The Page
Politics up to the Minute
Headlines from March 31st, 2008
Page Exclusive: New York Times Responds to Rev. Wright
ESSENTIAL READING: Gray Lady explains, defends 2007 story and reporter who wrote it here. "Ms. Kantor in no way misrepresented the nature or purpose of the interview; as soon as it was ready for publication, we published exactly the longer story we told Mr. Wright we were working on and that he referred to in his letter." "Putting aside the question of why a letter that is more than a year old is suddenly getting new circulation, it is worth noting that at no time has Mr. Wright challenged the accuracy of either story written by Ms. Kantor – both of which, given the events of the last several weeks, seem remarkably prescient about the potential political peril in the Obama-Wright relationship." Responds to biting 2007 open letter from Wright to the paper featured on The Page here. Permalink
Obama Takes on McCain on Iraq
Invokes GOP rival’s raising the prospect of keeping U.S. troops in the country for 100 years. “I’m just quoting back what he said, unless you tell me that’s a misquote" he tells reporters. Gives apparently edgy responses to repeated questions on his plans for troop withdrawal from Iraq, in discussing a rapid response force (based in or out of country) and a force to protect embassy personnel and other Americans. Says his plan is to protect the embassy like in many countries, “that’s very different from saying that we’re going to have a permanent occupation in Iraq.” Watch clip above. Permalink
Clinton Uses TV Interviews to Score Obama on Upcoming Votes
Talking to North Carolina and Montana stations, suggests "the media or somebody sitting in an office in Washington" are trying to block people from voting. "A lot of Sen. Obama's supporters want to end this race because they don't want people to keep voting." Permalink
Clinton on McCain: "If He Got the 3 AM Call on the Economy He Would Just Let the Phone Ring and Ring..."
Keeps the focus on the presumptive GOP nominee while in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, saying his plan for the economy is “not to have a plan” as she attempts to pair him with President Bush. Read her comments. Also criticizes economic plan unveiled by Paulson earlier Monday, saying “After years of a ‘wait and don’t see’ approach...they have announced a plan that comes late and falls short.” Meanwhile, Clinton-backing Harrisburg Mayor Steven Reed handles the intra-party contrasting: “She's been busy working for us for years and years and years and frankly, I'm getting a little tired of people who try not to give her credit for that." Permalink
Obama Wins Most Texas Delegates
County conventions push Obama to delegate victory over Clinton in the Lone Star State, 99 to 94. Permalink
McCain Visits Children's Shelter
Candidate tours Hope Village in Meridian, Mississippi. Meets with children off-camera. "This is the kind of thing that service to America is all about," he says. Read pool report. Permalink
NC Obama Backer: Expect More Endorsements from State Tuesday or Wednesday
Rep. G.K. Butterfield tells local paper Obama has been in discussions with state's six other Democrats, saying "more than one is seriously considering making a public release this week in support of Senator Obama." Later clarifies in statement: "...nothing is scheduled at this time, and it is up to each of them to decide when – or if – that will happen." Comments come after Wall Street Journal reports all seven of the state's Democratic House members plan to back the Land of Lincolner as a group. Permalink
Clinton, McCain Late Night Talk Show Guests This Week
Clinton will make her third appearance on NBC's "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" Thursday. While McCain will talk to CBS' "Late Show with David Letterman" Tuesday. Permalink
Obama's (Not So) Sweet Tooth
Makes a stop at Wilbur Chocolate in eastern Pennsylvania, but declines most of the chocolate, worries about his caloric intake. Read pool report here. Permalink
Obama Calls Out Dan Rather at Pennsylvania Presser
Watch the Democratic frontrunner interact with the former CBS News anchor in this must-see video here. Permalink
Klobuchar: Leahy is Wrong About Clinton
Minnesota's junior Senator endorses Obama-- but does not call for Clinton to exit the race, as Sen. Leahy did. "I'm not one to say that Senator Clinton should get out—I disagree with my colleague that said that." Click above to watch. Earlier: Klobuchar says on conference call she backed Obama based on legislative issues they worked together on, as well as his overwhelming support in her state. Permalink
McCain Surprised by al-Maliki's Move into Basra
Tells reporters he was thrown by Iraqi president’s decision to take troops into a battle in the southern Iraqi city in recent days without notifying the U.S. first or finishing operations in Mosul. Says in Meridian, Mississippi: "I just am surprised that he would take it on himself, to go down and take charge of a military offensive." Also said he was disturbed by some of demands coming from Shi’ite Cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, who called for ceasefire Sunday. Permalink
Obama Floods Pennsylvania With TV Ads
Source: Land of Lincolner buying 2,000 points (that's a lot) in Harrisburg and Pittsburgh and 1,700 points in Philadelphia. Well above Clinton's current TV ad buys. Permalink
Michigan Congressman Offers Delegate Solution
In letter to DNC Chair Dean, Bart Stupak proposes formula based on Michigan's primary vote and the popular vote from all primaries nationwide. Stupak has not endorsed Clinton or Obama. Permalink
McCain: "The Family I Was Born to...Made Me the Man I Am"
Kicks off "Service to America" tour with personal speech in Meridian, Mississippi, where he highlights his family roots, ties to the military going back to General Washington's army. "I have lived a blessed life, and the first of my blessings was the family I was born into. I had not only the example of my distinguished male relations, and their long tradition of military service. I was fortunate to grow up under the influence of strong, capable, accomplished women..." Read full text of remarks here. Plus: McCain talks to a fourth-grade teacher whose son died in Iraq, thanks her for her son's service. Read the pool report 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.
