The Page
Politics up to the Minute
Headlines from January 28th, 2008
Mormon Leader's Funeral Scheduled for Saturday
Romney has confirmed he'll attend midday service for church president Gordon B. Hinckley in Salt Lake City. Permalink
California Numbers
CNN/Los Angeles Times/Politico poll: Dems: Clinton 49, Obama 32, Edwards 11. Error margin: 4 points. GOP: McCain 39, Romney 26, Giuliani 13, Huckabee 11, Paul 2. Error margin: 4.5 points. Read more here and here. Permalink
Bush Delivers Last State of the Union
The president touches on everything from economic stimulus bill, taxes, health care and the war on terror before a joint session of Congress. Read excerpts here. But that doesn't mean the '08 race takes a break: During address, Obama sat prominently in House chambers next to new endorser and colleague Ted Kennedy. Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius, in Democratic response, says Bush still has time to get more done, asks him "Will you join us? It's time to get to work." Clinton responds on NBC: "Tonight is a night to really draw the contrasts between the last seven years of a Bush administration and the other side and what the Democrats are offering..." Obama's response: "Imagine if next year, the entire nation had a president they could believe in. A president who rallied all Americans around a common purpose. That’s the kind of president we need in this country." Read full response here. Watch video here. He follows Clinton on NBC after speech, talks mostly about Ted Kennedy's role in his campaign. Permalink
Democratic Spin War Over the Meaning of Florida
Clinton's argument: Voters are turning out in record numbers and their voices should be heard. Communications director Howard Wolfson: “We don’t envision a circumstance in which the Democratic National Convention doesn’t seat delegates from Michigan and Florida…” Listen to Clinton high command voice their opinion here. Obama's argument: The DNC has stripped Florida of its delegates, so there is not a legitimate race in the state. Listen to surrogate John Kerry say it bluntly here. Permalink
Obama Releases Targeted State Ads
New spots part of $3.5 million blitz in key Feb. 5 states. Feature prominent endorsers, such as Arizona Gov. Napolitano and Missouri Sen. McCaskill. Click above to watch, and read more here. Permalink
Connecticut's Governor to Back McCain
The popular Jodi Rell had been torn between McCain and Giuliani. Permalink
Home Sales Fall By Record Amount
Commerce Department report released Monday shows sales of new homes had the biggest decline on record in 2007, surpassing the old mark of 23.1% plunge in 1980. Clinton responds: "In order for us to truly jumpstart our economy, we must address the housing crisis." Full statement here. Permalink
Negative Calls Mark Romney, McCain Battle in Florida
Romney targeted in different sets of negative Florida calls -- harshest from McCain campaign, attacking rival on abortion, gay rights, claiming he has treated "social issues voters as fools." Others, origin unknown, accuse him of wanting to re-open relations with Fidel Castro’s Cuba. Meanwhile: Negative robo-calls target McCain on immigration and campaign finance. Plus: Radio a battlefront as well -- McCain launches negative radio ad against Romney, hitting him on health care, taxes and more. (Romney camp response here). But radio personalities go after McCain as well. And both men continue dropping "the L-word." Read more on Monday's showdown. Permalink
Obama Camp Memo Details Post-South Carolina Strategy, Goes After Clinton
Campaign manager Plouffe writes that the campaign feels "well situated" for Super Tuesday after weekend win, teases more ad buys in those states this week. Also says voter contact efforts "dwarf" those of Clinton, slams campaign for waving "shiny baubles in front of the media to try and divert their focus to certain states – or non-events like Florida." Read it here. Permalink
Evening News Roundup
A strong news cycle for Obama, with all three networks leading with the Kennedy endorsement. Anchors all in Washington for the State of the Union. ABC: Lead package said nod from Kennedys was "no ordinary endorsement," also mentioned Toni Morrison. RFK Jr. stood by his Clinton endorsement in interview. Charlie Gibson sat down with Ted and Caroline Kennedy-- he did not acknowledge his speech took shots at the Clintons. Stephanopoulos said the timing couldn't be worse for the Clintons. Report from Florida looked at tense McCain-Romney feud. CBS: Report covered Kennedy endorsement, asked whether B. Clinton has become a liability (again replaying Jesse Jackson comment). Also noted that Obama trails in most Feb. 5 polls, and Clinton has won many endorsements of her own. Also a GOP report, which called Florida Giuliani's first and last stand. NBC: Looked at Kennedy endorsement, in interview Obama said he had "emotions" during speech. A report on what the endorsement means for Clintons, recapping history of two families, said they lost Kennedy because of B. Clinton’s attacks on Obama. Next, Romney-McCain package on using the GOP-despised word "liberal" against each other and Giuliani staying out of the fray. Russert weighed in on Kennedy “heavyweight” endorsement, called him his “number one surrogate.” Permalink
These Guys Just Don't Like Each Other
(Even) on Election Day McCain and Romney can't resist swiping at each other in front of the TV cameras. Watch the bitterness here. Permalink
Republican-on-Republican Action
--In Tampa, Huckabee uses his first ever golfing outing to make a crack on Romney: "Do you hold this end, or THIS end? It'll be like Mitt Romney eating fried chicken." --McCain taking some last-minute shots at Romney from a Sunshine State polling station. --Romney still jabbing McCain as Florida voters cast their ballots. Permalink
Tony Rezko Ordered to Jail
In court, federal prosecutors accused former Obama supporter of violating his bail terms by a convoluted series of financial transactions with Mideast banks. Bond revoked by judge after prosecutors said he had become a "flight risk" because of his secretive transactions in the Mideast. Permalink
TV Interview Potpourri
Obama in taped interview on CNN talked about Kennedy endorsement, denied endorsement was a snub to the Clintons, discussed what he thinks the current "state of the union" is. Romney talked taxes, health care, stayed mostly supportive of presidential policies before State of the Union address on CNN's "The Situation Room" Giuliani said on Fox that his Florida campaign is going "right down to the wire." Noted that polls have been wrong as often as they've been right so far this campaign, predicted a strong finish Tuesday. Huckabee said on Bloomberg that his overall strategy is to focus on grassroots, volunteers. Talked about national ad, fundraising, Bush's stimulus plan, his economic plan. On CNN talked about his view of the "state of the union." Permalink
Edwards Camp: We're Not Giving Up
In conference call with reporters, campaign announced that it was going up with an "aggressive media buy" in 10 Feb. 5 states over the next 48 hours. Also said that "worst-case scenario," Edwards could walk into convention with 20-25% of the delegates. Read strategy memo here. Permalink
Sign up for the daily email from The Page and get the very latest political news delivered directly to your inbox.
The Political Schedule
The Page on the Go
Read THE PAGE on your Mobile Device
Bookmark thepage.time.com on your mobile device for an easy to read version of Mark Halperin's The Page.
