to 52%-40% last month
John McCain will indeed give the money he received from indicted AK Sen. Ted Stevens' political action committee to charity, a campaign spokesman told NBC/NJ's Adam Aigner-Treworgy. The campaign will donate $5K from Stevens' Northern Lights PAC to the Flight 93 Memorial Fund, created in honor of those who perished on United Flight 93, which crashed 9/11 outside of Shanksville, PA.
John McCain's new ad comparing Barack Obama to Britney Spears and Paris Hilton received a lot of attention last night.
CNN's Bash: "The McCain camp says their ad was a buzz-generating attempt at satire, but some McCain allies tell us they worry that it's coming across as snark, instead of substance, and that McCain should be more forceful about talking up his own assets, instead of talking down Obama's" ("AC 360," 7/30).
Karl Rove: "It's sort of, I think, an odd ad. ... But, on the other hand, at the heart of it is a very sharp distinction between the two. Senator Obama is against drilling on offshore on the outer continental shelf. Senator McCain is in favor of it" ("Hannity & Colmes," FNC, 7/30).
Pat Buchanan: "Britney Spears and Paris Hilton, where was Lindsay Lohan, for heaven's sake?" ("Race for the WH," MSNBC, 7/30).
After the jump, Obama's rapper problem and Kaine talks Veepstakes.
The rapper/actor Ludacris has a new song out -- "Politics: Obama Is Back" -- that includes some pretty harsh lyrics about Hillary Clinton, John McCain and President Bush.
"Paint the White House black, and I'm sure that's got them terrified," Ludacris sings.
Obama spokesman Bill Burton issued a statement saying that Ludacris, who met with Obama in 2006, should be "ashamed" of the tune:
“As Barack Obama has said many, many times in the past, rap lyrics today too often perpetuate misogyny, materialism, and degrading images that he doesn’t want his daughters or any children exposed to. This song is not only outrageously offensive to Senator Clinton, Reverend Jackson, Senator McCain, and President Bush, it is offensive to all of us who are trying to raise our children with the values we hold dear. While Ludacris is a talented individual he should be ashamed of these lyrics.”
As the MSM and others process John McCain's new television spot, which bashes Barack Obama for being "the biggest celebrity in the world" (read: all flash, no substance), it's worth noting that McCain's campaign manager -- Steve Schmidt -- ran the gube campaign of arguably the biggest actual celebrity in American politics:
Barack Obama, boarding his bus after a stop at The Bell Restaurant in Lebanon, MO, answers a reporter's question about John McCain's new TV ad, "Celeb":
"You know, I don't pay attention to John McCain's ads. Although I do notice that he doesn't seem to have anything to say very positive about himself. He seems to only be talking about me. You need to ask John McCai what he's for, not just what he's against."
That's how long it took John McCain to respond to the seven-count indictment against Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK), one of McCain's favorite GOP punching bags on pork-barrel spending. Even then, McCain's response came through campaign spokeswoman Nicole Wallace:
"Like every American, Senator Stevens is entitled to a presumption of innocence. Senator McCain and Senator Stevens have clashed famously over the appropriations process, which Senator McCain views as broken and subject to the type of corruption that has caused voters to lose faith with Washington, and as Senator McCain mentions on the campaign trail nearly daily, has resulted in former members of congress residing in prison. Senator McCain has fought loudly and often alone against corruption and wasteful spending, and this is a sad reminder that the next president will have his work cut out for him in rebuilding public trust by ending once and for all pork barrel spending and by reforming the federal government from top to bottom."
John McCain and Barack Obama are featured in eponymous comic books debuting this fall. The books are biographical and, according to IDW Publishing, "take advantage of one of the true American art forms, the comic book, to explore the histories of both presumptive nominees."
The AP is reporting today that the books will be released Oct. 8 in comic book shops and will also be available for purchase online and for reading on cell phones.
"We're not doing anything that is sensational here," IDW special projects editor Scott Dunbier told the AP, adding that neither campaign was involved in the development of the books. "We're sticking to the facts."
Television ad spending has exceeded $50M in the first two months of the general election campaign, according to a report issued today by the University of Wisconsin Advertising Project.
Barack Obama and John McCain have aired more TV spots in more markets than their counterparts did during the 2004 campaign. From June 3, the end of the primary contest, to July 26, Obama and McCain have aired more than 100K ads on broadcast TV, compared with 77K aired over the same period in 2004.
McCain's camp has spent more than $21M on TV ads since June 3, while his Dem rival has sunk more than $27M into spots. The Republican National Committee has bolstered McCain's advertising effort, spending $3.6M to air 6,005 spots over the last two months. The Democratic National Committee, meanwhile, has yet to air a single presidential election ad.
Obama aired 9K more spots than the presumptive GOP nom, 55,312 to 46,563. But add the RNC's buy to the mix and the margin between the candidates drops to 2,744 ads.
Other interesting items in the report:
-- Obama is airing ads in 37 markets where McCain has not aired a single spot;
-- Although FL was the pivotal state in the 2000 contest and remains a critical battleground for both candidates, McCain has not aired an ad there since June 3, while Obama has aired more than 7K ads in the Sunshine State;
-- In addition to FL, Obama is airing ads exclusively in GA, NC, IN, MT and AK, states that neither Al Gore in 2000 nor John Kerry in 2004 won;
-- With all the talk about the candidates' potential abilities to expand their electoral playing fields, the noms are making their greatest investment in traditional Midwest/Rust Belt battlegrounds: OH, MI and PA;
-- PA leads the pack with $10.3M in total campaign ad spending, followed by OH ($6.4M), MI ($6M), FL ($5M), VA ($4.4) and WI ($3.2M); and
-- The top 20 media markets in order are Philly, Detroit, Cleveland, Grand Rapids, Cincinnati, Harrisburg, La Crosse, Milwaukee, Las Vegas, Denver, Madison, Columbus (OH), Lansing, Pittsburgh, Green Bay, Albuquerque, Toledo, Youngstown, Reno and Wilkes Barre.
SPRINGFIELD, MO - Barack Obama returned to the campaign trail today, guns blazing.
Responding to a barrage of attacks in recent weeks, and a new ad from his GOP rival linking his celebrity to that of Britney Spears and Paris Hilton, Obama tagged John McCain to the President Bush's economic policies, claiming that it is the Republican nominee who is the "risky" choice in November.
"Nobody thinks that Bush or McCain have a real answer for the challenges we face, so what they are going to try to do is make you scared of me," he told more than a thousand at a high school here. "He's risky, that's the argument. ... It's like, well we don't have very much to offer, but he's risky. And let me just say, it's true that change, change is hard. Change isn't easy. And the question you have to ask yourself is, ' What's more risky'?"
It is, Obama said, "too risky not to change."
Obama focused almost exclusively on the economy -- high energy costs, in particular -- during his half-hour opening remarks. He challenged the notion that offshore drilling is the answer to the crisis, saying the effort may not have an impact for 10 years, if at all.
"I know gas prices have gone down, it's (a) grand bargain now, $3.95" a gallon, he said. "Earlier George Bush was on TV talking about his energy plan. Now think about it -- where has Bush been over the last eight years? Where was John McCain over the last 25?"
CHINCOTEAGUE, Va. -- Virginia governor Tim Kaine tells NBC/National Journal that he is not aware of how far along Barack Obama is in his vice presidential selection process and that he has not spoken with the IL senator "for a number of weeks."
Kaine, widely rumored to be at the top of Obama's veep short list, attended the annual Chincoteague Pony Swim this morning with his 13-year old daughter. During an interview, Kaine downplayed chatter about his vice presidential nom potential. "I have no idea how serious it is or anything," he said, "but it's been kind of fun."
Asked if he's spoken with the Illinois senator recently, Kaine responded, "No, not for, gosh, for a number of weeks. Since before his trip. And I really don't have any idea about where the process is."
Kaine insisted that he has "no hints about timing" for the veep rollout. But he doesn't seem to mind the spotlight in the meantime. "It's nice to be speculated about," he said with a smile.
Kaine, who called the hype "kind of weird" and "surreal," was clad in a t-shirt celebrating the Virginia town's annual Pony Swim, during which Chincoteague's trademark breed of ponies are herded across a channel from a nearby island for penning and auctioning.
Square on the back of Kaine's screen-printed tee: the calendar year "08."
"Senator McCain visited the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona, yesterday (Monday) for a routine check of his dermatological health. The biopsy that was performed did not show any evidence of skin cancer. No further treatment is necessary."
Another negative TV spot from John McCain's camp. This one notes that Barack Obama is "the biggest celebrity in the world," and features footage from Obama's Berlin speech and shots Paris Hilton and Brittany Spears. But a female narrator asks, "Is he ready to lead?" The spot accuses Obama of opposing offshore drilling and promising to raise taxes on electricity.
Narrator: "Higher taxes, more foreign oil, that's the real Obama."
The indictment of Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) was the talk of the TV last night.
CBS' Axelrod: "Stevens says he's not guilty, but if prosecutors prevail then Ted Stevens, who was a player in Alaska politics before Alaska was a state, may very well have thrown away 40 years of Senate service for a first floor addition and a finished basement" ("Evening News," 7/29).
Washingtonpost.com's Cillizza, on AK SEN: "Ted Stevens can't take his name off the ballot. He would have had to do that 48 days before the primary. The primary's August 26. ... The best case scenario for Republicans, Stevens runs and wins the primary. He then steps aside. ... The Republican State Central Committee ... would then be able to replace him with a candidate of their choosing. That's a lot of ifs, and it includes the fact that Ted Stevens, who has shown absolutely no willingness to step aside, despite this ongoing investigation, that he wants to say, 'You know what? I'm done. I'll do what you want me to do.' ... I'm not sure it's going to happen" ("Hardball," MSNBC, 7/29).
FNC's Barnes: "Republicans have always said that even though Ted Stevens has a tough race for reelection this year at age 84, he will win unless he's indicted. He has been indicted now" ("Special Report," 7/29).
NBC's P. Williams: "Prosecutors say they brought the charges when the case was ready and that the Alaska election was not a factor" ("Nightly News," 7/29).
CNN's Toobin, asked how serious the charges are: "Just ask Martha Stewart. She went to jail for the same kind of thing. ... You know, it's not the crime. It's the cover-up" ("AC 360," 7/29).
After the jump, more Stevens and CBS visits McCain HQ.
With all the buzz today around Gov. Tim Kaine as Barack Obama's potential veep selection, we thought readers would enjoy Kaine's rowdy VA Jefferson Jackson speech (2/9/08) in which he introduced the IL Sen and noted that he was the first official outside IL to endorse Obama for president.
WASHINGTON -- A group of women leaders spoke at length this morning with Barack Obama about a number of key concerns, including health care and pay equity. But no conversation with any group these days could go without some discussion of running mates, and one participant said Obama was encouraged to put Hillary Clinton on the ticket.
"It was mentioned very briefly," said Ellen Malcolm, founder of EMILY's List and one of about 30 women participating in the discussion. "I think everybody realizes this will be his personal decision."
Obama told the group that he had met with Clinton earlier as part of a conversation with women senators. A Clinton spokesman confirmed that the two former rivals were together this morning, but was unaware if there was one-on-one time.
"He actually told us who it's going to be," Malcolm joked, quickly adding that she like others has no indication of the Illinois senator's thinking.
Also in attendance: Marcia Greenberger, co-president of the National Women's Law Center, and Cecile Richards, president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.
NBC/NJ's Mike Memoli reports that upon leaving a meeting with Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke, Barack Obama headed directly for veep vetter Eric Holder's Washington office ... He's there now.
WASHINGTON -- Barack Obama discussed his own multi-ethnic family today as he spoke today at a fundraiser for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
"Being here is especially meaningful to me because I consider myself to be an honorary AAPI member, and I think I've got some pretty good credentials," Obama told donors at the Mayflower today.
His remarks focused heavily on immigration and Asian-American issues, according to a pool report of the event this afternoon. That report described the crowd as heavy with South Asian, Southeast Asian and East Asian Americans, and Obama played up his connection to the community, noting that he was born in Hawaii and raised for a time in Indonesia. He also said he had college roommates who were Indian and Pakistani (today he met with the Pakistani prime minister).
"Most importantly," he said, "I have a sister who is half Indonesian, who is married to a Chinese Canadian. I don't know what that makes my niece."
Obama also discussed immigration, saying there should be consequences for those who break laws.
"But I also believe that one of the things that sets this country apart is that there is no one who looks like a typical American," he added. "You can have a Honda who is a congressman. You can have an Obama who is a presidential candidate."
Attendees donated up to $500, and some committed to raise as much as $33,100. Several members of Congress also participated, including Rep. Mike Honda (D-CA).
Obama is currently meeting at the Federal Reserve with chairman Ben Bernanke. He also plans to speak with House Democrats later this afternoon before departing for Missouri.
Barack likes to tell a story about the two of us standing backstage before his speech at the 2004 Democratic Convention.
The way he tells it, he was too busy in the days before the convention to feel any pressure -- but about an hour before the speech, I could tell he was getting a little nervous.
To break the tension, right before he went out on stage I leaned in close and said, "Just don't screw it up, buddy."
We laughed. And then Barack brought the house down.
This year, the house is going to be a lot bigger. More than 75,000 people will be in Denver to be part of this important moment, and I want to tell you about an opportunity to join Barack backstage before his acceptance speech.
Ten supporters who make a donation in any amount by midnight this Thursday, July 31st, will be selected to fly to Denver, spend a couple of nights in a hotel, participate in the convention, and go Backstage with Barack. Each supporter who is selected will also get to bring a guest along to share the experience.
Make a contribution of $5 or more today and you could have your own Backstage with Barack story to tell.
Barack's speech at the convention will be a culmination of the unlikely journey that has brought all of us so far over the past 17 months.
He will call on us to come together and work for change -- not just to win this election, but to make things better for all Americans.
Seeing it in person will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I'm excited about being there, and if you make a donation of $5 or more before the deadline, you could join Barack backstage:
Another tête-à-tête between Barack Obama and a U.S. Treasury Sec. The presumptive Dem nom, who met yesterday with former Treasury Secs. Robert Rubin, Larry Summers and Paul O'Neill, spoke this morning with the current Cabinet Sec, Henry Paulson. A statement from Obama Senate spokesman Michael Ortiz:
“This morning, Senator Obama and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson discussed the serious challenges facing our economy and our financial markets and talked about the steps being taken to help Americans who are struggling in these difficult times. Senator Obama asked how the Treasury Department plans to use its new authority with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and whether the government has the tools it needs to address the challenges in the banking industry. Senator Obama believes that the new housing legislation should be used as a way to protect homeowners and not bail out shareholders or managers. The two men agreed that Washington must restore confidence in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in a way that protects the taxpayer and our financial system, and that we must reform and modernize our regulatory structure to avoid these problems in the future and protect average Americans. They also agreed to stay in contact as important economic events unfold in the months ahead."
Here's the latest John McCain press pass, courtesy of NBC/NJ's Adam Aigner-Treworgy. The presumptive GOP nom is in Sparks, NV, today for a town hall meeting at Reed High School.
Anchorage Daily Newsreports, Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) "has been indicted on federal corruption charges by a federal grand jury" in DC. This comes with less than a month to go before AK's 8/26 primary. Among Stevens' six primary opponents, the strongest challenge is likely to come from '96 candidate/developer/ex-state Rep. Dave Cuddy (R), although Roll Call's Toeplitz reported today that atty Vic Vickers (R) is up with a significant TV ad buy.
Even before today's news, Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich (D) was polling strongly against Stevens, with the latest poll showing a statistical dead heat, as Begich leads 47%-45%.
WASHINGTON – VA Gov. Tim Kaine is officially in Washington today to talk traffic and see his daughter.
But asked by a local radio host if he'll be meeting with Barack Obama, who is also in town, Kaine said: "My daughter and I are spending family time together today, and that's the only secret meeting that's going to happen."
The governor, whose status as a "seriously considered" candidate for the Democratic veep nom is getting front-page treatment this morning, appeared on WTOP's "Hands Across the Potomac" radio show to talk with local leaders about congestion and housing prices, among other issues.
But less than a third of the way through the hour-long program, Kaine faced questions about his rumored veep vetting by Barack Obama's team.
"It's flattering to be mentioned," Kaine joked. "My mom loves it."
But Kaine emphasized that as governor of a state widely-viewed as in play this year he can also help Obama win the White House. "That's my focus in helping him in any way I can, and the place I think I can be most helpful in my current capacity as Governor is helping him out in Virginia," Kaine said.
Barack Obama's National Hispanic Leadership Council Chairman Frank Sanchez and DNC Vice-Chair Linda Chavez Thompson will hold a conference call later today to discuss a $20M effort to mobilize Hispanic voters ... More to come ...
John McCain was on "LKL" last night, where he discussed his mole-like growth that was removed earlier in the day.
McCain: "It was just a little spot on my face. I go to a routine check-up every three months. ... And that's the thing about melanoma, as opposed to sometimes other forms of cancer. ... If you just have a discoloration, if you have anything, go ahead and see your dermatologist and let the dermatologist check it out."
McCain, asked if it's fair that voters should be concerned about his health: "I don't think so. ... Melanoma is something if you look at it, and you be careful, it's fine. I had one serious bout with it and that was, frankly, due to my own neglect because I let it go and go and go. In fact, I was running for president at the time. I'm not making that mistake again."
More from the interview:
CNN's Larry King: "We have a history on this program that whenever the vice presidential nominee is announced, he or she appears on this show the next night. It's been going on for quite a while. We hope that Senator McCain follows that tradition since I have a hunch he will not announce tonight who that candidate is."
McCain: "I want to say that that vice presidential candidate will be on your show. I will not risk the wrath of Larry King. I want to assure you."
After the jump, more McCain and lots on Landstuhl.
The AFL-CIO begins a ramped-up campaign to define Sen. Barack Obama with union members and their families in battleground states, focusing heavily on working-class, swing union voters in OH, MI, PA and WI. The goal, per union officials, is to dispel the many rumors circulating about Obama via two new mailers, dropped today, that ask and answer still-looming questions about the candidate. The union will send the pieces to 600K swing voters living in the four critical battleground states.
"Sen. Obama has proven time and again that he's a champion for working families who will deliver the economic change we so desperately need," said AFL-CIO Political Director Karen Ackerman. "Working people are focused on issues that matter like good jobs, fair trade, health care reform and retirement security. They aren't about to let the right-wing attack machine distort Sen. Obama's record or defame his reputation in a desperate attempt to maintain the disastrous economic status quo."
Union officials tell On Call that the mailers mark the launch of a massive August campaign to clearly define Obama for millions of union voters, and to contrast the Democrat's' policies and plans with those of his GOP rival, John McCain.
Here are other elements of the AFL-CIO's effort for Obama:
-- The group's focus is on mobilizing working people in 24 states, targeting about 13M union voters, including members, householders, retirees and those involved with the group's community affiliate, Working America. Union voters make up between 25-35 percent of the vote on Election Day in OH, MI, PA and WI.
-- In August, AFL-CIO volunteers will deliver 1M flyers about Obama's record and background to worksites across the country. Overall, more than 4M flyers have already been distributed to worksites, including flyers about McCain's "anti-worker" record, sources said.
-- Every weekend in August union volunteers will canvass neighborhoods across the country, providing voters with information about Obama's record and contrasting it with McCain's. Again, swing voters will be targeted. AFL-CIO volunteers will also be phone banking all month to swing union voters in key states.
-- Members of Working America, the community affiliate of the AFL-CIO for those without a union, are canvassing nightly to discuss the issues that matter to working-class voters. In OH alone, more than 160 canvassers are going out every day. Working America currently has nearly 2.5M members, including 800K in Ohio.
One note: The AFL-CIO Union Veterans Council, launched last month in five states, is expected to create new state councils expected in August. The Veterans Council will play an integral role in mobilizing 2.1M union veterans, according to union officials. Meanwhile, the TV ad about McCain's economic priorities, featuring union veteran Jim Wasser, continues to run in media markets in six states: MI, MN, OH, PA, VA and WI. Also since February, AFL-CIO volunteers have now protested at more than 100 McCain campaign events from coast to coast.
BAKERSFIELD, CA – Speaking via webcast to donors gathered at a fundraiser on his behalf in Bermuda, John McCain spoke about his criteria for selecting his running mate, but he stopped short of naming any names.
"I just want to assure you that we're going through the process," McCain said. "There are so many highly-qualified people in our party ranging – and I won't mention names – but ranging from people who have been stalwarts in our party for a long time, and great governors and senators and business people. It's a very tough decision."
He said he wants his vice presidential nominee to share his values.
"You want to make sure you have a candidate that's not going to hurt the ticket," McCain said. "The second thing is, and I think it's the key criteria, is it someone who shares your principles, your values, your philosophy and your priorities. The hardest thing for the president is to establish priorities, and I think we're blessed with having a wealth of candidates. But I haven't – we really aren't mentioning names."
Michael Yardley, chair of public affairs at the Mayo Clinic, today issued the following statement about John McCain's biopsy:
"This morning, as part of his commitment to monitor his dermatological health on a regular basis, Senator John McCain visited the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona, for a routine examination. As a precaution, a biopsy was ordered of a very small area on Senator McCain's right cheek. This is a routine minor procedure."
WASHINGTON -- Former Bush Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill said there's a simple reason he participated today in an economic discussion with the Democratic nominee for president ... he was asked.
O'Neill, a well-respected former chairman and CEO of Alcoa who after leaving the Treasury Dept. wrote a tell-all book about the inner-workings of the Bush White House, spoke briefly with reporters as he attempted to leave the Omni Shoreham, site of today's roundtable with Barack Obama.
"I get asked by a presidential candidate to give advice, I'm of the business of telling the truth, so I did," he said as he worked his way to the elevator.
Asked about the participation today by former Bush administration officials, O'Neill said: "What's wrong with that?"
"I think it's a good thing that presidential candidates reach out to people independent of what might be presumed to be their party affiliation," he said.
John McCain today in Bakersfield, CA, at San Joaquin Facilities Management:
On drilling:
"I'm here with the members of the California Independent Petroleum Association and the producers and the people who are for 80 years have been providing much needed oil for the people of the United States and the world. We know that hard-working Americans today are suffering from high gas prices, and that's one of the reasons why I've supported a gas tax holiday. And also, it's very – we need a comprehensive solution. We all know that comprehensive solution is wind, tide, solar – all of the things that all of us believe in. But it also means offshore drilling, and it also means nuclear power, and it also means clean coal technology. In the meantime, as we develop all of these alternate sources of energy, it will be vital that we continue oil production at a high level, including offshore drilling.
