January 31, 2008
A Kodak Moment
HOLLYWOOD -- When it was over, he pulled her chair out for her. Then they hugged and whispered in each other's ears. They nodded and giggled quietly.
After several weeks of increasingly bitter rhetoric, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton pulled back, again, from the brink of all-out warfare and conducted the final face-off before Super Tuesday with a self-consciously cordial, even warm, tone. (This despite repeated, and at times glaring, efforts by CNN's Wolf Blitzer to start a fight).
They each appeared to take one for the team -- for the Dems' broader mission of taking back the WH.
Just yesterday in Denver, Obama launched a new line of attack, calling HRC a tired symbol of the past who would be vulnerable to GOP critiques in a general-election campaign. But tonight, he pulled back. "I was friends with Hillary Clinton before we started this campaign; I will be friends with Hillary Clinton after this campaign is over," he said.
Clinton resisted an obvious chance to lay out her line of attack on Obama's Iraq record. "We're having such a wonderful time," she said, only half jokingly. "The differences between Barack and I pale in comparison to the differences that we have with Republicans, and I want to say that first and foremost."
Whether it was the historic nature of tonight's debate that gave them pause is unclear. But each Dem seemed to be thinking to him/herself: If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Clinton sees the polls that show her ahead and wanted tonight to stop the bloodletting that's occurred since the bitter SC campaign by appearing friendly and, yes, likable. Obama sees the polls showing him gaining on HRC in key states like CA, NJ and NY, and he thought it made more sense for him to rise above the bitterness, highlighting the more noble qualities of his campaign that appeal to voters.
Also worth noting: On most debate nights, our email inboxes are deluged with oppo research emails from each campaign. Tonight, we received almost none. From Dems, at least (thanks, Danny Diaz!).
Then again, both Dems are in this for the long haul. Shortly before the debate began, Obama's campaign announced that he raised more than $30M during 1/08. The message? Regardless of what happens on 2/5, he's in this race to the finish [JOHN MERCURIO].
Posted 01.31.08 09:52 PM | Comments (1)
"We're Having Such A Wonderful Time"
Witness the cyber conversation of your Hotline editor-in-chief, Amy Walter, and your Hotline On Call editor, Jennifer Skalka.
Scene: Our respective family rooms. Enter Jennifer ...
JS: Here’s my feeling … This debate is, on the surface, totally useless. BUT despite the frivolous niceness, we are actually seeing the candidates' true strengths. Obama consistently out-charms and out-inspires HRC (he even pulled Clinton's chair out for her at the start of the debate). Clinton’s fierceness shines through. Her depth of understanding of the issues, health care in particular, is without peer.
I do think that together – in either order – they’d make the strongest ticket the Democrats have had in modern times.
AW: Agree. Except on the joint ticket thing. The presidential candidate is like a bride - no one is allowed to outshine her. And, regardless of who tops the ticket, the other one is clearly able to overshadow.
... Curtain
(J.S.)
Posted 01.31.08 09:22 PM | Comments (5)
I Just Called To Say ...
STEVIE WONDER in the audience. Here's your debate night bonus ...
(J.S.)
Posted 01.31.08 08:55 PM | Comments (0)
Just Like Matthau and Lemmon
In a joint appearance on The Tonight Show with John McCain, Rudy Giuliani leaves the door open for a run as McCain's vice president.
"I was asked that question a number of times when I was the candidate for president," Giuliani said this evening. "And what I said was you don't make decisions like that until you're the nominee and then you give it a lot of reflection. Nobody runs for it, and the candidate has to have total, absolutely open choice as to whoever they think is the best."
Giuliani and McCain joked about football like old friends, but when asked how McCain was able to resurrect his campaign while Giuliani was not, the two got serious.
"There are a lot of things that explain it," Giuliani said, when asked about the downturn of his campaign. "I think the great campaign that [McCain] ran, coming from where it looked like it was over and John never accepted it was over."
McCain said that Giuliani had run an "honorable" campaign, and tried to keep his own campaign honorable by calling Romney a "fine family man" when asked about the tiff during the debate last night.
"I just think that I'm obviously more qualified," McCain said, to much applause. "It kind of erupted and you try to avoid that as much as you can. And I want to tell you this guy Governor Huckabee is a good guy. He really is. He's a good, sincere person."
McCain also downplayed the economic perils that the country is facing, saying as he as before that the country will get through it. He once again emphasized that the greatest challenge facing America is the threat of radical Islam, and Feb 5th will be his chance to see if voters agree.
(NBC/NJ's ADAM AIGNER-TREWORGY)
Posted 01.31.08 08:39 PM | Comments (3)
Celebrities Galore
So far, here at the Kodak Theater, where the Oscars are held, we've seen ... Rob Reiner, Bradley Whitford, Steven Spielberg, Kate Capshaw, Diane Keaton, America Ferreira (wearing a Hillary button), Alfre Woodard (who's supporting Obama), Pierce Brosnan, Fran Drescher, Jason Alexander, Topher Grace or Hayden Christensen (sorry, guys, we can't tell you apart) and Lindsay Lohan (yeah, right).
Angie and Brad anyone? Barbra? Anyone?
Posted 01.31.08 08:34 PM | Comments (1)
At The Half Hour ...
HOLLYWOOD -- So far, we're watching a civil discussion about (gasp!) issues. Apparently HRC and Obama can sit on a stage for 30 minutes and resist the urge to pummel each other. If the rest of the debate maintains this tone, will it spark a fresh round of speculation that these two Dems could agree to run on the same ticket in 11/08 (top/bottom TBD)?
Also worth noting, don't policy-laden debates benefit HRC?
Posted 01.31.08 08:32 PM | Comments (1)
J.MAC In The House
That's two John McCain references for Obama ... First was on McCain's changed position on the Bush tax cuts, the other on immigration ...
Posted 01.31.08 08:25 PM | Comments (0)
John Edwards: A Word Count
HOLLYWOOD -- How many times have Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton brought up John Edwards' name? A running tally:
Obama: II
HRC: II
Posted 01.31.08 08:12 PM | Comments (0)
Where's My Dagger, Er, Pen?
Isn't it true that no matter which debate we're watching, GOP or Dem, when one candidate hits another on a matter that really, really hurts, the hit-ee starts scribbling notes?
Hillary Clinton started scratching away as Barack Obama noted his opposition to the Iraq war from the start ...
Oh, what must those notes say ... ?
(J.S.)
Posted 01.31.08 08:04 PM | Comments (0)
Let's Hear It For JRE!
HOLLYWOOD -- Well, that didn't take long. Barack Obama waits approximately 0 seconds before appealing to John Edwards' supporters.
Posted 01.31.08 08:00 PM | Comments (0)
Watch This Debate
HOLLYWOOD -- CNN's Wolf Blitzer might be repeating the point too often during his pre-debate drumroll, and the countdown clock is, as always, overdone. But that doesn't mean the point is not true: We're about to watch history being made, the first-ever TV debate for a major-party WH nom between a (white) woman and a black man. John Edwards' departure on 1/30 sealed the deal: Dems will make history in '08.
What to expect? Edwards won't be on stage tonight, but his name will likely come up frequently as both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama court the parts of his hitherto constituency that are most likely to fall into their respective camps. Clinton will focus on "issues," like health care and poverty. Obama is likely to highlight a message he shared with Edwards: change.
Will tonight's tone resemble the constant gunfire in SC last week, or the GOP snoozer in Simi Valley 1/30? No one knows. We do know that Clinton is being strongly advised to keep her cool. What she's learned over the roller-coaster of the past month is her worst performances occur when she goes on the attack.
Obama needs to, well, win. Which is often a challenge for him; his rival is a skilled and well-prepared debater.
As the crowds continue to gather outside the Kodak Theater at Hollywood and Highland, one thing is a sure-fire bet: As soon as they walk onto the stage tonight, Clinton and Obama will have given an Oscar-worthy performance, one for the history books [JOHN MERCURIO].
Posted 01.31.08 06:56 PM | Comments (0)
Obama Applauds Edwards In South Central LA Today
LOS ANGELES, CA -- Forget Camelot. The latest mantle that Barack Obama is looking to inherit is that of former Sen. John Edwards. Edwards left the race yesterday after imploring the two remaining Dem candidates to make poverty a central issue in their campaigns.
Obama, sounding positively Edwards-esque today in a town hall at Los Angeles Trade Technical College, told the crowd that the system wasn't "designed for us."
"Too many people today feel like the system is not designed for people like us. They feel like the education system isn't designed for people like us, and the job market isn't designed for people like us," Obama said, apparently identifying himself with the predominantly Latino and African American crowd.
He added: "Well let me tell you something, this is our country. America should be designed for people like us. That's why I'm running for president of the United States, for all people – black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight -- all people."
