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Politics up to the Minute

Headlines from March 15th, 2008

NY Times: Many Uncommitted Superdelegates Back Obama's Philosophy

Paper of Record surveys the kingmakers/queenmakers and finds many plan to support the elected delegate leader. But others push back against a simple rubber-stamp role. "The will of the people is a very transitory term...." Permalink

Obama Calls for Unity, Addresses Racial Divisions After Pastor's Remarks

Distances himself from Rev. Wright comments at town hall in Plainfield, Indiana, invokes Bobby Kennedy's speech after Martin Luther King Jr. was shot. Watch video clip above. Read remarks here. Plus: Addresses Wright, Ferraro at Chicago fundraiser. Read pool report. Permalink

Obama Camp: Clinton "Continues to Exaggerate" Role in Northern Ireland Peace Process

Campaign sends out oppo research memo attacking rival for pointing to her role in resolving the crisis as national security experience. Read it here. Earlier: Clinton defends her role to reporters Saturday. "I actually went to Belfast more than Bill." On Saturday media call, Clinton supporters Reps. Richard Neal (MA), Joe Crowley (NY), Carolyn McCarthy (NY) also vouch for her, challenge Obama camp statements questioning her record. Neal: "There would have been no Good Friday agreement without the Clintons." Read more on her Ireland proposals here. More: Keeping with the Irish theme, Clinton goes green as she marches in two Pennsylvania St. Patty's Day parades. Permalink

Clinton Still Putting Up a Fight in Texas

Campaign letter sent to the state Democratic Party late Friday requests state conventions be postponed until eligibility of about 1 million caucus-goers are double checked. Obama's Dan Pfeiffer: “We don’t think that the record-breaking number of Texans who stood up to be counted on March 4th would appreciate the Clinton campaign’s attempt to disenfranchise them and silence their voices just because the outcome wasn’t politically beneficial to Senator Clinton." Permalink

Clinton Weighs in on Chinese-Tibetan Clash

Says in a statement released Saturday: "Based on the limited information available, there is an urgent need for all parties, and in particular the Chinese security forces, to exercise restraint..." Full statement here. Comes after second consecutive day of riots, violence between Buddhist monks, other Tibetans and the Chinese police. Permalink

Clinton Backs Michigan Revote Plan

Tells reporters between Pennsylvania stops Saturday she's supportive of state's effort to hold new primary in June. "It needs to get resolved and hopefully Michigan by the end of this week will have done that." But: Obama campaign, local election officials, and Republican legislators among those with lots of questions about outlines of revote scheme. Permalink

Clinton Campaign Keeps Up Pressure on Rezko, Avoids Wright Flap

Clinton's Penn, Singer call out Obama on latest Rezko developments in Saturday media call, pass up opportunity to address pastor issue. Read more from the call here. Obama camp response: "It’s the height of hypocrisy for Senator Clinton to demand the release of documents that are already on our campaign website while she steadfastly refuses to release her full tax returns and earmark requests...." Read more here. Plus: Watch Obama try to put it all behind him in Friday night Chicago dump on Fox's "Hannity and Colmes" here, on CNN's "Anderson Cooper 360 " here and on MSNBC's "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" here. Will the stories stay alive for talk radio, cable news, and the rest of the media? Only time will tell. Developing... Permalink

Obama Supporters in Florida Seek a Deal

Some backers are considering compromise plan raised by Sen. Bill Nelson and other DNC members of allocating portion of Florida's delegates based on Jan. 29 primary. DNC member, Florida superdelegate Allan Katz: "If the Obama campaign is willing to make a small concession in order to get (Florida represented)...it's something I would probably encourage." On Saturday media call, Clinton advisers suggest they would only go for a "1 person, 1 vote" plan where the current results are counted or there is a new vote entirely. Permalink

Clinton Plans Monday Iraq Speech

Campaign touts "a major policy address on the war in Iraq" in Washington, D.C. Permalink

McCain on the World Stage

Kicks off week-long Mideast, Europe trip this weekend starting in Iraq where he'll meet with heads of state there, and in Jordan, Israel, France and Britain. Said Friday he's "very worried" about pre-election terror attacks in Iraq. Plus: Also schedules $1,000-a-plate fundraiser lunch for Thursday at the 18th-century Spencer House in London. Permalink

Candidate reveals more about his ties to the indicted developer, currently on trial. Tells the Chicago Tribune Rezko raised up to $250,000 for his first three offices -- more than was previously known. But the Senator insists he was not "engaged in any wrongdoing." Chicago Tribune editorial board completely won over by long session with Obama. Also does 80-minute session with the Sun-Times. Listen to full interview here. Permalink