"Now the briefings that I've had with the oil producers, there are some instances within a matter of months they could be getting additional oil. In some cases it would be a matter of a year. It some cases it could take longer than that, depending on the location and whether you use existing rigs or you have to install new rigs, but there's abundant resources in the view of the people who are in the business that could be exploited within a period of months.
"So offshore drilling is something we have to do. I'm sorry that Senator Obama opposes it. Nuclear power is not only vital, I think, to clean energy and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions but nuclear power also is a way to employ hundreds of thousands of Americans. We can build 45 new nuclear power plants by the year 2030. It would employ some 700,000 people. So Senator Obama opposes offshore drilling. He opposes reprocessing of spend nuclear fuel. He opposes storage of spent nuclear fuel, and so he is the Dr. No of the America's energy future. And he also opposes a gas tax holiday as a gimmick. So I'm very pleased to be here. Again we'll be talking about energy and the economy and continue to do so."
And on his health:
"And, by the way, as I do every three months, visited my dermatologist this morning. She said that I was doing fine, took out a small little nick from my cheek as she does regularly and that will be – and will be biopsied just to make sure that everything is fine. But I want to again urge all Americans to wear sunscreen, particularly this summer, stay out of the sun as much as possible, wear sunscreen, and if you ever have any slight discoloration please go to your dermatologist or your doctor and get it checked up on.
"Melanoma is a preventable occurrence. It really is. It's one of the most preventable occurrences, but remember a lot of the damage that people receive from the sun when they're young sometimes comes back later in life, and that's the end of my lecture from the American Dermatology Association today. Thank you all."
Reporter: Your doctor was confident that there was nothing major?
Courtesy of Concord Monitor Managing Editor Ari Richter, who sees a Granite State electorate that's largely undecided in the state's Senate rematch between GOP Sen. John Sununu and Jeanne Shaheen, a discussion of the latest UNH Survey Center poll.
Richter remarks that instead of viewing the race as tightened, Shaheen had a four-point advantage in the most recent survey, one could conclude that the race is very much in flux because most voters are focused on the presidential.
Per Richter:
UNH poll: Sununu 14, Shaheen 14 (and Undecided 72); That's an alternative headline on the U.S. Senate portion (pdf) of the latest UNH Survey Center poll. As in:
WASHINGTON -- After a week spent shoring up his foreign policy credentials with a trip overseas, Barack Obama turned his focus to the domestic matters with a meeting today of his economic advisers. Saying that the there is an "economic emergency" that is "growing more severe," Obama called for bipartisan solutions while pinning some of the blame on Wall Street.
"It was not an accident or history nor a normal part of the business cycle that led us to this situation," he said. "There were some irresponsible decisions that were made on Wall Street and in Washington. In the past few years, I think we learned an essential truth that in the long run we can't have a thriving Wall Street if we don't have a thriving Main Street."
He said the economic stimulus package enacted earlier this year has provided some relief, but said more action is necessary.
"I'm glad to see we have a broad representation of people here," Obama said of the group joining him, which included former Republican and Democratic administration officials and business and labor leaders. "It's a group that I will be convening periodically over the next few months because of the dynamic situation and one that the next president will need to be prepared to deal with the moment he takes office."
After his opening remarks, the press pool reprentatives were ushered out of the room so the group could continue to meet in private.
This button was supposed to feature the Dem nom and Larry LaRocco, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in ID. Instead, Barack Obama is paired with Larry Craig, the state's outgoing GOP senator. Craig, of course, was arrested in a MN airport bathroom sex sting. Craig is not running for re-election.
During John McCain's regular three-month check up this morning in Phoenix, his doctor decided to remove a mole-like growth from the left side of his face near the temple, according to a spokesperson for the campaign. The removal was precautionary, and the doctor was not concerned about a recurrence of the skin cancer that has left a scar along his left cheek, the spokesperson told NBC/NJ's Adam Aigner-Treworgy.
The campaign's spokesperson was vague about whether the senator was awaiting further tests, but repeatedly reassured the press corps that there was nothing to worry about and the procedure was purely a precaution, Aigner-Treworgy added.
UPDATE: Mole was actually on his right cheek, Aigner-Treworgy reports. There is a band aid on his face. And note that this is not the same side of his face he had surgery on previously.
It's worth noting that David Plouffe, Barack Obama's campaign manager, is traveling with the candidate today (which I understand happened only a handful of times), reports NBC/NJ's Mike Memoli. He's joining Obama advisers David Axelrod and Robert Gibbs for the DC trip.
Caroline Kennedy is also in Washington for a DNC victory fund event. And Eric Holder, the other VP search team leader, is based in DC.
The convergence of all the senior staff here with that search committee only further signals that the process is at a critical stage. The campaign, of course, is not commenting on it. ...
Brian Williams, host of NBC's "Nightly News," previews his exclusive interview with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who vows a "positive" response if the U.S. changes its policies.
Here's a snippet:
And here's another snippet, in which Ahmadinejad says Iran is not working to create a nuclear weapon:
An offer for 10 lucky donors to meet Barack Obama backstage before he addresses the Democratic National Convention in Denver. Bizarre.
Dear Jennifer --
Barack recorded a special video invitation for you to join him at the Democratic National Convention in Denver.
Watch it now and make a donation of $5 or more before midnight this Thursday, July 31st, and you could go backstage with Barack:
Exactly one month from today, on the last night of the Democratic National Convention, more than 75,000 people will come together in the largest stadium in Denver to be part of history.
Barack is opening up the convention and his acceptance speech to as many people as possible. Supporters like you are responsible for building this movement and for bringing this campaign so far -- and Barack wants you to be part of this important moment.
Free tickets will be available soon, but if you make a donation in any amount this month, you could be one of 10 supporters selected to meet Barack backstage before he delivers his speech.
If you make a donation by midnight this Thursday, July 31st, you and a guest could be flown to Denver, spend a couple of nights in a hotel, participate in the convention, and then go backstage with Barack before the big event.
Watch this short video and make a donation of $5 or more today to be part of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity:
The Democratic National Convention is going to be an exciting and important event for this movement and for our country. I hope you will be there to join us.
Barack Obama is in Washington today for a meeting with top economic advisors. The official agenda: America’s economic challenges, namely job loss, the downturn in the financial markets and the rising costs of fuel and food. But the event promises to be as masterfully-staged as Obama's overseas journey, perhaps more so as he will be joined by several heavy-hitters in business and labor, including Warren Buffett, former chairman of the Federal Reserve Paul Volcker, former Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin, AFL-CIO President John Sweeney, SEIU Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger and Google Chairman and CEO Eric Schmidt, among other economic leaders.
It's hard to beat a photo op with the Oracle of Omaha, but this collection of big brains, meeting to leverage their knowledge on the candidate's behalf, conveys a faith in the Dem's economic policies that could prove more critical to an Obama victory in November than Nicolas Sarkozy's embrace. With pocketbook issues dominating voters' concerns this cycle, it no doubt helps the first-term senator from IL to have such wise and reliable voices for fiscal prudence on his extended team.
Berlin, with its 200K American flag-waving Germans, served a purpose in adding to Obama's storyline as a bridge builder. But the senator was criticized for his Disney-like tour abroad, all good feelings and platitudes, no substance. But who doesn't trust and admire Buffet? Wouldn't candidates from either party stand happily with Buffet?
Only Obama’s opening remarks will be open to the press.
Two Barack Obama interviews and one John McCain interview made for the biggest Sunday in a while.
LONDON CALLING
NBC's Brokaw sat down with Obama in London 7/26.
Brokaw: "When you get home and Michelle says to you, 'Barack, what did you learn that surprised you? And did you change your mind about anything based on this entire trip?'"
Obama: "I didn't see a huge shift in the strategic policies that I've laid out throughout this campaign. It was clear to me that Afghanistan is the central front on terror, that the Taliban and al-Qaeda have reconstituted themselves. They have safe havens along the Afghan-Pakistan border. Our troops are doing an outstanding job, and many coalition troops are doing an outstanding job. But frankly, we need a more serious effort on the part of the Afghan government and President Karzai to get out of Kabul, to start the development process. We're going to need two additional brigades in Afghanistan and we've got to work with Pakistan to get serious about these terrorist safe havens. So that's got to be a priority. I was pleased to see the reductions in violence in Iraq."
After the jump, more from the interviews, Veepstakes and Obama's trip abroad is fully reviewed.
John McCain goes hard negative in a new TV spot running in CO, PA and Northern Virginia, criticizing Barack Obama for failing to hold a "single Senate hearing on Afghanistan," not traveling to Iraq for years, frequenting the gym and canceling scheduled visits to wounded troops at Ramstein and Landstuhl.
Obama camp spokesman Tommy Vietor issued this statement: "As Senator Obama said today, the last thing he wanted was to have injured soldiers get pulled into the back-and-forth of a political campaign. That's why we imagine Senator McCain would be surprised that his campaign released this wildly inappropriate accusation that politicizes the issue. Senator Obama and Senator McCain share the belief that we must do everything we can to honor and support our troops, which is why Senator Obama has met with our men and women in uniform in Iraq and Afghanistan this week and visited wounded soldiers at Walter Reed numerous times."
Courtesy of The Washington Post's talented Bob Barnes, here's the pool report from John McCain's Aspen visit with the Dalai Lama. But note that a spokesman said the Dalai Lama was "concerned" the meeting not be interpreted as an endorsement:
McCain Pool Report #1
7/25/08
The Dalai Lama met McCain outside a modern private residence in Aspen and the two men and their aides went inside around 4:12 Eastern. The Dalai Lama was wearing the traditional maroon and saffron robes worn by all Tibetan monks.
John Ackerly, president of the International Campaign for Tibet, said McCain had requested the meeting months ago, and that while they had never met, the two had spoken by phone. "And the Dalai Lama doesn't talk on the phone very often,'' Ackerly said.
He said the leader was looking for international pressure on the chinese in support of his "efforts to engage the Chinese in a direct dialogue.'' The Dalai Lama's goal is autonomy, not independence, he said.
Talks earlier this summer were unsuccessful, and Ackerly said there were hopes for new talks after the Olympics.
Ackerly said the Dalai Lama was concerned the meeting not appear to be an endorsement, and that he has talked with Obama and Hillary. "He is cautious especially before an election...it would have been better if both
candidates were available,'' Ackerly said.
The leader is 73, Ackerly said. He said the men would speak in English, although a translator would be nearby if needed.
Ackerly said the Dalai Lama would present McCain with a white silk scarf, a sign of hospitality and respect.
The two will read statements after their meeting, but not take questions.
Per Barack Obama's campaign, a statement from former NE Sen. Bob Kerrey, a Medal of Honor winner, former vice chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and member of the 9/11 Commission:
"As is often the case in politics, the most important questions do not get debated while the most trivial ones are pushed front and center. Such is the case with the current attacks by Senator McCain's supporters purporting that Senator Obama's failure to support the surge demonstrates he has been wrong on this important foreign policy question.
“Assessing all facts available to us today, Senator Obama's judgment six years ago looks a whole lot better today than either Senator McCain's or mine was back then.
“Barack Obama understands that moving from the U.S. being an occupying force to strong ally is an urgent necessity both for Iraq and the United States. He also sees that the growing consensus in the United States and Iraq for a timeline that will allow the responsible redeployment of our combat brigades out of Iraq while preserving our commitment to remain a strong ally of the Iraqi people is an opportunity that we must seize. Finally, Barack Obama is right in his judgment that this redeployment will accelerate the political progress Iraq so desperately needs to lock in the security gains delivered by our military forces.
“Let's not re-fight the past. From what I've seen of the two candidates, Senator Obama has the better strategic vision and judgment to meet our challenges moving forward."
PARIS -- Barack Obama and French President Nicolas Sarkozy greeted one another in front of a crush of reporters at the Elysee Palace today before meeting for about an hour to discuss issues ranging from Iraq, Afghanistan and Iran to climate change and peace in the Middle East.
The visit marked the fourth day of a five-country swing through the Middle East and Europe meant to burnish Obama's foreign policy credentials.
In the press conference after their meeting, the two men appeared comfortable, cracking jokes before making statements about the importance of a strong relationship between the United States and France and its other European allies.
Obama spent several minutes talking about Iran, an issue he stressed throughout a press conference in Sderot, Israel earlier in the week. He spoke of the need for the United States and Europe to be partners in negotiating with the country about its nuclear program, saying a nuclear-armed Iran would pose a grave threat and could embolden terrorists and spark a dangerous arms race in the Middle East.
"I applaud France's current role in the E.U. 3-plus-3 efforts to use strong diplomacy to end this threat," he said. "It's important as we move forward for the United States and our European allies to remain full partners in this effort."
Obama hailed the decision to send Undersecretary of State William Burns -- whom he called "an outstanding diplomat" -- to participate in talks with Iran.
As he did in Jordan on Tuesday, the senator said there was nothing that he had seen over the course of his travels these past several days that has caused him to change his "basic strategic assessment" of America's security and foreign policy challenges, mentioning Afghanistan and Iraq specifically. He has called for more troops in the former and a phased redeployment of troops from the latter.
Addressing the 2008 American GI Forum of the United States National Convention in Denver today, John McCain again pushed the notion that Barack Obama, in opposing the surge, proved he would rather win a campaign than the Iraq war:
"We both knew the politically safe choice was to support some form of retreat. All the polls said the 'surge' was unpopular. Many pundits, experts and policymakers opposed it and advocated withdrawing our troops and accepting the consequences. I chose to support the new counterinsurgency strategy backed by additional troops -- which I had advocated since 2003, after my first trip to Iraq. Many observers said my position would end my hopes of becoming president. I said I would rather lose a campaign than see America lose a war."
Obama spokesman Bill Burton issued a sharp response: “The American people are looking for a serious debate about the way forward in Iraq and Afghanistan, and angry, false accusations will do nothing to accomplish that goal. Barack Obama and John McCain may differ over our strategy in Iraq, but they are united in their support for our brave troops and their desire to protect this nation. Senator McCain's constant suggestion otherwise is not worthy of the campaign he claimed he would run or the magnitude of the challenges this nation faces."
"Lord — Protect my family and me," reads the note, first published in the Israeli newspaper Maariv daily. "Forgive me my sins, and help me guard against pride and despair. Give me the wisdom to do what is right and just. And make me an instrument of your will."
The past week saw a steady flow of new WH '08 state polling data with 15 new surveys in 11 states, including 10 battleground state releases. Despite the flurry of new polls, Barack Obama continues to lead John McCain 292 EVs to 234 EVs (with 12 EVs up for grabs) in The Hotline's Electoral College estimation -- identical to the total in our 7/17 update.
Within each candidate's electoral total, however, some movement has occurred. MN and NH -- swing states previously classified as solid Obama because of his statistically significant leads -- shifted to lean Obama this week. Two new NH polls by ARG (R) and UNH, as well as the latest Quinnipiac Univ. survey in MN, all saw Obama's lead move within the margin of error. These updates gave Obama a solid EV total of 227 compared with 241 on 7/17; accordingly, he now has 14 lean EVs compared with his previous total of zero.
State polls this week showed a similar trend for McCain. FL and its crucial 27 EVs -- which Strategic Vision (R) showed 6/29 as solid McCain -- became lean McCain as the result of a new ARG (R) poll. Meanwhile new Research 2000 polls moved AK from lean McCain to solid McCain and moved ND out of the Bush/Bush projection to lean McCain. McCain now has 134 solid EVs compared with 158 on 7/17; he also has 50 lean EVs compared with 23 on 7/17.
Interestingly, a Quinnipiac Univ. poll released this week saw CO move from solid Obama to lean McCain; a subsequent sample by Frederick Polls (D), however, reversed it to solid Obama. Similarly, a new poll by EPIC-MRA saw MI move from solid Obama to lean Obama, but was superseded later in the week by a Quinnipiac Univ. poll which moved it back to solid Obama.
Finally, new polls in NC by Tel Opinion Research (R) and MS by Research 2000 confirmed these states as lean McCain and solid McCain, respectively; two new NJ polls, as well as a Quinnipiac Univ. survey in WI, all reaffirmed solid Obama classifications.
As always, the chart includes all WH '08 state polling data published in The Hotline since 5/23. The most recent poll, the one used to identify each state's winner, is listed on the same line as the state symbol with older surveys below. In addition, only the most recent poll from a pollster is retained for each state. For the 16 states (including DC) without current polling data available, the winner has been estimated based on WH '00 and WH '04 results.
For this week's Congressional Insiders survey, NJ's Rich Cohen and Peter Bell ask how many seats the Democrats will pick up in the House and Senate in November.
The Washington Post is reporting this morning that John McCain's camp will likely announce a veep pick after Barack Obama returns from his journeying abroad but before the Olympics commence 8/8.
"He's in a position to make [the decision] on short notice if he wanted to," said Charles R. Black Jr., one of McCain's top political advisers told the paper.
To: RNC National Committee Members
Fr: RNC Strategy
Re: Nearly 100 Days To Go
Date: July 25, 2008
Despite the most challenging environment for Republicans in years and an overwhelming advantage in attention paid by the media, Barack Obama remains unable to open the lead against John McCain that many pundits predicted.
With nearly 100 days remaining until Election Day, very little separates the two candidates.
-- The Rasmussen daily tracking polling has shown the race within a margin of 1%-4% for the last seven days. When voters leaning toward a candidate are included, this margin has existed for over two weeks. July 24th Gallup tracking shows the race within two points.
-- While the national press seems to view Obama more favorably, covering him well over twice as often on network newscasts, voters nationally give higher marks to John McCain. As of July 22nd, more voters (57%) viewed McCain favorably than Obama (55%), while 44% viewed Obama unfavorably as compared to 40% for McCain.
-- In addition to having secured his base, the most recent polls show Senator McCain even or leading among critical independent voters.
-- In this week’s Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll, voters overwhelmingly said that John McCain is more knowledgeable and better experienced to handle the presidency – by a 34% margin (53%-19%). Voters express this in other ways as well; with 50% saying that Barack Obama must choose a running-mate to bolster his experience in military and foreign affairs, and 42% saying he needs to select an expert on the economy to bolster his experience there.
-- In the same WSJ/NBC poll, McCain also scores higher on showing strong leadership (+11), sharing the values of voters (+11), standing up for his beliefs (+8), being honest and straightforward (+4), and being a good Commander-in-Chief (+28).
-- Since becoming the presumptive nominee, Obama has yet to gain the confidence of the American people in his readiness to be President, and is viewed as a “risky choice” by a majority (55%) of the electorate.
-- In critical battleground states, leads that opened for Barack Obama after he became the presumptive nominee are evaporating, including several states that were “blue” in 2004.
-- The most recent survey in Michigan from The Detroit News shows the race in a statistical dead heat at 43%-41% with 12% yet undecided.
-- Quinnipiac polling released on July 24th shows that Barack Obama’s lead has shrunk to 2 points in Minnesota and that John McCain is again leading in Colorado.
-- In the all-important battleground of Ohio, the latest Rasmussen survey in Ohio shows John McCain opening a 10-point lead.
NBC's Williams spoke with Barack Obama before and after his speech in Berlin.
Obama, on the view from the stage: "It was a nice view."
Williams: "When an American politician comes to Berlin, we've had some iconic utterances in the past. We've had 'Ich bin ein,' we had, 'Mr. Gorbachev tear down this wall.'"
Obama: "I don't rate that high."
Williams: "Is the phraseology that you would like remembered is 'People of Berlin, people of the world, this is our moment, this is our time'?"
Obama: "You know, I think if that captures what I was trying to communicate, which is that here in Berlin where, essentially, the west was forged out of World War II, we have now the opportunity to join not only with Germany but with all of Europe and countries of good will to try to reach out and do for the world what we did for Berlin."
After the jump, reax to Obama's speech and McCain also speaks to NBC.
BERLIN, Germany – In the most anticipated public event of his five-country swing through Europe and the Middle East, Barack Obama addressed a crowd of more than 200,000 people at Tiergarten Park here Thursday evening, calling upon Americans and Europeans to work together to fight terrorism, poverty, genocide, climate change and to work toward a world without nuclear weapons.
He also touched on the need for peace in the Middle East, a strong European Union and a free and fair trade system.
The presumptive Democratic nominee, who was greeted with several chants of “Yes we Can” and was frequently interrupted by cheers and applause, returned to his common campaign themes of unity, hope and the need to seize the moment, repeating a favorite phrase -- “This is our moment” -- several times throughout a roughly half hour speech that included no attack lines against his Republican rival. But Obama did acknowledge the need to repair the relationship between America and its allies.
“In Europe, the view that America is part of what has gone wrong in our world, rather than a force to help make it right, has become all too common,” he told a crowd that stretched about a mile from his stage in front of the Victory Column to the Brandenburg Gate. “In America, there are voices that deride and deny the importance of Europe’s role in our security and our future. Both views miss the truth.”
Former OH congressman and Bush OMB Dir. Rob Portman will visit with John McCain today, a senior campaign advisor has confirmed for NBC/NJ's Adam Aigner-Treworgy. Portman is a rumored GOP VP option - although somewhat of a darkhorse pick - and has been a long-time supporter of the presumptive Republican nominee. But the advisor reiterated that people shouldn't "read too much into" today's visit.
Portman, wonky and understated, respected by many members from both sides of the aisle, will ride with McCain on his Straight Talk Express bus from the senator's hotel to a late-afternoon fundraiser.
A reliable Democratic media buyer provided On Call today with the latest information about John McCain's ad buys:
-- For the week of 7/15-7/21, McCain's team spent the most money in OH ($805,978), MI ($601,439.71), MO ($471,967.56) and PA ($470,113.43). The GOPer also bought airtime in CO ($395,254.28), WI ($368,645.14), NV ($257,635.71) and IA ($237,166.57), and, in smaller amounts in NH, ND, OR and NM .
-- OH again leads the pack for the week of 7/22-7/28, with the McCain camp investing ($489,836.72) in the critical battleground state. Other state buys for the last full week in July: MO ($299,196.43), MI ($290,889.28), WI ($259,630.72), CO ($253,495.72) and PA ($239,797.14).
A full chart, with targeted markets, can be viewed here.
John McCain campaign spokesman Tucker Bounds issued the following statement on Barack Obama's speech in Germany today:
"While Barack Obama took a premature victory lap today in the heart of Berlin, proclaiming himself a 'citizen of the world,' John McCain continued to make his case to the American citizens who will decide this election. Barack Obama offered eloquent praise for this country, but the contrast is clear. John McCain has dedicated his life to serving, improving and protecting America. Barack Obama spent an afternoon talking about it."
The number of people who turned out for Barack Obama's Berlin speech. According to NBC/NJ's Athena Jones the crowd stretched from Victory Column to the Brandenburg Gate.
