Campaign Updates and Media Headlines 9/5/08
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McCain vows to fight, fight, fight for better America (McClatchy)
ST. PAUL, Minn. — John McCain cast himself Thursday night as a lifelong fighter for his country who’s ready to lead new battles for dramatic change as he accepted the Republican Party’s presidential nomination.
CBS/NYT Poll: McCain Pulls Even With Obama (Political Wire)
The presidential race between Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain is now even with each getting 42% in the latest CBS News/New York Times poll conducted Monday-Wednesday of this week. Twelve percent are undecided according to the poll, and one percent said they wouldn’t vote. A poll conducted just last weekend found Obama ahead by eight points, 48% to 40%. Key finding: McCain has also closed the enthusiasm gap some with Obama, but it still exists.
There’s Something Missing in St. Paul (by Lawrence Kudlow)
On CNBC last night Jack Welch, GE’s CEO from that firm’s salad days in the ’80s and ’90s, pointed out the dangers of a three-house Democratic sweep. He says it’s dangerous for both the stock market and the economy. And he wants to know why the St. Paul Republicans aren’t running against Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, and Barack Obama. Welch made the point that the last time the Democrats had control of all three houses in Washington the Jimmy Carter administration was in charge. That was a time of economic and stock market malaise. However, when Washington was divided — as was the case when Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton were in the White House — the economy and the stock market took off.
My, my, Jack Welch agrees with me on the split government possibility. That puts him in pretty rarified company. I wish I had his income!—Caro
Campaign Updates and Media Headlines 9/4/08
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Denver And Palin Fuel Biggest Campaign Week Yet (Project for Excellence in Journalism)
For much of last week, the Democrats’ effort to make peace and reintroduce Obama to voters were the focal points of campaign coverage. How much success did John McCain have in suddenly stealing the media narrative?
Palin touts small-town roots, rips Obama
ST. PAUL, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Sarah Palin touted her small-town roots and lashed out at Democrat Barack Obama during a fiery speech to the Republican convention on Wednesday, ridiculing her critics as out-of-touch elitists who do not understand everyday life in America. In her public debut in the spotlight, John McCain’s choice for vice president electrified supporters with a brutal assault on Obama and members of the news media who have questioned her qualifications. “If you’re not a member in good standing of the Washington elite, then some in the media consider a candidate unqualified for that reason alone,” the Alaska governor told the crowd, which chanted “Sarah, Sarah” and held signs reading “Palin Power” and “Hockey Moms 4 Palin.”
Yep, that’s the line of attack. I used to think Republicans were just making up this elitism stuff about Democrats. Since then, I’ve met the Arugula Left myself, up close and personal. This will “resignate”, my friends.—Caro
Campaign Updates and Media Headlines 9/3/08
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Palin’s path to the top paved with good luck (McClatchy)
St. PAUL, Minn. — A charmed political career launched Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin from small-town mayor to the Republican National Convention, where she’s set to accept the nomination for vice president Wednesday night.
PALIN’s path is paved with good luck??!! How about being handed a nomination against a formidable opponent?—Caro
Wednesday: It matters who counts the votes (by riverdaughter at The Confluence)
Last Wednesday morning, a vote was held in Denver in the hotels of the state delegations. Later that afternoon, a “roll call” was held in the convention center and Barack Obama was hailed as our new nominee. The funny thing is, those of us who remember what the primary results were in some of our states could not reconcile our memories with the way our delegations actually voted… What we know of the vote last Wednesday is that Hillary actually received more than 1900 delegates before the counting was stopped. We have been told that the delegate count was getting too close for Pelosi et al to explain away… [N]o one who witnessed this should feel any less outraged and those who participated in the fraud should never expect unity. There will never be any resolution to this primary season.
Palin “risky,” but Ferraro “a disaster,” says Clyburn
House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) is lukewarm on Palin, speaking to South Carolina radio.
Would somebody shut this guy up? His misogyny is showing again. And maybe the Palin selection isn’t as risky as Democrats might think. See below.—Caro
Campaign Updates and Media Headlines 9/2/08
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You Can Run, But You Can’t Hyde! (by garychapelhill at The Confluence)
Do you ever get the feeling that the whole world is upside down?
