January 24, 2007
The Daily Troika: Debunking Rumors
Rumor 1. Sen. John McCain nodded off during last night's State of the Union address. Fact: Not really. Like virtually half the chamber, he was reading a paper copy of the speech. We know because we saw glimpses of the white paper when McCain turned the pages.
Rumor: At the last moment, Ex-MA Gov Mitt Romney's staff tried twice to obtain a coveted speaking slot at the March for Life, and they were bluntly turned down. Fact: Romney was in Israel, a trip for which planning began several months ago. At the March's gala dinner this weekend, Barbara Comstock and Gary Marx, two Romney advisers, held court. It's possible that, at some point in the fall, Romney's aides tried to broker an invitation -- we couldn't reach the March for Life folks -- but it's unlikely they scrambled for an invite. Context: There were plenty of anti-Romney fliers at the March, and several of March's Catholic board members are said to be weary of Romney's recent conversion on life issues.
Rumor: Ralph Reed's about to join Romney as a senior adviser. Fact: Not true, according to Romney aides. [MARC AMBINDER]
Squibs:
Terry Sullivan will manage Romney's South Carolina campaign, The State reports today. The Hotline's question: Two thirds of the Tompkins (as in Warren)-Sullivan-Thompson Carrol Campbell strategic troika are with Romney. Heath Thompson is unaffiliated right now (and working in Texas.)
Ex-NYC mayor Rudy Giuliani will be in South Carolina on 2/3 to speak to the SC GOP's state convention. And Hillary Clinton makes her first visit to New Hampshire that weekend.
Speaking of Giuliani: The Politico's Ben Smith (who, again, looks better in person than his caricature would suggest), along with the P-Co's J. Martin, report that ex-SC School superintendent candidate Karen Floyd will help Giuliani in the state. The duo also report that Rudy's team tried -- and failed -- to recruit RNC chairman Ken Mehlman.
Posted at 01:47 PM
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