Barack Obama's Berlin speech begins now. Available in full after the jump.
"I come to Berlin as so many of my countrymen have come before. Although tonight, I speak to you not as a candidate for President, but as a citizen – a proud citizen of the United States, and a fellow citizen of the world. I know that I don’t look like the Americans who’ve previously spoken in this great city. The journey that led me here is improbable."
In just 15 minutes, Barack Obama will speak to Europe, and the world, in front of Victory Column in Berlin. He won't be introduced by anyone, reports NBC/NJ's Athena Jones. The address marks the only speech of his trip to the Middle East and Europe.
The Washington Post/WSJ/Quinnipiac U have a new survey out this morning showing that John McCain has tightened the margin against Barack Obama in four critical battleground states: CO, MN, MI and WI.
The Wash Post's Cillizza writes: "The first in the series of polls, conducted in the four states in mid-June, showed Obama comfortably ahead of McCain in Wisconsin and Minnesota while the races in Michigan and Colorado were closer although Obama still held the lead. The latest polling, showing a much tighter race, was conducted July 14 to 22, during Obama's high-profile trip to the Middle East."
Barack Obama's trip to Germany, a pool report, courtesy of Jeff Zeleny, New York Times:
Senator Barack Obama met with Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier at his office, located a few blocks from the hotel.
He entered at 2:14 pm. and exited at 2:56 pm. The only thing your pool saw in the intervening period was a giant media cluster, the largest of the week so far, all hoping to get a glimpse of Mr. Obama.
Upon his arrival back to the hotel, he met with the Berlin mayor, Klaus Wowereit, in a study inside the Adlon.
"We're looking forward to a wonderful speech," Mr. Wowereit said.
"I think it will be good," Mr. Obama replied.
The mayor presented Mr. Obama with a white bear statue, a symbol of the city of Berlin, which he said would give Mr. Obama strength.
"That's a beautiful bear," Mr. Obama said, raising his arms as though he was flexing his muscles. "For the next three months."
He also signed a guest book for the City of Berlin. The mayor watched as Mr. Obama left this handwritten message:
"Thank you to the mayor of this great city, and to all the staff, for welcoming me with so much generosity. Berlin is a symbol for the world of the victory of hope over fear, and the impossibilty of dividing people in their pursuit of freedom. Let us together build on that remarkable history."
Democrats hoping to watch Barack Obama accept his party's nomination at Invesco Field in Denver will need to register through their local Democratic Party office, an Obama campaign official told the Denver Post.
Obama deputy campaign manager Steve Hildebrand said each person seeking a ticket for the Aug. 28 speech will need to have a "conversation" with party officials, in part to show they have plans to get to Denver.
"Give us a sense of whether or not you're really serious about this," Hildebrand told the newspaper. "If you're not, we're going to provide someone else with this."
Hildebrand said the campaign expects 60,000 members of the general public will receive tickets, with CO and neighboring states receiving a larger segment. He said the ticket distribution could be used as a recruitment tool for volunteers in all 50 states. There are questions though about how that many out-of-state residents will be able to find accommodations, given that most hotels are filled with official convention-goers.
Officials are still finalizing formulas for ticket distribution. Details about credential distribution are expected next week.
Barack Obama and John McCain continued to make the TV rounds last night.
ABC's Wright spoke with McCain.
Wright, on McCain saying Obama would rather lose a war to win a political campaign: "That's pretty strong language. Do you really think he's that craven?"
McCain: "I think that it's very clear that Senator Obama has refused to recognize that the strategy in Iraq called the surge has succeeded. ... I do not believe that any objective observer can conclude that the surge did not work. And he should know better if he wants to be commander in chief, and certainly behave differently, as far as our presence and our strategy in Iraq."
Wright: "Shouldn't this debate really be about the future and where we go from here?"
McCain: "Oh, you're exactly right. It's all about the future. And the future, in my view, we have succeeded. But it's still fragile. But the point is that we are responsible for our records. I was right. Senator Obama was wrong. So, therefore, I think that I have more credibility on what the future should be as opposed to Senator Obama."
In the new Vote Vets spot running nationally, Brandon Woods, an Iraq War veteran, says: "Sen. McCain would occupy Iraq indefinitely, against their wishes. That's not what freedom means. That's not what we fought for."
And the RNC's react, per spokesman Alex Conant:
“Barack Obama voted against funding for the very troops this ad claims to represent. By continuing to oppose the surge strategy and rejecting the advice of General David Petraeus, Obama is putting political expedience ahead of victory. Rather than attacking John McCain for listening to General Petraeus, this group should ask why Obama lacked the strength to stand up for our troops during a time of war.”
John McCain travels tomorrow to Columbus, OH, for a town hall about cancer with the mighty Lance Armstrong, who hosts his LIVESTRONG Summit in the Midwestern city. The event, replacement for a scheduled trip to NOLA, will be held at Ohio State University's Mershon Auditorium.
OH, as you know, is home to one potential GOP veep: Rob Portman.
McCain's camp canceled the journey to NOLA due to weather. But note that there was likely another reason for the late-breaking change: an oil spill) along the coast that caused a 12-mile slick. Not exactly the best photo-op situation.
NOTE: Lauren Pfeifle of Edelman Public Relations, which does work for the Lance Armstrong Foundation, writes to say that McCain's participation in the LIVESTRONG event is not a replacement for the senator's cancelled event in New Orleans. She said in an email that the LAF event has been scheduled since April.
The RNC is airing a new radio ad that accuses Barack Obama of voting against increased funding for the military. It will run in Berlin, PA (Johnstown-Altoona DMA); Berlin, WI (Green Bay – Appleton DMA); and Berlin, NH (Portland-Auburn DMA). Obama is, of course, scheduled to visit Berlin, Germany, tomorrow to speak near Brandenburg Gate and meet with top German officials.
Script:
“Obama Chooses Washington Over Our Military” -- 60 (Secs)
There are few votes as important as funding our men and women in uniform.
But when our military needed necessary resources, Barack Obama failed to stand up.
Obama said that nobody wanted to play chicken with our troops on the ground.
But when it came time to act, he voted against critical resources: no to individual body armor, no to helicopters, no to ammunition, no to aircraft.
The bill Obama opposed even had funding for veterans’ medical facilities and rehabilitation programs.
And why did he say no?
Obama chose Washington politics over the needs of our military.
And Senator McCain?
As a veteran and someone who has always put the public interest first, John McCain stood by our troops.
If Obama can’t rise above politics to support our soldiers in a time of war, then how can he claim to have the strength to change the way Washington works?
John McCain is ready to lead. Barack Obama is not.
UPDATE
The Obama camp response ... from spokesman Hari Sevugan:
“There are honest differences between Senator Obama’s position on Iraq and Senator McCain’s, but there’s no question that both support our troops," Sevugan said in a statement. "Under the RNC’s definition, John McCain would have also chosen politics over our military when he urged George Bush to veto funding for the troops, and we know that’s not the case. This is the sort of distasteful and misleading attack from the Rove playbook that the American people are tired of, that does nothing to give our troops the equipment they need, and distracts from the honest debate we should be having about how we can keep the country secure."
President Bush will speak at the Republican National Convention on the evening of Labor Day, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said Wednesday.
"It looks like Monday night, Sept. 1, which is traditionally when the incumbent speaks," Perino said at the White House briefing.
Some questions have been raised as to how John McCain campaign would utilize Bush, given his low approval numbers. They have strictly limited the amount of joint appearances with McCain and the current president.
Most presidential candidates do not attend the convention until the day they formally accept the nomination, so having Bush speak on Monday night could mean they will not meet each other in the Twin Cities.
A spokesman for the Republican National Convention was not immediately available for comment.
The Politico first reported this morning that conservative columnist Robert Novak was cited by police after hitting a pedestrian at the corner of 18th and K.
A Politico reporter saw Novak in the front of a police car with a citation in his hand; a WJLA-TV crew and reporter saw Novak as well. The pedestrian, a male in his 60s, was hospitalized at George Washington University Hospital with minor injuries according to the Metro Fire Department. Novak was later released by police and drove away from the scene.
“I didn’t know I hit him,” Novak told Politico. Novak said he was a block away from 18th and K St., NW, where the accident happened, when a bicyclist stopped him and said, "You hit someone." He said he was cited for failing to yield the right of way.
David Bono, a partner at Harkins Cunningham, was biking to work this morning when he witnessed the accident. Bono told On Call that he saw a black Corvette, top up, strike a pedestriant at the corner of 18th and K. He said the pedestrian, a man, had been in the crosswalk as he traversed the street and that the "walk" signal was displayed when he was hit.
Bono said that after being hit the pedestrian was "splayed up onto the windshield and hood." The driver then turned right onto the K Street service lane, and the body rolled left. Bono took off after the vehicle, yelling out his DC license plate -- BY9430 -- to other witnesses as he attempted to catch the car. Bono said he overtook the car just before 17th Street, on K Street. Bono said he pulled his bike in front of the car. The driver, still seated in the vehicle, asked: "What happened?"
"I said, Sir, you can't hit a pedestrian and drive away,'" Bono said he responded.
Bono said he phoned the police at 10:06 a.m. He said he recognized the driver as "a news personality" but didn't know his name.
On Call has learned that the Metro police received a call at 10:08 a.m. reporting that a pedestrian was struck by a black vehicle at 18th and K Streets, NW. Officer Helen Andrews said she's "not sure" if anyone was arrested. "We haven't received the update yet," she said.
Meanwhile, another On Call source who witnessed the aftermath forwarded these photos:
(According to witnesses, Novak is seated in the back of the police cruiser.)
Remarks of Senator Barack Obama
Press Avail
Sderot, Israel
July 23, 2008
As prepared
Today, I’ve had the honor of visiting with the brave citizens of Sderot. For seven years, they have endured constant threats to their security, and demonstrated uncommon courage simply by carrying on with their daily lives. I am here as an American – and as a friend of Israel – to say that we stand with the people of Sderot, and with all of the people of Israel.
The Qassam rockets fired by Hamas deliberately and indiscriminately target civilians. This terror is intolerable. Israelis should not have to be endangered in their homes and schools. I am hopeful that the recent understanding to end the attacks will provide some relief. But America must always stand up for Israel’s right to defend itself against those who threaten its people.
To achieve true security, I am deeply committed to helping Israel achieve a lasting peace with Palestinians who are prepared to accept the State of Israel, renounce violence and terrorism, and abide by agreements. Israelis desire a secure peace in which both they and the Palestinians can fulfill their legitimate aspirations – a strong, secure state of Israel living alongside a viable, peaceful Palestinian state. We must support Palestinian leaders who share this vision, including the leaders I met with in Ramallah today.
The threats to Israel’s security begin in Sderot, but they don’t end here. They include outrageous acts of terror like the attack we saw just yesterday in Jerusalem; a rearming Hezbollah in Lebanon; and an Iranian regime that sponsors terrorism, pursues nuclear weapons, and threatens Israel’s existence. A nuclear Iran would pose a grave threat – the world must prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
Today, I have had a series of productive discussions with Israel’s leaders about how to address the broad range of security threats that Israel faces. I look forward to continuing these consultations with Prime Minister Olmert this evening, and I also look forward to consulting closely with our European allies about Iran and other challenges in the days ahead.
Let me just close by saying that I bring to Sderot an unshakeable commitment to Israel’s security. The State of Israel faces determined enemies who seek its destruction. It also has a friend and ally in the United States that will always stand with the Israeli people. That is why I am proud to be here today, and that is why I will work for the moment when I can return to Sderot to find these good people living in a future filled with peace, security, and hope.
A University of New Hampshire Survey Center poll out today shows the Granite State's Senate race tightening, with former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen leading GOP Sen. John Sununu, 46% to 42%. Shaheen was up 12 points in the Survey Center's May poll.
The race is still very much in flux as 22% of likely voters say they have definitely decided who they will vote for, 6% say they are leaning toward one of the candidates, and 72% are still trying to decide who to support. Interestingly the candidates' favorables are in sync: 53% had a favorable view of Shaheen, compared with 52% for Sununu.
The state is a critical battleground in the presidential contest. A Survey Center poll released yesterday showed Barack Obama leading John McCain by three points. McCain was up six points in May.
In as much as one race could impact the other, it's worth noting that Shaheen leads Sununu among moderates (56%-34%) and liberals (79%-11%), while Sununu is up with conservatives (77%-11%). Obama, meanwhile, also had the advantage with moderates (51%-35%) in this politically independent-minded state.
John McCain's campaign mocked reporters traveling with the candidate yesterday in NH and MD, strapping tags to their luggage featuring the Statue of Liberty and reading: "McCain Press Corps; JV Squad; Left behind to report in America." NBC/NJ's Adam Aigner-Treworgy reports that McCain folks attached a French version of the tag as well: "Le groupe de presse de McCain; L'équipe junior; Laissé en arriere pour faire un rapport en Amérique." ... Ouch.
Clearly the GOPer's team is unhappy with the blitz of positive international media coverage of Barack Obama's trip abroad. Also yesterday, McCain's campaign released a video lambasting the media for its "Obama love." Sometimes intense media criticism works to temper glowing coverage of a rival. But sometimes it seems like whining.
The version en français is available après l'interruption.
CBS' Couric talked separately with Barack Obama and John McCain last night.
Couric sat down with Obama in Jordan:
Couric: "You raised a lot of eyebrows on this trip saying even knowing what you know now, you still would not have supported the surge. People may be scratching their heads and saying, 'Why?'"
Obama: "What I was referring to, and I've consistently referred to, is the need for a strategy that actually concludes our involvement in Iraq and moves Iraqis to take responsibility for the country. ... What happens is that if we continue to put $10 billion to $12 billion a month into Iraq, if we are willing to send as many troops as we can muster continually into Iraq? There's no doubt that that's gonna have an impact. But it doesn't meet our long-term strategic goal, which is to make the American people safer over the long term."
Couric: "But do you not give the surge any credit for reducing violence in Iraq?"
Obama: "No, no ... of course I have. There is no doubt that the extraordinary work of our U.S. forces has contributed to a lessening of the violence. ... So this, in no way, detracts from the great efforts of our young men and women in uniform. In fact, that's one of the most striking things about visiting Iraq is to see how dedicated they are, what a great job they do."
After the jump, more from the interviews and Novak talks Veepstakes.
The University of New Hampshire Survey Center is expected to release it's latest poll tomorrow of the state's hot Senate contest between GOP Sen. John Sununu and former Dem Gov. Jeanne Shaheen. The center's last survey in May showed Shaheen ahead 52%-40%. At the time, the poll also showed John McCain leading Barack Obama by six points. But the presidential results released earlier this week indicate that Obama now has a three-point edge. Do they suggest that Shaheen has increased her lead? And could Obama actually be riding the former governor's coattails?
Conservative columnist Robert Novak is backing off his Monday report that John McCain would announce his veep pick this week. Analysts posited today that McCain's camp was looking to distract from Barack Obama's well-covered and well-received trip to the Middle East and Europe. Now Novak is telling FOX News that the episode might've been "a dodge" by the McCain campaign to make headlines.
So was Novak used? Did Team McCain reassess? Or did a general GOP consensus emerge that McCain's announcement would get lost in the Obama coverage?
Former President Clinton will make his annual trip to Africa at the end of this month. He is expected to travel to Ethiopia, Rwanda, Liberia, and Senegal, among other nations, to explore the impact of his foundation's projects to treat HIV/AIDS, eliminate malaria and create sustainable development across the continent. The trip will wrap in Mexico City, where Clinton will deliver remarks at the International AIDS Conference. Full release is available after the jump.
Pool report from USA Today's Kiely upon Barack Obama's arrival today in Israel:
A group of nine men, including Israel's Ambassador to the United States waited to greet Obama on the tarmac. Your pool was told that one of them was Sallai Meridor, Israel's ambassador to the USA. At about 10:50 p.m. local, the senator emerged from the plane and, after greeting the group at the foot of the stairs, walked straight over to a pair of microphones stationed by waiting reporters and delivered a brief (just under 2 minute) statement.
Assuming full transcript will soon be available, here are the highlights:
Obama said he is looking forward to "having discussions with Israeli's leadership about some of the profound security issues" that the that the US and Israel face. "I want input and insight," said Obama, who added that he's also looking forward to sharing some of his ideas.
"The most important idea for me to reaffirm is the historic and special relationship between the United States and Israel, one that cannot be broken, one that I have affirmed throughout my career, and one that I intend to not only continue but actually strengthen in an Obama administration," the senator said.
He repeated his condemnation of the day's bulldozer bombing and expressed sympathy with the victims' families. Obama called the incident "a terrible tragedy" and "one more reminder of why we have to work diligently, urgently and in a unified way to defeat terrorism."
Obama left without taking questions, and jumped in a motorcade for a high-speed, 35-minute ride into Jerusalem (a ride that usually takes about twice as long). The road appeared to have been cleared of all other traffic.
As Obama pulled into the King David Hotel, there was a group of about a dozen people standing on across the street holding McCain signs. A couple read "Ohio Democrats for Israel: John McCain." We also saw some "Florida Democrats for Israel" in the group.
Can John McCain get a humor bump off of his campaign's newest vid? Much as Hillary Clinton did when SNL ran the Tina Fey weekend update commentary and two sympathetic sketches about the Dem debates ...
Vanity Fair debuted a faux cover today mocking the New Yorker illustration of the Obamas that recently caused such a stir. The VF version spoofs John and Cindy McCain. The candidate leans on a walker, while his wife clutches several vials of pills.
We here at Vanity Fair maintain a kind of affectionate rivalry with our downstairs neighbors at The New Yorker. We play softball every year, compete for some of the same stories, and share an elevator bank. (You can tell the ones who are headed to the 20th floor by their Brooklyn pallor and dog-eared paperbacks.)
And heaven knows we’ve published our share of scandalous images, on the cover and otherwise. So we’ve been watching the kerfuffle over last week’s New Yorker cover with a mixture of empathy and better-you-than-us relief.
We had our own presidential campaign cover in the works, which explored a different facet of the Politics of Fear, but we shelved it when The New Yorker’s became the “It Girl” of the blogosphere. Now, however, in a selfless act of solidarity with our downstairs neighbors here at the Condé Nast building, we’d like to share it with you. Confidentially, of course.
AMMAN, Jordan -- Jordan's King Abdullah gave Barack Obama a ride to the airport today after their one-on-one meeting and a dinner with several American and Jordanian officials at the royal palace.
The king, who drove the Mercedes himself, walked the senator to the edge of the stairs, and they chatted briefly, out of earshot of cameras, before Obama boarded his plane.
Obama heads to Israel for a day packed with meetings.
ROCHESTER, NH – During a visit today to the state that resuscitated his presidential campaign, John McCain cautioned the Granite State's independent-minded voters gathered for a town hall meeting that Democratic rival Barack Obama is politicizing the Iraq war.
"I had the courage and the judgment to say that I would rather lose a political campaign than lose a war," McCain said, referencing a tag line he used to defend his support for the troop surge in Iraq. "It seems to me that Senator Obama would rather lose a war in order to win a political campaign."
Just prior to the start of today's town hall, McCain's top foreign policy advisor, Randy Scheunemann, told reporters on a conference call that Obama's "judgment on the most important national security questions facing our country in 2007 was wrong, and it demonstrates both his inexperience and his ideological rigidity."
McCain's perspective was not embraced by everyone in the crowd of 800 gathered at the local Opera House, and at least one audience member, an older woman, said she prefers Obama's view of the situation in Iraq. Speaking to McCain during the event, the woman expressed strong opposition to the U.S. involvement in Iraq, saying that "we are in Iraq against international law," and all of the deaths that have occurred in that country verge on "criminal."
"Now the idea that we might someday have a stable democratic government there is not ours to impose on that country," the questioner said. "We should not be there in my opinion. We need to leave the country. The people of that country are asking us to leave. The prime minister of that country is asking us to leave."
McCain allowed the woman to speak and follow up several times, but each time he was unmoved by her impassioned plea against the war, reiterating that the U.S. has "succeeded."
"The fact is that everybody recognizes, including Prime Minister Maliki, that we have to have conditions-based withdrawal, and we all – we are gonna withdraw," McCain said. "We will withdraw. The fact is, is whether we withdraw in victory or whether we withdraw in defeat. And again, you and I have different versions. We have succeeded. The Sadr City is safe. Mosul is safe. Basra is safe. The people of Iraq, and I've been there, are now leading normal lives."
AMMAN, Jordan – Barack Obama begins his five-country swing through the Middle East and Europe today with what his advisors expect will be a wide-ranging one-on-one talk with Jordan’s King Abdullah here at Beit al Urdan, the king’s residence.
The tour is an audition of sorts on the world stage for the presumptive Democratic nominee and is also intended to show American voters that Obama has a full grasp of world issues. Obama leads his rival John McCain in polls overall but trails him in the area of foreign policy.
During the half-hour meeting, which will be attended by an American “notetaker”, Obama and the king will discuss matters of regional stability and the Israeli-Palestinian issue among others, advisors said. Adbullah, who requested the one-on-one meeting, the first between the two men, is returning early from a trip to the U.S. to meet with the Illinois senator.
Jordan is a key ally in the region and an important ally in the war on terror, and the country would likely play a role in helping maintain stability after the eventual withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. There are hundreds of thousands of Iraqi refugees in Jordan.
Statement of Sens. Barack Obama, Jack Reed and Chuck Hagel on their trip to Iraq:
BAGHDAD, IRAQ – U.S. Senators Barack Obama, Jack Reed and Chuck Hagel traveled today to Iraq, first to Basra, then to Baghdad. In Basra, they met with U.S., British and Iraqi troops; Lt. Gen. Lloyd Austin, Commander Multinational Corps – Iraq; Major General Barney White-Spunner (UK), Commander, Multinational Division Southeast; and Major General Abdul Aziz, Commander, 14th Iraqi Army Division. In Baghdad, the Senators met with U.S. troops; Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki; President Jalal Talabani; Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi; and Vice President Adil Abdulmahdi. They received a detailed briefing from and consulted extensively with U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker and General David Petraeus, Commander, MNF Iraq. They visited with doctors, nurses and patients at the 86th Combat Support Hospital and took part in a helicopter over flight of Baghdad conducted by General Petraeus.
“We are in Iraq to thank our troops, diplomats and civilians for the remarkable job they are doing and to let them know that, back home, Americans are proud of them. We came to consult with our military leaders, embassy team and the Iraqi government about a way forward in Iraq that advances the interests of the United States, Iraq and the entire region.