Obama's statements on race and class were unusual for him. Even in South Carolina and Nevada, where blacks and Hispanics were critical constituencies, Obama rarely dwelled too much on the idea of institutional racial disparities -- or identified himself with a minority crowd in such a distinctive way.
But if anyone was unclear about the intention of his message, Obama spoke today directly about Edwards.
"This is our country, that's why we have to address the issue of poverty," he said. "I congratulate John Edwards for his outstanding race and the way in which he identified the forgotten America."
(NBC/NJ's ASWINI ANBURAJAN)
More:
"That forgotten American I worked in as a community organizer, that forgotten America I represented as a civil rights attorney, that forgotten America I fought for as a state legislature," he said.
Approximately 1,600 people came to see Obama at the town hall, and the candidate spoke for more than an hour. Congressman Xavier Becerra and Maria Elena Durazo two of a number of Latino politicians and labor leaders who introduced Obama today. Becerra told the crowd that this was the first time in "forty years since Robert F. Kennedy" that their vote really mattered in a presidential election.
Posted 01.31.08 05:20 PM | Comments (2)
Reagan's Fed Chair Endorses Obama
Paul A. Volcker, chairman of the Federal Reserve from 1979-1987, has endorsed Barack Obama. Volcker was initially appointed to the Fed by Jimmy Carter, but he was reappointed by Ronald Reagan in 1983.
From the WSJ:
“After 30 years in government, serving under five Presidents of both parties and chairing two non-partisan commissions on the Public Service, I have been reluctant to engage in political campaigns. The time has come to overcome that reluctance,” Volcker, a Democrat, said in a statement today. “However, it is not the current turmoil in markets or the economic uncertainties that have impelled my decision. Rather, it is the breadth and depth of challenges that face our nation at home and abroad. Those challenges demand a new leadership and a fresh approach.”
Posted 01.31.08 03:19 PM | Comments (1)
Arnold: McCain, For America's Future
LOS ANGELES, Ca. – Just six days before Super Tuesday, John McCain received yet another major endorsement that could help him in a delegate rich state. California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger threw his weight behind McCain this afternoon after a tour of Solar Integrated, a green technology company that builds solar roofing panels.
"[Green technology] will create a great, great future for California and for the United States and the world," the governor said. "Now talking about a great future, this is the very reason why I am endorsing Sen. McCain to be the next president of the United States, because I'm interested in a great future, and I think that Sen. McCain has proven over and over again that he is reaching across the aisle in order to get things done."
In an effort to tarnish his conservative credentials and paint him as out of step with the Republican base, McCain's rivals have criticized him this cycle for working too well with Democrats during his long Senate career. Endorsements from moderate Republicans like Schwarzenegger and Rudy Giuliani don't help him combat this reputation, but they do help continue his post Florida momentum.
"I could never, never, ever be anything but honored by the presence of these two great American heroes," McCain said, when asked about his two most recent endorsers, who stood with him today. "Today Governor Rick Perry, the governor of Texas will be endorsing me. You will see a flood of endorsements across this country from both liberal and conservative."
Today McCain talked about the need to unite the party – both conservative and liberal – around the eventual nominee.
"I'm prepared to lead our party in the nation, and I am prepared and am succeeding in uniting it," McCain said. "We need all parts of our party together if we're going to win in November. I believe our party is beginning to realize that."
McCain will appear on the Tonight Show this evening before taking off for the Midwest to begin the last big push towards Feb. 5th.
(NBC/NJ's ADAM AIGER-TREWORGY)
Posted 01.31.08 02:54 PM | Comments (0)
Quote Of The Day
From today's Hotline:
"Who controls him?"
-- HRC endorser/Sen. Patty Murray, on B. Clinton, Seattle Post Intelligencer, 1/31
Posted 01.31.08 12:47 PM | Comments (1)
Edwards' Leftovers
With John Edwards out, his supporters (and staff) are up for grabs. Per NBC/NJ's Tricia Miller, a list of the headliners (staff after the jump):
U.S. Congress
Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa)
Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-N.C.)
Rep. Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin (D-S.D.) Rep. Charlie Gonzalez (D-Texas) Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas) Rep. Mike McIntyre (D-N.C.) Rep. Mike Michaud (D-Maine) Rep. Brad Miller (D-N.C.) Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.) Rep. David Obey (D-Wis.) Rep. David Price (D-N.C.) Rep. Heath Shuler (D-N.C.) Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) Rep. Mel Watt (D-N.C.)
Unions
Carpenters
Steelworkers
SEIU state councils: California, Idaho, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oregon, Washington, West Virginia
Communication Workers of America: Nevada, South Carolina
Transport Workers
United Mine Workers
Entertainers
Actor Danny Glover
Actress Madeleine Stowe
Singer Bonnie Raitt
Singer Jackson Browne
Singer Ralph Stanley
Actor James Denton
Actor Kevin Bacon
Actor Tim Robbins
Actor and former Rep. Ben "Cooter" Jones
Singer John Mellencamp
Other notable groups
Friends of the Earth Action
Caucus 4 Priorities (Iowa)
Scads of former and current local officials
*Rep. Raul Grijalva and the Fresno Bee have already switched their Edwards endorsements to Obama ...
Key staff
Campaign manager: Former Michigan Rep. David Bonior
Deputy campaign manager: Jonathan Prince
Senior advisers: Joe Trippi, Chris Chafe, Dave "Mudcat" Saunders
Finance: Fred Baron
Iowa director: Jen O'Malley Dillon
New Hampshire director: Beth Leonard
South Carolina director: John Moylan
Traveling chief of staff: John Davis
Policy director: James Kvaal
Domestic policy: Heather McGhee
Foreign policy: Mike Signer
Research director: Christina Reynolds
Communications: Chris Kofinis, Eric Schultz, Mark Kornblau, Andrea Purse, Colleen Murray, Audrey Waters, Dan Leistikow, Adam Bozzi, Kate Bedingfield, Teresa Wells, Eddie Vale, Mark McCullough, Jenni Lee, Caitlin Legacki
Advance: Sam Meyers Sr., Sam Meyers Jr., Matt McGrath, Jorna Taylor
Posted 01.31.08 12:26 PM | Comments (6)
It's The Money, Honey
On a conference call with reporters this a.m., Barack Obama campaign manager David Plouffe said that the campaign will be up w/ ads in the following post 2/5 states by tomorrow (2/1): LA, WA, NE, ME, DC, MD, and VA.
The campaign has raised $32M in primary dollars since the end of last quarter and have 170K new donors.
Posted 01.31.08 12:19 PM | Comments (0)
HPN: Updates From Our State Affiliates
Updates from our Hotline Political Network Affiliates
Nebraska -- Jordan on Politics
West Virginia -- Lincoln Walks at Midnight
New Jersey -- PoliticsNJ
California -- The Roundup
Missouri -- JohnCombest.com
Illinois -- Capitol Fax
Tennessee -- Tennessee Politics Blog
Florida -- SayfieReview.com
Alabama -- Doc's Political Parlor
Colorado -- ColoradoPols.com
Wisconsin -- WisPolitics
Texas -- Harvey Kronberg's Quorum Report
Georgia -- Political and Policy Digest
Iowa -- IowaPolitics.com
New York -- The Politicker
New Hampshire -- NHNewslinks.com
Posted 01.31.08 10:16 AM | Comments (0)
Hotline After Dark -- Endorsements, Dropouts, And Debates
With a GOP debate, Rudy Giuliani endorsing John McCain and John Edwards abandoning his WH bid, TV had plenty to talk about last night.
We lead off with the debate talk, which focused on the tensions between McCain and Mitt Romney:
CNN's J. King: "I thought the highlight overwhelmingly was the crackling exchanges and the tension, you could see it, the looking and glaring at each other, between McCain and Romney" (1/30).
Bill Bennett: "I don't think it changes much, palpable as the tension between Romney and McCain. That exchange was quite interesting. I think Huckabee performed well. He didn't get a lot of time. This thing goes on and we'll see this fight continuing over the next few days" (CNN, 1/30).
Ex-WH adviser David Gergen: "Mitt Romney came into this needing ... to score a couple of touchdowns. At best, he got a couple of field goals. I think that John McCain maintains the momentum coming out of this. The Schwarzenegger endorsement tomorrow, coming on top of the Giuliani endorsement today, makes him look very formidable going into this. I don't think that Mitt Romney got what he needed tonight, even though he did score occasionally" (CNN, 1/30).
(EMILY GOODIN)
JOHN'S OUR MAN
There was also a great deal of talk of who will benefit from Edwards' exit:
FNC's Garrett: "Essential dynamic for the Clinton campaign is to emphasize the economic message. They believe that's the heart and soul of the Edwards' supporters who remain left to be gathered up. The Obama campaign believes the change message is how they bring them aboard. Both will be fighting over them in the coming days" ("Special Report," 1/30).
