Archive - April 20, 2008 - The Page by Mark Halperin

The Page

Politics up to the Minute

Top McCain Aide Calls WashPost Story About Arizonan's Temper "99% Fiction"

Essential reading: Mark Salter e-mails National Review to brand Sunday piece "one of the more shoddy examples of journalism I've ever encountered." Permalink

Obama, Clinton Battle Over McCain-Bush Remark

Obama camp releases statement after Clinton criticizes his remark that McCain would be a better president than Bush. Spokesman Tommy Vietor: "For someone who agreed with John McCain on voting for war in Iraq, agreed with him on supporting trade agreements like NAFTA and special trade privileges for China, and agrees with him on taking money from Washington lobbyists, Hillary Clinton's latest attack is ridiculous even for her standards, and we're confident the people of Pennsylvania will see right through it." Comes after Clinton says at rally in Johnstown, Pennsylvania: "We need a nominee who will take on John McCain, not cheer on John McCain, and I will be that nominee." Read transcript here. Earlier: Obama says at a rally in Reading, Pennsylvania Sunday that "all three of us would be better than George Bush." Permalink

More Pennsylvania Attack Ad Wars: Health Care & Lobbyist Ties

Clinton announces new 30-second statewide TV spot Sunday in response to Obama attack ad unveiled Saturday criticizing her health care plan. "He couldn’t answer tough questions in the debate. So Barack Obama is making false charges against Hillary’s health care plan." Watch it above. Read script here. Announces ad on a media call as policy advisers say the Obama campaign is being "disingenuous" and his ad is "a betrayal to the cause of universal health care." Watch Obama's ad here. Meanwhile: Both candidates address each other's health care plans on the stump. Obama releases new 30-second spot starting Sunday in some markets responding to and defending himself against Clinton lobbyist ad. “Eleventh hour smears, paid for by lobbyist money: Isn’t that exactly what we need to change?” Watch it above. Read script here. Comes after Clinton spot points to alleged lobbyist ties within the Obama campaign, characterizes him as hypocritical. Watch it here. Permalink

Obama Campaign Strikes Back Over McCain Ayers Remarks

Campaign spokesman Bill Burton criticizes McCain's comments on ABC's "This Week," points to past statement by McCain adviser saying his candidate wouldn't attack over people who endorse, befriend Obama. “Unable to sell his out-of-touch ideas on the economy and Iraq, John McCain has stooped to the same smear politics and low road that he denounced in 2000." Read more here. Comes after McCain responded to question on Obama's patriotism by invoking his rival's ties to former Weather Underground activist Bill Ayers. Points to statement Obama made comparing Ayers -- "an unrepentant terrorist" -- to Sen. Coburn, saying it "really indicates Senator Obama's attitude." "That, in my view is really -- borders on outrage." Watch video above. Read transcript here. Permalink

New Pennsylvania Numbers

From MSNBC/McClatchy/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette poll: Clinton 48, Obama 43. Dates conducted: April 17-18. Error margin: 4 points. Get more numbers from this poll here -- including what hunters and bowlers think. Permalink

Obama Confronted About Saluting the Flag at Pennsylvania Diner

Patron makes reference to photo circulated from Tom Harkin's Steak Fry in Iowa last summer where he appears to not be saluting during the national anthem. "What happened was, we were singing the Star-Spangled Banner and the flag wasn't in front of me, the flag was behind me," he said, adding that he was was looking at the singer and that he "always" honors the flag. Woman said she was satisfied with his answer, if it's true, but noted she's a Republican and wouldn't vote for a Democrat anyway. Real full pool report here. Permalink

Pennsylvania Potpourri

--Philadelphia Inquirer says the woman vote may be more unpredictable than in past contests. "Allegiances are shifting, and affiliations based on gender and race are weakening." --Chicago Sun-Times: Obama camp will call Tuesday's vote a "victory" if he keeps Clinton to a single-digit lead. --LA Times looks at the "culture clash" between Obama's campaign and the way things are done in Philadelphia. --The Scaife-owned conservative Pittsburgh Tribune-Review endorses Clinton. "Political courage is essential in a president. Clinton has demonstrated it; Obama has not." --Allentown's Morning Call points out "Pennsylvania's primary quirk," where winning the popular vote and driving up the delegate count don't necessarily come together. Permalink

ON THE SUNDAY SHOWS

McCain goes after Obama on "This Week," Obama strategist Axelrod and Clinton topper Garin battle it out on "Meet the Press," and Pennsylvania surrogates Clinton's Gov. Rendell and Obama's Sen. Casey trade barbs on "Face the Nation." Read The Page's full coverage here. Permalink

Struggling Pro-Clinton 527 Vows to Do More in Indiana

The American Leadership Project, which has raised only about $1.5 million so far, allowing it to spend about $425,000 in Pennsylvania, intends to play a more substantial role in the Hoosier State, leaders say. Some donors want the group to run attack ads against Obama, but so far group leaders have resisted. Obama camp disputes that group hasn't gone negative against them. Read their fact check here. Also releases memo on Clinton's connections to ALP. Read it here. Permalink

Pennsylvania's Late Deciders Could Boost Clinton

Boston Globe: If the pattern of previous contests stick, of the thousands who still haven't made up their minds many will break for Clinton. "If they side with her again in Pennsylvania, it may help Clinton hold off Senator Barack Obama with a big-enough victory to save her candidacy, again." Permalink

Evening News Roundup

All three networks did news-of-day wrap-ups on the Democratic race, with a focus on the new negative TV ads and expectations. NBC: Did separate Obama and Clinton pieces. CBS: Also featured Jeff Greenfield in-studio talking about delegate math and Clinton's big-state argument. ABC: Also did a McCain piece, focusing on the Republican's "This Week" push on Ayres, as well as questions about McCain's temperment. Permalink

McCain Seemingly Closes the Conservative Gap

Politico: Polling shows the presumptive GOP nominee -- though still viewed suspiciously by some conservative leaders -- isn't viewed more unfavorably by conservative voters than Bush was at this point in the 2000 contest. Permalink

Profiling Plouffe

The New Republic looks at the "media-shy" Obama campaign manager and goes back to Iowa to detail what he's done to make Obama the frontrunner. "Axelrod is widely credited for crafting Obama's image, and that was certainly the case in 2004. But the campaign that made Obama famous wouldn't have happened without Plouffe's mechanical wizardry." Permalink

David Broder Says McCain Might Win

After talks with Democratic leaders and officeholders, The Dean writes, "Obama and Clinton are doing such a good job of demolishing each other, or scuttling their own chances, that McCain conceivably could coast to victory." Permalink

Sunday Surrogate Action

For Obama: Sen. Chris Dodd in West Virginia, Gospel singer DeWayne Woods hold a concert in Pennsylvania. For more surrogates in the upcoming states, including an author and an actress, click here. Permalink