“We found a strong, emerging consensus on a number of critical points:
“First, thanks to the extraordinary efforts of our armed forces, more effective Iraqi security forces, the decision by the Sunni Awakening to fight ‘Al Qaeda in Iraq’ and the cease-fire by Shiite militia, violence in Iraq is down significantly. An overwhelming majority of Iraqis reject what remains of ‘Al Qaeda in Iraq’ and violent militias.
“Second, political progress, reconciliation and economic development continue to lag. There has been some forward movement, but not nearly enough to bring lasting stability to Iraq.
“Third, Iraqis want an aspirational timeline, with a clear date, for the redeployment of American combat forces. Prime Minister Maliki told us that while the Iraqi people deeply appreciate the sacrifices of American soldiers, they do not want an open-ended presence of U.S. combat forces. The Prime Minister said that now is an appropriate time to start to plan for the reorganization of our troops in Iraq -- including their numbers and missions. He stated his hope that U.S. combat forces could be out of Iraq in 2010.
“Fourth, Iraqis seek a long term partnership with the United States to promote political and economic progress and lasting stability. In particular, they want our continued help in training Iraqi security forces, helping conduct counter-terrorism operations, developing Iraq’s economy and advancing political compromise. Vice President Abdulmahdi noted that “the quality of American engagement matters more than the quantity.”
“We raised a number of other issues with the Iraqi leadership, including our deep concern about Iranian financial and material assistance to militia engaged in violent acts against American and Iraqi forces; the need to secure public support through our respective legislatures for any long term security agreements our countries negotiate; the importance of doing more to help the more than 4 million Iraqis who are refugees or internally displaced persons; and the need to give our troops immunity from Iraqi prosecution so long as they are in Iraq.
“America has a strategic opportunity to build a new kind of partnership with Iraq and to refocus our foreign policy on the many other pressing challenges around the world – starting with the resurgence of Al Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan.”
ABC's Moran sat down with Barack Obama in Baghdad 7/21. The interview aired last night on "Nightline." Some highlights:
Obama, on what he first asked Gen. David Petraeus: "The question for me was, does he consider the games reversible when it comes to al Qaeda and Iraq, or some of the Shia militias? And if so, what kinds of resources are required to make sure that we reach a tipping point where they can't reconstitute themselves. And, you know, I think that what came out of the conversation was a sense that this is not a science. It's an art. And he and I occupy different roles."
Moran: "Did Prime Minister Maliki say to you what he said to the European press, that he likes your plan for a 16-month timetable for withdrawal?"
Obama: "What Prime Minister Maliki stated was that he very much believes that there has to be a time frame built into whatever agreements are set up between the United States and Iraq. But, again, I think his view is that he wants some flexibility in terms of how that's carried out."
After the jump, more Obama and NYT rejects McCain's op-ed.
Conservative columnist Robert Novak is reporting that John McCain will announce his veep nom this week.
Novak: "The name of McCain's running mate has not been disclosed, but Mitt Romney has led the speculation recently."
Speculation to date has turned on the possibility that McCain wouldn't debut his veep pick until the end of the Dem convention -- an attempt to squash Barack Obama's expected post-Denver bounce. But the week has started poorly for McCain. While Obama meets with foreign leaders in Iraq and Afghanistan, Israel, Jordan and Europe, McCain is in Maine raising money with former President George H.W. Bush. The visuals beg a striking past/present comparison between the GOP and Dem noms.
A McCain veep announcement could distract from an overseas Obama trip that's garnering plenty of positive coverage at home and abroad.
The Huffington Post was first today to determine if Hillary Clinton's bundlers -- known as 'Hillraisers' -- have given to Barack Obama in the month since their candidate withdrew from the race. The answer? Not so much. The Huff Post discovered that HRC donors who bundled in excess of $100K for the NY senator's WH campaign gave less than $20K total in June to Obama, the presumptive Dem nom. Only eight of 311 Hillraisers wrote checks to the IL senator's campaign last month.
The Washington Timesreports that in a cable sent on the even of Barack Obama's trip to the Middle East and Europe, Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice "instructed U.S. overseas missions to provide only minimal support to foreign visits by the two main presidential candidates, Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain, forbidding diplomats to hold events or arrange meetings for them."
More: "Provide de minimis assistance to the candidate with logistical arrangements," said the cable, a copy of which was obtained by The Washington Times. "If the campaign staff wants to rent a bus for press, tell them where they can rent a bus."
Andy Smith, director of the UNH Survey Center, notes in the poll release that the electorate is still in flux. Only 51% of likely voters say they have definitely decided who they will vote for, 21% are leaning toward a candidate, and 28% say they are still trying to decide. Among voters who say they have definitely decided who they will support, Obama holds a 54% to 44% lead.
“Neither Obama nor McCain can claim to have a hold on the New Hampshire electorate," Smith said in a statement. "The state will be a swing state in November. Both candidates have real opportunities to sway independent voters to their sides between now and the election.”
The telephone survey of 519 randomly-selected adults was conducted from 7/11-7/20. The margin of error is 4.3 percentage points.
McCain won the NH presidential primary in 2000 and again this year. He remains popular in the first-in-the-nation primary state, but there might be a factor beyond his control that has contributed to his weakening numbers: U.S. Sen. John Sununu, a first-term GOPer up for re-election this year, is trailing former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen in their much-antipated rematch by as much as a dozen points, depending on the poll. Sununu could be dragging McCain down. Likewise, Shaheen's strength could be benefitting Obama, who lost the state's primary in January to Hillary Clinton.
McCain is scheduled to appear in Rochester, NH, tomorrow.
Drudge is reporting that the New York Times has rejected an editorial submission from John McCain's campaign that seeks to counter a piece written by Barack Obama that ran last week in the paper.
NYT Op-Ed editor David Shipley told the McCain campaign that the GOPer's item didn't address the issues presented by Obama in 'My Plan for Iraq.'
"It would be terrific to have an article from Senator McCain that mirrors Senator Obama's piece," Shipley explained in an email late Friday to McCain's staff. "I'm not going to be able to accept this piece as currently written."
The McCain camp is incensed. NBC/NJ's Adam Aigner-Treworgy has this statement from McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds: "John McCain believes that victory in Iraq must be based on conditions on the ground, not arbitrary timetables. Unlike Barack Obama, that position will not change based on politics or the demands of the New York Times."
Per Drudge, the submitted McCain editorial is available in full after the jump.
One dynamic has become apparent as Barack Obama embarked this weekend on his overseas tour to Iraq and Afghanistan, Jordan, Israel, Berlin, Paris and London: the White House's fingerprints appear to be all over the GOP's defense, an effort to bolster John McCain's efforts to counter Obama's message.
As Obama works to boost his foreign policy credentials and capture the visuals vital to selling him as a capable commander in chief, key Bush administration allies -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Navy Adm. Michael G. Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff -- have at turns contributed to the GOP's pushback.
Merkel voiced skepticism earlier this month about the appropriateness of the Bradenburg Gate for a planned Obama speech. President Reagan used the site as a backdrop in 1987 when he urged Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to "tear down this wall." Of course, President Kennedy in 1963 also gave his historic "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech at the gate. When news of Obama's speech first broke, Thomas Steg, a Merkel spokesman, said: “No German candidate for high office would think to use the National Mall or Red Square in Moscow for a rally, because it would be seen as inappropriate.” (Obama's campaign has since relocated the planned event to a site near the gate.)
Mullen, meanwhile, appearing yesterday on FOX cautioned against Obama's plan to bring all U.S. troops in Iraq home by 2010. "I think the consequences could be very dangerous," Mullen, the nation's top military officer, said on "Fox News Sunday." "I'm convinced at this point in time that ... making reductions based on conditions on the ground are very important."
Note also that The Washington Postreported yesterday that officials with the U.S. embassy in Iraq contacted Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki asking that he revise remarks that appeared supportive of Obama's call to draw down troops. In response, Maliki's team issued word that his comment to a German publication had been misinterpreted. But he didn't walk it back, and a spokesman for the prime minister said today that they can't provide a timetable for withdrawal but that 2010 is "appropriate."
Readers: Doesn't this peripheral WH assistance reinforce the relationship between McCain and the administration even as the GOP nom works to fight relentless Dem assertions that he'd provide Americans with a third Bush term?
Barack Obama and John McCain have agreed to back-to-back appearances 8/16 at the Rev. Rick Warren's Saddleback Church, in Lake Forest, Calif. The event would mark the candidates' only semi-jointish show before the party conventions -- despite McCain's repeated urging for Obama to join him in a series of town hall meetings throughout the summer.
Instead, Obama and McCain -- at Warren's request -- will visit Saddleback for a forum about a series of issues of interest to the spiritual leader and author of the best-selling book, "The Purpose-Driven Life": AIDS, poverty and the environment.
“I just got to thinking, you know what? These guys have never been together on the same stage, it would be a neat way to cap the primary season before they both go to the conventions and things go dark for a couple of weeks,” Warren told the NYT. “I’ve known both the guys for a long time, they’re both friends of mine, and I knew them before they ran for office, so I just called them up.”
Warren's church draws 22K worshippers a week, according to his Web site. The presidential candidates have both openly courted evangelical voters, and leaders, throughout the contest. For Obama, whose Christian faith has been challenged via Internet e-mail smears suggesting he's a Muslim, the outreach aims to clarify questions about his faith. Meanwhile, McCain's support from evangelical leaders has been tepid to date, and he urgently needs Christian conservatives, who twice helped carry George W. Bush to the White House, to win the presidential election.
Reports are circulating today, too, that Focus On The Family's James Dobson, who has vigorously resisted a McCain endorsement, is weighing whether to officially back the GOP nom. Dobson would be a critical get for McCain, who, as a supporter of stem cell research and an opponent of a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, has struggled to spark enthusiasm for his bid among evangelicals.
New John McCain television spot running on national cable and in unspecified "key states." A female narrator notes that with gas prices hitting as much as $5 a gallon, "some in Washington are still saying no to drilling in America. No to independence from foreign oil. Who can you thank for rising prices at the pump? Obama, Obama."
"There's a really huge misconception in the traditional media about who we are as a voting group. And I say 'traditional media,' not 'mainstream media,' because we are the mainstream…On issue after issue, we are where the American people reside.”
-- Markos Moulitsas (aka "Kos")
“I’m even more confident than the money markets that [Barack] Obama will be the next President.”
-- New York Times columnist Paul Krugman
“There used to be an old-timey remedy for hangovers called ‘the hair of the dog that bit you.’ They’d recommend going in and just having another drink in the morning if you had a hangover. Well, that’s sort of what this reminds me of. ‘Oh, we have a fossil fuel crisis? Well, let’s just go back for more.’ When you’re in a hole, stop digging!”
-- Al Gore
AUSTIN -- Al Gore made a surprise visit to the Netroots Nation convention this morning, delighting the crowd of 2000 bloggers and progressive activists. The event organizers had worked hard to keep Gore’s visit under wraps, and although rumors began circulating the night before, most of the audience members appeared genuinely surprised and thrilled when Gore walked onstage.
Gore made his appearance during the much anticipated “Ask The Speaker” session featuring House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. After Pelosi was asked a question about Gore’s bold proposal to shift 100% of the nation's electricity production to carbon-free sources within 10 years, she said that she had recently received an email on the subject. As Pelosi pretended to check her BlackBerry, Gore’s voice was heard intoning over the loudspeaker: “Dear Nancy, Thursday I issued a challenge to reset our energy commitment…” A grinning Gore then strode onto the stage to gasps, cheers, and thunderous applause.
Gore joked, “We oughta take that act on the road, Nancy,” to which Pelosi responded, “We are on the road!” Gore replied, “We are on the road, but I feel right at home, I’ll tell you.”
AUSTIN -- One of the most anticipated events from Day 2 of Netroots Nation was the discussion between Daily Kos founder Markos Moulitsas and DLC Chairman Harold Ford. The event was essentially a reprise of their 2007 duel on Meet the Press, only this time the battle was fought on Moulitsas' turf. For about an hour, Moulitsas and Ford had a polite discussion in which they agreed on many topics and respectfully disagreed on others. The audience treated Ford politely, although several audience members blasted the centrist ex-congressman during the Q&A that followed. One male questioner accused him of "smearing Democrats on TV and using right-wing attacks."
Early in the discussion, Moulitsas addressed the netroots' anger at Barack Obama over his FISA vote: "The one issue where we had a little disagreement was FISA, and it wasn't because Obama was moving to the center, it was because he was not moving to the center. There was no popular support for this bill...People don't really like being spied on by the government."
That said, Moulitsas said that Obama's FISA vote isn't a deal-breaker for the netroots: "We're gonna get over it, because we have much more in common. He is incredibly talented and inspirational, and he is going to be a good President because we're going to have a Democratic Congress to keep him honest. And we're going to keep them all honest."
Here are the scheduled guests for the Sunday public affairs shows and other weekend programs:
SUNDAY:
Meet the Press hosts Al Gore, NBC's David Gregory and NBC pol. dir. Chuck Todd.
Face the Nation hosts Treasury Sec. Henry Paulson.
This Week is pre-empted due to the British Open.
Fox News Sunday hosts JCS Chair/Adm. Mike Mullen and Sens. Evan Bayh (D-IN ) and Joe Lieberman (I-CT). The "Power Player" is Honor Flight founder Earl Morse.
Late Edition hosts Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Min. Whip Roy Blunt, Paulson, and a roundtable with CNN's Bill Schneider, CNN's Candy Crowley and CNN's Gloria Borger.
CBS' Couric sat down with Al Gore to talk about his 7/17 energy speech and WH '08.
Couric: "Senator [Barack] Obama said during the primaries season, there would be a place at the table for Al Gore, in an Obama administration."
Gore: "Well, that's a very nice thing for anybody to say ... and I appreciate it. I would not take a formal position in any administration."
Couric: "So you can't see yourself being, say, an environmental czar, helping to shape environmental policy or energy policy in a new administration?"
Gore: "Well, it's a really nice idea. I don't think that's the best way for me to serve my country. I think the real solutions to this climate crisis must involve a sea change in public opinion. So that when the American people demand solutions, the elected officials and politicians in all parties will then respond. That's what I'm trying to do."
Couric: "What about the VP slot?"
Gore: "No. ... I have many times said, you know, I have a personal term limit. Only two terms as VP.
After the jump, more Gore, Pelosi has tough words for Bush and Hannity vs. the Obamas.
Yesterday, we made the case against Michael Steele, who accompanied John McCain to the NAACP convention in Cincinnati, as the GOP's veep nom. Today, we'll offer the possible reasons for it:
Steele is thought by many to be great on television and a good retail campaigner. At 49, he would bring youth to the GOP ticket – and he would also, perhaps most importantly, help the GOP present a more diverse front. The Republican Party, which has struggled to elevate people of color to federal office, faces the prospect of running against a Democratic ticket that could be history-making on two fronts – the first African American nominee for president, and, potentially, a woman or Hispanic in the number two spot. Steele, the first African American lieutenant governor of MD, would help counter either powerful combination.
He is a long shot, of course. Steele – much like former WH hopeful Mike Huckabee – is better suited in many ways for a media career, a move that would allow him to put his charm and humor to good use. As head of GOPAC, he's a regular on FOX, an able advocate for the Republican cause.
The NYT's Healy is reporting that New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg will host an event for Hillary Clinton:
At a private meeting today, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg of New York offered to host a “welcome back” event for Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, which she “gladly accepted,” a Clinton aide said.
The aide said it would not be a fund-raiser to help Mrs. Clinton with retiring her approximately $23 million debt from her presidential campaign; she owes about $12 million to consultants and vendors, and owes herself $11 million for the personal loans that she made during the Democratic primaries this year.
But the event – intended to welcome her back to her full-time gig after the 16-month campaign – could serve as one more way to remind New Yorkers about the debt carried by their junior senator, and prompt some of them to write checks.
Dick Heller will register his handgun tomorrow morning, 9 a.m. at 300 Indiana Ave., NW, Washington. Heller, the Capitol Hill resident whose lawsuit prompted the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the city's handgun ban, attempted to register his firearm today but was turned away because he didn't bring it with him. Handguns must be test fired as part of the registration process.
WASHINGTON -- Former Vice President Al Gore challenged the American people today to "commit to producing 100 percent of our electricity from renewable energy and truly carbon-free sources within 10 years."
“This goal is achievable, affordable and transformative,” Gore said during a speech hosted by the “We” campaign, the non profit founded by Gore to halt global warming. “It represents a challenge to all Americans – in every walk of life: to our political leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators, engineers, and to every citizen.”
Speaking in a packed D.A.R. Constitution Hall, Gore cited rising gas and oil prices as a catalyst for driving Americans to change their consumption habits.
“A few years ago, it would not have been possible to issue such a challenge," he said. "The sharp cost reductions now beginning to take place in solar, wind, and geothermal power – coupled with the recent dramatic price increases for oil and coal – have radically changed the economics of energy.”
Gore also suggested that the United States must act first in addressing the global climate crisis.
“It is a great error to say that the United States must wait for others to join us in this matter," he added. "In fact, we must move first, because that is the key to getting others to follow, and because moving first is in our own national interest.”
Gore ended his speech by invoking memories of America's 1969 moon landing, calling the climate change crisis “a generational moment.”
“We must now lift our nation to reach another goal that will change history," he said. "Our entire civilization depends upon us now embarking on a new journey of exploration and discovery. Our success depends on our willingness as a people to undertake this journey and to complete it within 10 years. Once again, we have an opportunity to take a giant leap for humankind.”
Constitution Hall, which holds about 3,700 people, was filled to capacity for Gore's 25-minute talk. Matt Howes, a spokesman for the "We" campaign, said in an email that 4,000 people signed up for the event's wait list. The former vice president did not take questions.
Barack Obama tells Glamour magazine's editor during a sit-down interview (?!) that he resents the conservative media's criticism of his wife, Michelle Obama:
GLAMOUR: An AP poll shows that while the positive ratings on Michelle are higher than those of Cindy McCain, her negative ratings are higher as well. I'm curious about how as a husband that makes you feel. Does it mystify you? And what do you want to say to those Americans who don't know the woman that you know?
SENATOR OBAMA: It's infuriating, but it's not surprising, because let's face it: What happened was that the conservative press—Fox News and the National Review and columnists of every ilk—went fairly deliberately at her in a pretty systematic way...and treated her as the candidate in a way that you just rarely see the Democrats try to do against Republicans. And I've said this before: I would never have my campaign engage in a concerted effort to make Cindy McCain an issue, and I would not expect the Democratic National Committee or people who were allied with me to do it. Because essentially, spouses are civilians. They didn't sign up for this. They're supporting their spouse. So it took a toll. If you start being subjected to rants by Sean Hannity and the like, day in day out, that'll drive up your negatives.
Everybody who knows Michelle knows how extraordinary she is. She's ironically the most quintessentially American woman I know. She grew up in a "Leave it to Beaver" family. She is the best mother I know. And our kids are a testimony to that, because she's really had to raise them, oftentimes without me being there. She's the most honest person I know, she's smart, she's funny, so yeah, it infuriates me. And I think that it is an example of the erosion of civility in our political culture that she's been subjected to these attacks, and my attitude is that the people who have attacked her in the ways that they have...if they've got a difference with me on policy, they should debate me. Not her.
GLAMOUR: You said before that your campaign would never take aim at Cindy McCain. Do you believe that the McCain campaign has had a hand in these attacks on Michelle?
SENATOR OBAMA: I wouldn't say the McCain campaign itself, but I would say that the apparatus of conservative columnists, blogs and the like. Talk shows, talk radio....When you see in the span of two or three or four weeks essentially the same talking points being used on a whole variety of shows or a whole variety of columns, over and over again....Hillary Clinton was subject to this, others have been subject to this in the past...It is part of our political environment that I'd like to change.
Crosby, Stills and Nash have debuted an updated version of their song -- "Chicago" -- about the 1968 riots at the Democratic convention in the Windy City. The newer tune is called ... "Denver."
Seven major nat'l surveys released in the past week all showed Barack Obama continuing his lead over John McCain, and The Hotline's latest state-by-state polling analysis concurs, estimating that Obama has 292 EVs to McCain's 234. That's an 11 EV swing from last week's 7/10 update in which Obama held a 281-245 edge over McCain. Although there were five new state polls out this week, the 11 EV fluctuation is attributable to the first post-5/23 poll in MO.
Research 2000, on behalf of The St. Louis Post-Dispatch and KMOV-TV, conducted a survey 7/7-10 that showed Obama leading McCain, 48-43%. As a result, MO -- previously McCain territory based on the '00/'04 election results -- has become a solid Obama state. Each of the other four polls out this week -- one in CA, one in NY and two in WA -- also showed significant Obama leads, although the Dem already maintained solid leads in all three states.
In CA, the latest Field Poll shows Obama up, 54-30%, a bump from his 17% lead in their previous survey completed 5/26. Meanwhile in NY, a new Siena College survey shows Obama leading 50-37% -- still a statistically significant margin, but down from his 18% lead in their 6/11 poll. And finally, in WA, new surveys by partisan pollsters Moore Information (R) and Strategies 360 (D) show Obama leading McCain by 10% and 8%, respectively.
As always, the electoral distribution chart (available after the jump) includes all WH '08 state polling data published in The Hotline since 5/23. The most recent poll, the one used to identify each state's winner, is listed on the same line as the state symbol with older surveys below. In addition, only the most recent poll from a pollster is retained for each state. For the 17 states (including DC) without current polling data available, the winner has been estimated based on WH '00 and WH '04 results.
The AP is reporting that President Clinton's foundation has signed pricing agreements with several cos. involved in making a pricey malaria-fighting drug.
"Today's announcement is an important step forward in global efforts to increase access to affordable and effective malaria treatment," Clinton said in a statement to the AP, "and I applaud the commitments of these companies to lower volatility in this market and offer low and sustainable prices that will save more lives."
A lot of last night's TV coverage focused on John McCain's 7/16 appearance before the NAACP nat'l convo in Cincinnati, OH.
Ex-NAACP official/RNC's Shannon Reeves: "The goal not necessarily was in one speech to change someone's vote, but first to say that I'm a leader, and that I'm worthy of being president of the United States, and I'm seeking your consideration" ("NewsHour," PBS, 7/16).
FNC's Cameron: "He showed he doesn't have horns on his head, and he got a standing ovation at the end of it" ("Special Report," 7/16).
DNCer Robert Zimmerman: "I don't want to be cynical about it. Obviously, it was very important that John McCain went to the NAACP and showed respect for them. But it also was a very strategic move, because that appearance there was a message that showed how he was separate from George Bush. And it was the beginning of trying to regain a maverick image, trying to show that he was independent from traditional Republican dogma, from the Bush administration ... despite the fact that, ultimately, he's backing George Bush on all the critical issues" ("AC 360," CNN, 7/16).
