IOWA
PRESIDENTIAL WATCH
Iowa...
Where Presidents Begin
click
on each candidate to see today's news stories
(caricatures by
Linda Eddy)
weekend report, Feb. 23-24, 2008
GENERAL NEWS HEADLINES with excerpts
Sunday morning talk shows:
NBC Meet the Press: Ralph
Nader
ABC This Week: Joe Biden
CNN Late Edition: McCain
attorney Robert Bennett discusses the NY Times story
Des Moines Register: Obama, not Clinton, favored
over McCain
Barack Obama would carry Iowa if he were the Democratic nominee
running against McCain, if voters feel in November the way they do
now.
But McCain would carry Iowa in an election matchup with Democrat
Hillary Clinton if the election were held now, according to the new
poll.
Superdelegates flocking to Obama
In just the past two weeks, more than two dozen of them have climbed
aboard his presidential campaign, according to a survey by The
Associated Press. At the same time, Hillary Rodham Clinton's are
beginning to jump ship, abandoning her for Obama or deciding they now
are undecided.
The result: He's narrowing her once-commanding lead among these "superdelegates,"
the Democratic office holders and party officials who automatically
attend the national convention and can vote for whomever they choose.
End a superproblem with a
superconvention
...holding the superconvention in early July — giving all parties four
weeks to catch their breath after the final primaries — we save two
incredibly valuable months to get on with the division healing and
focus on the general elections. We also, as a by-product, would spare
ourselves the fallout from a prolonged, secretive superdelegate
lobbying campaign (which has already commenced).
Condoleezza Rice has no plan to run for
VP
"I have always said that the one thing that I have not seen myself
doing is running for elected office," Rice said at a news conference.
"I didn't even run for high school president. It's sort of not in my
genes."
THE CANDIDATES:
Mike Huckabee... today's headlines with excerpts
Huckabee spoofs campaign on
Saturday Night Live show
In the "Weekend Update" section,
the former Arkansas governor asked why he was said not
to have a chance to win the Republican nomination. When
the interviewer explained his delegate shortfall,
Huckabee said it was lucky he is a "miracle guy." Then
he said that when the American people want him to give
up, he will go.
As a kicker, Huckabee refused to
pick up signs from the "Weekend Update" team that they
were finished with him, remaining firmly seated with
them until he was told directly that the interview was
over.
Is Huck still running of '08 bid,
or '12?
As they see it, the relative success of his longshot bid
— as well as his finish as the unquestioned
second-to-last man standing — will grant the former
Arkansas governor a visible platform and put him at the
top of the candidate list should he choose to run again
in 2012 or 2016.
Huckabee equates abortion with
slavery
"What that means is that every one of the 50 states can come up with
its own definition of life," said Huckabee, equating abortion with
slavery. "That's the logic of the Civil War. That's the idea that
morality is geographical. It's the notion that something can be right
in one state and wrong in another. Well, when it came to slavery, we
finally got it right that you can't own another human being."
Another Huckabee paid speech;
meets privately with Dobson
Huckabee addressed the Leadership Program of the Rockies Friday night,
you might not know he was running for president. He didn't mention it.
Those introducing him as the keynote speaker didn't mention it. And
even his biography in the program didn't note that he's seeking the
Republican nomination for president.
Huckabee has tried hard to separate his paid speeches -- this was one
-- from campaign activity. He flies commercial to the speeches and
brings hardly any staff (two aides did join him earlier in the day for
a media availability at Focus on the Family).
... Huckabee also went to the Focus on the Family campus Friday for
what he described as an “off-the-record and confidential” meeting with
Christian leader James Dobson. Huckabee, speaking to reporters
afterward, would not detail the talk, other than to say it was
“excellent” and more personal than political.
“We have a relationship that dates back on a personal level for 14
years,” he said.
John McCain... today's headlines
with excerpts
McCain co-chair Renzi indicted
Renzi is an Arizona co-chair of Sen. John McCain's presidential
campaign.
Renzi to step down from McCain
camp
On his weekly blogger conference call,
John McCain
said that Rep. Rick
Renzi (R) would probably step down as co-chair
of his Arizona campaign. McCain was unaware of the
Arizona congressman's indictment until asked about it
this morning...
McCain 2002 deposition reveals
Paxton meeting did occur
But it turns out, McCain did sit down with the two of them, and he
himself admitted to the meeting in a 2002 deposition.
McCain disputed on 1999 Paxson/FCC
meeting
Broadcaster Lowell "Bud" Paxson yesterday contradicted
statements from Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign
that the senator did not meet with Paxson or his
lobbyist before sending two controversial letters to the
Federal Communications Commission on Paxson's behalf.
...
Paxson also recalled that his lobbyist, Vicki Iseman, likely attended
the meeting in McCain's office and that Iseman helped arrange the
meeting. "Was Vicki there? Probably," Paxson said ...
