Archive - March 27, 2008 - The Page by Mark Halperin

The Page

Politics up to the Minute

Obama: There Will Be Some "Bruised Feelings" When Nominee is Picked

Obama tells ABC's Charlie Gibson he doesn’t think the party will be hurt long-term because of infighting, but says some work will have to be done in the short term to bring everyone back together. Watch clip above. On CBS, Obama reiterated that whenever the nominee is decided -- whether "two weeks from now" or "early June" -- there's going to be "bruised feelings." Plus: Obama talked mostly about economy with CNBC (parts of which aired on NBC's "Nightly News"). Watch interview here. Read transcript here. Permalink

Clinton to Democrats: Don't Vote for McCain

When asked in Fayetteville, North Carolina what she would tell frustrated Democrats who might consider voting for McCain in November she said: “Please think through this decision,” Clinton said, laughing and emphasizing the word “please." “It is not a wise decision for yourself or your country.” Plus: New CNN poll shows that about 16% of each Democrat's supporters say they would not likely vote in the general election if their preferred candidate is not the nominee. Permalink

Evening News Roundup

ABC: Broadcast led with attempts to create an “aura of inevitability” around Obama, with Casey endorsement and Leahy’s comments. Video of Bill Clinton’s “bunch of bull” response. Package said Obama is “pushing hard” in PA with new ad, but Clinton has universal name ID and roots in the state. Stephanopoulos said Obama team fears backlash from calls for Clinton to quit, especially in PA and among women. He also said race may turn sharply if Obama wins Indiana or North Carolina May 6. News of Chelsea Clinton’s prediction that her mother would be a better president than her father. CBS: Package on pressure for Clinton to quit, including Leahy and Dodd comments about wrapping up the race. Mention of Dean’s request for superdels to announce their picks by July 1. Separate package on superdelegates' hard decision between a candidate favored by black and young voters and a candidate favored by women. Brief mention of Obama’s comments on Wright from “The View.” NBC: Led with Condoleezza Rice's comments about race, Obama's speech. Noted she's said similar things before but the "tone and timing made people think." Covered Obama on "The View" distancing himself from Rev. Wright. Highlighted Casey's endorsement, adding it could be a part of a "family feud" since Clintons distanced themselves from his father in the past. Touched on pressure on Clinton to leave the race, Leahy and Dean comments, McCain's first general election ad, Clinton and Obama's back-and-forth on the "movie" the race has turned ... Permalink

New National Numbers

Obama 49, Clinton 39 General election matchups: Obama 49, McCain 43; Clinton 49, McCain 44. Survey notes 51% of voters said they heard “a lot” about Wright comments, 35% say their opinion of Obama has grown less favorable because of them. And: 66% of Dems thought Obama did an “excellent” or “good” job handling the situation. Dates conducted: March 19-22. Error margin: 3 percentage points. Read more here. Permalink

Obama Adds a Connecticut Superdelegate

Connecticut chooses their "add on" superdelegate and selects State Senate President Pro Tem Donald E. Williams, an Obama supporter. Permalink

Obama Camp Reaches Out to Michigan, Florida Dems

CNN: Aides are seeking to begin"dialogue" about how to seat the delegations in Denver. Plus: Florida Sen. Bill Nelson proposed overhaul of presidential election laws Thursday, citing his state and Michigan as examples that the nominating system is flawed. Permalink

Obama Shores Up Keystone State Effort

Frontrunner brings Iowa director in to run next-up primary bid on eve of Hawkeye-style extended bus trip. Questions about Pennsylvania effort and expectations -- coming from in-state Obama backers themselves. Permalink

Dodd Calls on Party Leaders to Bring Nomination Battle to an End

Connecticut Senator/Obama supporter tells National Journal’s Linda Douglass: “Certainly over the next couple of weeks, as we get into April, it seems to me then, that the national leadership of this party has to stand up and reach a conclusion...instead of having this sort of drip on for the next five months -- that is devastating in my view.” Read his full pushing-the-envelope interview here. Permalink