Chicago Tribune's Page: "The audience was very cordial. Black folks are delighted if you show up, number one. They will treat you like nice and neighborly. But his biggest applause line was when he complimented his opponent. You know that this is not a crowd you have much chance of winning. But, it was important for John McCain to speak past the camera, past this crowd to the folks watching at home, especially in Ohio, which is where the NAACP was having their convention, a very important swing state ... for both these candidates" ("Hardball," MSNBC, 7/16).
After the jump, more McCain and the return of the Jesse Jackson controversy.
In an email to supporters this morning, Obama mgr David Plouffe announced that the campaign raised a total of $52M in the month of June with an average donation of just $68. Combined, the Obama camp and the DNC have a total of nearly $72M CoH. Last week, the Wall Street Journal reported Obama's campaign brought in around $30M in June, calling the number “underwhelming.”
In his email today, Plouffe said the $52M figure, “is a healthy number. But McCain and the RNC together still have a huge cash advantage, and we need your help to close the gap." Plouffe notes "we're facing a Republican machine with unprecedented resources at its disposal. The McCain campaign and the Republican National Committee finished June with nearly $100 million in the bank.”
McCain raised more than $22M in Jun. -- his best fundraising performance of the campaign -- and ended the month with nearly $27M CoH. McCain mgr. Rick Davis said 7/10 that McCain and the RNC together entered July with about $95M CoH.
John McCain at the NAACP convention today assured a questioner that he will indeed fill out the group's civil rights survey, a comment that prompted a smattering of applause.
"I'll look forward to filling it out," McCain said. "We fill out literally every survey, so I'll be more than happy to do that."
Every survey? Well ... not quite. Rewind to April 10, 2008, when Mother Jones reported that McCain was booted from the Project Vote Smart board for not completing the organization's Political Courage Test. Mother Jones: "PVS contacted the McCain campaign 25 times from June 2007 to February 2008 in the hopes of avoiding the embarrassment this move entails for both the organization and one of its long-time board members." Here's PVS' statement on the matter.
Lots of buzz in the political ether today noting that former MD Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, a 2006 candidate for U.S. Senate, accompanied John McCain to the NAACP convention in Cincinnati. Is it a sign, some are asking, that Steele's being considered for the veep spot?
While it's always dangerous to handicap the vice presidential search, I covered the 2006 Senate race in MD for The Baltimore Sun, and I can say with little hesitation that it's unlikely that Steele, now head of GOPAC, will wind up on the GOP ticket. Steele served one term as the state's LG. He's never won a race on his own, and his career has had several iterations.
Among Steele's professional twists and turns:
-- He entered the seminary, but left after 18 months.
-- After attending law school, he passed the PA bar and later sat for the MD bar, but failed.
-- Post law school, he was hired by the Washington office of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, but failed to make partner after six years and left the firm.
-- He later worked for the Mills Corp., the developer of the Arundel Mills Mall in Hanover, and left the company 18 months.
-- In 1998, Steele attempted to win the Republican nomination for MD comptroller. He finished third in the GOP primary.
-- He subsequently founded a business and consulting group that struggled financially. In 2001, two banks filed notices of intent to place liens on Steele's Largo townhouse. He later cleared his debts.
-- Steele ultimately took over the MD GOP. In 2002, while running for LG with gube candidate Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr., the party paid Steele, whose business was struggling, $5,000 per month -- money stipulated as a fee for strategic consulting services.
-- Steele's 2006 Senate bid was crafted largely around the LG's affable personality and is most remembered for a series of TV ads noting that the Democrats would criticize the GOPer -- they'd even say he doesn't like puppies. He was defeated by then Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin.
That's just the chronology. Steele was also caught during the 2002 campaign noting inaccurately that his stepfather was Robert Kennedy's driver, a point corrected by Kennedy's daughter, former MD Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend.
There's more, of course, including Steele's relationships with his onetime brother-in-law, the boxer Mike Tyson, and Don King, the boxing promoter who appeared on the campaign trail with Steele in 2006. But, for now, that seems enough to make the broader point. Opposition researchers would have a field day with a Steele pick.
WEST LAFAYETTE, IN -- IN Sen. Evan Bayh and former GA Sen. Sam Nunn declined today to say if they are being vetted by Barack Obama’s vice presidential search team.
Bayh, who fielded reporters questions with Nunn by his side, dominated the roughly 18-minute press conference, but quickly tossed the veep question to the former Georgia senator, joking: “Sam, I haven’t let you answer any questions.”
“I’ve never aspired to that office," Nunn said. "It’s always nice to have your name mentioned. It’s an honor, but I have no expectations of being offered any office, and I’m not in any way sitting on the edge of a chair ready to go back into government. If anyone offered me any high office in the U.S. government, I’d be greatly honored, and I would talk to them.
"Certainly I would talk to Sen. Obama if he wanted to talk about it, but I think the chances of an offer are pretty slim and that I would have to do a lot of thinking and talk to my family and do a lot of reflecting about what was really the best role for me," Nunn added. "Right now, I’m doing a lot of work in (the) national security arena, with the foundation I chair, and we’re making some progress in some difficult areas so I’m not pining to go back into public office.”
Reporters pressed Bayh, too, about his willingness to serve as Obama's vice president.
“Well, I love serving the people of Indiana,” he began. “And I think any questions about the vice presidential thing are understandable, and it’s good for my ego, but I should probably let Sen. Obama and his campaign address those kind of questions."
The IN senator offered a quick quip when asked if he would take himself out of the running to be Obama’s running mate. “I’ve got a plane to catch; Gen. Sherman was from Ohio," he said, referencing American Civil War Gen. Willliam Tecumseh Sherman, who is famous for refusing to become a candidate for president. “If nominated, I will not accept; if drafted, I will not run; if elected, I will not serve,” Sherman said.
John McCain offered some uncharacteristically flattering words (read: well-played, consider the audience) for his Democratic rival this morning at the NAACP convention in Cincinnati:
"Let me begin, if I may with a few words about my opponent. Don't tell him I said this, but he is an impressive fellow in many ways. He has inspired a great many Americans, some of whom had wrongly believed that a political campaign could hold no purpose or meaning for them. His success should make Americans, all Americans, proud. Of course, I would prefer his success not continue quite as long as he hopes. But it does make you and me proud to know the country I've loved and served all my life, still a work in progress, and always improving. Senator Obama talks about making history, and he's made quite a bit of it already. And the way was prepared by this venerable organization and others like it."
The Planned Parenthood Action Fund is airing a new TV spot aimed at educating women voters, in particular, about John McCain's opposition to abortion access and health insurance coverage for birth control.
"John McCain is out of touch when it comes to women's health care," Cecile Richards, president of the Planned Parenthood Action Fun, said in a statement. "Birth control is basic health care for women. But, John McCain ducked a straightforward question about whether he thinks insurance companies should cover birth control, like they do Viagra.”
The spot will air on the season premiere of Project Runway, Lifetime’s Army Wives and The Oprah Winfrey Show (in select markets). It will also run in key battleground states, including CO, IA, MN, NM, OH and WI, as well as Washington, DC.
UPDATE:
Republican National Committee Dep. Press Sec. Amber Wilkerson sent On Call this statement ... “These types of misleading partisan attacks won’t help women who are desperately in need of quality healthcare. John McCain’s plan will provide all Americans with choice and competition in health insurance, putting patients in charge of their own care instead of Washington bureaucrats.”
Since last p.m., three news agencies have released nat'l surveys, and all three show Barack Obama leading John McCain by a statistically significant margin.
The latest ABC News/Washington Post poll, which surveyed 1,119 adults from 7/10-13, shows Obama leading McCain 51-39% -- double the 6% lead he had on 6/15. ABC/WaPo also shows Obama up 8% among RVs and 3% among LVs. Obama's 12-point lead is his largest margin in the survey since 3/2.
Meanwhile a new CBS News/New York Times survey shows Obama leading McCain 45-39%, similar to his 48-42% lead in their 6/3 poll. The poll, which surveyed 1,534 RVs from 7/7-14, shows twice as many undecided voters now as in the survey completed 6/3 (jump from 6% to 12%). CBS/NYT also shows Obama leading 62-23% among Hispanics and 38-35% among Inds.
Finally, the second release of the Reuters/Zogby nat'l survey shows Obama holding steady and McCain dropping slightly. Obama now leads the poll, conducted 7/9-13 among 1,039 LVs, 47-40%; he had led 47-42% in the survey released on 6/18.
The Dem nom is speaking now in IN ... with Sen. Evan Bayh and former GA Sen. Sam Nunn in attendance. Barack Obama will propose a $5B 'Shared Security Partnership' that will over three years forge an international intelligence and law enforcement infrastructure "to take down terrorist networks."
Also, Obama on his 9/11 whereabouts:
"I remember hearing the news on my car radio in downtown in Chicago: a plane had hit the World Trade Center. By the time I got to my meeting, the second plane had hit, and we were told to evacuate. People gathered in the streets and looked up at the sky and the Sears Tower. We feared for our families and our country. We mourned the terrible loss suffered by our fellow citizens in those two office towers, at the Pentagon, and in a simple field in Pennsylvania. Back at my office, I watched the images from New York: a plane vanishing into glass and steel; men and women clinging to windowsills, then letting go; tall towers crumbling to dust. It seemed all of the misery and all of the evil in the world were in that rolling black cloud, blocking out the September sun."
John McCain speaks today to the NAACP annual convention in Cincinnati. It would be a grand understatement to say the GOPer faces an uphill climb in courting black voters, who turned out in force for Barack Obama during the primaries. National surveys indicate that Obama is garnering strong support from the African-American community against McCain, with at least nine of 10 black voters saying they'll back the Democrat.
McCain skipped last year's NAACP convention, a point he is expected to attribute in today's remarks to the "implosion in my campaign" at the time. Still, Democrats have released research to reporters noting that the NAACP has given McCain a grade of 'F' for his record on civil rights matters during the 106th, 107th, 108th and 109th Congresses. More recently, he received an 'incomplete' rating.
Excerpts from McCain's speech are available after the jump.
President Bill Clinton and leading drug manufacturers will deliver a "major" announcement tomorrow, 12:45 PM at the Clinton Foundation's Harlem Office.
The former POTUS' group works in over 44 countries on six continents to combat global challenges such as HIV/AIDS, climate change and childhood obesity.
MoveOn.org has produced a new TV ad highlighting, what they call, John McCain's "intransigence on timelines for redeployment of troops from Iraq, even in the face of calls from" Iraqi PM Nouri al-Maliki "to do just that."
MoveOn will spend $100K to run the ad on nat'l cable.
MoveOn.org campaign dir. Nita Chaudhary: "This week, even the Prime Minister of Iraq joined the chorus calling for a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops, yet John McCain continues to promote an indefinite American occupation there. ... He and President Bush seem happy to take potshots at MoveOn and Congress instead of providing the leadership Americans and Iraqis want to find an end to this war."
The RNC responded with a statement. Spokesperson Alex Conant: "MoveOn.org is repaying Barack Obama for his ideological position on Iraq by running ads that ignore the improving situation in Iraq. Obama and MoveOn were wrong to oppose the surge, and they're wrong to demand immediate withdrawal now."
Barack Obama made the TV rounds last night, appearing on PBS' "NewsHour" and CNN's "LKL." Some highlights:
PBS' Ifill: "I would like to talk to you about Iraq. You gave a big speech on that subject today. A new poll out shows Americans are kind of split about whether there should be a withdrawal timetable or not. So is John McCain right or are you?"
Obama: "Well, you won't be surprised to learn that I'm right."
Ifill: "Oh, I'm surprised."
Obama: "My opposition to the war in Iraq from the start was never premised on the day-to-day tactics that we employ once we are in Iraq. I've never had any doubt that the U.S. military would defeat Saddam Hussein's army. There was never any doubt that if we poured enough resources in there, that we could lock down Iraq. The problem has always been a broader strategic question, and that is was it wise for us to go in there in the first place and once we were in there, you know, was it wise for us to continue a long-term occupation in Iraq. That remains the question."
After the jump, more Obama and reaction to his Iraq speech.
DSCC chair Chuck Schumer and nat'l Dems can take heart that their (presumed) favored candidate in the GA SEN race, '06 LG nominee/ex-state Rep. Jim Martin (D) is heading towards an 8/5 runoff, although he currently trails DeKalb Co. CEO Vernon Jones (D) 40%-35%. Three other Dems split the remaining 25% of the vote, and while it seems likely that most of their support will gravitate towards Martin, it's worth pointing out that voter turnout today was quite low... and will almost certainly plummet further in three weeks when even fewer races are contested. With such a small universe of voters, anything could happen.
What's more certain is Sen. Saxby Chambliss' (R) cash lead over either Dem. As of 6/25, Chambliss had over $4M CoH to Martin's $330K and Jones' $150K.
All of the primaried GA incumbents came out of their races unscathed tonight, despite the fact that some of the races had a few twists and turns.
The White House race has played a big role in two primaries involving Dem Reps. John Lewis (D-05) and John Barrow (D-12).
Lewis faced minister Markel Hutchins (D) and state Rep. Mable Thomas (D), and defeated them handily. Hutchins and Thomas’ bids were fueled by Lewis' early support of Hillary Clinton. Both challengers also echoed Barack Obama's apparent call for a change in the leadership in the African-American community. They argued that while Lewis played a key role in the civil rights movement, it's time for new leaders to take the stage. But Lewis far outraised his challengers, and despite some lingering bad feelings over his early HRC endorsement, he coasted today.
Meanwhile, in the Savannah-based 12th District, Barrow fought off a feisty, yet underfunded, challenge to his left by African-American state Sen. Regina Thomas (D), 76-24%. On the surface, Thomas had a big base -- the District is 41% African-American; it's even higher in the universe of Democratic primary voters. But Obama came out and surprisingly endorsed the white moderate Barrow. That appeared to take the life out of Thomas' campaign. She raised just a fraction of what Barrow has spent on the contest, and couldn’t seem to get any traction.
Barrow will face ex-Rep. Burns (R) aide John Stone (R) in the general, and despite previous Barrow challengers, his candidacy doesn’t excite too many GOPers. Stone hasn’t been able to raise much – he had just $8K CoH at the end of Jul. -- and considering the expected huge African-American turnout for Obama in this CD, any hopes for a GOP win here are muted.
They had to wait six weeks, but House GOPers finally got their candidates in AL's two open seat races. State Rep. Jay Love (AL-02) and ‘94/’96 nominee Wayne Parker (AL-05) emerged from today’s runoffs with relatively comfortable victories, and will face socially conservative Dems in the fall.
Love defeated the runner up in the 6/3 primary, state Sen. Harri Anne Smith (R) 58-42% in a campaign that got so nasty that retiring Rep. Terry Everett (R) called on both sides to cease their negative TV ads.
Smith lobbed the first grenade in the race when she aired a TV ad accusing Love of giving tax breaks to “big oil.” Love responded by saying Smith “sold out” her position on gambling for campaign contributions from a bingo hall developer. Smith and developer Ronnie Gilley vehemently denied the accusations. And Gilley paid for radio ads featuring country music singer George Jones that praised Smith and condemned Love, calling him a “plain old liar.”
Barack Obama returns to IN tomorrow for a national security conversation with Sen. Evan Bayh and former GA Sen. Sam Nunn. The discussion -- held at Purdue University in West Lafayette -- will focus on nuclear non-proliferation, bioterrorism, cyber security and emerging national security threats. The event is dubbed a 'Summit on Confronting 21st Century Threats' ...
Charlie Black, senior adviser to John McCain's campaign, is back on the campaign trail just three weeks after his comments to Fortune Magazine about the beneficial effects a possible terrorist attack would have on McCain's White House bid, reports NBC/NJ's Adam Aigner-Treworgy.
Speaking a few moments ago in Albuquerque, NM, John McCain issued a call to increase troop levels in Afghanistan, noting that the situation in Iraq is much improved.
NBC/NJ's Adam Aigner-Treworgy, who has been traveling with the McCain campaign, notes that the candidate has until today danced around questions about increasing the troop commitment in Afghanistan. During yesterday's press avail, McCain stepped up to the line, but backed off: "I think we need to do whatever is necessary, and that could entail more troops. We need to do a lot of things in Afghanistan. A lot of this has to do with Pakistan and the safe haven areas that I have visited in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. But the major point here is that Senator Obama refuses to acknowledge that he was wrong. He said that the surge couldn't succeed. He said he opposed the increase in troops. The surge has succeeded. We were losing when we put the 30,000 additional troops in with a new strategy. He said it would fail and he still refuses to acknowledge that it is succeeding."
McCain today introduced his "Comprehensive Strategy for Victory in Afghanistan," which includes sending more troops - at least three additional brigades - and creating an Afghanistan Czar to oversee all operations there.
Aigner-Treworgy writes: This isn't a shift in position, but it is a change from the way he has been speaking about the situation in Afghanistan, which usually included a call for increased NATO support and the need for political accords with Pakistan.
Barack Obama working out today at the The Washington Sports Club on Connecticut Ave. between 7:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. Our source said two bodyguards stood watch as the Dem presidential nom pumped some iron pre Iraq/Afghanistan speech. Apparently, the IL senator bends his back while performing tricep exercises with free weights (ouch).
This a.m. Quinnipiac Univ. released its first nat'l survey in two months. The poll, taken 7/8-13 among 1,725 LVs, shows Barack Obama leading John McCain 50-41%. Obama led the previous Quinnipiac survey, taken 5/8-12 among 1,745 RVs, 47-40%. The polls have margins error +/- 2.4% (July) and +/- 2.3% (May).
Obama now leads by 93% among blacks, up from his 83% lead in the previous poll; McCain meanwhile maintains his 7% lead among whites. Even more interesting, however, is the breakdown of voting by age.
Obama, as expected, holds a substantial (63-31%) lead among voters 34 and under; he also holds a slight 48-44% edge among voters 35-54 years old. But McCain and Obama are virtually tied among voters 55 and over, with McCain holding a statistically insignificant 1% lead.
Barack Obama's full Iraq speech is available after the jump.
Here's a snippet countering the GOP nom's assertion that a troop draw down in Iraq would spell failure and surrender to terrorists:
"Iraq is not going to be a perfect place, and we don’t have unlimited resources to try to make it one. We are not going to kill every al Qaeda sympathizer, eliminate every trace of Iranian influence, or stand up a flawless democracy before we leave – General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker acknowledged this to me when they testified last April. That is why the accusation of surrender is false rhetoric used to justify a failed policy. In fact, true success in Iraq – victory in Iraq – will not take place in a surrender ceremony where an enemy lays down their arms. True success will take place when we leave Iraq to a government that is taking responsibility for its future – a government that prevents sectarian conflict, and ensures that the al Qaeda threat which has been beaten back by our troops does not reemerge."
The State's Chapman wonders today if SC Gov. Mark Sanford's gaffe-packed, cringe-inducing appearance on CNN Sunday has taken him out of the running for GOP veep.
Barack Obama speaks in a few minutes about his foreign policy gameplan for Iraq and Afghanistan. Excerpts from his talk, given at The Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, are available after the jump.
Here, per the campaign, are his topline priorities:
-- ending the war in Iraq responsibly;
-- finishing the fight against al Qaeda and the Taliban;
-- securing all nuclear weapons and materials from terrorists and rogue states;
-- achieving true energy security; and
-- rebuilding our alliances to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
Barack Obama's campaign is up in 18 battleground states with a spot that touts his work with Sen. Dick Lugar (R-IN) on legislation to expand U.S. cooperation to destroy conventional weapons. It also expanded the State Department's ability to detect and interdict weapons and materials of mass destruction. President Bushsigned the bill in January 2007.
Andy Fisher, Lugar's press secretary, said that the GOPer was featured in an Obama ad during the primaries. Lugar's office did not sign off on the first Obama ad or the one that debuted today, but Fisher noted: "The information in the past ads has been factual."
And of the most recent spot, he added: "There's nothing inaccurate about it."
Fisher said that when Lugar ran for president during the 1996 cycle, he ran spots highlighting his work with then-Democratic Sen. Sam Nunn on the Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) Program, the legislative precursor to Lugar's collaboration with Obama.
Obama and Lugar traveled to Russia together in 2005 to visit nuclear and biological weapons destruction sites.
The New Yorker cover of Barack and Michelle Obama was the talk of the TV last night.
New Yorker ed. David Remnick was in the "Situation Room" last night to discuss the cover.
Remnick, asked if he would the cover again, knowing the uproar it has caused: "Yes. And I would like to explain, quite concisely, what our intention was. The idea is to attack lies and misconceptions and distortions about the Obamas, and their background and their politics. We have heard all of this nonsense about how they're supposedly insufficiently patriotic or soft on terrorism, that, somehow, the fist bump is something that it's not. And we tried to put all of these images in one cover, and to satirize and shine a really harsh light on something that's incredibly damaging."
More Remnick: "If there's no possibility for satire, if you always have to look for the joke that absolutely everyone will get, you won't have Jon Stewart, you won't have Stephen Colbert. Stephen Colbert goes on and mocks right-wing commentary by pretending to be a right-wing commentator. In a way, this is Colbert in print."
After the jump, more New Yorker reaction, McCain goes "On the Record" and Ventura rules out MN SEN run.
Surprising no one, ex-MN Gov. Jesse Ventura (I) just told CNN's Larry King that he won't join the MN SEN race now dominated by Sen. Norm Coleman (R) and entertainer Al Franken (D).
Squinting into the camera, with his dyed-black hair apparently pulled back in a ponytail, Ventura told King that he's so disgusted with both parties that he doesn't plan to vote for either Barack Obama or John McCain.
That's all we're going to report tonight on the Ventura bombshell. Because between Ventura's face/hair, and King's bright red satin shirt, their split-screen is seriously making our eyes hurt.
New swag available on Straight Talk Airways. The photo was filed by NBC/NJ's Adam Aigner-Treworgy, who notes wisely that in this case, flip flops is a noun, not a verb.
Al Gore will speak in Washington Thursday about his vision for addressing America's energy needs. The talk, held at D.A.R. Constitution Hall, will be hosted by the "We" Campaign, an organization devoted to solving the climate crisis.
From the event announcement:
"The speech will offer a new way of thinking about our energy production and consumption and a new sense of what is possible when we choose to work together. It will propose a means of tapping America's innovative
skills to build a more secure energy future."
The New Yorker's Ryan Lizza, author of this week's cover story, on his mag's much-discussed cover:
"There are two ways that you can deal with lies and information, one way is through a lot of careful reporting ... another way ... is through political satire, and that's what this cover was about. It was trying to show the absurd view of this guy."