NBC's Mitchell, on Edwards' possible endorsement: "It may not come. I mean, he may decide that the effectiveness -- because you could measure the effectiveness. And if he throws it one way or the other and that person wins or loses, he really has no clout left. He is not a player. But if he can argue that he has persuaded them both to adopt his cause, his language, that he has moved the party to the left, he has made it more populist, then he can say, Look at me, I accomplished something" ("Hardball," MSNBC, 1/30).
National Journal's Brownstein, on Edwards' voters: "You got to look at his voters so far, there's no reason to assume that they would break in any disproportionate way for Obama or Clinton, I think regardless of what John Edwards said. I don't think candidates really control voters once they leave the race" ("Hardball," MSNBC, 1/30).
Bloomberg's Hunt, on how the race between HRC/Obama will change now that Edwards is out: "I don't think there will be as much negative as there will be before" ("Money & Politics," 1/30).
FOLLOWING IN HILLARY'S FOOTSTEPS
And ABC's McFadden followed Hillary Clinton for a day-in-the-life piece for "Nightline":
Asked if Obama called to congratulate her on her FL victory: "Well, we're busy. We're on the road."
Asked if B. Clinton went too far: "I think he is a very passionate promoter of me and I appreciate that. I think we all have spouses who are totally committed are candidacies but this campaign is about me and what I will do as president."
More: "Whatever he said, which was certainly never intended to cause any kind of offense to anyone, ... yet if it did give offense I take responsibility and I'm sorry about that."
Asked if she can control B. Clinton: "Oh, of course. There's only president at a time."
McFadden: "Newsweek magazine says this week flatly, if you're elected, it will be a co-presidency."
Clinton: "Well that is not the case."
McFadden: "Maybe it's a good idea?"
Clinton: "Well it's not. It's not. I learned that. I learned that the hard way. It's important for the country to know who they're voting for and everyone in the White House is there only there for their relationship to one person -- the president."
Asked if Obama snubbed her at the SOTU address: "I reached out my hand in friendship and in unity and I'm still reaching it out. I expect we'll shake hands at the debate in California."
Asked if she thinks Obama intentionally snubbed her: "You'll have to ask him. I don't know. But again, the differences between us are nothing compared to the differences between us and the Republicans. That is what I want people to stay focused on."
On why she told a reporter she hadn't asked for Edwards' support: "Of course I would be honored to have his support. ... But it's a little bit unseemly to me. It's kind of harsh to say, oh, okay, goodbye, hello. And maybe that's a mistake. Maybe I should. Maybe I should swoop in but that's not how I am. I want to give respect to him" (ABC, 1/30).
Posted 01.31.08 09:40 AM | Comments (0)
January 30, 2008
Not Tough Enough
What were the final four GOPers selling at tonight's CNN debate?
McCain: Leadership. Experience. Reliability on national security issues (using the surge's success to make his point). Conservatism. His participation in the Reagan Revolution. His affection for tax cuts. And those newspaper endorsements (especially the two Massachusetts papers, which chose him over the homestate guv).
Romney: Leadership. Experience. Reliability on fiscal issues. Conservatism. Affection for strict constructionist judges. Washington outsiderism. Support for Iraq war (despite McCain's pointed references to Romney's statement in favor of a timetable for withdrawal).
Huckabee: The merits of including him in the debate. His modesty (ie I wouldn't presume to posit that RR would endorse me. Similarly dodged a question about appropriateness of Sandra Day O'Connor appointment to high court).
Paul: End to Iraq war. Less govt.
Ok, so this was a largely nicey nice debate, what gives? Bad questions (Would Reagan endorse you? Puleeze ...)? A leading challenger -- Romney -- who, as McCain collects high profile endorsements post Florida, is resigned to his fate?
Regardless of the reasons, the dynamic serves one candidate: McCain. The party seems to be coalescing around McCain; Gov. Charlie Crist pre Florida, Rudy Giuliani today, Cali Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger tomorrow. Sure, these guys are moderates. They certainly don't represent the party's conservative base. But the conservative base seems to have lost its way this season. Maybe it was inevitable after eight years of losing its way with Mr. Compassionate Conservative himself in the White House.
Bottom line: "I do not think Mitt Romney got what he needed tonight." --David Gergen on CNN
(JENNIFER SKALKA)
Posted 01.30.08 09:56 PM | Comments (0)
Non Debate Update
Ted Kennedy is hitting the trail for Barack Obama tomorrow. He'll be in Albuquerque and Santa Fe, N.M., Thursday, and Los Angeles and Oakland, California Friday.
Kennedy's courting Latino voters. Remember ... HRC was carried to a surprise victory in Nevada by several constituencies, but Hispanics, in particular, gave her a huge boost.
Meanwhile, the Massachusetts senator e-mailed a fundraising letter to voters on Obama's behalf, asking for $50 contributions. "As President Kennedy said in 1960, 'It is time for a new generation of leadership,' Kennedy wrote.
(JENNIFER SKALKA)
Posted 01.30.08 09:26 PM | Comments (3)
And Yet When They Speak ...
"How many men are you willing to let die for something that has nothing to do with our national security?"
-- Ron Paul chastising McCain and Romney for squabbling over the "technicalities" of an Iraq pullout when they both ultimately supported the policy
Posted 01.30.08 09:11 PM | Comments (2)
A Show Of Hands
Who forgot that Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul were participating in tonight's debate?
Posted 01.30.08 09:09 PM | Comments (1)
Here We Go ...
SIMI VALLEY -- The headline from this 90-minute debate looks to be this skirmish between McCain and Romney over McCain's claim that Romney once supported a "phased timetable" for withdrawal from Iraq. Which plays to McCain's biggest strength. But considering how strongly the economy has moved to the top of voters' priorities, how many 2/5 voters are voting with Iraq on their minds?
Posted 01.30.08 09:00 PM | Comments (3)
Status Quo Is A No No
As this debate chug chugs along sans sparks, a thought occurs: Mitt Romney must find a way to hit John McCain successfully. Pick a topic, governor. Immigration, campaign finance reform, his reputed temper. Whatever. If, after tonight, there's no discernable shift in the dynamics of the GOP contest, Romney's going to lose. It's that simple. Time is not on his side ...
(JENNIFER SKALKA)
Posted 01.30.08 08:43 PM | Comments (1)
At The Half Hour ...
SIMI VALLEY -- No zingers, one-liners, knock-out punches, fireworks or particularly effective moments so far. The closest thing was probably John McCain noting that he's received the endorsement of two of Mitt Romney's home-state newspapers. If you look back at recent debates, the first 30 minutes usually set the tone for the evening, and usually featured the most notable fireworks.
Are the moderators not doing enough to mix it up? Have all four GOPers simply settled into pre-determined fates? Or do they all fear disobeying Ronald Reagan's 11th commandment while under his watchful gaze?
It's unlikely Clinton vs. Obama on 1/31 will be as cordial. Which is starting to sound like a pattern. Are the Dems simply more divided than GOPers? [J.M.]
Posted 01.30.08 08:27 PM | Comments (0)
Sound Familiar?
SIMI VALLEY -- Mike Huckabee, just now: "This isn't a two-man race, there's another guy sitting here on the end of the stage. ... If we're going to talk conservatism, I'd like to be in on the discussion."
Sounds awfully similar to John Edwards' comment last week in SC when he felt that CNN's Wolf Blitzer was ignoring him. And we all know how things ended up for Edwards.
Posted 01.30.08 08:13 PM | Comments (0)
After The First Question, Is John McCain Better Off?
SIMI VALLEY -- John McCain's biggest problem in debates has been appearing tired and cranky. His biggest weakness in this WH campaign is his grasp of economic issues. He flubbed his response to the first question ("are we better off than we were eight years ago?"), on both counts [J.M.]
Posted 01.30.08 08:07 PM | Comments (0)
AP: Romney Won't Purchase New TV In Feb. 5 States
AP's David Espo reports : In a major boost for John McCain, Republican presidential rival Mitt Romney signaled Wednesday he's not ready to commit to a costly campaign in the states holding primaries and caucuses next week.
Several officials said that on the heels of a defeat in Tuesday's Florida primary, Romney's campaign was not attempting to purchase television advertising time in any of the states on the Super Tuesday calendar.
Instead, the former Massachusetts governor's current plans call for campaigning in California and other primary states, said the officials, who had knowledge of the internal discussions. There would be organizational efforts primarily for caucus states.
Posted 01.30.08 08:06 PM | Comments (0)
Just Asking ...
SIMI VALLEY -- The chattering class, who have little to do but chatter until the GOP debate begins in 38 minutes, has settled upon two pieces of CW: One, John McCain is now the clear GOP frontrunner and, two, all guns will be trained tonight on Mitt Romney.
