Archive - February 16, 2008 - The Page by Mark Halperin

The Page

Politics up to the Minute

Milwaukee Match-Up for Clinton, Obama

Both speak at the Wisconsin Democratic party's Founders Day Gala -- the one true side-by-side test before Tuesday's primary. Clinton invokes the message of the Statue of Liberty in her closing remarks. Click above to watch. In his remarks, Obama directly addresses his disagreement with Clinton over health care. Click above to watch, and read his full speech here. Permalink

Democratic Party Delegate Selection History 101

How proportionate allocation and superdelegates came to be, courtesy of the Boston Globe. Permalink

New Rhode Island Voters Include Lots of Young People

Ranks swell as March 4 primary approaches -- potentially benefiting Obama. Permalink

Ohio Demography Can Be Destiny

Buckeye State voter make-up should help Clinton, but -- maybe not. Permalink

Mum's the Word

Rep. John Lewis, a "committed" Clinton superdelegate, refuses to say Saturday where he stands. "I'm not going to make any political statements today," he says at Atlanta news conference. Permalink

AP Goes Mad Over McCain Temper

Amazing wire story explores McCain's alleged Achilles heel with this remarkable section high up in story: "F--- you," he shouted at Texas Sen. John Cornyn last year. "Only an a------ would put together a budget like this," he told the former Budget Committee chairman, Sen. Pete Domenici, in 1999. "I'm calling you a f------ jerk!" he once retorted to Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley. Sunday's NY Times has more on his attempts to "cloak" his anger. Permalink

Ad and Response

For second time, Obama campaign launches Wisconsin TV spot responding to a Clinton negative ad. Click above to watch, and read script here. Similar video elements as in previous response (after first Clinton negative ad), but engages on latest attack on Social Security from Clinton's newest salvo. Obama rapidly runs defensive, negative response after both of Clinton's Wisconsin ads. They're all under the debate-about-debates umbrella. Clinton camp calls ad "inaccurate." Read their response. Permalink

Superdelegates Face Pressure from Both Sides

NY Times: Old Clinton ties tug at some party leaders. See what Bill Richardson told the Times about how superdelegates should cast their votes. In Georgia, superdelegates have had their addresses and phone numbers published online. Permalink

Democratic Party Elders on Edge of Freak Out

NY Times: Officially neutral leaders hope to avoid an Obama-Clinton deadlock -- and bitter feelings -- with private talks and patience. Click here to see whose name appears nowhere in the story. Permalink

Superdelegate Superdrama

--Another Clinton superdelegate switches to Obama. --Pressure builds for black House members backing Clinton to follow constituents supporting Obama. --Obama supporters and campaign putting the squeeze on pro-Clinton and undecided superdelegates. to Obama. --Still no plan to resolve standoff over Florida, Michigan delegates. Permalink

Obama in the Driver's Seat. . .

. . . of a bumper car. And/but the Clintons are now bumping full time. Permalink

McCain Picks Up More Delegates

Conventions in Michigan and Louisiana give the likely nominee 50 delegates. Permalink

Obama Hits Vermont, Rhode Island Airwaves

Positive ads run the gamut from health care to national unity. Each has already run in other states. One spot-- introduced during the Super Bowl-- airs in both states. Click above to watch. For Vermont ads click here, and click here. For Rhode Islands ads, click here and click here . Permalink

Democrat-on-Republican Action

--Obama campaign says WashPost campaign finance story shows McCain "substituted a special deal for straight talk." Permalink

Harold Ickes: No Majority Gonna Happen Anytime Soon

Clinton adviser says on Saturday media conference call: “Neither candidate at the end of this process will enough have enough pledged delegates” to have a majority. Read more. Obama campaign manager Plouffe dismisses Clinton's "say-or-do-anything-to-win tactics." Read campaign's latest state-by-state delegate projetions. Also: Obama releases campaign memo on what Clinton supporters and others have said about the role of superdelegates. Permalink