"The standard is not, 'Will everyone get it?'" Lizza added.
Barack Obama's campaign has finalized its communications team for the general election.
Here's the line-up:
Robert Gibbs -- senior strategist for communications and message taking on a broader strategic portfolio for the Fall campaign while continuing to serve as senior communications aide travelling with Sen. Obama
Anita Dunn -- senior advisor overseeing the campaign’s communications, research and policy departments
Dan Pfeiffer -- communications director
Linda Douglass -- travelling spokesperson for the campaign
Bill Burton -- national spokesperson out of the Chicago headquarters
Josh Earnest -- deputy communications director
Christina Reynolds (fmr res. dir. for John Edwards in 2004 and 2008) -- director of rapid response
Wendy Morigi -- national security spokesperson
Dag Vega (former DNCer) -- director of surrogate communications
Joelle Terry -- deputy director of surrogate press, chief booker for interviews for the senator
Tommy Vietor and Hari Sevugan -- rapid response
Moira Mack and Nick Shapiro -- deputy national press secretaries working for Burton
President Bush is expected to lift an executive ban on offshore drilling today that was signed by his father in 1990. Bush will make a statement in the Rose Garden later this afternoon outlining his plans.
Here's react from Barack Obama spokesman Bill Burton:
"If offshore drilling would provide short-term relief at the pump or a long-term strategy for energy independence, it would be worthy of our consideration, regardless of the risks. But most experts, even within the Bush Administration, concede it would do neither. It would merely prolong the failed energy policies we have seen from Washington for thirty years. Senator Obama believes Americans need real short-term relief, which is why he has proposed a second round of stimulus with energy rebates for working families. And over the long-term, Senator Obama understands that our national security and the survival of the planet demand a real strategy to break our dependence on foreign oil by developing clean, new sources of energy and by vastly improving the energy efficiency of our cars, trucks and our economy. He is ready to lead such a transformation."
In prepared remarks to the National Council of La Raza today in San Diego, John McCain will push anew for a Colombian Free Trade Agreement. Fresh off trips to Colombia and Mexico, the GOP nom will also suggest that his Democratic rival "soon visits some of the other countries of the Americas for the first time."
McCain: "I recently traveled to Colombia and Mexico because I understand how vitally important it is to the prosperity and security of our country to strengthen our trade, investment and diplomatic ties to other countries in our hemisphere. I have often traveled over the years to Central and South America, and I have learned our relationships there are as important, if not more important, as any relationships we have in the world. It is the reason why I'm an unapologetic supporter of NAFTA, the Central American Free Trade Agreement, and the Colombian Free Trade Agreement, and why I believe a hemispheric free trade agreement is a worthy and necessary goal whose time has come.
"And while it is surely not my intention to become my opponent's scheduler, I hope Senator Obama soon visits some of the other countries of the Americas for the first time. Were he to do so, I think he, too, would see that stronger economic bonds with our neighbors and the closer friendships they encourage, are a great benefit in many ways to our country."
Additional snippets of McCain's speech available after the jump.
Barack Obama offered his "Plan for Iraq" in an op-ed in today's New York Times, affirming that he would begin a "phased redeployment of combat troops" that would remove them in 16 months, by summer of 2010. (Read the piece in full after the jump.) Sources say Obama is also expected to give a speech in Washington tomorrow about his Iraq policy.
John McCain's campaign pushed back in a conference call a few moments ago with Sen. Lindsey Graham and Randy Scheunemann, a senior foreign policy adviser.
Graham said Obama's NYT piece marked a "brazen effort by a politician to rewrite history." "Iraq has been a central battleground in the war on terror," he said.
"It is clear that Al Qaeda in Iraq has been helped and organized by al Qaeda International," he added. "For Sen. Obama to suggest that it never has been a key battle in the war on terror, I think, misunderstands what would have happened if we had lost."
Obama and his Democratic colleagues, Graham said, erroneously opposed the surge. "If we had followed his rhetoric, Iraq would have crumbled, Al Qaeda would have declared victory," he said. Graham said that the troop redeployment Obama advocates, "would result in a fractured, broken Iraq, a country in chaos."
Scheunemann said Obama's position on Iraq is refined daily. "Sen. Obama continues to search for a political position that will protect his flank," he said. "... Sen. Obama seems to think that losing a war will help him win an election."
This provactive New Yorker cartoon debuted over the weekend and immediately sparked a fury of discussion in the political world. It, of course, parodies all the stereotypes, bunk and rumors dogging the Obamas, but does it go too far in making the point? Barack Obama's campaign was none too pleased. Per CNN: "The New Yorker may think, as one of their staff explained to us, that their cover is a satirical lampoon of the caricature Sen. Obama's right-wing critics have tried to create," Obama spokesman Bill Burton said in a statement. "But most readers will see it as tasteless and offensive. And we agree."
Singer, songwriter extraordinaire Carole King will be in New Hampshire over the next three days campaigning for Barack Obama. She visits Gibson's Bookstore on Main Street in Concord tomorrow afternoon.
In past presidential cycles King has stumped for Gary Hart, George McGovern and John Kerry, among others ... After the jump, a CK bonus -- the Concord Monitor piece I wrote about her visit to NH in 2004 for Kerry.
"Fox News Sunday" dedicated its full hour to remembering ex-host/ex-WH press sec. Tony Snow, who died of colon cancer 7/12 at the age of 53.
In a taped interview with Fox's Chris Wallace, VP Cheney talked about Snow's influence on the conservative movement.
Cheney: "He was a major player in the conservative movement. And the way I think of Tony is he's unique in terms of the extent to which he knew the news side of the business, then as a commentator, but also somebody who worked as part of the White House staff as a speech writer and, of course, as press secretary. And there are very, very few people that have had as much experience on both sides of the divide."
Cheney, on Snow's brand of conservatism: "I frankly agreed with him on nearly everything, and I'm generally viewed as pretty conservative. I'm not sure that that's saying something nice about Tony in some circles, but I always thought of him as a guy who understood very well the purposes of government, and that they were limited, and that there were some things government shouldn't do, that we are best able to do for ourselves."
After the jump, more Snow, Schwarzenegger on serving in an Obama admin. and Veepstakes.
John McCain got a little tongue-tied earlier this week when asked by a reporter why he believes Viagra, but not birth control, should be covered by health insurance.
Today, the AZ senator held an event in Hudson, WI, at a company called ... drumroll, please ... J&L Steel Erectors.
A release that's bound to give John McCain's camp heartburn ... Richard Viguerie, who has been dubbed the pioneer of direct mail and raised billions for the conservative movement, said GOPers are preparing themselves for defeat in the fall.
LAS VEGAS, July 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Conservatives are so depressed over the state of the McCain campaign -- particularly its failure to include and enthuse the Republican base -- that they are preparing themselves for a monumental GOP defeat in November, Richard A. Viguerie, Chairman of ConservativeHQ.com, said in a speech to FreedomFest.
"You even have some conservatives who are considering voting for Barack Obama, because they fear McCain as president would destroy what's left of the Republican brand and would finish off the conservative movement," said Viguerie. "Their mood is that of the fatally ill patient who says 'Let's get this over with.'"
"John McCain has had the Republican nomination sewn up for five months and has done little to convince conservatives they should come off the sidelines and fight for him," he said.
Viguerie said, "Personnel is policy and if Senator McCain won't surround himself with conservatives during this campaign, when he desperately needs them, why should we think that he will have conservatives making critical decisions in his administration?"
"Senator McCain has never been a conservative, is not one now, and will not govern as one. From McCain-Feingold to cap-and-trade, he is a supporter of one Big Government scheme after another. History shows that, in the Oval Office, where almost all the political pressure comes from supporters of Big Government, he would only get worse."
Viguerie has also called for the resignation of the Republican leadership in Congress.
"After this year's expected blood bath in the November elections, the voters will bring about a massive housecleaning of GOP leaders in favor of principled conservatives," he said.
Freedom Fest, at which Viguerie spoke, is a gathering of prominent advocates for free markets. Other speakers this year include Steve Forbes, George Gilder, Bob Barr, Dinesh D'Souza, Christopher Hitchens, and Congressman Ron Paul.
The WSJ is reporting that Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE) will join Barack Obama on an upcoming trip to Iraq.
The pairing is sure to fuel additional speculation that Hagel, an outspoken critic of the Iraq war, could make Obama's veep shortlist. A Vietnam vet who pondered a 2008 White House bid, Hagel has not endorsed in the presidential race.
Hagel's decision to accompany Obama to Iraq is sure to irritate John McCain's camp. Much as news last week of Colin Powell's private meeting with the Dem nom must have. When high-profile Rs with much-balleyhooed foreign policy credentials flirt with an Obama endorsement they convey to the IL senator a credibility on national security matters that he needs to win over moderate voters.
Polls show that voters give McCain higher marks on foreign affairs/national security issues, while Obama wins out on who can bring change to Washington. McCain's chief strength, however, appears vulnerable when several respected party colleagues, vets to boot, express an interest in his Dem rival.
HUDSON, WI – Just a day after Barack Obama held a town hall focusing on women's issues in NY, John McCain followed suit with a female-focused town hall of his own here this morning, and he used the venue to draw distinctions between the candidates on the issues that matter to women.
"When you cut through all the smooth rhetoric, Senator Obama's policies would make it harder for women to start new businesses, harder for women to create or find new jobs, harder for women to manage the family budget, and harder for women and their families to meet their tax burden," McCain said. "That's what the difference is all about between myself and Senator Obama."
Obama senior adviser Anita Dunn fired back in a statement: “Senator Obama understands that the challenges facing women and families in the 21st century are very different than the challenges of the past, but John McCain seems stuck in an outdated view of American families.
"Senator Obama believes every woman deserves equal pay for equal work," Dunn added. "He has a plan to help working women by guaranteeing seven paid sick days to the 22 million who currently have none, and by providing child tax credits, additional after-school programs, and a tax cut for 71 million working women and eliminating capital gains taxes for 8.7 million women who own small businesses or start-ups. Senator McCain thinks the Supreme Court was right to make it harder for women to challenge pay discrimination at work, and he opposed legislation that Obama co-sponsored to reverse that decision. Senator McCain has suggested that the reason women don’t have equal pay isn’t discrimination on the job—it’s because they need more education and training. Senator Obama couldn’t disagree more."
Democrats leapt quickly today on another McCain claim -- that his record shows continued support for equal pay for women: "I'm committed to making sure that there's equal pay for equal work, that there's an equal opportunity in every aspect of our society and our economy and that is my record and you can count on it."
But Progressive Accountability, a liberal watchdog group, blitzed a memo to reporters highlighting McCain's opposition to various equal pay bills throughout his Senate career, including an equal rights bill that would have expanded the window in which plaintiffs could file discriminatory pay complaints. McCain did not show for the April vote. Meanwhile, during a speech in early May, McCain said that the bill would ultimately prompt frivolous lawsuits.
John McCain's campaign just announced that Cindy McCain will ride in a pace car in the Firestone 200 Indycar Race tomorrow in Lebanon, Tennessee. 4:30 p.m. CT.
Barack Obama's campaign has been cautious in its response to market concerns that government-sponsored mortgage companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could requre a federal bailout.
The companies' shares are falling, and some investors are concerned the two giants could default on their debt, which would send ripples through the economy since their securities are held by financial institutions and investors all over the world.
Here's the statement the Obama campaign released a short time ago:
"Senator Obama has long believed we should take all necessary steps to ensure affordable homeownership for millions of American families, and that includes an essential role for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac," said Obama spokesman Bill Burton. "Nearly a year ago, Senator Obama called for a major response to the housing crisis and significant relief for struggling homeowners. It took Senator McCain three different tries to figure out a real response to the housing crisis, and his current plan does nothing to help more than two million homeowners who are facing foreclosure."
The statement does not address whether the government should intervene to help Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac or if the Treasury should back these loans, in order to avert the kind of crisis of confidence that sank Bear Stearns.
The Associated Press reports that John McCain has said the government cannot let Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac go under.
When pressed for more, Burton sent this response: "In a rapidly evolving situation it does not make sense to comment on each and every one of the many specific actions that could potentially be taken to this end."
Obama has not publicly addressed the matter. He is OH today where he just finished a town hall in Dayton about America's energy security.
"The Wall Street Journal report of our fundraising numbers is way off the mark," Obama spokesman Bill Burton writes in an e-mail. "It appears that after 18 months, some in the press still haven’t realized that anyone who is talking about numbers doesn’t know what our numbers are."
Expect an announcement from Obama's campaign sometime around 7/20.
Here are the scheduled guests for the Sunday public affairs shows and other weekend programs:
SUNDAY:
Meet the Press hosts McCain adviser Carly Fiorina, Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO), DLC chair/ex-Rep. Harold Ford Jr. (D-TN), GOP strategist Mike Mitchell and NBC's Andrea Mitchell.
Face the Nation hosts Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI), Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN) and Israeli Amb. to the U.S. Sallai Meridor.
This Week hosts CA Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA), and a roundtable with Time's Richard Stengel, Dem strategist Donna Brazile, ABC's Cokie Roberts and Washington Post's George Will.
Fox News Sunday hosts T. Boone Pickens, and a panel discussion with Weekly Standard's Bill Kristol, Fortune's Nina Easton, Washington Post's Charles Krauthammer, and NPR's Juan Williams.
Late Edition hosts Sen. Jon Kyle (R-AZ), Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT), Gov. Mark Sanford (R-SC), Gov. Janet Napolitano (D-AZ), McCain econ. adviser Nancy Pfotenhauer, Obama econ. adviser Jason Furman, Iraqi Nat'l Security adviser Mowaffak al-Rubaie, State of Public Diplomacy Undersec. Jim Glassman, and a roundtable with CNN's Bill Schneider, CNN's Jessica Yellin and CNN's Gloria Borger.
John McCain's campaign released its newest television -- "God's Children" -- which features the GOPer's remarks at a June 2007 debate in NH honoring the service of Hispanics in our Armed Forces. The ad will air in CO, NV and NM. Recent polls have shown that nearly seven of 10 Latino voters are backing Obama.
Senator Phil Gramm's comments about the U.S. being a "nation of whiners" dominated last night's coverage.
Ex-WH adviser David Gergen, on whether Gramm's comments undermine McCain's efforts: "If you look at the campaigns overall, yesterday, Jesse Jackson made a major contribution to the Barack Obama campaign. And today it was the McCain campaign's turn to make a couple of contributions. This was one of them. ... Of course, John McCain didn't say this, and he didn't mean to have him say it. But it's one of those kind of things that Barack Obama has faced this problem, too. Your surrogates can get you more trouble sometimes than the candidate itself. Does it go away soon? Yes."
More Gergen: "But what it also did today for Senator Obama, it covered up a couple of things on his own campaign that he didn't want to be leading the program tonight, Michelle Obama out today talking about these rebates don't amount to much, $600. Well, you just go out there and spend that on a pair of earrings. Well, you know, a lot of people don't buy $600 earrings. So, this story smothered those kinds of things. And I think this was a real gift to Barack Obama" ("AC 360," CNN, 7/10).
New York Daily News' Errol Louis, on the damage this does to McCain: "I think it would do a lot of damage to him. Among the places that McCain used him as a surrogate was when he went to the editorial board of the Wall Street Journal to try and talk about economic issues. He has attached to this man, and this is somebody who not just made a gaffe today but is deeply implicated in some of these most serious problems in the economy today. I mean, he was chair of the Senate Banking Committee throughout the 1990s. He passed much of the deregulation ... that people believe led to the housing crisis that we have today" ("Election Center," CNN, 7/10).
DNCer Robert Zimmerman, on the problem the comment poses for McCain: "It shows that he's not connecting. And it's not just his surrogates that are the problem. It's the fact that he's demonstrating personally that he's not connecting" ("AC 360," CNN, 7/10).
After the jump, more reaction to Gramm, as well as continued talk on Jesse Jackson's comments on Barack Obama
The Pew Research Center For The People & The Press has a survey out today that's chock full of interesting tidbits; most notable, perhaps, is the revelation that John McCain's supporters believe Barack Obama is the candidate with new ideas (58% to McCain's 24%). McCain voters also say Obama is more likable (45% to 34%).
Pew's numbers show, too, that McCain's support is tepid among GOPers who backed another Republican during the party's primary contest. Just a quarter of this group supports McCain strongly, compared with 57% who support him only moderately. Herein lies the chief quandary for McCain. How does he generate enthusiasm from his base and court the precious swing voters he needs to win?
In non candidate specific news, the Pew poll indicates that voters are intensely focused on the 2008 presidential contest, more so than recent elections: 72% said they have given a lot of thought to the election, compared with 58% in June 2004 and 46% in June 2000.
Pew's poll was conducted June 18-29 among 2,004 Americans. Give it a read.
In my recent prior professional life, I was an ink-stained wretch. And proud of it. So it is with a measure of glee that I link to this Raleigh News & Observer story about a reader who is suing the paper for cutting its staff.
"I wanted to get the newspaper's attention and the news industry's attention," said Keith Hempstead, a Durham lawyer. "I hate to see what companies that run newspapers are doing to the product," Hempstead said. "The idea that taking the most important product and reducing the amount of news and getting rid of staff to me seems pointless to how you should run a newspaper business."
The Chicago Tribune's Pearsonreports that Hillary Clinton is looking to retire her $20M in debt at least in part by selling a $50 "limited edition" t-shirt. HRC's camp launched the t-shirt contest when she was still a candidate.
"While the primary race may be over, I think the winning t-shirt -- and it won by a landslide -- still makes a wonderful statement about everything you and I accomplished in this historic race and our determination to keep fighting for what we believe in," Clinton wrote supporters in an e-mail today.
"If you contribute $50 today you'll get a t-shirt with the winning design and continue to help me pay down our campaign debt," she wrote, thanking "Denitza of Weehawken, New Jersey" for submitting the best of 125,000 entries.
On the black shirts, a white profile of the pants-suited Clinton appears along with words echoing a favorite HRC refrain:
"For everyone who's ever been counted out but refused to be knocked out and for everyone who works hard and never gives up, this one is for you!"
John McCain's campaign and Republican Party had nearly $95M cash on hand combined for use in the presidential race at the end of June, McCain campaign manager Rick Davis said in a conference call this afternoon with reporters. Davis said the McCain camp had more than $27M, and the Republican National Committee had more than $67M.
He noted that the campaign raised $22M in June, an increase from $21M a month before, reports NBC/NJ's Matthew Berger.
KANSAS CITY, MO – Appearing this morning at her second women's issues roundtable in as many days, Michelle Obama remarked on her husband's urging that fathers step up to the plate to take a more active role in their children's lives.
"There's government responsibility and accountability, and then there's individual responsibility and accountability," she said in response to a young woman's reference to Barack Obama's emphasis on fatherhood. "One never cancels out the other."
Her remarks came in response to a question from 25-year-old audience member Ibbaanika Bond, whose boyfriend has been trying to regain custody of their child after she, an unwed mother, gave up her son Noah for adoption – an action she now says she regrets. Craig Lentz, the son's biological father, took the case against Noah's adoptive parents to the Missouri Supreme Court on the grounds that he never agreed to the adoption.
Referencing Obama's efforts to put fathers' responsibility into the spotlight, Bond insisted, "There is a system in this country that, even in court, they're keeping people from doing that. People want to take care of their children."
After listening to the young mother's passionate appeal for legal justice, Obama agreed that the family court system within the country is flawed, but added that her husband's directive to parents is aimed at those who fail to take an active role in children's lives despite available resources.
"I want to make sure that people understand that as Barack talks about his personal experiences growing up without a father, that in no way doesn't recognize that there are serious problems in the system," she said. "As we are talking about that fight we also have to recognize that there are some people who do have complete ability and access to do what they need to do."
Since the last edition of The Hotline's "Battle for the Electoral College" poll update on 6/27, the only significant change in polling has been FL, which swung from Barack Obama to John McCain.
A late June poll by Strategic Vision (R) showed McCain up 8%; previously, an American Research Group (R) survey had Obama up 5%. As a result of this 27 electoral vote (EV) shift, Obama now has an estimated 281 EVs to McCain's 245, down from Obama's estimated 308-218 lead on 6/27; 12 EVs remain toss-ups.
The chart below also includes a new GOP poll in KS, which -- like the Dem poll previously published -- shows McCain with a statistically significant lead. Additionally, the latest AL Ed. Assoc. poll shows McCain maintaining a solid lead among AL LVs, although his advantage has dropped from 23% to 13% since 6/2. The first post-5/23 polls in GA and LA show solid McCain leads, moving these states out of the Bush/Bush projection. Meanwhile, surveys in ME and RI, as well as two CT polls, all confirm these previously unpolled Gore/Kerry states as Obama strongholds.
As always, the chart includes all WH '08 state polling data published in The Hotline since 5/23. The most recent poll, the one used to identify each state's winner, is listed on the same line as the state symbol with older surveys below. In addition, only the most recent poll from a pollster is retained for each state. For the 18 states (including DC) without current polling data available, the winner has been estimated based on WH '00 and WH '04 results.
Jesse Jackson's comments about Barack Obama dominated news coverage.
Rev. Al Sharpton, on his initial reaction: "I think it's very unfortunate. I think that I'm glad Reverend Jackson apologized, I'm glad Senator Barack Obama accepted. I happen to think that talking about parenting is not talking down to black people. In fact, I think that when Bill Cosby did it or Barack Obama did it, it's the right thing to do, and I think the substance of the issue is more important with how they deal with these statements that it clearly were something that I would not say, and I don't think Reverend Jackson is saying is justifiable."
Chicago Tribune's Page, on how he interpreted Jackson's "talking down" point: "as he put it to me, he feels there are people out there who feel that all black people need to do is just work hard and have faith, and all these problems will be solved, and that's too simplistic. And he also doesn't want to see Barack Obama play into that kind of thinking. But, as he says, his support for Obama is unequivocal" ("O'Reilly Factor," FNC, 7/9).
GOPAC chair Michael Steele: "I feel really bad for Jesse Jackson. ... I think, for me, irrespective of the nuances or lack thereof in this case, the real question is why did he think that? Why does he think and say that to reflect something else beneath the surface? And I think, whether it's on a hot mic or he intentionally says it on air, it's the intent behind the words" ("Hannity & Colmes," FNC, 7/9).
Radio talk show host Warren Ballentine: "I don't think it's that big of a deal. I'm going to tell you why. I mean, I think this would have been more damaging coming from Reverend Sharpton than Reverend Jackson. To be honest with you, I think we're at a point in black America where, when you look at civil rights leadership, I think the torch has been passed to Reverend Sharpton. Also, I honestly, as far as talking down, I spoke with Reverend Jackson as well. And what he was saying was that, look, we need to be talking about jobs and education, not just faith-based organizations and faith-based church initiatives. So I don't know that Reverend Jackson meant any harm by it" ("O'Reilly Factor," FNC, 7/9).