Which raises a question: Why? If everyone agrees that McCain's the man to beat, why is everybody beating up on somebody else? Sure, Mike Huckabee is competing with Romney for conservative voters in key states like TN, GA, AL and MO. But is his real goal a spot on the GOP ticket this fall?
Posted 01.30.08 07:20 PM | Comments (0)
A Schwarzendorsement?
SIMI VALLEY -- CNN reports that CA Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) "might" follow Rudy Giuliani's lead and endorse John McCain 1/31.
During a press conf. a few minutes ago at the Reagan library, Schwarzenegger definitely left the door open to making an endorsement 1/31 at an event with McCain on the environment.
Schwarzenegger: "I have no news to give you today. I know you'd like to have news because you have to fill your lovely columns. But I have to say that the dynamics of the race have now changed. Both of these guys [Giuliani and McCain] have been very close friends to me and have supported my campaigns in the past."
Homeland Security Sec. Schwarzenegger? You heard it here first. [JOHN MERCURIO].
Posted 01.30.08 06:35 PM | Comments (1)
From "Hero" To "Hero"
SIMI VALLEY -- A few observations following Rudy Giuliani's endorsement of John McCain just now, less than two hours before the GOP debate:
* It's not a surprise and shouldn't be described as such. As Giuliani himself noted, he said many times during the campaign that if he hadn't run, he would have supported McCain. "If I endorsed anyone else, you would say I was flip-flopping."
* Which brings us to Mitt Romney. While he never specifically mentioned Romney, Giuliani suggested through his chosen words to describe McCain ("trust," "honor," "integrity") that there's no love lost between him and the ex-MA gov.
* Giuliani said he'd campaign for McCain "anywhere and everywhere he wants me to, or not." The "or not" part of that sentence should not be overlooked. How useful will he be in McCain's efforts to reach conservatives in his remaining fight with Romney and Mike Huckabee? Giuliani himself listed only blue states (CA, NY, NJ, CT and IL) as states where he's inclined to campaign. (Notably, he neglected to include FL).
* Giuliani doesn't seem to be ready to dwell on what went wrong, at least not publicly. When a reporter sought to ask the NYer to assess his campaign's fatal mistakes, McCain abruptly cut him off and ended the press conf
* While McCain was joined by his wife Cindy, Rudy was Judy-less [JOHN MERCURIO].
Posted 01.30.08 06:21 PM | Comments (0)
Dialing For Donors
BURBANK - Rudy Giuliani said he would endorse John McCain Wednesday, calling him the "other best candidate" and said he has already started asking his campaign contributors to get behind the Arizona senator.
Giuliani will officially end his presidential bid and back McCain at a 3:00 PM PST press conference at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, the site of this evening's Republican debate.
Speaking to a small group of reporters aboard his charter plane from Orlando Wednesday, Giuliani said "obviously the strategy didn't work" but said he was richer for the experience of running for chief executive.
"It was a great honor to run for president of the United States, despite of the result," he said. "I learned a tremendous amount from it that I will never forget. I grew as a person in doing it. It is a daunting experience that challenges everything about you and it either makes you better or maybe it makes you worse, but I believe it made me better."
Giuliani had made his personal affection for McCain clear during his campaign, and said it was an obvious choice to support him as part of his withdrawal.
"It's disappointing to lose a race for president because you believe you're the best candidate, but I had made it clear before I had to make this decision who I thought the other best candidate was," he said. "I think I made it clear during a debate that if I had not been running, I would be supporting John McCain.
He added that the campaign had not discussed any potential role for him beyond campaigning for McCain in the Northeast. He specifically said he was not seeking the vice presidential nomination.
"I am not seeking any position in government," he said. "I am going to be a very enthusiastic and active supporter of John McCain. I have offered, anything he or his campaign believe I can do, I will do for them."
(NBC/NJ's MATTHEW BERGER)
"I am not seeking any position in government," he said. "I am going to be a very enthusiastic and active supporter of John McCain. I have offered, anything he or his campaign believe I can do, I will do for them."
He has already started to contact donors on McCain's behalf, and said none of his supporters had ruled out backing McCain. Some had agreed, and others were considering it, he said.
Giuliani said his staff and the McCain campaign had been in touch "a number of times during this up and down election," which suggests that at one point, when McCain's campaign looked in trouble, the tables may have been turned and Giuliani was seeking McCain's backing.
Giuliani said he dropped out Tuesday because any votes he would have gotten on Feb. 5 would have been taken from McCain.
"In my heart, for real, I want John McCain to be the nominee of my party," he said. "If I had stayed in I would have-I don't know if I would have made a difference in some of those states-but certainly I would have taken votes away from him, because to some extent our vote overlapped more than some of the other candidates."
Giuliani went on to say that he admired both Romney and Huckabee, saying he shared a unique experience with them.
Reflecting on his presidential bid, Giuliani said he felt sadness but also said he had prepared himself to lose.
"I was always ready to lose and I was always aware of the fact that despite the fact that I appeared to be the frontrunner, that I was trying something different and something unorthodox and that had a risk attached to it," he said. "I never at any point felt that I would win for sure."
Giuliani said preparing for debates was the most fun experience he had on the campaign trail, and downplayed the notion that Republican voters had rejected his proposals.
"No, I think there is something else going on," he said, but would not elaborate. "I think the experts will have quite a little to analyze why that happened. I'm not sure I know yet."
He said he would confer with his team in the coming weeks to review the controversial strategy to largely bypass the first primary contests.
"It was the only realistic strategy available to us given my strengths, my weaknesses, given the amount of money we were able to raise, and given the places we thought we could make a big impact," he said. "Obviously, it didn't work. But, as we were going through the strategy we really did believe it would."
Giuliani said the campaign taught him that he had a lot of "resilience."
"That I haven't lost, you know as you grow older you say to yourself, 'have you lost your resiliency?'" he said. "And I think I have a tremendous amount of resiliency. The ability to bounce back."
Giuliani said he was not giving any thought to future public office, but did not rule it out.
Posted 01.30.08 05:50 PM | Comments (0)
NY Post For Obama
Tough words from Hillary Clinton's home state paper, the New York Post ...
We urge them to choose Obama - an untried candidate, to be sure, but preferable to the junior senator from New York.
Obama represents a fresh start.
His opponent, and her husband, stand for déjà vu all over again - a return to the opportunistic, scandal-scarred, morally muddled years of the almost infinitely self-indulgent Clinton co-presidency.
Does America really want to go through all that once again?
It will - if Sen. Clinton becomes president.
Posted 01.30.08 05:45 PM | Comments (1)
Edwards in NOLA: "It's Time For Me To Step Aside"
"I began my campaign here to remind the country that we as citizens and as a government have a moral responsibility to each other and what we do together matters. ... It’s time for me to step aside so that history can blaze its path. We do not know who will take the final steps to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, but what we do know is our Democratic Party will make history."
-- John Edwards, bowing out of the presidential race today in New Orleans, where his campaign began 13 months ago.
Posted 01.30.08 03:56 PM | Comments (3)
How Steamed Is Glen Johnson?
Ron Kaufman - the now infamous Dutko lobbyist who was the source of the spat between Mitt Romney and AP reporter Glen Johnson in South Carolina two weeks ago over whether there are lobbyists running the campaign - reappeared at the Florida post-primary party last night and again on the plane to Burbank today. He headed to the back of the plane before take-off to chat up reporters, but his comments were mostly about stories from his past, not campaign strategy.
After landing moments ago in Cali, Romney was greeted by several dozen supporters and a couple TV crews. He shook hands and signed autographs, and said that he would fight on.
(NBC/NJ's ERIN MCPIKE)
Posted 01.30.08 01:20 PM | Comments (0)
Quote Of The Day
From today's Hotline:
"This is going to be everybody against Romney from here on out."
-- MSNBC's Chris Matthews, 1/29
Posted 01.30.08 12:50 PM | Comments (1)
Murray For Clinton
Washington State Sen. Patty Murray endorsed Hillary Clinton today in a statement released by the campaign:
“Hillary and I both came to Washington together in 1993, and since that time she hasn't stopped working on the priorities that matter most to America's families,” Murray said. “Together we have partnered to pass strong port security legislation, stand up to an Administration that put ideology above science, and provide the care that our nation's veterans have earned. She understands the challenges that face us here in Washington state from security at our Northern Border to cleaning up Hanford. Hillary is ready to lead this nation from her first day in office and deliver the change we need.”
Washington's primary is Feb. 9.
(JENNIFER SKALKA)
Posted 01.30.08 12:30 PM | Comments (15)
Unnecessarily Cryptic
Love this statement sent to reporters a few minutes ago ... "John McCain To Receive Major Endorsement" ... 3 p.m. PT ... Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum ...
Whoever could it be? Insert 'wink, wink' here. A pre debate nod from Rudy G. ...