Upside-down White House
Gallup: Obama Leads By Six Points (Political Wire)
The first Gallup tracking poll based entirely on post-Democratic convention attitudes shows Sen. Barack Obama maintaining a six percentage point lead over Sen. John McCain, 49% to 43%. “Comparing Obama’s current 49% support with the 45% he received immediately before the start of the Democratic National Convention in Denver last week suggests he received a 4-point bounce out of the convention, fairly typical of past convention bounces.”
AP: McCain raised at least $47M in Aug. (On Politics, USA Today)
John McCain’s presidential campaign collected at least $47 million in contributions in August, the Republican senator’s biggest monthly haul so far, the Associated Press reports. The wire service says it got that news from “two campaign officials” who talked about it “on the condition of anonymity because the numbers had not been officially tallied.” In July, Democrat Barack Obama’s campaign raised $50 million. The AP said his campaign would not comment on its August fundraising. Neither campaign is required to give its August financial reports to the Federal Election Commission until Sept. 20.
Campaign Updates and Media Headlines 8/31/08
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Things That Are Awesome (by Maya at Suburban Guerrilla)
The Daily Show’s pre-RNC billboard in MN:
CNN Breaking News (via email)
President Bush, Vice President Cheney to skip Republican convention because of Hurricane Gustav, White House says.
GOOD MOVE, White House. Very smart move. Now the convention doesn’t have to deal with the two of you.—Caro
Actually? I’m glad I don’t have to explain this (by katiebird at The Confluence)
Because some things are just beyond reason. The title of this video is Foul Don Fowler Amused by New Orleans Hurricane. [Click through to watch it.] And Michael Moore thinks it’s funny too.
Daily Presidential Tracking Poll Sunday, August 31, 2008
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Sunday—the day before the Republican National Convention is scheduled to begin—shows Barack Obama ahead of John McCain by three percentage points both with and without leaners. That’s exactly the same edge Obama enjoyed a week ago on the eve of the Democratic National Convention.
Campaign Updates and Media Headlines 8/29/08
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Cyclops and the Sirens to Open for Obama (by Pat Racimora at No Quarter)
[Thursday night’s] Message? (by Big Tent Democrat at TalkLeft)
Um, so the message [Thursday night] is that Democrats like to go to concerts? And the “Yes, We Can” song? With Obama speaking cuts in the middle and big pictures of Obama? Not a good idea. In my opinion of course. I’m not following what this is supposed to be achieving tonight.
Good News and Bad News (by Susie at Suburban Guerrilla)
Pat Buchanan calls Obama’s speech the finest he’s ever heard. The bad news is, he liked it because “it isn’t a liberal speech.
Surface and Depth (by Anglachel)
Bill [Clinton] knows that trying to tie McCain to Bush won’t work. Gore and Kerry both lost running campaigns about being better than the other guy, because the other guy can and will (with the full complicity of the MSM, as the Incomparable Bob Somerby reminds us) trample our goodness into the ground. What the Big Dog did, what Hillary did, was tie both McCain and Bush to the fucked up political philosophy of the Right. They made the argument about more than a single administration - it is against the Republicans as such, from Reagan forward…
Campaign Updates and Media Headlines 8/28/08
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Obama set to woo nation with historic speech
AP - Barack Obama stands before delegates and the nation Thursday — the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s historic “I Have a Dream” speech — to accept the Democratic presidential nomination, the first black man to claim such a prize.
After having roughhoused the first woman who had a chance to claim that prize, and refused her the right to a full roll call for fear he might lose.—Caro
Bush’s 2004 temple (Politico)
Barack Obama’s appearance in Denver won’t be the first convention speech framed by Greek columns - Republicans who are mocking Obama’s appearance haven’t mentioned it, but George W. Bush accepted his own nomination in 2004 on a set with a similar neoclassical theme.
Is this what Democrats want? For Obama to be compared to George Bush?—Caro
McCain to DNC attendees: go Roman (Hot off the Trail, McClatchy)
John McCain’s presidential campaign issued a press release Wednesday suggesting what people should wear to Barack Obama’s acceptance speech Thursday at Denver’s massive Invesco Field at Mile High football stadium: togas. “Today, workers at Invesco Field are putting the final touches on the newest wonder of the modern political world - The Temple of Obama (”The Barackopolis”),” the McCain release said, sticking to the campaign’s strategy of trying to label Obama as elitist or “The One.” “It is upon this pulpit that Barack Obama will tomorrow night adress thousands of screaming, adoring fans.”
