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Politics up to the Minute
Headlines from February 24th, 2008
Clinton: Nader May Be "Seeking Attention"
In wide-ranging Brody File interview on CBN also says Obama's negative mailings have "false, misleading discredited attacks." More: Talks about faith, McCain, Bush, and a lot of other stuff. Read some key excerpts here. Permalink
Obama: I've Been an "Effective Bridge" Between Blacks, Jewish Community
Addresses concerns at Cleveland Jewish Community meeting about his commitment to U.S.-Israel relations after controversy over his Chicago pastor praising Nation of Islam leader. "He is like an old uncle who sometimes will say things that I don’t agree with.... I have overwhelming support among the Jewish community that knows me best, which is the Jewish community in Chicago." Read more here. Permalink
Clinton Camp Accuses Obama of Flip Flopping on Outside Spending
Spokesman Wolfson goes on the attack in media call over Obama union-supporter UFCW running TV ads statewide in Ohio starting this week, saying he is "largely silent" on 527 spending when it benefits him. Points to Obama criticizing Edwards ahead of Iowa for not denouncing outside groups running ads supporting him. Read more here. Wolfson: "He did this to win votes in Iowa.... It's about politics and every voter in Ohio ought to be aware of that." Permalink
Obama Defends Criticizing Clinton on NAFTA
Says in Lorain, Ohio: "Yesterday, Senator Clinton also said I’m wrong to point out that she once supported NAFTA. But the fact is, she was saying great things about NAFTA until she started running for President." Read full comments here. Says Clinton has presented herself as co-president in 1990s, aligning herself with her husband's accomplishments. Clinton spokesman Phil Singer responds: “Senator Obama’s insistence on repeating attacks that have been demonstrated to be false by independent entities proves once and for all that his speeches about the new politics are just words. That’s not change you can believe in.” Read more here. Plus: FactCheck.org looks at Obama's NAFTA mailer that came under fire Saturday. Permalink
Puerto Rico Goes For McCain
Caribbean U.S. territory awards all 20 GOP delegates at stake to the presumed nominee, bringing him up to 996 out of the 1,191 needed. Permalink
HE'S IN
Nader announces 2008 presidential run to fill the void. Watch clip above. Read transcript here. Singer-payer supporters who want George W. Bush impeached get their man. On "Meet the Press," long-time consumer advocate dishes usual rhetoric on issues and denies/decries the "spoiler" label. Clinton's response to the news: "Did he really? Well, that’s really unfortunate." Obama says at Ohio presser: "He does it every four years." Permalink
Clinton Pokes Fun At Obama in Rhode Island
Frames Obama as naive at afternoon rally: "Now, I could stand up here and say lets just get everybody together, lets get unified...the sky will open, the light will come down celestial choirs will be singing, and everyone will know that we should do the right thing and the world will be perfect. Maybe I'm just lived a little long but I have no illusions about how hard this will be." Permalink
B. Clinton Questions Obama's Experience in Texas
Says to voters on the stump in Arlington: "Should we make a new beginning with somebody not involved in either the problems of this decade or the progress of last?" Permalink
Puerto Rico Politics Roiled
Obama-backing governor embroiled in federal criminal probe that could rock Democrats' final nomination contest. Permalink
The Obama Stump Analyzed
The Chicago Tribune does the honors. "In fact, read side-by-side with the other candidates' current stump speeches, the Obama script makes at least as many references to policy proposals as do theirs." Permalink
Uh Oh
Matt Drudge is a complicated guy. Discuss. (Expect a Democratic day of finger pointing, denials, and high dudgeon.) Developing.... Permalink
Iowa General Election Numbers
From Des Moines Register poll: Obama wins against McCain in November 53-36. McCain wins against Clinton in November 49-40. Dates conducted: Feb. 17-20. Error margin: 3.9 points. Read more here. Permalink
Huckabee Does Walk-on on "Saturday Night Live"
Dead-pans "Weekend Update" appearance on first episode back after writer's strike. Watch clip above. Permalink
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