(JENNIFER SKALKA)
Posted 01.30.08 12:19 PM | Comments (1)
HRC On JRE: "I'm Really Admiring Of What He Has Done To Make Sure Poverty Was On The Agenda"
HRC on JRE exit – Per WBRC Birmingham
HRC: "Well Sen. Edwards is a friend of mine, he was a colleague in the Senate, and I have the highest regard for him, and I’m really admiring of what he has done to make sure that poverty was on the agenda here in America. He encouraged all of us in his passion and advocacy, and I hope he will continue that work because it is really important that we stay focused on what we’re going to do to help people.
"You know, I’m out here talking about making the economy work for everybody. And it needs to work for the middle class, working people, it needs to give a life line to poor people like we did in the 1990s, so in any way that I can be part of this effort to try to target poverty I am going to be."
ANCHOR: "Senator, there is no indication right now that he would endorse a candidate, would you hope and expect that his supporters would back you now and your candidacy?"
HRC: "Well, I’m certainly going to be reaching out to everyone who did support Sen. Edwards. I think that our emphasis on what happens in the real lives of Americans, making this about solving our problems, looking at taking on those interests that stand in the way of universal health care, and a tax system that doesn’t favor the wealthy and well-connected and making sure college is affordable. You know these are the causes that I’ve worked on for 35 years. Senator Edwards shares a lot of those passions with me, and I hope that I’ll be able tp persuade his supporters in the week ahead as we move toward Super Tuesday to come over and endorse and support me because I want to have a united Democratic Party with a very strong base going into the November 2008 election."
Posted 01.30.08 11:46 AM | Comments (1)
Obama On JRE: "He Made A Nation Focus Again On Who Matters"
“John Edwards has spent a lifetime fighting to give voice to the voiceless and hope to the struggling, even when it wasn’t popular to do or covered in the news," said Barack Obama in a statement released by a spokesman. "At a time when our politics is too focused on who’s up and who’s down, he made a nation focus again on who matters – the New Orleans child without a home, the West Virginia miner without a job, the families who live in that other America that is not seen or heard or talked about by our leaders in Washington.
"John and Elizabeth Edwards have always believed deeply that we can change this – that two Americans can become one, and that our country can rally around this common purpose. So while his campaign may end today, the cause of their lives endures for all of us who still believe that we can achieve that dream of one America."
Posted 01.30.08 11:08 AM | Comments (2)
A "Very Narrow" Path
CNN's Suzanne Malveaux reports that John Edwards phoned HRC and Barack Obama yesterday to notify them of his decision to leave the race and to urge them to make poverty a foremost issue in the ongoing contest. She said JRE hasn't any plans to endorse. Overall, she said, the campaign realized that the path to the nomination had become "very narrow" ...
Posted 01.30.08 10:03 AM | Comments (0)
Rudy's Exit ...
By NBC News' John Yang and NBC/NJ's Matthew Berger:
The end is rarely pretty.
The morning after was particularly chaotic for the Rudy Giuliani campaign. The traveling press corps was asked to be in the lobby at 7:30 a.m. to be bused to the airport and a 9 a.m. flight to Los Angeles, including a refueling stop in Texas.
But the only buses were for a meeting of Wendy's franchisees.
The mayor departed the hotel--in a pick-up truck.
Still no buses. And no campaign aides to tell us exactly where we were going and what we'd do when we got there.
Calls to officials revealed that more and more of them were heading home to New York instead of accompanying the mayor.
And still no buses.
A camapign aide said there was a problem and that we should get ourselves to the aiport.
A fleet of cabs took the assembled reporters to the plane in time to see campaign officials campaign manager Mike DuHaime, campaign advisor Tony Carbonetti, former deputy mayors Randy Mastro and Joe Lhota and the ubiquitous celebrity endorser Jon Voight board the plane. Giuliani boarded carrying his own suit bag. His wife, Judith, was not with him.
And on the tarmac: The buses that were to carry the press to the plane.
Posted 01.30.08 09:57 AM | Comments (1)
An Edwards Endorsement?
Barack Obama heaping praise on John Edwards last night on ABC's Nightline ... Script after the jump, per NJ's Emily Goodin ...
Asked if he's looking for a deal with Edwards, Obama: "I have spoken to John Edwards."
Moran: "About that?"
Obama: "No. Just generally about the campaign. I don't want to go into the details of the conversation we've had. But look, John's running a terrific campaign. He's still competitive in a number of states coming up on Super Tuesday. I think his attitude, like the rest of us, is he's going after as many delegates as he can get."
Moran: "But that sounds like a non-denial denial. Did you tell you'd like his endorsement?"
Obama: "That I can say unequivocally. I'd like Hillary Clinton's endorsement. Then we can start concentrating on the endorsement."
Posted 01.30.08 09:37 AM | Comments (47)
On Edwards
1 p.m. announcement, New Orleans, where he launched his campaign this cycle ...
-- Aides are telling us that he’s not making the decision based on his wife’s health – CNN's Suzanne Malveaux
Posted 01.30.08 09:24 AM | Comments (0)
Edwards OUT
AP first reported. More to come.
Posted 01.30.08 09:20 AM | Comments (0)
HPN: Updates From Our State Affiliates
Updates from our Hotline Political Network Affiliates
Nebraska -- Jordan on Politics
West Virginia -- Lincoln Walks at Midnight
New Jersey -- PoliticsNJ
California -- The Roundup
Missouri -- JohnCombest.com
Illinois -- Capitol Fax
Tennessee -- Tennessee Politics Blog
Florida -- SayfieReview.com
Alabama -- Doc's Political Parlor
Colorado -- ColoradoPols.com
Wisconsin -- WisPolitics
Texas -- Harvey Kronberg's Quorum Report
Georgia -- Political and Policy Digest
Iowa -- IowaPolitics.com
New York -- The Politicker
New Hampshire -- NHNewslinks.com
Posted 01.30.08 08:58 AM | Comments (0)
January 29, 2008
Path To The Nomination
Tonight marked a big win for John McCain in what was a hard-fought battle against Mitt Romney for Florida.
So as Mac and Mitt go head-to-head Super Tuesday, who has the true advantage? Mitt might have the cash, but Mac now has the Mo'...
Here's something to watch for as the contest broadens ... Mike Huckabee helped draw conservative votes tonight away from Romney. Look for Huck to do the same next week in Tennessee, Arkansas, Alabama and Georgia. Reason enough for him to stick it out. Well, that and the coveted veep slot.
As the race heads west as well, McCain has another critical built-in benefit. The west is McCain territory. The Arizona senator faces a homestate primary as well as battles in New Mexico and California, where Latino voters -- who helped produce tonight's victory -- are a friendly constituency for McCain.
Meanwhile, McCain will get Giuliani's nod tomorrow in Cali, and Huck was exceptionally flattering of him tonight. It's almost as McCain's rivals are willing the nomination his way ...
(JENNIFER SKALKA)
Posted 01.29.08 10:20 PM | Comments (1)
McCain's Pull
"He won across the board here. You do feel a certain drift to John McCain."
-- Tom Brokaw, on MSNBC
Posted 01.29.08 10:09 PM | Comments (0)
75% In, Five Points Divides Frontrunners
With 75% of FL precincts reporting, CBS News shows John McCain leading Mitt Romney 36-31% among GOPers, with Rudy Giuliani at 15%, Mike Huckabee at 14% and Ron Paul at 3%.
With 75% of FL precincts reporting, CBS News shows Hillary Clinton leading Barack Obama 50-33% among Dems, with John Edwards at 14%.
Posted 01.29.08 09:59 PM | Comments (0)
Giuliani WILL Endorse McCain
NBC News/National Journal has confirmed that Rudy Giuliani will endorse John McCain tomorrow in California.
Posted 01.29.08 09:53 PM | Comments (0)
Heeerrrrreeee's Johnny!
NBC/NJ's Adam Aigner-Treworgy reports that John McCain's party-goers are wearing yellow "Team Super Tuesday" hats ...
John McCain takes the podium, Gov. Charlie Crist behind him:
"Florida has always been a special place to me, and it is all the more so tonight. Our victory might not have reached landslide proportions but was sweet nonetheless."
McCain first gave thanks to Crist and Sen. Mel Martinez ...
He saluted Mike Huckabee for his "good humor and grace" and his "dear friend" Rudy Giuliani "who invested his heart and soul in this primary and who conducted himself with all the qualities of the exceptional American leader he is." Of Mitt Romney, he said: "The margin isn't enough for me to brag about or him to despair."
"This was a hard fought election and worth fighting hard for," he added. He said that next week's Super Tuesday contest is as close to a national primary as this country has seen.
"I intend to win it and be the nominee of our party," McCain said.
(JENNIFER SKALKA)
Posted 01.29.08 09:47 PM | Comments (1)
Romney: "This Generation Will Meet The Challenges Of Our Time"
Mitt Romney speech highlights:
"I am sure you are excited here this evening, but a little disappointed, as well" -- Romney (mult.).