A statement from Barack Obama spokesman Bill Burton:
“As someone who grew up without a father in the home, Senator Obama has spoken and written for many years about the issue of parental responsibility, including the importance of fathers participating in their children’s lives. He also discusses our responsibility as a society to provide jobs, justice, and opportunity for all. He will continue to speak out about our responsibilities to ourselves and each other, and he of course accepts Reverend Jackson’s apology."
A statement from Rep. Jesse L. Jackson Jr., about his father's remarks:
"I'm deeply outraged and disappointed in Reverend Jackson's reckless statements about Senator Barack Obama. His divisive and demeaning comments about the presumptive Democratic nominee -- and I believe the next president of the United States -- contradict his inspiring and courageous career.
"Instead of tearing others down, Barack Obama wants to build the country up and bring people together so that we can move forward, together -- as one nation. The remarks like those uttered on Fox by Revered Jackson do not advance the campaign's cause of building a more perfect Union.
"Revered Jackson is my dad and I'll always love him. He should know how hard that I've worked for the last year and a half as a national co-chair of Barack Obama's presidential campaign. So, I thoroughly reject and repudiate his ugly rhetoric. He should keep hope alive and any personal attacks and insults to himself."
PORTSMOUTH, OH – John McCain is known for bus rides where he will happily chat about anything. But a question posed this afternoon on the Straight Talk Express made McCain visibly uncomfortable.
The Los Angeles Times' reporter on the bus asked McCain about comments advisor Carly Fiorina made earlier this week, calling it unfair that insurance companies cover Viagra but not birth control.
"I certainly do not want to discuss that issue," McCain said to nervous laughter, according to the pool report. He went on to say he did not know what he voted for on the issue.
"I'll look at my voting record on it," he said, before an extended pause. "I don't recall the vote right now. But I'll be glad to look at it and get back to you as to why."
Asked again if it was fair that some insurance companies cover the erectile dysfunction medication but not birth control, McCain gave another long pause, clocked at eight seconds.
"I don't know enough about it to give you an informed answer because I don't recall the vote, I've cast thousands of votes in the Senate," he said. The reporter went on to describe it as a "delicate issue," to more laughter, this time described in the pool report as "relieved laughter."
"It's something that I had not thought much about, and I did hear about her response, but I hadn't thought much," McCain said. "But I will get, I will get back to you today on it."
"I don't usually duck an issue, but I'm, I'll try to get back to you," he added.
Hillary Clinton is flying with Barack Obama this afternoon from Washington to New York for two fundraisers. Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg will also join, reports NBC/NJ's Athena Jones.
The first fundraiser, a Women for Obama event, is this evening at the Grand Hyatt. Second is tomorrow morning at the Hilton Towers.
A standing ovation for the cancer-stricken senator, and a statement:
WASHINGTON, DC— Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, today released the following statement on the Medicare vote:
“I return to the Senate today to keep a promise to our senior citizens – and that’s to protect Medicare. Win, lose or draw, I wanted to be here. I wasn’t going to take the chance that my vote could make the difference. Medicare should not be a partisan issue. Illness and age know no party boundaries. The 44 million Americans who rely on Medicare to meet their health care needs are both Democrats and Republicans. Like all Americans, they have worked hard all their lives. They’ve raised their families. They’ve built our towns and cities and farmed the land. They’ve served in our military. We owe them so much for the part they have played in making America a great country. So today I proudly cast this important vote for them – a vote to keep the Medicare program strong and effective for the future.”
NYT: A plan to broaden the government's spy powers and provide immunity for the phone companies that took part in a wiretapping program was approved today the U.S. Senate, 69-28, giving President Bush his first legislative victory in a long while.
Barack Obama voted for the bill, while former rival Hillary Clinton voted no.
One very reliable Democratic media buyer has scanned the nation to determine where John McCain's campaign and the Republican National Committee are spending precious ad dollars this week.
The highlights:
McCain's campaign is airing ads from 7/8-7/14 in CO, IA, MI, MO, NM, NV, OH, VA, WI, WV, MN and PA. His team is spending the most money in MI ($393,566.58), followed by OH ($373,357.71) and PA ($310,630.01).
(An On Call Aside ... If the McCain camp believes MI, OH and PA are their biggest battlegrounds, does that increase the veep appeal of Mitt Romney, Rob Portman and Tom Ridge?)
The RNC is bolstering McCain's efforts in MI, OH, PA and WI over the next two weeks.
Pool report about Barack Obama's a.m. activities in Washington, per Perry Bacon of The Washington Post:
No major news. The Senator went to the Russell Senate building in the morning to tape appearances with the three network orning shows. After 9 a.m., the pool headed to a large office building on 12th and Pennsylvania. The candidate and David Axelrod went into a unmarked door on the side of the building on E Street that read "Tenant Entrance Only."
Much of the building houses Covington and Burling, the workplace of Eric Holder, one of the members of Obama's vice-presidential search team, although Obama aides would not say what the meeting was about or if he was meeting with Holder. They spent more than two hours inside. Obama walked out that same side door, holding his briefcase. When a reporter shouted "who were you meeting with" he smiled and replied "I'm not telling you."
He then headed to the Senate for votes. As the motorcade stopped, Axelrod and campaign manager David Plouffe stepped out of cars and didn't head into the Senate with the candidate. They also declined to answer questions about the meetings they had attended.
SOUTH PARK, PA – John McCain used the news today of Iran's missile tests to criticize Barack Obama for not declaring the Iranian Revolutionary Guard a terrorist group.
"This is the same organization that I voted to condemn as a terrorist organization when an amendment was on the floor of the United States Senate," McCain told reporters at the CONSOL Energy facility outside of Pittsburgh. "Sen. Obama refused to vote. He called it provocative, a provocative step. The fact is, this is a terrorist organization, and it should have been branded as such."
McCain said he believed European allies "are ready to impose significant, impactful and meaningful sanctions on the Iranians" and that the sanctions could modify Iranian behavior. He also criticized the U.N. Security Council for not issuing its own sanctions, because of what he labeled Chinese and Russian resistance.
He also disputed Obama's claims that the tests signaled a failure of diplomacy.
"We have lots of communications with the Iranians and they are many," he said. "The time has now come for effective sanctions on Iran, which will then I believe can have a modifying effect on their very aggressive behavior, not only rhetorically, but in their pursuit of nuclear weapons, as well as this missile test. So lines of communication are fine. Action is what's necessary."
McCain also criticized Obama for going to Washington to support the Federal Intelligence Surveillance Act, which he had previously opposed and McCain supports.
"Sen. Obama was unalterably opposed to the allowing immunity, providing immunity to those telecommunications corporations that at the request of the federal government cooperated in helping us try to monitor and intercept communications of terrorist organizations," he said. "My understanding is that he is still opposed to providing that immunity."
"He was opposed to FISA in the past...and now he is supporting it," he continued. "Not the first change in position."
McCain was in Pittsburgh to promote clean coal technology, meeting with CEOs and touring a silo at CONSOL. He seemed fascinated by the potential, telling the executives he would like to meet with them again and apologizing for only having 30 minutes to talk.
(NBC/NJ's MATTHEW BERGER)
Obama's statement about Iran's missile test available after the jump.
Barack Obama surrogates OH Gov. Ted Strickland and former IA Gov. Tom Vilsack said today in a call with reporters that if you’re satisfied with the state of the economy and current energy policy, vote for John McCain.
It’s the latest variation on Obama’s frequent argument that a vote for McCain would mean a third Bush term and part of an attempt to keep the focus on the differences between the candidates on the economy and gas prices, both issues that are among voters’ top concerns.
Vilsack and Strickland -- who have each been mentioned as possible running mates, though Strickland has said he is not interested – said they wanted to highlight McCain’s record on energy as the Arizona senator visited their hometowns today. Vilsack is from Pittsburgh and Strickland is from Portsmouth, OH.
Vilsack noted that McCain has been blaming Washington for failing to develop a comprehensive energy policy but that he has been in Washington for 26 years and had failed to support a wide range of energy policies that would have reduced the country’s dependence on foreign oil.
“For 26 years, John McCain has been in Washington, he hasn’t gotten it right in 26 years and he still hasn’t gotten it right," Vilsack said. "He has failed to support high mileage standards for our cars and trucks, he failed to support necessary funding for a wide range of renewable energy and fuel sources. He has failed to support necessary research and development on electric car technology and now proposes a massive prize to make up for the valuable time that’s been lost by failing to invest in that technology sooner rather than later.”
The AFL-CIO will launch an ad tomorrow in six battleground states -- MI, MN, OH, PA, VA, WI -- featuring Jim Wasser, a Navy veteran who served with John Kerry. It marks the first major action of the AFL-CIO Union Vets Council, which will be formally announced tomorrow in Dayton, OH.
In the spot, which will run for six weeks, Wasser says he doesn't take issue with McCain's service record, but with his Senate record. AFL-CIO officials say the buy is targeted to communities where jobs have disappeared and fallout from the nation's economic slowdown is particularly acute.
Here's the letter that went out recently to interested GOPers re: a 7/22 Balto fundraiser for John McCain hosted by former MD Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.:
Governor Ehrlich will be hosting an event for Senator John McCain on Tuesday, July 22, 2008 at the Center Club in Baltimore at 6 p.m. for the VIP Photo Op ($2,300) and 6:30 p.m. for the Reception ($1,000).
All pertinent information is contained in the attached form regarding checks, credit cards, limits under federal law etc. You will note these are personal contributions; corporate checks are prohibited.
We appreciate your support and ask that you send this along to your friends and colleagues.
Please feel free to let us know if you have any questions and we hope to see you on the 22nd.
Best,
Dick Hug and Elaine Pevenstein
Ehrlich served one term. He was defeated in 2006 by then-Balto Mayor Martin O'Malley.
Talk continued last night about Barack Obama's shift toward the center.
Ex-WH adviser David Gergen, on Obama reacting to attacks that he has moved to the center: "I happen to think this brouhaha will blow over, and he's better served by being what he truly believes in. And, on Iraq, if anything, the Maliki statements and the Iraqi position statements over the last couple of days ... saying we need to have some deadlines here on U.S. troop presence play into his hands and strengthen his position. So, I think that we're into a lot of static at this time of the season. I don't think this is going to be very determinative over time. But it's interesting how sensitive he is to it" ("AC 360," CNN, 7/8).
Dem strategist Paul Begala, on advice he'd give Obama for dealing with the flip-flopping charge: "In the world of flip-flopping, he wouldn't even make the Olympic trials. I mean, this guy has been actually pretty consistent all through. What you do, Senator, is you counterattack. You never defend. You always counterattack. Oh, is the charge flip-flopping? Let's look at senator McCain. Stop me when I hit an issue he has not flip-flopped on, taxes, abortion, gay rights, the role of the religious right, immigration, offshore oil drilling, even torture. Now, so, if flip-flopping were an Olympic sport, John McCain would be the first 72-year-old to win a gold medal" ("Situation Room," CNN, 7/8).
Pundits also discussed how McCain's camp can use Obama's move to the center to their advantage.
CNN's Gloria Borger, on how McCain can use Obama's perceived flip-flopping on issues against him: "I think the issue here is, what is John McCain going to do with this? And, in the general election, John McCain is running a character-based campaign. And if he can turn all of this into some sort of proof that Barack Obama is just another politician, that he can lower his altitude a little bit and say, he's very self-serving, he's all about winning, he's not about hope, he's just about winning, which is exactly what McCain is going to do, then it hurts him" ("AC 360," 7/8).
Ex-Romney press sec. Kevin Madden, on if McCain labeling Obama as a flip-flopper will work: "I think it works because it fits. And they have an evidentiary trail of changes on positions, on core positions, where he's shown he doesn't have the principle, but instead moving to the center or attacking in a very political way because he finds it politically expedient. And I think they are going to continue to do that. And with the new message discipline of the McCain campaign, they're going to do this every single day. ... It is going to stick" ("Situation Room," CNN, 7/8).
AZ Gov. Janet Napolitano (D), on what Obama meant by calling himself "progressive": "I think it's going to mean that he's going to reject the old labels, conservative, liberal, what does it really mean in the context of the United States Supreme Court, in the context of a federal judge? Indeed our history teaches us that just appointing by label oftentimes surprises more than anything else. He's going to look for people who are intelligent, thoughtful, have life experiences that they can bring to bear to the court, will be very fair-minded and judge the dispute before them" ("Situation Room," CNN, 7/8).
Pat Buchanan, on what Obama is trying to portray: "I think the issue in this campaign is very simple: Barack Obama. The country wants to be rid of the Republicans. I don't think McCain has set the country on fire. I think it's like the election in 1980, where people wanted to be rid of [Jimmy] Carter, but they weren't sure they wanted Ronald Reagan. And that's why I think Barack Obama is making this drive straight to the center, and he's going to try to give the American people reassurance that 'I'm not the guy out there in San Francisco dumping on Pennsylvanians because of their bigotry, Bibles, and guns. I'm one of you.' That's what he's going to try to do" ("Hannity & Colmes," FNC, 7/8).
More Buchanan: "I think he's setting himself up for a Reagan finish, which is, people are still worried and nervous about him and he's going to come in those debates and remove those doubts, the way Reagan did in that final week" ("Hardball," MSNBC, 7/8).
After the jump, reaction to the Obama family's "Access Hollywood" interview, and Iraqi PM Nouri al-Maliki's calls for troop withdrawls.
-- Barack Obama's campaign has hired Dana Singiser as a senior advisor who will help direct efforts to win the woman’s vote. Singiser served as director of women's outreach for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign.
“As President, Barack Obama will work to make life better for women," Singiser said in a statement released by Obama's campaign. "Senator Obama will fight to keep our right to choose, and will work hard to ensure that women are given equal pay for equal work because it is wrong that women still make only 77 cents for every dollar a man makes. I am proud to be part of this campaign and I look forward to uniting women throughout this country to help elect Barack Obama President of the United States.”
-- The Democratic National Committee announced today that AZ Gov. Janet Napolitano will lead the party's platform drafting committee. Other members of the cmte: U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin; NC State Rep. Dan Blue; MD Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown; Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman; U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro; DNC Secretary Alice Germond; MI Gov. Jennifer Granholm; Donna Harris-Aiken, a National Education Association Policy Advisor; Platform Policy Advisor Heather Higginbottom; Platform Policy Advisor Chris Jennings; Florida Tallahassee Commissioner Alan Katz; AFL-CIO Policy Director Thea Lee; UFCW Local 1428 President Connie Leyva; U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy; Speaker Emeritus of the California State Assembly Fabian Nunez; Obama for America Foreign Policy Advisor Susan Rice; U.S. Rep. Linda Sanchez; Youth Representative Giancarlo Sopa of Florida; Ron His Horse is Thunder, Chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe of North Dakota.
The full platform cmte will meet to recommend adoption of the platform 8/9 in Pittsburgh. MA Gov. Deval Patrick, former NM AG Patricia Madrid and former Discovery Communications president and CEO Judith McHale serve as chairs of the full platform committee.
-- Michelle Obama hits the trail Thursday, meeting with women in Kansas City, MO, at the University of Missouri.
During a speech before the League of United Latin American Citizens in Washington, Barack Obama is expected to commit today to making immigration reform a "top priority" in the first year of his administration.
A snippet of the speech, which is available in full after the jump: "Now, I know Senator McCain used to buck his party on immigration by fighting for comprehensive reform, and I admired him for it. But when he was running for his party’s nomination, he abandoned his courageous stance, and said that he wouldn’t even support his own legislation if it came up for a vote. Well, for eight long years, we’ve had a President who made all kinds of promises to Latinos on the campaign trail, but failed to live up to them in the White House, and we can’t afford that anymore. We need a President who isn’t going to walk away from something as important as comprehensive reform when it becomes politically unpopular."
The presidential candidates both addressed National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) late last month, and they're talking today to League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) in Washington. A critical swing constituency that helped carry George W. Bush to the White House, Hispanic voters are giving Barack Obama an edge in recent polls. The latest NBC/WSJ poll showed him beating John McCain among Latinos, 62%-28%.
McCain's speech is available after the jump. We'll post Obama's later this afternoon. Note in his prepared remarks that McCain vows to secure America's borders:
"I and many other colleagues twice attempted to pass comprehensive immigration legislation to fix our broken borders; ensure respect for the laws of this country; recognize the important economic necessity of immigrant laborers; apprehend those who came here illegally to commit crimes; and deal practically and humanely with those who came here, as my distant ancestors did, to build a better, safer life for their families, without excusing the fact they came here illegally or granting them privileges before those who have been waiting their turn outside the country. Many Americans, with good cause, did not believe us when we said we would secure our borders, and so we failed in our efforts. We must prove to them that we can and will secure our borders first, while respecting the dignity and rights of citizens and legal residents of the United States."
New John McCain spot running on national cable and in battleground states ...
Buzz words: Bayoneted. Tortured. Sworn an oath. Public service. Maverick.
And a knock on rival Barack Obama's signature: McCain "believes our world is dangerous, our economy in shambles. John McCain doesn't always tell us what we 'hope' to hear. Beautiful words cannot make our lives better. But a man who has always put his country and her people befoere self, before politics, can."
Barack Obama's campaign launched an answer today to the Republican National Committee ad running in four critical swing states. Obama's new 30-second spot -- “New Energy” -- highlights Obama’s plan for energy independence and middle class tax relief. It also accuses John McCain of continuing President Bush's energy policy and offering tax breaks to big oil companies. The ad will run in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin – the same four states in which the RNC spot is running.
"On gas prices, John McCain is part of the problem," a male narrator says. "McCain and Bush support a drilling plan that won’t produce a drop of oil for seven years. McCain will give more tax breaks to big oil. He’s voted with Bush 95% of the time."
To Your HealHealth Care for America Now (HCAN), a new coalition of major orgs including labor unions, large community-based membership groups and women's groups, will begin their $40M health campaign today by unveiling this $1.5M ad buy . Between now and election day, the group plans to spend $25M in paid media and have 100 organizers in 45 states.
According to a Huffington Post piece, the progressive group will work in both Dem and GOP districts. HCAN camp mgr Richard Kirsch said conservative Dems, some of whom have opposed more expansive health-care reform, won’t be exempt from the group’s nat'l TV, print, letter-writing and online campaign.
It was Barack Obama's decision to hold his Dem convo acceptance speech at INVESCO Field that had a lot of people talking.
Radio talk show host Joe Madison: "One, I think the 76,000 stadium speech and event is going to be a love fest. You're going to have everyone together, you're going to have the music, and you've got to remember that it is going to be a love fest. It's going to be at the end of August, and you will find out that McCain will not be able ... to do the same thing. The timing is perfect" ("Election Center," CNN, 7/7).
GOP strategist Leslie Sanchez, on whether John McCain can counter Obama's rally: "I don't know if you can counter it with imagery. It's truly phenomenal to think one man would be standing there in front of 80,000 individuals and really have the oration of a lifetime. But if the hard work of being a president is stagecraft and glamour, then basically you would have Jay Leno as president. That's not really what this ultimately is about" ("Situation Room," CNN, 7/7).
WashingtonPost.com's Cillizza, on what Obama risks by staging the big rally: "Does it have a risk? Yes, I think it does. Only in that, Barack Obama's greatest gift is his speaking ability and his ability to draw big crowds, but Republicans can use that against him and say, 'This guy is a lot of talk; he is not all that much action; he's the head of a movement but what does that movement stand for?' At the same time, 70,000-plus people, the millions, I assume, he will raise in advance of this, it probably makes up for any of those worries" ("Countdown," MSNBC, 7/7).
FNC's Rosen, on the Obama camp's contest that will send 10 people to the convo for a $5 donation: "It sounds a bit like it came out of 'Tiger Beat' magazine, but then again, who is to second guess this particular team of fund-raisers?" ("Special Report," FNC, 7/7).
Newsweek's Fineman, on what Obama stands to gain from the speech: "Don't forget Colorado is a swing state. I've been talking to politicians here. It's a close election. Part of it will just be to bring out tens of thousands of Coloradans to show other people in Colorado that Obama is their guy. So it's got multiple messages in a swing state" ("Hardball," MSNBC, 7/7).
MSNBC's Gregory: "The fact that this is going to be done in Colorado, a crucial state for pickup for Barack Obama given his electoral map. You put it outside like that, the potential for a huge audience that draws from, really, from the rest of the state. It becomes an amazing practice of retail politics in a state where he needs it" ("Race for the WH," MSNBC, 7/7).
After the jump, the candidates and flip-flopping, and the effectiveness of the RNC and DNC ads.
Not surprising, but here are the requisite endorsement and 'thank you' quotes, released in a statement:
“The Planned Parenthood Action Fund is proud to endorse Barack Obama for president of the United States,” said Action Fund president Cecile Richards. “He is a passionate advocate for women’s rights, and has a long and consistent record of standing up for women's health care. As president, he will improve access to quality health care for women, support and protect a woman's right to choose, support comprehensive sex education to keep our young people healthy and safe, and invest in prevention programs, including family planning services and breast cancer screenings.”
On a conference call today with Planned Parenthood Action Fund members from all across the country, Sen. Barack Obama said, “As president I’ll make sure women have access to affordable health care, including affordable reproductive services. I thank you for your endorsement and your leadership.”
CNN is reporting that Cindy McCain will travel to Rwanda next week to tour the war-torn country. The visit was organized by the ONE campaign. Former SD Sen. Tom Daschle will join the trip on behalf of Barack Obama's campaign. The group will visit USAID health clinics, schools and an orphanage.
Barack Obama is giving a modified version of his economic speech today in St. Louis, where, as a result of technical difficulties, his plane was redirected en route to a planned event in Charlotte, NC.
Per his campaign, here are the key elements of his proposal:
-- A $50B stimulus package
-- A $1K tax rebate for 95 percent of workers and their families
-- Eliminate income taxes entirely for seniors making less than $50K
-- A $4K college tax credit
-- Eliminate capital gains taxes for small businesses and start-up companies
-- And a promise to "cut health care costs by $2,500 annually for the typical family"
Statement of Senator Jim Webb, issued today by his office:
"Last week I communicated to Senator Obama and his presidential campaign my firm intention to remain in the United States Senate, where I believe I am best equipped to serve the people of Virginia and this country. Under no circumstances will I be a candidate for Vice President."A year and a half ago, the people of Virginia honored me with election to the U.S. Senate. I entered elective politics because of my commitment to strengthen America's national security posture, to promote economic fairness, and to increase government accountability. I have worked hard to deliver upon that commitment, and I am convinced that my efforts and talents toward those ends are best served in the Senate.
