Archive - December 7, 2007 - The Page by Mark Halperin

The Page

Politics up to the Minute

What If Huckabee Wins Iowa and McCain Wins New Hampshire? (Or: "!")

The 5-way GOP contest is more wide open than any nomination fight in recent memory -- even including David Broder's memory. HALPERIN'S TAKE: "All five leading Republicans believe they can win this — and/but most of their strategists would have agreed a week ago that Romney and Giuliani were the most likely nominees. But we head into the weekend with that assumption obliterated in many minds." Permalink

FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS

Thompson in Iowa slams Huckabee on Iran (again) and Cuba. Says he and the family will spend most of the end of December in the Hawkeye State. TIME's Jay Newton-Small has more. Permalink

Newsweek Iowa Poll Reiterates Huckabee Surge

Leads About 2-1 Over Romney, Obama Bests Clinton Among Likely Voters GOP: Huckabee 39, Romney 17, Thompson 10, Giuliani 9, McCain 6. Error margin: 7 points. Dems: Obama 35, Clinton 29, Edwards 18. Error margin: 6 points. Read more on the poll here. Permalink

IOWA HEARTS OPRAH; OPRAH HEARTS OBAMA

"WE NEED GOOD JUDGMENT. WE NEED BARACK OBAMA." Talk show hostess in Des Moines speaks with passion about her first endorsee. Obama camp says an estimated 18,500 attended event. Winfrey draws them in -- Obama has to make them voters. More fit-for-a-rock-star events planned for Sunday in SC, NH Plus: Bill Clinton stumps for his wife Saturday in the Palmetto State. Permalink

Obama Nevada TV Ad to Start Airing Next Week

Ad starting Tuesday uses footage from his announcement into the race to emphasize his outsider status among the Washington establishment. "They think they own this government. But we're here today to take it back." Watch it above. Read script here. Permalink

Forever Young. . . .

"Outspoken" Democratic icon Andrew Young says Obama too green to be president, warns of his "crucifixion." And offers this: "Bill is every bit as black as Barack. He's probably gone with more black women than Barack." Click here to watch video. Permalink

Club for Growth TV Ad Against Huckabee

Starting Monday, $175, 000 buy hitting former governor's tax record will run on broadcast TV, statewide cable in IA, SC and on Fox nationwide. Watch it above. Read script here. Permalink

Huckabee Going on New Hampshire TV

UNH prof reports 53 spots bought on WMUR to begin Monday. Permalink

"Not Politically Correct"

Follows faith speech fast with new Iowa TV ad. Watch it above. Read script here. Thompson campaign quick to attack the ad, citing skeptical press reports. Permalink

Early State Voters Bombarded With "Robo-Calls"

Pew Research poll finds 81% of Iowans, 68% of New Hampshire voters say they've received pre-recorded calls about the campaign. More on poll here (pdf). Permalink

Romney Defends Himself on Lawn Workers

Denies he should have known illegal immigrants worked at his home. "So for instance let's say I go to a restaurant -- should I make sure that all the waiters there are legal?" Listen to audio of Friday press conference, or watch video here. Permalink

So a Senator Flies Into Des Moines, And...

Candidates share some favorite jokes. Tribune's Frank James puts on his critic's hat-- and isn't impressed. Permalink

NH Obama-Oprah Event Location Concerns Union

Union representing stage hands told Obama camp after they booked Sunday's event that they've been trying to organize at arena for six years. Appears event will go on without picketing. Plus: Some Edwards supporters not welcoming Oprah to S.C. Permalink

Dodd on CNN: "We're Not Getting the Full Story"

Suggests to Wolf Blitzer that the White House is hiding what it knows on the CIA's destruction of interrogation tapes. Watch clip above. Plus: Politico reports Congress angry about being kept out of the loop Permalink

Evening News Roundup

ABC-- Gibson mentions Bill Clinton's Sat campaign trip to SC, calls it a possible hedge against Oprah's weekend blowouts for Obama. Jake Tapper has a tough fact-check piece, calling out Romney, Giuliani and Huckabee for false allegations against rivals. CBS-- Campaign Notebook includes Oprah and B. Clinton's weekend campaign plans and Huckabee's strength in new AP and Newsweek polls. Jeff Greenfield looks at Huckabee's startling rise, concluding: "It's an astonishing story, but it's page one." NBC-- Williams mentions Newsweek poll. Bob Faw has a package on Oprah-Obama campaign events, focusing on the race factor among SC voters (one white voter says “a black man or a woman ain’t going to win”). Lisa Myers has a package on Giuliani’s finances, but breaks no news. Permalink