“At a time like this, knowing how America works is more important that knowing how Washington works. … And so the right course for America isn’t to strengthen our government, but to strengthen our people. And to do that, we need to change Washington, and that change will begin with us” (mult.).
And one of several shout-outs to conservative voters ...
"Before they have babies, they should be married" -- Romney said of America's young people (mult.)
Posted 01.29.08 09:39 PM | Comments (0)
64% In, McCain Up Four
With 64% of FL precincts reporting, CBS News shows John McCain leading Mitt Romney 36-32% among GOPers, with Rudy Giuliani at 15%, Mike Huckabee at 13% and Ron Paul at 3%.
With 64% of FL precincts reporting, CBS News shows Hillary Clinton leading Barack Obama 50-32% among Dems, with John Edwards at 15%.
Posted 01.29.08 09:37 PM | Comments (0)
Winning The Future
Reflecting on McCain's win:
CNN's Schneider: "This is yet another state that McCain has won without carrying conservatives. ... He hasn't carried conservatives yet."
CNN's Blitzer: "This is a win, a badly needed and impressive win."
CNN's Cooper: "What an extraordinary win when you consider a few months ago, he was walking through the airport carrying his own bags."
Bill Bennett: "He is likely on his way to the nomination."
Meanwhile, McCain's advisers have said that he will be "unstoppable" on Super Tuesday if he won FL (CNN). We'll see.
Posted 01.29.08 09:29 PM | Comments (0)
Rudy: "You don't always win, but you can always try to do it right."
"It's not over until it's over," a woman yells to Rudy Giuliani from his election night audience ...
But it appears it is.
The former mayor congratulated his opponents on a hard-fought campaign. "They are truly all honorable people, honorable men who are fighting what they believe in," he said. "Our party will be stronger as a result of the competition that we are going through."
Speaking in the past tense about his bid, but not offering yet that he would exit, Giuliani said "winners dream of a better future and then they help to bring it into reality." But added, "the responsibility of leadership doesn't end in a single campaign, if you believe in a cause it goes on, and you continue to fight for it and we will."
Giuliani said he is proud that his campaign stayed "positive" and ran "a campaign of ideas."
"We ran a campaign that was uplifting," he said. "You don't always win, but you can always try to do it right and you did. That's what the American people deserve."
He went on to advocate for strength in the fight to preserve our national security and our economy. He pushed for school choice as well. And he said the GOP -- the party of Abe Lincoln and Ronald Reagan and George Bush -- must be the party of freedom.
"The best way to achieve peace is through overwhelming strength," he said.
(JENNIFER SKALKA)
Posted 01.29.08 09:21 PM | Comments (4)
And ... Scene
NBC News calls it for McCain ... 9:18 p.m. ...
Posted 01.29.08 09:18 PM | Comments (0)
McCain!!!
McCain it is ... FOX, 9:11 p.m.; CNN, 9:12 p.m. ...
Posted 01.29.08 09:12 PM | Comments (0)
51% In, McCain Stretches Lead
With 51% of FL precincts reporting, CBS News shows John McCain leading Mitt Romney 36-31% among GOPers, with Rudy Giuliani at 15%, Mike Huckabee at 13% and Ron Paul at 3%.
With 48% of FL precincts reporting, CBS News shows Hillary Clinton leading Barack Obama 51-31% among Dems, with John Edwards at 15%.
Posted 01.29.08 09:09 PM | Comments (0)
Palm Beach Follies
It’s 9 p.m., two hours after the polls closed, and all that’s been counted in the Palm Beach Co. elections headquarters are absentee ballots and early votes (Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel).
Posted 01.29.08 09:08 PM | Comments (0)
Huck ... Ever The Optimist
Mike Huckabee just spoke to supporters in Creve Coeur, MO, and addressed the FL outcome.
Huckabee: "We're playing all nine innings of this ball game. ... Even the Cardinals, occasionally, have a rough inning."
More: “We’re just really getting started” (CNN).
Posted 01.29.08 09:00 PM | Comments (1)
Second Placers
The mood at the Romney party, "at least among some campaign officials, is a bit edgy." Barbara Comstock, a surrogate for the camp, "compared the waiting to 'going into labor'" ("The Caucus").
CNN's Malveaux, on how the Obama camp is reacting to HRC's FL win: "Wolf, they're really kind of laughing at it."
Posted 01.29.08 08:57 PM | Comments (2)
Electability Mattered
NEP exit polls posted by MSNBC show 63% of GOP voters believe the economy is in not so good or poor condition.
Exit polls also show…
-- GOPers believe McCain is more electable than Romney 45-33%, with Giuliani at 11%.
-- 44% of GOP voters were over the age of 60, a group which McCain leads 37-34% over Romney.
-- GOP college grads favor McCain 36-33% over Romney, while McCain and Romney tie 30-30% among non-grads.
Posted 01.29.08 08:51 PM | Comments (1)
Halperin: Rudy Out, Will Back Mac
Time's Mark Halperin is reporting that Giuliani will drop out and endorse McCain “as early as Wednesday – in Los Angeles or Simi Valley.” ...
Posted 01.29.08 08:49 PM | Comments (0)
Your Voices Should Be Heard ... Even If Your Delegates Are Not To Be Counted
HRC in Davie: "Thank you Florida Democrats! I could not come here to ask, in person, for your votes, but I am here to thank you for your votes today!" More: "This has been a record turnout because Floridians wanted to be heard" (mult.)
Posted 01.29.08 08:47 PM | Comments (2)
"What's The Celebration For?"
CNN reports that Democratic primary voters in South Carolina who made their presidential pick in the week before voting overwhelmingly chose Barack Obama. In Florida, according to exit polls, those last-minute deciders went for Hillary Clinton. The Dems had pledged not to campaign in Florida following national party sanctions that rendered the contest irrelevant to the presidential nominating process.
"What's the celebration for?" -- MSNBC's Keith Olbermann, to NBC's Andrea Mitchell at HRC's victory party (MSNBC).
Weekly Standard's Bill Kristol said it would be "risky" for HRC to assume the FL results will mean anything for future results (FNC).
CNN's Borger, on HRC in FL: "Lots of Democrats turned out. ... However, this is a talking point for Hillary Clinton. This is not a huge victory."
On the bright side ... CNN's Schneider, on HRC: "She got a healthy share of the African American vote." However, Schneider points out, in FL, only 18% of the voters were African-American.
Posted 01.29.08 08:43 PM | Comments (2)
The Dreaded Cash Bar
How You Really Know the Giuliani Campaign Is Not Expecting a Good Night ... ABC News' Tapper reports that the first sign that greets his supporters at his "celebration" party here at the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel in Orlando: "CASH BAR."
Winners usually pay for drinks.
Ba dum ching.
Posted 01.29.08 08:39 PM | Comments (0)
Romney Up With Early Voters, Absentees
FNC's Brit Hume reports, Romney is leading among early and absentee voters, while McCain leads among people voting today.
CNN's J. King reports, Romney needed to win Orange Co. "by a decent margin," but he's currently in a dead heat there with McCain. Meanwhile, "the McCain camp believes if it wins Tampa, it wins the state" (CNN).
"I don't give a damn what anybody says tonight, John McCain will not get conservatives behind him in the fall" -- MSNBC's Joe Scarborough.
Posted 01.29.08 08:36 PM | Comments (0)
Nailbiter ...
With 35% of FL precincts reporting, CBS News shows John McCain leading Mitt Romney 34-32% among GOPers, with Rudy Giuliani at 16%, Mike Huckabee at 13% and Ron Paul at 3%.
With 35% of FL precincts reporting, CBS News shows Hillary Clinton leading Barack Obama 49-30% among Dems, with John Edwards at 15%.
Posted 01.29.08 08:31 PM | Comments (0)
You Are So Beautiful To Me
Try telling the crowd of 200 waiting in Davie, FL, for HRC to speak later tonight that the Dem race is a beauty contest. It’s been erupting into periodic chants of "Hill-a-ry! Hill-a-ry! Hill-a-ry!” (Miami Herald).
Posted 01.29.08 08:25 PM | Comments (4)
Latino Voters, Advantage McCain
NEP exit polls posted by MSNBC show McCain leading Giuliani 51-25% among Hispanics/Latinos, with Romney at 15%. Hispanics/Latinos make up 10% of the GOP electorate.
Exit polls also show…
-- that one in three GOP primary voters is over the age of 65, a category in which McCain leads Romney 38-31%.
-- absentee/early voters make up 28% of the GOP electorate and split between McCain and Romney 31-31%, with Giuliani at 18%.
-- Huckabee and Romney leading McCain 30-30-28% among born-again/evangelical Christians, who make up nearly four in 10 GOP voters.