The McCain campaign is winning the humor war.—Caro
Campaign Updates and Media Headlines 8/27/08
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Hillary Approval up 6% in Gallup; Hillary 3% Better vs. McCain than Obama (by campskunk at Alegre’s Corner)
So, after all the slings and arrows hurled by the cheetos [folks at Daily Kos], what’s happening with Hillary’s popularity? She’s doing just fine, thank you. A Gallup poll released [Tuesday] shows her at 80% approval among Democrats, up six percent from when she suspended her campaign in June. Looks like the cheetos are all hot air… none of the real Democrats are listening to them.
And how is Obama doing against McCain? well… it ain’t pretty. Say goodbye to the tenuous lead Obama had over McCain in the daily tracking poll. The combination of the Biden bounce and the start of the convention put Obama down two points to McCain for the first time since May 25th, three months ago. [Emphasis added.] The Obama campaign lost their electoral vote lead last week, and now the popular vote lead. They must be sweating bullets. I wish I felt sorry for them, but… A CNN/Opinion Research poll conducted Aug. 23-24 found the [Clinton and Obama] running similarly in trial heats versus McCain, with Obama and McCain tied (47% to 47%) but Clinton having a slim but not statistically significant advantage over McCain (49% to 46%)
Campaign Updates and Media Headlines 8/26/08
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Union Station protest at the MSNBC kiosk (by riverdaughter at The Confluence)
We got ourselves a posse and went down to Union Station in front of the MSNBC kiosk. We protested and shouted slogans (in NPR-speak) and completely drowned out the Obamaphiles.
We had a lot of support from passersby. I was very encouraged that there were many sympathetic people. I don’t think the Obama people knew what hit them. They’ve had such a free ride for so long. No one challenged them. no one was skeptical. They have been handled with kid gloves like pampered little brats. But in the face of all of the people they’ve been calling stupid, old women, they seemed oddly subdued. Chris Matthews made an appearance and stood there silently while some of us finally got a chance to tell him how we felt to his face. The coward waited until we left before he came down from the stage to talk to the crowd.
Poll: More than half of Clinton backers still not sold on Obama (USA Today)
DENVER — Fewer than half of Hillary Rodham Clinton’s supporters in the presidential primaries say they definitely will vote for Barack Obama in November, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds, evidence of a formidable challenge facing Democrats as their national convention opens here today. In the survey, taken Thursday through Saturday, 47% of Clinton supporters say they are solidly behind Obama, and 23% say they support him but may change their minds before the election. Thirty percent say they will vote for Republican John McCain, someone else or no one at all.”
So, of course, instead of honoring Hillary and wooing her supporters, they want to take away her roll call vote. On this, the 88th anniversary of the day women were granted the right to vote, they are in the process of suppressing the delegates’ right to vote for the first woman to be a viable presidential candidate. It’s almost cosmic in the level of insult.—Caro
Campaign Updates and Media Headlines 8/25/08
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CNN Forced Obama to Send Early Text Message (Political Wire)
Sen. Barack Obama planned to name Sen. Joe Biden as his running mate by text message at 8 a.m. ET Saturday morning, but was forced to move up the announcement when CNN broke the story after midnight. The message instead went out just after 3 a.m. ET.
So the 3 AM text message wasn’t meant as a slap at Hillary? Sure. And he was only scratching his cheek, not giving Hillary the finger, in Pennsylvania. If you’re going to be a low-down, dirty dealer, Barack, don’t try to make excuses for it.—Caro
Here’s what’s really happening at the convention:
Tensions boil between Obama-Clinton camps (Politico)
DENVER — As Democrats arrived here Sunday for a convention intended to promote party unity, mistrust and resentments continued to boil among top associates of presumptive nominee Barack Obama and his defeated rival, Hillary Rodham Clinton… One senior Obama supporter said the Clinton associates negotiating on her behalf act like “Japanese soldiers in the South Pacific still fighting after the war is over.” A prominent Obama backer said some of Clinton’s lieutentants negotiating with the Obama team are “bitter enders” who presume that, rather than the Clintons reconciling themselves to Obama’s victory, it is up to Obama to accommodate them.
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