Age may figure in McCain's choice
of a running mate
... Scholars of the vice presidency said that the age of Mr. McCain’s
running mate would probably be just one factor in the selection
process. The others would be ideology — some selections could be seen
as rallying the conservative base, while others would be seen as
reaching out to independent voters — and geography, either to appeal
to a region or to try to nail down a state. But several said in
interviews that competence would most likely trump the others.
Ron Paul... today's headlines with excerpts
Ron Paul says he won't try to run as independent
"I have no plans to do that," Paul told a small group of reporters
before a rally. "I would suspect that if we don't win, if the trends
continue we're not likely to win, that I will run for Congress."
Hillary Clinton... today's
headlines with excerpts
Hillary offers regrets for Bill's
remarks
In a question-and-answer session after her speech at the State of the
Black Union event, Mrs. Clinton was asked by Tavis Smiley, the host of
the event, how she felt about “what some termed racial comments” by
Mr. Clinton.
“I think there are enough of you here today who know him personally
and know his heart,” she said, then stopped for a long pause. “If
anyone was offended about anything that was said, whether it was meant
or not, whether it was misinterpreted or not, then obviously I regret
that.”
Soldiering on, but somber as
horizon darkens
... Engaging in hindsight, several advisers have now
concluded that they were not smart to use former
President Bill Clinton as much as they did, that “his
presence, aura and legacy caused national fatigue with
the Clintons,” in the words of one senior adviser who
spoke on condition of anonymity to assess the campaign
candidly...
... Morale is low. After 13 months of dawn-to-dark
seven-day weeks, the staff is exhausted. Some have taken
to going home early — 9 p.m. — turning off their
BlackBerrys, and polishing off bottles of wine, several
senior staff members said.
Hillary: "Shame on you, Barack
Obama"
“Shame on you, Barack Obama,” Clinton said angrily when
talking to reporters after a rally in a technical
college gym here. “It is time you ran a campaign
consistent with your messages in public. That’s what I
expect from you,” she said, calling on Obama to
repudiate and stop the mailings, which she waved
demonstratively.
“Meet me in Ohio. Let’s have a debate about your
tactics,” she said, calling the mailings “tactics that
are right out of Karl Rove’s playbook.”
see also:
Clinton slams Obama tactics
Clinton plans mix of sharp and
soft
Aides say that in the final week, she’ll emphasize both
a ready-to-be-president message and her softer side,
which they call their “showing Hillary” approach....
Hillary won't commit to
campaigning past March 4
On NBC’s “Today,” Clinton declined to say if she’ll
continue past March 4, saying “I don’t make
predictions.”
Clinton devastated after police
death
A police motorcycle officer died after a crash escorting
Clinton's
motorcade in Dallas. In a statement afterwards, Clinton
called the accident is "devastating" news -- she feels
"heart-sick" and expressed her condolences to the family
and to the Dallas police department. Clinton placed a
call to the chief, and she added that this reminds us of
what people in law enforcement do everyday. "We respect
their service."
Clinton looked profoundly upset by what had happened --
a routine police operation she's probably been part of
countless times as first lady, senator and now
presidential candidate.
Barack Obama... today's headlines with excerpts
Obama defends his mailings
Obama defends 'liberal' label
"Oh, he's liberal,” he said. “He's liberal. Let me tell
you something. There's nothing liberal about wanting to
reduce money in politics that is common sense. There's
nothing liberal about wanting to make sure [our
soldiers] are treated properly when they come home.”
Continuing on his riff: "There's nothing liberal about
wanting to make sure that everybody has healthcare, but
we are spending more on healthcare in this country than
any other advanced country. We got more uninsured.
There's nothing liberal about saying that doesn't make
sense, and we should so something smarter with our
health care system. Don't let them run that okie doke on
you!"
Michelle Obama thesis was on
racial divide
... The thesis, titled "Princeton-Educated Blacks and
the Black Community" and written under her maiden name,
Michelle LaVaughn Robinson, in 1985, has been the
subject of much conjecture on the blogosphere and
elsewhere in recent weeks, as it has been "temporarily
withdrawn" from Princeton's library until after this
year's presidential election in November.
Many blacks worry for Obama's
safety
They watch with wonder as Barack Obama moves ever closer to becoming
America's first black president. And they ask themselves, their
family, their friends: Is he at risk? Will he be safe?
There is, of course, no sure answer. But interviews with blacks across
the country, prominent and otherwise, suggest that lingering worries
are outweighed by enthusiasm and determination.
"You can't have lived through the civil rights movement and know
something about the history of African-Americans in this country and
not be a little concerned," said Edna Medford, a history professor at
Washington's Howard University.
Obama out-spent Hillary 5 to 1 on
TV in Wisconsin
One of the keys to Obama's
17-point Wisconsin win? Per a University of Wisconsin Advertising
Project study, he outspent Clinton
nearly 5-to-1 on TV ads in the state. Overall, the four Dem and GOP
candidates aired more than 8,000 spots in the state, spending a
combined $2.1 million.