The New Negative

Fact #1: For more than a month, Hillary Clinton’s only chance to win the nomination has been to find a way to disqualify Barack Obama as a stable, acceptable choice in the minds of superdelegates. (“Tanya Harding in the conservatory with a kitchen sink” is not a new reality.) Fact #2: The media has – once again – largely declared the race for the Democratic nomination over, giving Clinton next to no chance to prevail. Fact #3: In recent days, the Obama campaign has used e-mails and conference calls to engage in its most negative and personal assaults on Clinton since the campaign began. HALPERIN’S TAKE: If Obama has the nomination wrapped up, why is his campaign going after Clinton so hard? Permalink

Obama Compares Campaign to Bataan Death March

Tells donors at New York fundraiser: “For those of you who are just weary of the primary, and feeling kind of ground down or that it’s like a Bataan death march, I just want everybody to know that the future is bright.” Also discusses negotiating with foreign leaders, including Ahmadinejad, saying: “If FDR can meet with Stalin and Nixon can meet with Mao and Kennedy can meet with Khrushchev and Reagan can meet with Gorbachev, then the notion that we can’t meet with some half-baked dictator is ridiculous.” Read full pool report here. Permalink

Three-Way Shoot Out Over Economy

All three candidates go at it following Obama's wide-ranging economic speech in New York City Thursday morning: Clinton camp accuses Obama of "copying" her idea of a second stimulus package. Read more here. McCain camp launches a prebuttal and rebuttal labeling Obama a "liberal" and accusing him and Clinton of "mischaracterizing" McCain's point of view. McCain seeks a rhetorical do-over on the mortgage crisis, releases fascinating (and slightly defensive) campaign statement. Read more here. McCain gets pushback from Obama camp in statement. Read it here. Plus: Clinton delivers economic speech in North Carolina as well where she goes after McCain. She takes less heat than the others. Read more here. HALPERIN’S TAKE: What is missing when Obama, McCain, and Clinton talk about the economy. Permalink

MoveOn.org Responds to Clinton Donors' Pelosi Letter

In a letter of their own, they urge their members let Pelosi know they're behind her. Letter says: "...tell Nancy Pelosi that if she keeps standing up for regular Americans, thousands of us will have her back." Read it here. Comes after top Clinton funders chastised the Speaker of the House for her statements regarding superdelegates in letter Wednesday. Plus: Member of Clinton's national finance team is circulating an online petition urging DNC to seat Michigan, Florida delegates. Permalink

Evening News Roundup

ABC: Led with Iraq violence then moved to the economy. Package analyzed all three candidates' economic proposals, expert said none of them have a strong enough plan to deal with current crisis. Also noted swipes candidates are taking at each others' plans. Gibson interviewed Obama, talked about party infighting, defended Wright using argument that if the "five dumb things" anyone said were compressed into 30-second clips anyone would understandably be upset. NBC: Led with FDA investigating potential link between popular asthma medicine and suicide. Then discussed international news before moving to Obama. Package covered speech, noting he spoke at same podium Lincoln once did, as well as Clinton's. Said both "seemed to be above the fray" but behind the scenes fighting is going on. Discussed Rev. Wright reprinting anti-Israel op-eds in his church newsletters, polls showing Wright hasn't hurt Obama. Short Obama interview asked him about Wright, he said bringing it up is a "distraction." Started "family ties" series looking at Clinton's family background. Short interview with her explaining the influence of her parents. Spoke to Sen. Arlen Specter about his book. CBS: Led with increased violence in Iraq, Bush speech then went into Obama interview. Discussed pulling out the troops, said tactics of Patreaus have brought progress, but there's been no overarching strategy. Talked about economic woes, said Clinton dropping out is a decision she has to make. Permalink

Romney, McCain Speak to Press, Attend Fundraiser in Oregon Thursday

McCain campaign aide says Romney will accompany the presumptive GOP nominee at an invitation-only $1,000-a-person event in Salt Lake City. Romney did well among voters, donors in the region — particularly in Salt Lake City. The two also hold a media availability in Salt Lake City Thursday afternoon. Permalink

Ticket Masters?

Obama gets nice words and an introduction from Hizzoner at New York economic speech. "As you know, I have not endorsed a candidate for president...But I have been clear in my hope that all the candidates explain in great deal how they would handle the challenges of the country." He also jokingly reminds crowd Obama "picked up the check when we had breakfast together." Watch video here. Developing..... Permalink