Archive - December 27, 2007 - The Page by Mark Halperin

The Page

Politics up to the Minute

Postcard from Iowa

HALPERIN'S TAKE: "Don't hold your breath pre-caucus for. . . ." Plus: TIME’s Michael Scherer looks at how Iowa’s second-tier candidates are battling for the bronze just days before the caucuses. Permalink

Huckabee Wows 1,400 Iowans in West Des Moines

In same Sheraton ballroom where Romney addressed a same-sized crowd last week, Huckabee is relaxed and in complete control -- equal parts funny and passionate. Biggest Iowa audience Arkansan has addressed since the Ames straw poll in August. Permalink

New LA Times/Bloomberg IA, NH Polls Reiterate Close Race

Democrats: Iowa likely caucus goers: Clinton 31, Edwards 25, Obama 22 Error margin: 4 points All Iowa Dems: Clinton 29, Obama 26, Edwards 25 New Hampshire likely voters: Obama 32, Clinton 30, Edwards 18 Error margin: 4 points Republicans: Iowa likely voters: Huckabee 37, Romney 23, McCain 11, Thompson 11 Error margin: 6 points New Hampshire likely voters: Romney 34, McCain 21, Giuliani 15, Huckabee 9 Error margin: 5 points Poll was conducted Dec. 20 to 23 and Dec. 26. Click here to read more. Permalink

The Man From Waziristan

"As far as I know, Mayor Giuliani has never been to Iraq." Permalink

Iowa Swamped by Political Ads

New York Times on the campaigns spending three times as much money flooding the airwaves and the Internet as candidates did in 2004. Permalink

Big Pitcher's Mitt

Romney dwarfs rivals in Iowa TV ad spending in the homestretch. Looming for all because of New Year’s holiday: final ad content decisions for pre-bought and new ad time. Permalink

Obama: "A Defining Moment in Our History"

Tour de force new stump speech delivered -- using TelePrompter -- to Des Moines crowd and media bigfeet galore. "The real gamble in this election is playing the same Washington game with the same Washington players and expecting a different result. And that’s a risk we can’t take. Not this year. Not when the stakes are this high." Read full text of best-written speech of the campaign here. Watch video clip above. Clinton response here. Permalink

Clinton to Air Television Closing Argument on Eve of Caucuses

Two-minute taped appearance will air on every 6 pm newscast throughout Iowa Jan. 2. Read more here. Permalink

Clinton Goes Up on the Air in South Carolina

Touts her message on health care, Social Security beyond Iowa and NH. Click above to watch. Read script, analysis here. Permalink

Populist Pitches from Edwards in IA Ads

Vows to fight corporations "stealing your children's future" in spot launching Thursday night. Click above to watch. Read script here. In second spot he again scores "corporate greed," says the country faces a fundamental choice. More sedate ad also launches Thursday. Click here to watch, and read script here. Permalink

Evening News Roundup

All networks lead with Bhutto coverage. CBS: Hopefuls gave reaction to the assassination. Jeff Greenfield said the killing may drive voters toward "safe," familiar candidates, possibly toward Biden in particular. Giuliani told Byron Pitts his strategy of downplaying the first contests "fit" his campaign and resources, though a major NH supporter is unhappy. Nancy Cordes joined some of the two dozen children of candidates helping on the trail, providing fashion advice, hosting tattoo contests, etc. Read more here. NBC: Brief round-up of candidate reactions to Bhutto assassination. ABC: No reports. Permalink

Read the SEIU-Edwards Email and Decide for Yourself

Check out the email here from the NY Times story suggesting the possibility of premeditated collusion to set up pro-Edwards support vehicle, now honchoed by his former campaign manager Nick Baldick. Questions for the SEIU people listed on the distribution list to answer. Edwards' campaign response: "The email put forth by a rival campaign is an internal SEIU email about internal SEIU discussions and has nothing to do with the Edwards campaign." Read full statement here. Permalink

Giuliani Uses 9/11 Imagery in New Ad

"When you try and come here and kill our people, we're one and we're going to stand up to you and we're going to prevail." Sunshine State, national strategy reflected in latest advertising buy in Florida, and on Fox News Channel nationally beginning Friday. Minute-long ad will also run in New Hampshire. Watch it above. Read script here. Permalink

Bhutto Killing Reverberates in the Political World

Clinton backer Bayh says attack shows value of White House experience. But Obama strategist Axelrod brings up Clinton's Iraq vote as evidence of "wrong judgment." Watch video here. The Washington Post analyzes the key differences between Clinton and Obama's reactions. The Boston Globe believes that Giuliani and Clinton could benefit if the terror debate alters the dynamic of the primaries. Huckabee criticized for small gaffe about Pakistan. Meanwhile: Edwards says he spoke to Musharraf on the phone, asked him not to abandon democracy. Listen to audio here. Read more on the political fallout of Thursday's assassination here. Permalink

New Thompson Ad -- When He Can Afford it

Spot highlights conservative positions on taxes, immigration, military. Click above to watch. But: Politico reports the cash-poor Thompson campaign has stopped TV advertising in IA for lack of funds. And: Politico also says McCain, Giuliani apparently won't air ads in Iowa. Permalink