Of that amount, Obama spent more than $1.5 million; Clinton spent
$300,000. That, folks, is quite a gap.
Obama takes heat for skipping
State of the Black union
Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-New York, was the only major presidential
candidate to accept an invitation to attend.
Her rival, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, declined, as did Republican
presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain of Arizona.
... Obama's absence at the forum has prompted both controversy and a
backlash against Tavis Smiley, the organizer of the event who has
openly criticized Obama's decision.
... Smiley's criticism has also prompted many people to come to
Obama's defense. The talk show host told The Washington Post he has
been inundated with angry e-mails and even death threats.
"I have family in Indianapolis. They are harassing my momma, harassing
my brother. It's getting to be crazy," Smiley told the newspaper.
Bill O'Reilly tap dances around
alleged Obama scandal?
Feb. 22 Show:
O'REILLY:
There has been a longstanding rumor, and you know it,
about a Democratic, powerful Democratic person in this
country, longstanding, been around, people have looked
at it, never reported by anyone, never mentioned by
anyone. Easily done in the same way The New York Times
did it. I could do it. I could do it. I could do it
tomorrow, anonymous sources told me this individual in
America, again, a prominent Democrat...
tracking the Larry Sinclair/Obama limo-cocaine-sex
story -- as the mainstream media steadfastly refuses
to report it:
Whether
Iowa turns red or blue in the fall presidential election may have a
lot to do with which Democrat is on the ballot against Republican John
McCain, according to a new Iowa Poll by The Des Moines Register.
The
Democratic superdelegates are starting to follow the voters - straight
to Barack Obama. 
There
has been speculation that Republican presidential front-runner Sen.
John McCain of Arizona might tap Rice as his running mate.
Mike
Huckabee, the runner-up for the Republican U.S.
presidential nomination, appeared on NBC's "Saturday
Night Live," spoofing his diehard campaign.
Huckabee’s
supporters are also now embracing what they see as his
enhanced future prospects. 
Huckabee,
a former Baptist minister, said liberty requires "moral clarity" and
that equality demands a human-life amendment to the Constitution. He
said that even if the Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade
decision that legalized abortion in 1973, it wouldn't go far enough.
A
federal grand jury has indicted U.S. Rep. Richard Renzi
(R-Ariz.) on 35 criminal counts including conspiracy,
wire fraud, money laundering and official extortion, the
Reuters news wire service reported this morning.
In
an effort to refute the Times story implying the senator
had an inappropriate relationship with lobbyist Vicki
Iseman, McCain's campaign stated unequivocally on
Thursday that he had never held a meeting with Iseman
and her client, broadcaster Lowell Paxson, about letters
he sent to the Federal Communications Commission on
Paxson's behalf in 1999. 
The
quest to win the presidency at an age when he would be
too old to be a commercial airline pilot or even a judge
in some states has already led Mr. McCain to adopt a
more grueling campaign schedule, and a more vigorous
style, than several of his younger rivals. Now that Mr.
McCain is the presumptive Republican nominee, political
analysts say, his age will most likely factor into his
selection of a running mate.
Acknowledging
his imminent failure, maverick Republican presidential
candidate Ron Paul said Saturday that he won't get back
into the race for the White House as an independent
candidate once a GOP nominee is solidified.
Appearing
before a predominantly black audience here Saturday
afternoon, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton defended her
husband’s legacy on race relations and offered an
apology of sorts for comments he made in South Carolina
several weeks ago that many people viewed as racially
insensitive. 
Mrs.
Clinton has not given up, in her head or her heart, her
quest to return to the White House, advisers say. But as
resolute as she is, she no longer exudes the supreme
confidence that was her trademark before the first
defeat, in Iowa in January.
Hillary
Rodham Clinton ripped Barack Obama Saturday for mailings
his campaign is sending to Ohio voters that Clinton said
distorted her record on NAFTA and universal health care. 
Obama
vigorously defended two negative mailers dropped in Ohio that
Hillary Clinton says came
“straight out of Karl Rove’s playbook.” The mailing, one on NAFTA and
the other on health care, raised the ire of the New York senator, who
forcefully pushed back against them at a press conference earlier
today. Saying that the mailers had been out for weeks, Obama suggested
that Clinton’s fiery reply this morning may be a political stunt
rather than a genuine reaction.
Obama
last night railed against the charge that being
"liberal" was a bad thing.
Michelle
Obama's senior year thesis at Princeton University,
obtained from the campaign by Politico, shows a document
written by a young woman grappling with a society in
which a black Princeton alumnus might only be allowed to
remain "on the periphery." Read the full thesis here:
Part 1,
Part 2,
Part 3,
Part 4.
For
many black Americans, it's a conversation they find hard
to avoid, revisiting old fears in the light of bright
new hopes. 
The
annual State of the Black Union forum boasted a number of famous
attendees in New Orleans on Saturday, but this year's event received
much more attention for who wasn't there. 
Obamabomb?
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