Archive - March 24, 2008 - The Page by Mark Halperin

The Page

Politics up to the Minute

Obama to Launch Pennsylvania Bus Tour Friday

Six-day trip will emphasize jobs, education, health care. Will start off in western Pennsylvania and conclude in the southeast. Permalink

B. Clinton: No Re-Vote in Mich, Florida is “Deliberate Attempt to Disenfranchise” Voters

Tells voters while celebrating Dingus Day in South Bend, Indiana that “this new strategy” of excluding Michigan and Florida from nomination fight is a “terrible mistake.” Added McCain is a strong candidate in both states, but Clinton would be strongest in a general election. Permalink

NY Gov. Paterson Talks About Past Drug Use

Bares all in candid NY1 interview, says he remembers last using cocaine and marijuana in the 1970’s. Read key passage here. New York Post: "Paterson contended that he had given the same answer to a question about drug use after a 2006 Democratic primary debate." Permalink

Clinton Takes Jabs at McCain on Economy, Policies

At Blue Bell, Pennsylvania event, praises McCain and their work in Senate together, but adds "As he himself has said, he doesn't know much about the economy." Also stressed that Democrats must unite once there's a nominee, saying "none of the things I talk about will happen if Sen. McCain is elected." Permalink

Carville Stands By Judas Statement, Says Quote Had "Desired Intent"

Clinton supporter tells the New York Times that he was quoted accurately, will not apologize, disassociate himself from the campaign, for comment comparing Richardson's endorsement to the betrayal of Judas to Jesus. Also tells CNN's "The Situation Room" it was "his own personal view" that Richardson betrayed the Clintons with his endorsement, thought it was an "egregious act" and wanted to use strong metaphor to make his point. Watch clip above. Read transcript here. Permalink

DNC Approves Puerto Rico Calendar Move

Party leaders announce U.S. territory will hold primary June 1 instead of a caucus June 7. Country's Democratic Chairman Roberto Prats says primary will give more voters a chance to take part in process in such a tight race. "Now it's different.... This is the first time in decades that Puerto Rico will be participating in an event of this magnitude." Permalink

Bush on Iraq Milestone: "Every Life is Precious"

Offers his "deepest sympathies" to the families who lost someone in Iraq as war hits 4,000th U.S. military death Sunday night. Watch clip above. Read transcript of remarks here. Plus: Cheney says in Jerusalem that you "regret every casualty, every loss," notes he and President have met with countless "families of the fallen." Read transcript of interview here. Meanwhile: Clinton, Obama reaffirm their commitments to ending the war. Clinton statement here, Obama statement here. Permalink

Detroit Mayor Booked on Charges of Perjury, Obstruction, Misconduct

Kwame Kilpatrick, former Chief of Staff Christine Beatty booked Monday afternoon after being slapped with several charges each due to sexually explicit text messages surfacing that allegedly contradict sworn denials of an affair. Kilpatrick maintains his innocence at afternoon presser: "This has been a very flawed process from the beginning.... I look forward to complete exoneration." Permalink

Clinton Camp Denounces Obama Iowa Supporter for Lewinsky Comments

In media call, spokesmen Howard Wolfson and Phil Singer decry former Iowa Democratic Party chairman and Obama senior adviser Gordon Fischer invoking "Monica's blue dress" in blog posting. Singer: Called it the "most personal attack yet," said the Obama campaign is being "fueled by insult and slander." Listen to full audio of call here. Update: Fischer takes down post, saying: "I sincerely apologize for a tasteless and gratuitous comment I made here about President Clinton. It was unnecessary and wrong." Read it here. Wolfson brushes off apology on media call. Obama camp's Tommy Vietor responds: “As Senator Obama has said repeatedly, comments like this have no place in our political dialogue and he strongly rejects them.” Plus: Obama campaign’s daily talking points calls Clinton "desperate," says she "will not be able to win. . .by any conventional measure." Read them here. Permalink

Obama Spotted on Virgin Island Beach

As a girl ends her Easter egg hunt she finds the presidential candidate catching some rays in St. Thomas. Watch video of mother explaining the experience on Fox above. Associated Press: "Obama was keeping such a low profile that his presidential campaign would not say where he is staying, and local officials were also mum." CNN: Gov. John deJongh "unofficially" met with Illinois Senator and his family at the airport when they arrived Sunday. Permalink

Clinton Camp Promises to Release Tax Returns At Least 3 Days Before Pennnsylvania Primary

On media call, spokesman Howard Wolfson pledges to reporters that they will have enough time to scour Clintons’ tax returns before the Keystone State votes. Calls on Obama to release all of his returns, Senate records as well. "This is a two-way street." Permalink

Wolfson: Clinton May Have “Misspoke” on Bosnia Visit

Campaign spokesman admits on media call that it’s possible that she messed up her facts while recently talking about exiting the plane when she visited war zone. Video from the event shows she did not land under sniper fire, or run from the plane with her head covered. Watch it here. But Wolfson maintained she was on the front lines in a combat zone, quoted contemporaneous news accounts and her book characterizing the region as such. Plus: Obama camp responds with memo saying Bosnia comments joins similar stretches on FMLA, SCHIP and NAFTA. Read it here. Permalink

McCain to Return to Letterman

Will be a guest April 1, making his first appearance since he announced he was running for president on the show in February 2007. Plus: AP reports Hollywood's high-powered William Morris Agency announced it signed actor/politician Fred Thompson, hinting he might return to TV or the silver screen. Permalink

Evening News Roundup

NBC: Led with 4,000th U.S. Iraq death with lengthy piece recapping numbers, personal piece with soldier families. Then, said Dem campaign becoming “more divisive” noting Carville’s Judas comments, McPeak statements. Highlighted Clinton’s strategy of counting electoral votes, looked at her Bosnia flap. Russert weighed in, responded to Politico argument that Clinton can’t win. Said it would be risky for Dems to allow supers to choose Clinton as nominee, but Clinton says riskier for them to pick someone who couldn’t win. Noted Kilpatrick charges, booking. CBS: Led with economic news of house sales rising in February, noting new hopes for “turnaround” but national sales are still down. Then, gotcha piece covered Clinton’s “embellishing” of her Bosnia record with CBS correspondents who traveled with disputing her version of the trip. Showed her greeting kids, taking photos at Army outposts and singing at a concert saying there was no “sniper fire” at any of those events. Noted Kilpatrick charges, U.S. Iraq death toll. ABC: Led with Iraq milestone. Cheney expressed regret in interview saying Americans were “fortunate” to have volunteers to go in harm’s way for them. Noted Bush meeting with national security team this week to decide whether to withdraw more troops. Likely 130,000 soldiers still in Iraq when he leaves office. Followed by remembering deceased soldiers, then, moved to house sales rising, Kilpatrick news. Permalink

Obama Campaign Attacks Clinton's Ties to Lobbyists, Defends McPeak

Campaign topper Plouffe says Clinton has been "wallowing" in support from lobbyists during campaign, says she's gotten $900,000 in contributions. Also says Obama probably wouldn't have used same words as supporter Gen. McPeak, but thinks general had a "fair reading" of B. Clinton's quote. Says questioning people's patriotism has "no place." Listen to audio of full call here. Plus: Obama camp also sends out memo on Clinton lobbyist ties. Read it here. Clinton spokesman Phil Singer responds: "The Obama campaign likes to talk about being free from the influence of special interest money. But that's just words. That fact is Sen. Obama has accepted millions from federal lobbying firms, big oil, defense contracts and the securities industry, among other special interests." Also points to National Journal chart detailing lobbyist ties in all three campaigns. Permalink