The Page
Politics up to the Minute
Headlines from January 24th, 2008
Who Wants to Be the Nominee?
Some candidates choose not to go for it in 90 minutes of tepid Boca Raton debating. Mark Halperin's grades: Romney A- McCain B+ Giuliani B- Huckabee B- Paul C Read the full debate report cards here. Permalink
Mama McCain: Son Has No Support From Base
Candidate's mother acting very un-C-SPAN on C-SPAN: Q: How much support do you think he has among the base of the Republican Party? Roberta McCain: "I don't think he has any. I don't know what the base of the Repub--maybe I don't know enough about it, but I've not seen any help whatsoever." Read her full eye-popping quotes here. Update: In debate, McCain was asked about his mother's quotes and defended his conservative cred. Permalink
Obama's Top Ten
His Letterman list Thursday night included Number 8: Appoint Mitt Romney secretary of lookin' good. Read the full list here. Permalink
New York Times Endorses Clinton and McCain
Paper of Record taps establishment choices. Editorial on Clinton: "Mrs. Clinton is more qualified, right now, to be president." Editorial on McCain: "McCain of Arizona is the only Republican who promises to end the George Bush style of governing..." Cheeky, base-focused Giuliani and Romney campaigns e-mail Gray Lady's endorsement of McCain to reporters. TIME's Ana Marie Cox reports that McCain fights back against Romney Friday: "Has he gotten any endorsements? He doesn't seem to have a big problem rejecting endorsements he doesn't want." Permalink
McCain's 7-Million Dollar January
Primary victories beget more moolah. Permalink
South Carolina Numbers
MSNBC/McClatchy Poll: Obama 38, Clinton 30, Edwards 19. Obama has 10% of the white vote. Clemson University Palmetto Poll: Obama 27, Clinton 20, Edwards 17, Undecided 36. Dates taken: Jan. 15-23. Error margin: 4.6 points. Permalink
Elephant-on-Donkey Action
McCain spends the day slamming Clinton on Iraq. McCain's McKinnon on his promise not to work for McCain in the general election if Obama is the Democratic nominee: "I intend to be a man of my word." Permalink
Democrat-on-Democrat Action
--Obama revisits Clinton's war vote on the South Carolina stump. --First Clinton, then Obama pull their negative ads off South Carolina radio. --Michelle Obama swings against the Clintons in e-mail fundraising pitch: "What we didn't expect, at least not from our fellow Democrats, are the win-at-all-costs tactics we've seen recently. We didn't expect misleading accusations that willfully distort Barack's record." Also suggests they're using "disingenuous attacks and smear tactics." --Bill Clinton defends his wife's Wal-Mart service, and/but the Obama campaign keeps up the heat. For more Democrat-on-Democrat action from Thursday, click here. Permalink
Kucinich Out
The Ohio Democrat is calling it quits. Faces a tough bid to hold onto his seat in Congress. Will not make an endorsement. Permalink
Clinton Inc. Playing by the Old Rules
HALPERIN'S TAKE: "The ways the Clinton political and communications operation has outfoxed Obama since New Hamsphire." Permalink
No Lobbyists Here
Boca Raton -- Romney campaign manager Beth Myers and the AP's Glen Johnson share a pleasant moment in the media filing center -- during which the words "Governor, that's not true" were never uttered. Permalink
McCain Knows From Potholes and Dragons
Candidate -- with eye on the base and the finish line -- avoids lashing out at frequent critic Rush Limbaugh with media. Permalink
Evening News Roundup
All networks led with the tentative agreement on an economic stimulus package. ABC: Terry Moran spent the day with Bill Clinton, covered the ongoing Obama-H/B Clinton rift, including negative radio ads and Robert Reich's claim B Clinton is hurting his wife and himself. Brief mention of Kucinich dropping out. Lighthearted story wondered if candidates should consider spending the $2.7 million needed for a Superbowl ad. CBS: Mention of Mason- Dixon Florida poll followed by report on the travails of the Democratic Party, including the negative radio ads and Reich's comments. Said staff is trying to limit B Clinton's exposure to media. Brief Kucinich mention. Campaign Notebook included LA Times poll, Stallone's support for McCain. NBC: Live from Florida, Williams led broadcast by detailing federal economic stimulus package, what it means for average American. Turned to politics with Kucinich's drop out, new Florida, SC horserace numbers, general election head-to-head matchups. Next, looked at who the real conservative is, concluding none of them may match up to Reagan. Ended by investigating fatigue on the campaign trail (included still of Clinton's MLK day cat nap). Permalink
Giuliani Pledges to Continue Regardless of Florida Outcome
Said following a rally in Boca Raton: "I have no plans to end my campaign." Months-long effort to make Florida "Rudy Country" now appears in peril. But the New Yorker insists, "We're going to win big here." Giuliani campaign press release-as-memo takes on the polls. Also: Web ad gibing McCain, others on insurance to air on Florida TV starting Friday. Permalink
Republican-on-Republican Action
--Romney campaign releases new Web video targeting McCain on taxes. Click here to watch. --McCain fires back with his own Web video, portraying Romney as a windsurfing flip-flopper. Read more. --Huckabee hits Romney on Bain years: "If one looks at his business career it was largely dealing with a capital company that took companies and broke them apart." --McCain campaign topper Rick Davis on Romney to National Journal's Linda Douglass: "He has established himself as the King of Flip-Floppery." More Davis: "Mitt made his money, he learned politics and economics from being a venture capitalist, where you go and buy companies, you strip away the jobs and you re-sell them. And if that's what his experience has been to be able to lead our economy, I'd really raise questions." --Response from Romney campaign: "Unfortunately, (McCain) doesn't have a record on job creation and has instead voted against tax relief policies designed to grow the economy...." McCain's McKinnon on Romney: "If Romney were the general election nominee, he’d be the Republican John Kerry. He’s been so utterly flexible in his positions. There’s just no sign of a backbone or principles or consistency. He would just get eaten alive." Permalink
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