January 03, 2007
The Daily Troika: Giuliani's Insecurity
Although no one has confirmed who took ex-NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani's 140-page presidential campaign strategy briefing, "suspicion ran high" 1/2 that Giuliani's documents were "swiped by aides to" FL Gov. Charlie Crist (R) while Giuliani "was helping him win election." Crist's aides "didn't return calls for comment" (New York Post).
Giuliani spokesperson Sunny Mindel insists the at least 3-month old documents are "not an official campaign plan." (Newsday). Yet she "suggested there were political dirty tricks behind the loss of the documents," saying someone may have wanted the documents "because of suspicious poll numbers" in NH and IA. (Newsday).
McCain Adviser John Weaver "predicted the document would have little impact on the race." Weaver: "We have enough work implementing our plan without wasting time chuckling over things like that... Well, maybe time for one chuckle, but that's it"
Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA) is filing paperwork for an exploratory cmte today with the FEC. Aides began setting up camp HQ in Boston's North End 1/1, "another sign of the impending campaign." Romney plans to keep his campaign office there for "logistical reasons," rather than MI or UT. Setting up HQ in Boston "allows him easy access to political consultants in Washington," financial contacts in New York and, of course, NH (AP).
Romney's also planning his first big fundraising event at the Westin in Boston early next week.
Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) said in an interview 12/30 that "he could favor more troops if they were a 'precursor' to political stability." He explained, "A short-term buildup in troops, if it is simply to impose military order without the possibility of political equilibrium, that doesn't seem to me to be too farsighted." Still, addressing the conflict between Sunnis and Shiites, he said the US "cannot impose a military solution" (Washington Post).
In Des Moines, IA, tourism officials are trying to "attract 'A-list' rock stars, comedians and other Hollywood types for what they hope will be a" nationally "televised show to kick off" IA's early '08 caucuses. They want to create a TV show for 12/07 or 1/08 "to spark nationwide appreciation and understanding" of the caucus process.
So far, no one is booked but organizers suggest pop princess Britney Spears and patriotic country western star Lee Greenwood "are on their early wish list." The show could cost $1M and "organizers hope to nail down many of the details by midsummer." (Des Moines Register).
Blue Hampshire blogger wonders what's happening to McCain and Sen. John Sununu (R-NH)'s relationship. Will Sununu continue to support McCain? McCain's call for a surge of troops in Iraq, Blue Hampshire blogger believes, could cost him. What's more, he thinks NH's " turn to the indigo, assisted by constant attention to the phonejamming saga, has helped take Sununu from a guy facing a reasonably tough re-election bid to one of the most vulnerable Senators from either party." (Blue Hampshire Blog)
SC House Speaker Pro Tempore Doug Smith of Spartanburg has decided to support Senator John McCain if he runs for president in '08. Smith was "an active supporter" of Pres. Bush's '00 campaign (release).
Meanwhile in SC, looking back on the 11/07 elections, it appears Greenville, SC has shifted to the right. County party chairman Andy Arnold noted that while Dems kept some posts, the election was "swamped in a tide of straight-ticket GOIP votes in Greenville." In sum, "more than 28,000 Greenville voters cast straight GOP ballots, about 6,500 more than" in '02. What's more, Dems "added 1,000, something Arnold called the party's 'silver lining.'"
Posted at 02:15 PM
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