IOWA
PRESIDENTIAL WATCH
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on each candidate to see today's news stories
(caricatures by
Linda Eddy)
Weekend Report, March
22-23, 2008
GENERAL NEWS HEADLINES with excerpts
Richardson's tense talk with Clinton precedes
Obama endorsement... Carville: 'Judas'
“Let me tell you: we’ve had better conversations,” Mr.
Richardson said.
... “I’m not going to advise any other candidate when
to get in and out of the race,” Mr. Richardson said after appearing in
Portland with Mr. Obama. “Senator Clinton has a right to stay in the
race, but eventually we don’t want to go into the Democratic
convention bloodied. This was
... Mr. Clinton helped elevate Mr. Richardson to the
national stage by naming him his energy secretary and ambassador to
the United Nations. And Mr. Clinton left no doubt that he viewed Mr.
Richardson’s support as important to his wife’s campaign: He even flew
to New Mexico to watch the Super Bowl with Mr. Richardson as part of
the Clintons’ high-profile courtship of him.
“Mr. Richardson’s endorsement came right around the
anniversary of the day when Judas sold out for 30 pieces of silver, so
I think the timing is appropriate, if ironic,” Mr. Carville said,
referring to Holy Week.
John Edwards unlikely to endorse
Poll: McCain gains from Obama/Clinton battle
1 in 5 Dems to defect to McCain if their candidate loses
As Democratic Senators Barack Obama of Illinois and
Hillary Clinton of New York slug it out for the nomination, many of
their supporters -- at least in Pennsylvania, site of the next major
primary -- aren't committed to the party's ticket in November,
according to a Franklin & Marshall College Poll.
Among Obama supporters, 20 percent said they would vote
for Sen. John McCain of Arizona, the Republican nominee, if Clinton
beats their candidate for the nomination. Among Clinton supporters, 19
percent said they would support McCain in November if Obama is the
Democratic nominee.
(See poll)
THE CANDIDATES:
John McCain... today's headlines
with excerpts
McCain aide circulates Obama/Wright video, is
suspended
Soren Dayton, who works in McCain's political department, sent out
the YouTube link of "Is Obama Wright?" on twitter at 12:31 today with
the tag, "Good video on Obama and Wright." It has since been taken
down.
Twitter is an online device that allows users to send out short
messages and links en masse through computers or PDAs.
McCain moves towards public financing
McCain’s campaign stressed Thursday he hasn’t decided whether to
participate in the public financing program. But this month,
he filed papers with the Federal Election Commission creating a
separate campaign account that would enable him to make the public
money go further.
Hillary Clinton... today's
headlines with excerpts
Politico: The Clinton myth
Her own campaign acknowledges there is no way that she will finish
ahead in pledged delegates. That means the only way she wins is if
Democratic superdelegates are ready to risk a backlash of historic
proportions from the party’s most reliable constituency.
Unless Clinton is able to at least win the primary popular vote —
which also would take nothing less than an electoral miracle — and use
that achievement to pressure superdelegates, she has only one scenario
for victory. An African-American opponent and his backers would be
told that, even though he won the contest with voters, the prize is
going to someone else.
People who think that scenario is even remotely likely are living on
another planet.
Obama aide: Bill Clinton like McCarthy
Retired Air Force Gen. Merrill "Tony" McPeak, a former chief of staff
of the Air Force and currently a co-chair of Obama's presidential
campaign, said that sounded like McCarthy.
"I grew up, I was going to college when Joe McCarthy was accusing good
Americans of being traitors, so I've had enough of it," McPeak said.
Barack Obama... today's headlines with excerpts
The Richardson endorsement
"Your candidacy is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our country,
and you are a once-in-a-lifetime leader," said Richardson, the
nation's only Hispanic governor, before a cheering crowd of about
12,000 in Portland's Memorial Coliseum. "You will make every American
proud to be an American."
Obama skips Easter at Wright's
church - beach bound?
Obama's allies are hoping the focus will stay off of Wright this
Easter Sunday when the Democratic frontrunner skips services at
Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago and heads on vacation.
Per ABC News' Sunlen Miller, sources familiar with Obama's plans say
the Illinois Democrat is expected to go on a tropical vacation with
the most likely bet appearing to be St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin
Islands.
Obama, whose campaign will not confirm his plans, is expected to leave
Chicago on Sunday morning and will return either on Tuesday night or
Wednesday morning.
Obama's financial edge
Sen. Obama reported having $32 million on hand at the
end of February that could be spent on the nominating contest, with
minimal debt, according to his latest monthly financial report, filed
with the Federal Election Commission.
New York Sen. Clinton reported having $11 million on
hand at the end of February. Her debts to outside vendors were $3.7
million.
Ralph Nader... today's headlines with excerpts
“I
talked to Senator Clinton last night,” Gov. Bill Richardson of New
Mexico said on Friday, describing the tense telephone call in which he
informed Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton that, despite two months of
personal entreaties by her and her husband, he would be endorsing
Senator Barack Obama for president. 
another
reason for my getting in and endorsing, the need to perhaps send a
message that we need unity.”
...
“An act of betrayal,” said James Carville, an adviser to Mrs. Clinton
and a friend of Mr. Clinton.
John
Edwards is unlikely to endorse either Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton
before the nomination is decided, according to interviews with several
members of the former candidate's inner circle.
At least three individuals who have recently spoken to Edwards expect
that he will choose to stay out of the fight, though they warn that no
one other than his wife, Elizabeth, can be certain of his thinking.
“My gut instinct, at this point: He’s probably going to remain neutral
and sort of try to play on that Al Gore status as party elder,” said a
former Edwards operative who is in regular contact with the former
North Carolina senator and who asked that his name be withheld. 
The
lengthy Democratic primary contest bodes well for Republican chances
of holding the White House, a new poll suggests.
An
aide to John McCain was suspended from the campaign today for blasting
out an inflammatory
video
that raises questions about Barack Obama's patriotism.
One
big fact has largely been lost in the recent coverage of the
Democratic presidential race: Hillary Rodham Clinton has virtually no
chance of winning. 
"I
think it would be a great thing if we had an election year where you
had two people who loved this country and were devoted to the interest
of this country," said Bill Clinton, who was speaking to a group of
veterans Friday in Charlotte, N.C. "And people could actually ask
themselves who is right on these issues, instead of all this other
stuff that always seems to intrude itself on our politics." 
New
Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson offered a strong endorsement of Barack
Obama for president Friday, appealing for peace in the Democratic
Party and hailing the Illinois senator as a unifying force for the
country.
Barack
Obama was able to take the focus off of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright on
Friday by picking up the endorsement of (a bearded) Bill Richardson.
Barack
Obama had three times as much money in the bank at the end of February
as Hillary Clinton, putting the Illinois senator on a stronger
financial footing heading into the last round of primaries and
caucuses for the Democratic presidential nomination.
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