Posted 01.29.08 08:22 PM | Comments (0)
With 26% In, McCain Up Two
With 26% of FL precincts reporting, CBS News shows John McCain leading Mitt Romney 34-32% among GOPers, with Rudy Giuliani at 16%, Mike Huckabee at 14% and Ron Paul at 3%.
With 28% of FL precincts reporting, CBS News shows Hillary Clinton leading Barack Obama 49-29% among Dems, with John Edwards at 15%.
Posted 01.29.08 08:17 PM | Comments (0)
Save Rudy
CNN's J. King, on Giuliani: "He will be 0 for 7 after tonight. ... It is a repudiation of the Giuliani strategy."
Bill Bennett, on Giuliani: "The campaign wasn't good. ... He needed to talk about his vision for the country, not just what he did on 9/11" (CNN).
CNN's Toobin: "The more people saw of Rudy Giuliani, the less they liked him. ... He just was not a good candidate. ... I think it's clear this is the worst campaign of this millennium."
And even this guy couldn’t save Rudy ("Beltway Confidential").
Meanwhile, the Giuliani campaign is so far tonight pushing a never-say-die storyline: "The plan is to go out to California. ... We've chartered a plane" -- Giuliani manager Mike DuHaime, looking past FL (MSNBC).
Posted 01.29.08 08:13 PM | Comments (0)
Obama Won't Commit To Seat FL Delegates
Obama Campaign manager David Plouffe brushed off the question of whether he would support or oppose seating Florida's delegates.
"That's obviously a long way down the road, he said. "...Obviously this could end up being a very, very close delegate race where we're fighting for every delegate." (St. Pete Times)
Posted 01.29.08 08:08 PM | Comments (0)
Sorry, So Sorry
8:00 CNN projects “that Rudy Giuliani will not win” the GOP race.
Posted 01.29.08 08:05 PM | Comments (0)
HRC Wins The Non Primary
FOX and CNN called Florida for Hillary Clinton at 8 p.m., with MSNBC calling it at 8:01 pm.
A reminder: A whopping zero Democratic delegates at stake tonight; the state was stripped of its delegates as punishment for pushing primary date up. HRC is in Davie, Fla., anyway to thank supporters.
Meanwhile, this breaking from Obama spokesman Bill Burton ... "Obama and Clinton tie for delegates in Florida. 0 for Obama, 0 for Clinton."
Posted 01.29.08 08:01 PM | Comments (0)
15% In, McCain Has Slight Edge
With 15% of FL precincts reporting, CNN shows John McCain leading Mitt Romney 34-31% among GOPers, with Rudy Giuliani at 17%, Mike Huckabee at 13% and Ron Paul at 3%.
With 15% of FL precincts reporting, CNN shows Hillary Clinton leading Barack Obama 52-29% among Dems, with John Edwards at 16%.
MSNBC's Olbermann reports that "it's too close to call" ...
Posted 01.29.08 07:58 PM | Comments (0)
Geographic Necessities
CNN's J. King reports, McCain needs to do well in Miami-Dade Co., as well as in the Tampa Bay and Pensacola areas, where there are high concentrations of military veterans. Romney, meanwhile, is watching the more conservative strongholds of Orlando, Sarasota, and Jacksonville (CNN).
FNC's Shepard Smith predicts the votes in the Panhandle will give McCain a "late edge."
Posted 01.29.08 07:55 PM | Comments (0)
9% In, McCain Up
With 9% of FL precincts reporting, CNN shows John McCain leading Mitt Romney 34-30% among GOPers, with Rudy Giuliani at 18%, Mike Huckabee at 13% and Ron Paul at 3%.
With 10% of FL precincts reporting, CNN shows Hillary Clinton leading Barack Obama 52-29% among Dems, with John Edwards at 16%.
Posted 01.29.08 07:47 PM | Comments (0)
Thanks, But No Thanks
Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-CT) has “ruled out” being John McCain's running mate. Speaking to the AP in DC, Lieberman said, “No, I’d tell him, ‘Thanks, John, I've been there, I've done that. You can find much better.’ … I'm not seeking anything else” (“On Politics”).
Posted 01.29.08 07:46 PM | Comments (0)
Here We Go Again?
"Fasten your seat belt. It's going to be another Florida election" -- Sen. Mel Martinez (R-FL), warning us (MSNBC).
Shepard Smith reports a delay in reporting votes in Putnam Co. on the eastern side – “mechanical difficulties” – with electronic voting machines. “That’s going to ring bells all over the state” (FNC).
"Voters are reporting problems across Central Florida from Daytona Beach to Hunter's Creek. Among the precincts experiencing glitches was one in Orange County where voters were told by poll workers early on there was no Democratic primary today." (Orlando Sentinel)
A "steady turnout" of voters at the polls gives Secretary of State Kurt Browning cause to hope for better-than-average turnout in today's presidential primary. Browning: “Obviously we're going to beat our 20 percent that we had in 2004” (Fort Myers News-Press).
Posted 01.29.08 07:39 PM | Comments (1)
What Will Rudy Do?
Newsweek's Howard Fineman said Giuliani spent approximately $50M-$60M to acquire "a grand total of 1 delegate" (in NV). Fineman also said it is "highly unlikely" Giuliani will participate in tomorrow night's GOP debate (MSNBC).
Pat Buchanan predicts Giuliani will endorse McCain by next Tuesday (MSNBC).
Posted 01.29.08 07:33 PM | Comments (0)
The First 0.2% Goes For McCain
With 0.2% of FL precincts reporting, CBS News shows John McCain leading Mitt Romney 29-28% among GOPers, with Rudy Giuliani at 18%, Mike Huckabee at 18% and Ron Paul at 3%.
With 0.2% of FL precincts reporting, CBS News shows Hillary Clinton leading Barack Obama 58-21% among Dems, with John Edwards at 17%.
Posted 01.29.08 07:28 PM | Comments (0)
Early Exits: The Economy And Experience
Early network exit polls "show the economy is the breakaway issue, with nearly half of GOP voters and more than half" of Dems calling it the nation's top concern.
About one-third of GOP voters "said experience is the top quality they're looking for in a candidate; that's more than said so in other states." On the GOP side, "six in 10 voters are conservative, including a quarter who are 'very conservative.' About three in 10 are military veterans, nearly four in 10 are seniors and about two in 10 describe themselves as" indies. "About one in eight is Hispanic; up somewhat" from '00.
Among GOPers:
The top issue: Economy (47%), terrorism (19%), immigration (17%), Iraq (13%). Top candidate quality: Shares my values (37%), has the best experience (32%), says what he believes (20%), best chance to win in the general election (9%). Feelings toward the Bush admin.'s policies: 66% positive, 33% negative ("The Trail").
National Review Online’s Jim Geraghty has what he says are “second wave” exit numbers from FL: McCain 34.3%, Romney 32.6%, Giuliani 15.3%, Huckabee 12%.
Posted 01.29.08 07:05 PM | Comments (0)
Florida
57 delegates at stake in the GOP primary ...
Most polls close now, panhandle 8 p.m. ET ...
Posted 01.29.08 06:59 PM | Comments (0)
Bluegrass Switcheroo
According to Politico’s Josh Kraushaar, Rep. Ron Lewis (R-KY 02) withdrew his re-election papers this p.m. and will retire. As the deadline to file for the race was this afternoon, two GOPers quickly entered: state Sen. Brett Guthrie (R) and Lewis CoS Daniel London (R). According to Kraushaar, the NRCC "indicated" that it "strongly favored" Guthrie.
State Sen. David Boswell (D) is one of two Dems to file for the race, and was touted earlier this cycle by Dems in a CD that gave Lewis just 55% in ’06. His conservative position on abortion and other social issues are a good fit for the CD, where Dems outnumber GOPers by about 100K voters, but where Pres. Bush took 65% in '04. Those Dems came home in the ’07 GOV race, and Dems are hoping they do so again in ’08, especially now that this is an open seat contest. (TIM SAHD)
Posted 01.29.08 05:24 PM | Comments (0)
"Caroline"
Caroline Kennedy takes her pitch for Barack Obama to the airwaves ... New York, Philly, Boston, San Francisco and Los Angeles ... Note the footage of JFK, and man's first steps on the moon ...
(JENNIFER SKALKA)
Posted 01.29.08 04:50 PM | Comments (0)
Rudy Jetting To Cali Tmrw
With all that talk of whether Rudy Giuliani will or won't he drop out of the GOP race for president if he doesn't win Florida, note this: This afternoon, his campaign sent reporters the sign up sheet to fly with him to Los Angeles tomorrow ...
Head fake?
(JENNIFER SKALKA)
Posted 01.29.08 04:38 PM | Comments (0)
"Nuestra Amiga"
New HRC Spanish-language ad to air in Cali, Arizona, New York and Connecticut.
“Nuestra Amiga”
TV: 30
Our voice and our vote will elect the next President of the great country.
