November 27, 2007
Hotline After Dark -- A Foreign Affair
WH '08ers made the TV rounds last night. In "Nightline"'s latest installment of "The Contenders," ABC's Moran spent a day with Barack Obama on the campaign trail in IA:
Obama: "Senator Clinton is claiming basically the entire eight years of the Clinton presidency as her own, except for the stuff that didn't work out, in which case she says she had nothing to do with."
On HRC saying Obama living in a foreign country from the ages of 6-10 is not foreign policy experience: "We must be doing pretty well in Iowa. She wasn't paying much attention to what I said before now. ... If this is a resume contest, then she certainly doesn't have the strongest resume of the people on the stage. I think if the question is longevity in Washington, then probably the top three candidates right now in the Democratic primary can't make that claim. The question is, who's got the judgment and the vision to move the country forward?"
On HRC running on her FLOTUS experience: "I have no problem with her making claims on behalf of her work as first lady being relevant to the presidency. That's her prerogative. What she can't be is selective, in terms of cherry-picking and making determinations that she's now suddenly the face of foreign policy, that she shaped economic policy, except for the stuff that didn't work. ... I have no doubt she's an intelligent, capable woman. There's no doubt that Bill Clinton had faith in her and consulted with her on issues, in the same way that I would consult with Michelle. ... On the other hand, I don't think Michelle would claim that she is the best qualified person to be a United States Senator by virtue of me talking to her on occasion about the work that I have done."
Asked if he can win the general: "The only reason to do this is because A, I believe I can win. I think that increasingly political professionals who watch what we're doing think we can win, as well. And B, I think I should win. Frankly, there are times in our country's history where I might not be the right person for the job. I think that now the skills I have and the experience I bring is suited for the task at hand. The question will be whether the American people agree with me" (ABC, 11/26).
A DONE DEAL
Meanwhile, CBS' Couric sat down with Hillary Clinton in NH:
HRC, asked about her camp's "more aggressive tone": "Well, it's time. I have absorbed a lot of attacks for several months now. My opponents have basically had free reign. I've tried to bring Democrats together, talk about where we are different from Republicans. The Republicans have attacked me as well, which I think is also a badge of honor. But after you've been attacked as often as I have ... you can't just absorb it, you have to respond. Obviously, I wish that we were running a campaign where for example, my health care plan would be compared with my opponent's plan. All of us except Senator Obama have universal health care. We cover everybody; Senator Obama doesn't. That's a big difference, and I want people to know that difference before they vote. But a lot of the attacks have been quite, you know, persistent, shall we say. I mean, hardly a day goes by when I'm not attacked. I just figure that it's about time now for me to draw the contrasts."
On Oprah Winfrey campaigning with Obama: "I think it's great. I think we should have people campaign for us who support us. I'm proud to have a lot of very distinguished Americans, as well as people who just get up every day and work hard for a living."
Couric: "Are you concerned that this will give him a big boost?"
HRC: "No. I think we all are lucky to have people who support us, but at the end of the day, it's among us as candidates. People will make their judgments. I'm proud to have my husband support me. It's wonderful to have someone with his knowledge and experience and incredible ability to vouch for me, campaign for me. But at the end of the day, it's about who we are as individuals, what we bring to the race, what kind of president we'll be, and I believe I have the qualifications and experience to be the best president of the Democrats who are running."
Asked how disappointed she'll be is she loses the Dem nod: "Well, it will be me, but, of course, I'm ready to support the Democratic nominee."
Couric: "I know that you're confident it's going to be you, but there is a possibility it won't be. Clearly, you have considered that possibility."
HRC: "No I haven't" ("Evening News," 11/26).
I PITY THE FOOL
And Mitt Romney was in the "Situation Room":
On Mike Huckabee's rise in IA: "There's no question he's a real serious contender. And it's going to be a real close race. And I think that the challenge he's going to have is that, as people finally begin to scrutinize his record, and not just listen to him talk about a couple social issues, ... he's going to lose a lot of support. ... Perhaps the greatest challenge that he will have is that he's really made no effort in other states. He's spent all of his effort and time in Iowa. That's fine. But there are a lot of other states, if you want to become the nominee. And he's, frankly, almost nowhere in those other states."
On Rudy Giuliani saying violent crime went up in MA under his watch as Gov.: "You know, Mayor Giuliani seems to have some difficulty with statistics, I got to be telling you. He needs to go back and look at his numbers. Actually, violent crime came down when I was governor. It came down 7 percent, according to the FBI statistics. So, he's just wrong on that fact, as he is on a lot of supposed facts he brings forward. As they say, facts are stubborn things. ... I must admit, it's strange to have him bringing forward my selection of individuals to serve, judges and so forth, when he's got Bernie Kerik all over him these days, when someone he knew was under investigation he recommended to the president to be the secretary of homeland security. ... Throwing stones from a glass house is never a wise thing to do."
On Giuliani saying Romney's appointment of MA Superior Court Judge Kathe Tuttman demonstrates his lack of judgment on a judicial nod: "You know, that's a real stretch. And I think it's disappointing for him to take a personal tragedy like that and try and stretch it all the way to me. I appointed some 60 judges. This particular judge had served for 17 years as a prosecutor. Everything in her background suggested she would be a law and order judge. I spoke with her and assessed that she was committed to those things. And she made a very bad error in judgment. ... And I have called for her to resign by virtue of the bad decision she made."
CNN's Blitzer: "Mike Huckabee has, in his corner, Chuck Norris, the TV action hero. ... Barack Obama has invited Oprah to come campaign for him in Iowa next week. But I am going to put up on the screen your secret weapon, because we were just introduced to your grandson, Parker Romney, who is 18 months old. He looks like he's a good guy to have in your corner, a sweet little boy. I guess you got a good team there."
Romney: "He is the best. And he's now learned to go up to people and say, 'Hi.' It's the only word he can say really clearly, but he's out on the campaign trail. He's really something."
Blitzer: "So, I take it you would rather have Parker Romney than Oprah or Chuck Norris."
Romney: "That is true, although my son yesterday suggested that I see if I could sign up Mr. T" (CNN, 11/26). [KATHERINE LEHR]
Posted at 09:48 AM
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