Archive - February 15, 2008 - The Page by Mark Halperin

The Page

Politics up to the Minute

B. Clinton: Obama "Literally Was Not Part of Any of the Good Things" of the 1990s

Swipes at his wife's rival during a stump speech in Texas. The former president also says Obama was "not part of any of the bad things that were stopped before," without specifying what he was referring to. Obama spokesman Bill Burton responds: “It appears that the man who once told us 'Don't stop thinking about tomorrow' has changed his tune and is now singing 'Yesterday' everywhere he goes." Permalink

Clinton Does Debate-About-Debates in Yet Another Negative Wisconsin TV Ad

Hits health care, Social Security, and oil company “giveaways” too — in a spot starting Friday. Watch video (no scary music, but unflattering photo of Obama) above. Read script here. Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle responds on Obama media call: "The fact is that Sen. Clinton hasn't even been in Wisconsin yet. She hasn't reached out to Wisconsin voters at all except in these negative campaign ads." Called it a "hypocrisy" to attack Obama’s concern for local voters when she has sent “a husband and a daughter in place of the candidate.” Obama camp factchecks the ad here. Permalink

Republican-on-Democrat Action

--McCain, on the trail in Wisconsin, rebukes Obama for hedging on a pledge to accept public financing, saying, "This is all about a commitment that we made to the American people." Obama spokesman Burton responds on media call: "We're glad it's on the table but we'll wait for the general election before we address that question." Permalink

New Clinton Ad in Wisconsin

Positive ad "Rebuild" touts anti-corporate, pro-middle class message. Watch it above. Permalink

Clintons Pick Health Care Fight With Obama

She: Launches new positive Wisconsin radio ad featuring Rep. Tammy Baldwin vouching for her health care plan (with only an implicit contrast to her rival). Listen to it here. He: Says Obama "excites" but “would in fact deny us universal health-care coverage” while on the stump in Texas. Obama’s campaign manager in a statement suggests Bill Clinton is an old liar. Read it here. More: Obama camp memo slams how much Clinton's health care plans will cost voters. Read it here. And supporters question Clinton's universal health care plan on Obama conference call. Permalink

Obama to Lure Superdelegates with Supporters' Stories

Campaign asking backers to write out what draws them to Obama. Email from campaign chief Plouffe: “Your personal story... is often the most powerful persuasion tool for someone who's undecided.” Permalink

Obama: Clinton "Feeling Down" and Engaged in "Gamesmanship"

In wide-ranging Milwaukee press conference says: --He's not interested in a Wisconsin debate. "The debate exercise is one that has become fairly predictable." --He hasn't talked to Rep. Lewis about his potential support, did try to reach him. --He would seek deal with McCain on finance if he's the nominee. Read transcript of his remarks, and his Q&A with reporters. Permalink

Friday Endorsments

--Austin Mayor Will Wynn will back Obama. --Washington Rep. Brian Baird, a superdelegate, Backs Obama. Permalink

NY Times Scribe: Lewis Was "Unequivocal" on Obama Shift

Timesman Jeff Zeleny on CNN: Rep. John Lewis "said unequivocally that he would not go against the will of the voters of his district" in casting superdelegate vote. See transcript of Zeleny on CNN here. Reporter's story on the civil rights icon/superdelegate abandoning Clinton broke wide Thursday night; subsequent WashPost story quoting the congressman's spokesperson called it "inaccurate." HALPERIN'S TAKE: Why John Lewis' defection would be such a big deal. Read more on this story here. Permalink

Campbell Brown to Moderate Texas Debate

The CNN anchor takes the reins at next Thursday's Democratic faceoff in Austin. Questions will also come from CNN's John King and Univision's Jorge Ramos. Permalink

Michelle Obama Predicts Ohio Win

Says on the stump at Ohio State University: "We're going to win Ohio just like we won Iowa." Permalink

SEIU: It's Obama

Leaders announce in a media conference call that its board "overwhelmingly" voted to nationally endorse Obama, stress the importance of "change" in this election. "We do know that we will be on the ground, on the air, in the streets in all of the critical states to make a difference...when we do an endorsement we take it seriously." Listen to audio here. Permalink

Clinton holds economic roundtable in Cincinnati, calls herself a "candidate of, from and for the middle class." Clinton tells the Columbus Dispatch that she doesn't see the state as a must-win firewall to keep Obama from the nomination, accuses him of misleading Ohioans. Permalink