Archive - April 9, 2008 - The Page by Mark Halperin

The Page

Politics up to the Minute

McCain Holds Blue State Support

Latest Marist poll shows if election were held today, 48% of New Yorkers would vote for McCain while 46% would vote for Obama. Against Clinton, she beats McCain slightly 48% to 46%. Permalink

Clinton at Glam Fundraiser: "I'm Still Standing"

Warmly defiant candidate --flanked by husband and daughter -- introduced Elton John at Radio City bash Wednesday night expected to bring Clinton $2.5 million. John before he started to play: "I've always been a Hillary supporter. . . I never fail to be amazed at the mysogynistic attitude of some people in this country. And I say to hell with them. Rocker opens with "Your Song" and "Border Song" -- then bashes Ronald Reagan on AIDS policy. Campaign says more than 5,000 attend; guests served some sort of blue illuminated drinks. Clinton on stage after the show: "What a night!. . . Let's keep going! . . . . We are going all the way to Denver!" Read the full Elton John Radio City playlist and political target list here. Permalink

Midnight Madness for Obama

Wednesday's late-night rally kicked off Obama's four-day bus trip through Indiana. He didn't take to the stage until 10:40 pm. Permalink

Gay Press Frustrated by Obama Approach

Politico reports on the "gripe" which has festered for months in the gay press: some reporters say that Obama isn't making time for local publications. Permalink

Obama Offers View on Olympics Opening Boycott

Says presidential boycott of the opening ceremony should be "firmly on the table," but no decision should be made now. Would support the move "if the Chinese do not take steps to help stop the genocide in Darfur and to respect the dignity, security, and human rights of the Tibetan people." Read full statement. Earlier: Clinton and two other Senators call for Bush to skip the event in Beijing. Clinton also commends British PM Brown's decision to skip the ceremony. Calls come as Olympic Torch draws crowds of protesters in San Francisco. Permalink

Obama Campaign Hits Back on Energy By Invoking Bosnia

Responds to new Clinton Pennsylvania radio ad attacking Obama's energy claims by saying: "Just like her last tall tale about dodging sniper fire in Bosnia, Senator Clinton has misfired with her latest negative ad." Full statement here. Clinton ad -- which mentions Obama by name -- charges Obama with misleading voters citing his TV ad, voting record. Listen to it here and read script here. On media call, Clinton spokesman/strategist Wolfson calls ad "discredited," says it's typical of a campaign that says one thing and does another. Listen to audio of call here. Plus: Obama strategist Axelrod tells Chicago Sun-Times that despite the Clinton accusations, the campaign has no plans to change or remove the ad from Pennsylvania airwaves. Permalink

Obama Still a Rock Star at Shop Rite

Illinois Senator rolls through the East Norriton grocery store with a cart full of apples, cheese curls, pretzels and cupcakes as a swarm of voters, employees, fans cheer, take pictures with their cell phones and ask him to sign their circulars. Read national pool report here. Read local pool report here. , 4:35 PM

Obama Ad Spending Hits $60 Million

CNN analysis shows Obama has run TV ads 100,000 times, compared with Clinton's 60,000. Kerry ran 19,000 ads to win the nomination. , 4:31 PM

McCain Team Puts Heat on Obama Over Finance Pledge

“It seems he is taking another step down the path of breaking his promise to the American people,” McCain adviser Steve Schmidt says. Response to Obama comments Tuesday seen as paving the way to bypass the public financing system. NY Times: Obama argues "his small contributors, many of whom have given again and again over the Internet, have injected a new democracy into fund-raising, with the result that a kind of “parallel public financing system” has been created." Permalink

Obama Sits Down With Dan Rather

Illinois Senator tells the veteran reporter while on his 6-day Pennsylvania bus tour that sometimes the campaign life is grueling: “There’s no doubt that sometimes this is a grind...every time I start feeling sorry for myself, I’m reminded of the troops who are on 15-month rotations in Baghdad. What I’m going through is nothing like what they’re going through.” Full interview to air April 15 at 8 pm ET on HDNET. , 4:15 PM

Postal Workers Back Obama

American Postal Workers Union announces its executive board voted to jump on the Land of Lincolner bandwagon Wednesday. Union president William Burrus: "We are most impressed by Sen. Obama's commitment to eradicating the undue influence of special interests in the political process..." AFL-CIO affiliate represents about 300,000 postal workers with clerical, maintenance, motor vehicle-related jobs. Permalink

Clinton Pulls Away from Husband's Trade Positions

While on the stump in Pennsylvania, Clinton again found herself reassuring voters and reporters of her opposition to the pending free trade agreement with Colombia. Clinton says many couples disagree on issues, and “this is a great debate.” Meanwhile: Bush and his administration keep up the pressure on Congress to bring agreement to a vote, Pelosi is set to move for an alteration of procedural rules to circumvent Bush's 90-day vote requirement. Permalink

State board of elections says four times as many blacks have registered to vote during the first few months of 2008 compared to four years ago, something that could bode well for Obama. Also says there has been a boom in voter registrations overall across age, race, gender and party affiliation. Permalink