"In this regard, the bipartisan legislative template we were able to put into effect through 18 months of work in order to enact the new, landmark GI Bill will serve as a prototype for my future endeavors in government. This process, wherein we brought 58 Senators from both parties to the table as co-sponsors, along with more than 300 members of the House, gives me renewed confidence that the Congress can indeed work effectively across party lines and address the concerns of our citizens.
"At this time I am also renewing my commitment to work hard to make sure that Senator Obama wins both Virginia and the presidency this November. He is a man who speaks eloquently about our national goals and calls for the practical solutions that must be put into place to obtain them. I will proudly campaign for him."
One of our MD-80 charter aircraft was flying U.S. Senator Barack Obama and his presidential campaign staff and members of the news media from Midway Airport in Chicago to Charlotte, North Carolina this morning.
An emergency slide located in the tail cone of the plane deployed in flight. While there was never an issue as to the safety of the flight, as a precautionary measure, we decided to divert the plane to Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, where it landed just before 10 a.m. CDT.
We are in the process of making alternative travel arrangements for Senator Obama and his campaign.
John McCain's prepared Denver remarks on the economy available after the jump. Note these highlights:
-- "If you believe you should pay more taxes, I am the wrong candidate for you. Senator Obama is your man."
-- McCain will charge that Obama will raise taxes for small business owners who file as individual rate payers and for those who own mutual funds or stock in a retirement plan. He says Obama will also raise estate taxes to 45 percent.
-- "Some economists don't think much of my gas tax holiday. But the American people like it, and so do small business owners."
-- Obama has said "no to more drilling; no to more nuclear power; no to research prizes that help solve the problem of affordable electric cars. For a guy whose 'official seal' carried the motto, 'Yes, we can,' Senator Obama's agenda sure has a whole lot of 'No, we can't.'"
Chicago, IL — Senator Barack Obama’s visit to North Carolina today will be postponed to a future date due to a maintenance issue with Senator Obama’s plane.
While en route to North Carolina, Senator Obama’s plane was diverted to St. Louis for a maintenance check. The plane is remaining in St. Louis until the check is completed and as a result Senator Obama will not be able to hold his event today in Charlotte. Senator Obama will return to the Tar Heel state again soon and looks forward to a continuing discussion with hard-working North Carolina families about his agenda to strengthen our economy and bring the change America needs.
Barack Obama just spoke to the press after his MD-80 Midwest charter with 44 people aboard (including 9 staffers) was forced to make an "unscheduled landing" in St. Louis due to a technical problem.
Here's the brief exchange, per NBC/NJ's Athena Jones:
Obama: We're doing ok! A lot of excitement, huh?
(Walks up to the camera)
Obama: Everything's fine guys. Just thought we'd spice things up a little bit today. Don't you think?
Q: Were you frightened. Were you worried?
Obama: Anytime a pilot says that something is not working the way its supposed to, then you know, you make sure you tighten your seat belt.
Q: You get a little nervous?
Obama: Everything seemed under control, the pilots knew what they were doing.
Q: Have you ever had to do this before? An unscheduled landing on your charter?
Obama: Not yet, this is a first. All right?
And, per Jones, the latest on the plane's tech problem ... We were headed to Charlotte, NC. The pilot, whose official title is the first officer, said on takeoff they noticed there was a small problem with the controllabilty of the pitch of the plane, something he referred to as the "nose up and nose down" mode. He said the problem appeared to have been corrected as the plane descended and assured us there was no need to assume brace positions. A technician is looking at the plane on landing. Obama is sitting up front after talking to the press and the pilot. It's unclear whether Charlotte event is still on, but are told we'll have an update soon.
Barack Obama visits a Charlotte, NC, middle school today for a conversation about the economy. John McCain, meanwhile, will speak about job creation in Denver (2 p.m. ET). McCain will say that Obama is going to raise taxes. The GOPer will also make another pitch for a gas tax holiday.
The Democratic National Committee will announce later this morning that the final day of the party's convention will be held at INVESCO Field at Mile High, which can accommodate more than 75K people. So Barack Obama will give his nomination speech outdoors and in front of a massive audience.
Convention activities 8/25 through 8/27 will continue to be held at the Pepsi Center, which seats approximately 19K.
Howard Dean and KS Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, the convention co-chair, will speak with reporters later this morning about the switch.
Readers -- Does the move reinforce GOP complaints that Obama is all flash, no substance? Or will the enormity of the event speak volumes about the movement created by the IL senator's campaign and the power of his message? Will it diminish John McCain's big MN moment, or allow him to look the more modest, reliable and safer choice?
The Republican National Committee launched its first major TV spot of the general, a 30-second spot that focuses on the nation's energy crisis and rising gas prices. It will run in key battleground states.
A female narrator says that Barack Obama doesn't know to lower gas taxes: "Barack Obama, just the party line."
International issues dominated the Sunday shows. Bob Barr appeared on "This Week."
BARR-NONE
ABC's George Stephanopoulos, on the potential impact Barr's candidacy could have on the WH '08 election: "As you know, a lot of your former colleagues, including Newt Gingrich, think that a vote for you is the same thing as a vote for Barack Obama, that you're going to do to John McCain exactly what Democrats think Ralph Nader did to Al Gore in 2000, beat him."
Barr: "Well, it really is illustrative of the sort of 'Alice in Wonderland' world that Newt and the Democrats and the other Republicans up here live in. Their world is completely circumscribed and defined by the two-party system. And any threat to that system is to be denigrated."
Stephanopoulos: "But how much of a threat are you? The Libertarians got about 400,000 votes last election."
Barr: "Last election, the election before is no indications of where we are now. This is a very different ... cycle. When you have 85 percent of the American people in the right direction-wrong track poll that indicate they believe the country is going in the wrong direction, it simply (ph) is deeply wrong. We've never seen that before. That changes the whole dynamics."
Stephanopoulos: "The Democrats believe that you will have a very specific targeted impact. ... They think that you can tip Georgia and Alaska especially to Barack Obama. Is that what you believe?"
Barr: "What we believe is that indicates that there are a lot of votes out there, a lot of Americans that are not going to vote for Senator McCain. The votes that I would take from sort of that side of the ideological spectrum, the disenfranchised, disenchanted Republicans and conservatives, are not going to vote for Senator McCain anyway."
Stephanopoulos: "Quickly, I know you want to win. Short of winning, define success."
Barr: "Success will come from opening up the electoral system here so that no longer, after this cycle, will Americans feel themselves bounds to the artificial constraints of a two-party system. They'll know that there's a real choice, that there is real change, Bob Barr 2008 this year and somebody else next time. But we're going to open up the system. And that's very important to change this" ("This Week," ABC, 7/6).
After the jump, more on Obama's Iraq policy, Sen. John Kerry on flip-flops, and the economy.
At a meeting Tuesday in Denver, about 100 conservative Christian leaders from around the country agreed to unite behind the candidacy of John McCain, a politician they have long distrusted, marking the latest in a string of movement that bodes well for McCain's general election prospects among the Republican base.
"Collectively we feel that he will support and advance those moral values that we hold much greater than Obama, who in our view will decimate moral values," said Mat Staver, the chairman of Liberty Counsel, a legal advocacy group, who previously supported Mike Huckabee's candidacy.
"There are people who came through the primary with very mixed emotions of the candidate," Staver continued, noting that many in the group had been in Denver to attend a separate meeting for pastors. "This event was to put those aside."
The group included leaders like Phyllis Schlafly, the long-time leader of Eagle Forum; Steve Strang, the publisher of Charisma magazine; Phil Burress, a prominent Ohio marriage and anti-pornography activist; David Barton, the founder of WallBuilders and Donald Hodel, a former secretary of the Interior, who previously served on the board of Focus on the Family. Jim Dobson, the head of Focus and an outspoken critic of McCain, did not attend. The McCain campaign was also not directly represented at the meeting.
A second person who attended the event, but asked not to be named, said that the group was motivated principally by a desire to defeat Barack Obama. "None of these people want to meet their maker knowing that they didn't do everything they could to keep Barack Obama from being president," the participant said. "You've got these two people running for president. One of them is going to become president. That's the perspective. That that's the whole discussion."
Proposing his “Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships” this week, Barack Obama said he knew some people who would “bristle at the notion that faith has a place in the public square.” He does. Many of them are members of his party.
Democrats spoke against President Bush's 2001 push for expanding faith-based programs to allow religious organizations to use federal funds for charitable initiatives.
Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) said the White House-backed proposal would lead to government “meddling” with religion. "There is an old saying about a certain road that is paved with good intentions," he said. "Charitable choice may be well intentioned, but I have grave concerns about where it may lead us."
Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) said the bill was “wrong for America.”
New John McCain Spanish-language radio ad running in FL features Tony Vilamil, ex-director of the state's office of Tourism, Commerce and Economic Affairs. The English script is available after the jump.
Barack Obama will spend the July 4 holiday in Butte, MT, while John McCain heads home to Sedona with his entire family, sans daughter Sydney, reports NBC/NJ's Adam Aigner-Treworgy. Cindy McCain told reporters that there will be a whiffle ball tournament but no fireworks.
(We should note that Obama travels tomorrow, July 3, to Fargo, ND.)
Steve Schmidt is taking over the day-to-day operation of John McCain’s campaign, according to multiple campaign sources.
At a staff meeting in the campaign's Arlington, Va., headquarters this morning, campaign manager Rick Davis made the announcement about Schmidt's new role.
Schmidt, a bald and barrel-chested operative known for his aggressive brand of political combat, responded by exhorting campaign aides with a speech that one staffer likened to a locker room pep talk out of the football movie "Rudy."
After the meeting, on a regularly scheduled conference call with McCain's 11 regional campaign managers, senior staff briefed the field aides about the move, explaining Davis would focus more on long-range tasks while Schmidt was taking an enhanced daily role, said an indivdual on the call.
McCain sources say Schmidt, who ran Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's reelection campaign and was a top communications aide in Bush-Cheney '04, will coordinate the campaign's daily pro-McCain and anti-Obama message but also will have an increased role in shaping most every facet of the organization including scheduling, policy, coalitions and surrogates.
The Hotline's count of June TV face time on newsmaker cable and broadcast shows for declared WH '08ers shows that Barack Obama and John McCain had a significant decrease in TV time, with both WH '08ers logging less than an hour of nat'l face time. With the primary season officially over and summer descended, it appears the nets -- especially cable (McCain logged less than a minute) -- aren't covering the contest as intensely. Or is it just that the candidates prefer surrogates making the TV rounds (read: Wesley Clark)? Also note that Bob Barr made his first appearance as a WH candidate.
Totals after the jump. One note -- We began our monthly log the Tuesday after Labor Day 2005 (9/6/05).
Brad Anderson will serve as Obama's communications director in the Hawkeye State. He served Gov. Chet Culver in the same capacity from August 2006 through May 2008, before being named as a partner at LinkStrategies, a Des Moines-based political consulting firm. In 2003-04, Anderson served as an Iowa political and policy advisor to Sen. John Edwards during his 2004 presidential campaign.
Tripp Wellde will serve as Obama's Iowa field director. He has been with the campaign since March 3, 2007, when he landed in Davenport, IA. Since helping to secure Obama's victory in the Iowa Caucuses, Wellde has worked as a regional field director in NV, MN and OH. He also worked as deputy field director in NC.
A Gallup survey released today indicates that Barack Obama leads John McCain 59% to 29% among Hispanics. Remember that Hillary Clinton consistently won the Hispanic vote against Obama during the Dem primary contest.
Barack Obama's speech on national service, delivered this afternoon in Colorado Springs, is available after the jump. In it, he is expected to criticize President Bush for calling on Americans to go shopping after 9/11:
"Instead of a call to service, we were asked to go shopping. Instead of a call for shared sacrifice, we gave tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans in a time of war for the very first time in our history. Instead of leadership that called us to come together, we got patriotism defined as the property of one party, and used as a political wedge to take us into a war that should have never been authorized and never been waged. We have lost precious time. Our nation is less secure and less respected in the world."
In addition to talk about Gen. Wes Clark, a lot of last night's TV coverage focused on Barack Obama's plans to expand and alter Pres. Bush's faith-based initiatives.
CNN's Toobin: "I remember way back when Barack Obama was a Democrat. And he was talking about things like the middle class, tax cuts. Now it's all about wealth -- it's all about faith-based initiatives, supporting the Second Amendment, against the Supreme Court on the death penalty for child rapists. He is moving to the center so fast that I think he has to be careful" ("Situation Room," 7/1).
Dem strategist Steve Murphy: "First of all, let's remember that Barack Obama is an evangelical Christian himself. He's a born-again Christian. He shares fundamental beliefs with the Evangelicals. ... And secondly .... evangelicals have got to eat, too. And they're not getting any loaves and fishes from the Bush
administration" ("Hannity & Colmes," FNC, 7/1).
Pat Buchanan: "He's not going to win over the evangelicals, but he'll diminish some of the hostility. It looks like he's reaching out to them. And it also shows him as something other than somebody way out on the left. It's a win for him. What he's got to do is detoxify himself to Middle America, if he does that, he will win the election" ("Verdict," MSNBC, 7/1).
Barack Obama heads to Colorado Springs to lay out his national service agenda, "which will create new opportunities for Americans to serve and direct that service to our most pressing national challenges," according to spokesman Bill Burton. The event will be by invitation only and open to the press.
John McCain, meanwhile, will be in Colombia and Mexico, meeting with foreign leaders about trade policy.
ZANESVILLE, OH – “Inartful” was the word Barack Obama used today to characterize remarks Gen. Wes Clark made over the last few days about John McCain’s military service.
Obama also spoke about the telephone conversation he had yesterday with former President Clinton.
At a press conference, the Illinois senator was asked if he thinks Clark's comments downplayed the significance of McCain’s Vietnam service and if he felt the remarks were similar to the Swift Boat ads used to attack John Kerry in 2004.
“I don’t think that Gen. Clark, you know, had the same intent as the Swift Boat ads that we saw four years ago, I reject that analogy,” Obama said, before adding that he had said many times that McCain’s deserved honor and respect for his service to the country. “Now, I have differences with him on policy, and I will vigorously debate a lot of the decisions he’s made when it comes to national security that have weakened our capacity to meet the threats and challenges of the 21st Century. But that certainly doesn’t detract from his past service to America.”
Obama seemed to bristle when asked why he had not talked with Clark about his statements and if he felt the former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO owed McCain an apology, suggesting voters had more pressing matters on their minds.
"I guess my question is why, given all the vast numbers of things that we've got to work on, that that would be a top priority of mine?” he said. “I think that, you know, right now we're here to talk about how we can make sure that kids in Zanesville and across Ohio get the kind of support that they need and communities that are impoverished can start to rebuild. I'm happy to have all sorts of conversations about how we deal with Iraq and what happens with Iran but the fact that somebody on a cable show or on a news show like Gen. Clark said something that was inartful about Sen. McCain, I don’t think is probably the thing that is keeping Ohioans up at night."
Sen. Barack Obama and retired Gen. Colin Powell met privately two weeks ago in Powell's personal office in Alexandria.
Peggy Cifrino, Powell's spokeswoman, confirmed that the presumptive Democratic nominee and the retired chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff chatted June 18, one-on-one for about an hour at the Armed Forces Benefit Association, where Powell rents space.
"Just an informal conversation," Cifrino told On Call.
"There’s no looming endorsement," she added. "They came to talk about issues."
Obama's campaign declined to comment.
Cifrino said that Powell and Sen. John McCain met the week prior in Arlington.
The blogosphere is abuzz with speculation that Powell could back the Democrat, a sign of his disaffection with the Republican Party and the Bush administration. The nod could, of course, also carry weight with voters concerned about Obama's lack of foreign policy experience. In poll after poll, the only consistent question in which McCain bests Obama is on the matter of who is best able to handle national security issues. A Powell endorsement of Obama would certainly be a blow to the Arizona senator's chief selling point -- that he is better prepared to be commander in chief.
Conservative columnist Robert Novak penned a piece June 26 in The Washington Post speculating that: "Powell probably will enter Obama's camp at a time of his own choosing." Later that day, in an apparent effort to counter Novak's suggestion, Juan Williams, NPR Senior Correspondent/FOX News Political Contributor, touted a McCain/Powell pairing.
The GOP is concerned, with good reason, about the impact Powell's endorsement would have on the presidential contest. Still, has Powell's cross-party appeal been tarnished by his support for the war? Would he help or hurt Obama with his base and more moderate voters who want their next president to withdraw from Iraq?
The National Rifle Association announced plans today for a $40M campaign to paint Barack Obama as an opponent to Second Amendment rights. But the effort, first reported by Politico, doesn't include -- at least as far as the NRA is specifiying publicly -- a firm pitch for the presumptive GOP nominee, John McCain.
The group is still withholding its endorsement, a vital seal of approval for the party's conservative base and a nod that matters to voters in rural swing states, such as New Hampshire and Virginia.
Andrew Arulanandam, the NRA's director of public affairs, said the organization will make an endorsement decision after the GOP convention in MN.
"We’ll let you know when the time comes what we decide to do," he told On Call.
Arulanandam noted that in recent history the NRA has twice decided not to endorse the Republican nominee for president: George H.W. Bush in 1992 and Bob Dole in 1996.
McCain, who received a C+ rating from the NRA in 2004 (the group's most recent scorecard), has voted for legislation to close the gun show loophole, and his support for campaign finance reform also goes against the NRA's platform.
"If you look at his record he’s had a good record with us," Arulanandam said. "He’s voted against gun bans. He’s voted against ammunition bans. He’s voted against waiting periods."
Arulanandam said Obama's comment tentatively praising the Supreme Court's decision last week to strike down the District of Columbia's handgun ban belies his record of support for gun control measures.
"If you look at his voting record, he has spent a lifetime of voting against gun owners and hunters whether in the Illinois legislature or in the United States Senate," he said. "I don’t think there’s a dime’s worth of difference between Al Gore, John Kerry and Barack Obama when it comes to the gun issue. All have strong records of voting for gun control."
Arulanandam said that about half of the $40M will be used for literature, calls and advertising targeting the presumptive Democratic nominee.
(JENNIFER SKALKA)
For a reminder of the longtime tension between the NRA and McCain, read on as then NRA CEO and Exec VP Wayne LaPierre blasts McCain's campaign finance proposal. The write-up, dated 5/19/01, was reported by Newsmax.
Speaking this morning at the National Sheriffs' Association's 68th Annual Conference in Indianapolis, John McCain will note that the next president will nominate "hundreds of men and women to the federal courts" and that one "badly-reasoned opinion" can have far-reaching consequences for the law enforcement community.
McCain mentions the recent Supreme Court decision to ban the death penalty for child rape.
"We saw such presumption again just last week in a matter before the Supreme Court. In the considered judgment of the people of Louisiana and their elected representatives, the violent rape of a small child is a capital offense. There is nothing in our Constitution to contradict that view. But five justices decided the people's judgment didn't take into account "evolving standards of decency," and so they substituted their judgment for that of the people of Louisiana, their legislators, their governor, the trial judge, the jury, the appellate judge, and the other four justices of the Supreme Court."
More on judges: "Should I be elected president, I will look for accomplished men and women with a proven record of excellence in the law, and a proven commitment to judicial restraint. They will be the kind of judges who believe in giving everyone in a criminal court their due: justice for the guilty and the innocent, compassion for the victims, and respect for the men and women of law enforcement."
Unrelated ... Note the Rudy Giuliani shout out. Full speech available after the jump.
NBC/NJ's Carrie Dann takes a look at Zanesville, OH, the location for Barack Obama's faith speech today:
Zanesville, and surrounding Muskingum County, is exactly the type of region in which Democratic strategists hope Obama will make inroads. The city of Zanesville (approx. 25,000 residents) is the only major population center in the mostly rural county, home to just one newspaper. In 2004, John Kerry – who won only 16 of 88 Ohio counties – lost Muskingum by 15 points.
But recent successes by statewide elected Democrats -- Sen. Sherrod Brown and Gov. Ted Strickland -- offer some guidance to the Obama campaign. Brown carried the county with 58% of the vote; Strickland, the native son of Appalachia, beat his Republican opponent there by 11 points.
And could Bill Clinton and Obama patch up their rocky relationship enough to harness the success of the original Comeback Kid? Clinton lost Muskingum by seven points in 1992, but faired better four years later, losing the county by fewer than 50 votes.
In a letter to the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club read Sunday at the group's annual Pride Breakfast in San Francisco, the Illinois senator said he supports extending "fully equal rights and benefits to same-sex couples under both state and federal law."
"And that is why I oppose the divisive and discriminatory efforts to amend the California Constitution, and similar efforts to amend the U.S. Constitution or those of other states," Obama wrote.
Barack Obama makes a pitch in Zanesville, OH, today to expand President Bush's faith based programs, while affirming his belief in the separation between church and state. He'll propose a Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships to help these groups apply for federal dollars and, more broadly, to assist his administration in addressing the nation's poverty problem, among other issues.
"I know there are some who bristle at the notion that faith has a place in the public square. But the fact is, leaders in both parties have recognized the value of a partnership between the White House and faith-based groups. President Clinton signed legislation that opened the door for faith-based groups to play a role in a number of areas, including helping people move from welfare to work."
Last night's TV coverage was dominated by Gen. Wesley Clark's comments about John McCain. Clark appeared on "Verdict."
Clark: "I don't want to do anything to take away from this very important week when Barack Obama, the man I support to be president, is talking about patriotism and service. ... Now, I wasn't representing the Obama campaign in anything I said yesterday about John McCain. Those are comments I said for some weeks now, they've been repeated many times. ... National security is going to be a very important element of this campaign and people are going to be asking who can best protect America. But I want to assure you, I would never, never diss someone's service. When people chose to serve in uniform, I honor it."
Clark, asked if he's sorry for saying he doesn't think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president: "It's a great line. I didn't make it up. It was given to me by the interviewer. ... I wish people hadn't misinterpreted that and lost sight of the important point. ... Serving the armed forces is a great thing. ... On the other hand, it depends on what your position was in the armed forces and what you did there as to how relevant that service is to the strategic decision-making that is the essence of protecting the United States as president. And that was the point I was making."
After the jump, more Clark, Obama's patriotism speech and Romney as VP?
Contributing Editors: John Mercurio, Quinn McCord, Tim Sahd, Maura O'Brien, and Abby Livingston
Contributing Writers: Holly Noe, Ian Faerstein, Rachelle Douillard-Proulx, Sean J. Miller, Steven Shepard, and Felicia Sonmez
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