Our candidate is Hillary Clinton because she respects our culture and understands the problems that affect our community.
Millions of Hispanic families live with the fear of not having health insurance.
The economic crisis and the cost of living are of concern to all of us.
Hillary is our friend and will help us.
Let’s vote for Hillary on February 5th and we will have a better life.
We are with you!
I’m Hillary Clinton and I approve this message.
Posted 01.29.08 04:22 PM | Comments (0)
Florida Votes
A reminder: Check in this evening with On Call for the latest Florida primary results. ...
Posted 01.29.08 03:38 PM | Comments (4)
HRC Scheds Super Tuesday Eve Appearance On Letterman
Hillary Clinton will make her ninth appearance on CBS' "Late Show" on Monday, 2/4, but, more importantly, she's reaching a national audience on the eve on the so-called "national primary" of Super Tuesday. And it's worth noting the announcement comes the day after allegations she made last-minute cancellations on all the cable networks after President Bush's SOTU address.
The CBS show was Clinton's only late night option. David Letterman is the only host who has a deal with the striking TV writers -- and no Democrat will dare cross the picket line -- but, as noted in today's New York Post, NBC's "Tonight Show," even without its writers, is still beating Letterman in the ratings. Last week Jay Leno averaged 5 million viewers to Letterman's 4.1 million viewers.
Clinton isn't the only candidate to take to the late night stage the night before a big primary. Mike Huckabee stopped by Leno's couch the night before the Iowa caucuses and managed a victory in that state. And Huckabee has been most prolific on the last night circuit stopping by the "Late, Late Show" on Jan. 3, the "Late Show" on Jan. 7, and the "Colbert Report" on Jan. 9. But he's not the only one staying up late. Mitt Romney was on the "Tonight Show" on Jan. 18th and John Edwards was on the "Late Show" on Jan. 22nd. (EMILY GOODIN)
Posted 01.29.08 03:36 PM | Comments (9)
But You Promised
Check out this angry editorial from the conservative New Hampshire Union Leader, which chastises Hillary Clinton for dabbling with Florida ... The paper alleges that she violated her pledge not to campaign there because of the state's decision to move up the primary. The Clinton team has pushed in recent days for Florida's delegates to be seated at the convention. And HRC is in Florida tonight to thank voters, according to a campaign release ...
COURTING VOTERS in Iowa and New Hampshire, last August Sen. Hillary Clinton signed a pledge not to "campaign or participate" in the Michigan or Florida Democratic primaries. She participated in both primaries and is campaigning in Florida. Which proves, again, that Hillary Clinton is a liar.
Clinton kept her name on the Michigan ballot when others removed theirs, she campaigned this past weekend in Florida, and she is pushing to seat Michigan and Florida delegates at the Democratic National Convention. The party stripped those states of delegates as punishment for moving up their primary dates.
"I will try to persuade my delegates to seat the delegates from Michigan and Florida," Clinton said last week, after the New Hampshire primaries and Iowa caucuses were safely over.
Clinton coldly and knowingly lied to New Hampshire and Iowa. Her promise was not a vague statement. It was a signed pledge with a clear and unequivocal meaning.
She signed it thinking that keeping the other candidates out of Michigan and Florida was to her advantage, but knowing she would break it if that proved beneficial later on. It did, and she did.
New Hampshire voters, you were played for suckers.
Posted 01.29.08 03:27 PM | Comments (2)
A Mother From Kansas ...
EL DORADO, KS -- Barack Obama returned to one half of his roots in El Dorado today, weaving the tale of his mother's side of the family into the fabric of a larger American story of shared middle class values and aspirations. He also landed the potentially influential endorsement of the state's governor, Kathleen Sebelius.
In this centrist Heartland state, Obama hit on the theme that put him on the national stage -- breaking through the partisan divide to create a country that has a common purpose.
"We have been made to believe that differences of race and region; wealth and gender; party and religion have spearted us into warring factions," Obama said.
"It's a vision of America that's been exploited and encouraged by pundits and politicisan who need this division to score point sand win elections," he added.
Obama said that individuals from all walks of life shared the simplicity of his parents' and grandparents' dreams to be part of a prosperous middle class. He aims to convey that his story is the quintessential American tale. Obama even had a relative in the audience at Butler Community College in El Dorado, just outside Wichitaw – Ruth McCurry, his grandmother's first cousin.
"My story is an American story," Obama said. It's a theme the Obama campaign is hoping will help him as he competes Super Tuesday with Sen. Hillary Clinton in 22 states..
Obama also received the endorsement today of Gov. Sebelius, making her his 17th red state backer.
"This campaign for the presidency is transforming a generation," Sebelius said. "It's not just a political campaign, it's good for our country."
Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) also traveled with Obama today and will introduce him when he speaks in Kansas City, Missouri.
(NBC/NJ's ASWINI ANBURAJAN)
Posted 01.29.08 03:07 PM | Comments (0)
Waters: HRC Is A Problem Solver
Reading from a prepared statement, California Rep. Maxine Waters endorsed Hillary Clinton today saying she "is on a first-name basis with community leaders in our urban centers."
"Hillary Clinton is a no-nonsense, articulate and experienced public policy maker who has demonstrated the ability to solve real problems," she said.
Waters, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus who represents Los Angeles, said that the Democratic Party this year is "blessed with a lot of confident, articulate and compassionate candidates," but that she's backing Clinton because she knows how to get things done.
Clinton said Waters would join her on the stump in the days leading up to California's critical Feb. 5 primary. HRC said the endorsement is one of the most meaningful she's received.
Asked by a reporter to offer her feelings about Ted Kennedy's support for rival Barack Obama, Clinton said: "We all have people who feel very committed to our candidacies, and that's all to the good."
"At the end of the day this comes down to a choice between individuals, each of us with our experience, our qualifications, our plans for the future," Clinton said.
(JENNIFER SKALKA)
Posted 01.29.08 01:36 PM | Comments (4)
Quote Of The Day
From today's Hotline:
"You just think victory. You don't contemplate defeat. If you contemplate defeat, you're going to have defeat."
-- Rudy Giuliani, "GMA," ABC, 1/29
Posted 01.29.08 12:59 PM | Comments (0)
Kerry: Illegitimate Florida
In his role as Barack Obama surrogate, Sen. John Kerry held a conference call with reporters a few minutes ago, diminishing any outcome in tonight's Florida Democratic primary. He said the Clinton campaign has been pushing reporters to cover it "in some kind of serious fashion," but cautioned that that would be a mistake.
"I know what this race is about what it is ultimately about is delegates," he said. "The bottom line is that Florida does not offer any delegates. It is not a legit race. It should not become a fabricated race."
Kerry said that AFSCME is spending money in Florida on Clinton's behalf, calling the group's efforts a "subcampaign." And he reminded voters that Clinton, while campaigning in Iowa and NH, made clear that Michigan and Florida, because of their decisions to move their primary dates up, had been properly stripped of their delegates. HRC did not, however, take her name off the Michigan ballot.
Kerry also said that Clinton has had a broad lead in the Sunshine State throughout the campaign but that any so-called win there would not be reflective of the larger contest.
"I think people need to put this in its proper perspective," Kerry said.
Clinton's team has begun to push the notion in recent days that Florida's delegates should be seated at the convention (Michigan's, too, for that matter). While she hasn't overtly campaigned there, which would violate the early state pledge, she has raised money in Florida, and she will "thank supporters" in Davie tonight at 8 p.m.
(JENNIFER SKALKA)
Posted 01.29.08 12:51 PM | Comments (73)
Snubfree
NBC/NJ's Aswini Anburajan reports Barack Obama's mystification at today's news that he snubbed Hillary Clinton at last night's SOTU.
Here's Obama's react today ...
"I was turning away because (Sen.) Claire (McCaskill) asked me a question. As Sen. Kennedy was reaching for her. And Sen. Clinton and I have had very cordial relations on the floor and off the floor. I waved at her as we were coming into the Senate chamber before we walked over. I think there's a lot more tea leaf reading going on here than I think people are are suggesting. ... "
More: "It was not a snub. It was one of those accidents. Frankly, everyone's spoiling for a fight which is the politics of old, you know this thing isn't the politics of old. It's about new. It's unfortunate that everyone is so anxious for there to be problem on a personal level and I gotta tell yeah, it's just not there. And I hope that, that you guys help correct the impression that's out there. That somehow there was some kind of attempt on the part of Barack in any way be disrespectful or impolite."
Posted 01.29.08 12:37 PM | Comments (0)
Waters For HRC
Cali Rep. Maxine Waters, an influential member of the Congressional Black Caucus, will endorse HRC in a 1 p.m. ET conference call. AP first reported. Here's the story ...
Posted 01.29.08 12:35 PM | Comments (0)
HPN: Updates From Our State Affiliates
Updates from our Hotline Political Network Affiliates