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Politics up to the Minute
Headlines from April 29th, 2008
New Clinton Negative Ad Targets Obama on Housing Crisis, Gas Tax
30-second spot going up Tuesday night in Indiana and North Carolina highlights Clinton's proposals, Obama's opposition to them. Watch it above. Read script here. Negative spot comes a week before the two states vote. The Obama camp responds point-by-point here. Permalink
New Indiana Numbers
From the Howey-Gauge Poll: Obama 47, Clinton 45 Error margin: 4.1 points. Read more here. Permalink
Rep. Skelton Endorsing Clinton
The Missouri Democrat and superdelegate announces he's picking the New York Senator because of her support in rural America, commitment to national security. The chairman of the House Armed Services Committee is the last of state's four Democrats in Congress to endorse. Permalink
Clinton Focuses on Illinois Background in Indiana Spot
Introduces herself as Hillary Clinton "from Park Ridge, Illinois" and uses images of her childhood while highlighting her connection to the Indiana middle class. Spot will air statewide. Watch it above. Read script here. Permalink
Uncommitted Mich. Dems Push New Proposal to Seat Delegates
Four party leaders who haven’t endorsed a candidate write to the state party chairman outlining a plan that splits the difference between the Clinton and Obama positions. “We believe that the DNC should adopt it and both candidates should accept it because it is fair and because it would resolve an impasse that with each passing day hurts our chances of carrying Michigan and winning the Presidency.” Read letter here. Permalink
Pro-Clinton Group Launches Anti-Obama Indiana Ad
The American Leadership Project airs ad Tuesday. Spot expected to be shown on broadcast and cable in nearly every market through early next week. Watch it above. Group is spending $700,000 in its "largest ad buy" to date with Hoosier spot targeting the Illinois Senator on the economy, jobs. Permalink
Three-Way Fight on Gas Tax Holiday
Candidates spend the day going back and forth on the issue: --Obama criticizes the holiday proposal backed by McCain and Clinton, says "this isn’t an idea designed to get you through the summer, it’s designed to get them through an election.” --Clinton accuses Obama of not caring, says McCain doesn't have a way to fund his plan. --While McCain says Obama "doesn't understand the effect of the high gas prices" on the economy, fires back at Clinton. Permalink
Obama, Clinton Whack McCain on Health Care
Obama statement: "John McCain is recycling the same failed policies that didn't work when George Bush first proposed them and won't work now." Full statement here. Clinton statement: "While Senator McCain touts the choices his plan offers, people who are older or sicker would actually have no choice under his new proposals." Full statement here. Comes during McCain's week-long health care tour, including his speech in Tampa, Florida and a new TV ad launched Tuesday morning. Read more here. Permalink
Two More Superdels Backing Obama
Kentucky Rep. Chandler and Iowa DNC member Machaceck announce support for the Land of Lincolner. Chandler provides key support in Kentucky, where Obama is relatively weak. Its primary is May 20. Machaceck is the fifth of Iowa's 12 superdelegates to endorse Obama; Clinton has three. Permalink
SPEAKETH THE DUKE
Democrat's '88 nominee Dukakis says his wife is "an Obama fanatic," believes Florida/Michigan delegations should not be let in to advantage Clinton, and gives veepstakes advice. His own short-list finalists: Bentsen, Gore, Gephardt, Glenn. Read the tour de force NY Observer story here. Permalink
Fed Lowers Key Interest Rate by a Quarter Point
Most investors expected the quarter-point cut in the benchmark fed funds rate, to 2 percent. Stocks rise after announcement. Permalink
SEIU Targets McCain on Health Care in Ohio TV Ad
Obama-backing service worker union launches new spot, compares McCain's health care policies to Bush. Watch it above. SEIU spokeswoman calls the buy "significant," says it will air statewide on both cable and network stations. Permalink
Evening News Roundup
ABC, CBS lead with Obama's break with Rev. Wright. ABC: Led with Obama's "point-by-point" denunciation of Rev. Wright's comments. Stephanopoulos said Wright had been a "mortal threat" to Obama, and his comments worried superdelegates and "really teed off" the Senator. Noted that Clinton, meanwhile, is continuing strongly in Indiana and North Carolina. CBS: Called Obama's press conference "major damage control" after Wright's remarks Monday "struck a nerve" with the Senator. Jeff Greenfield said Obama's firm distancing was necessary, given the harm Wright was causing. Package on Bush's press conference noted that Obama disagrees with McCain and Clinton on the gas tax suspension. Report quoted a "senior administration official" predicting that Congress will do little to advance the idea. NBC: Led with economic woes, Bush's presser. Showed NBC/WSJ poll numbers on presidential approval rate, economy. Noted Clinton, McCain, Obama quarrel over gas tax. Then moved to Obama making it clear Rev. Wright was "out the door." Showed several soundbites, contrasted it with when he "casually dismissed" the remarks Monday. Russert weighed in, said issues raise "big question mark" about his relationship with Wright. Said he's trying to prove himself to undecided voters in Indiana, North Carolina and undecided supers. Permalink
A New Factor
As reported first by Mr. Matt Drudge, Sen. Clinton will appear for the first time on the Fox News Channel's "The O'Reilly Factor" this week. Interview will air in two parts, Wednesday and Thursday evening at 8 pm ET. One-on-one interview takes place in South Bend, Indiana. Clinton spokesman/strategist Howard Wolfson insists she'll play nice. Permalink
Bush Meets the Press
The president speaks to reporters for 50 minutes from the White House Rose Garden. Offers support to GOP nominee-in-waiting: "I don't think John McCain is going to neglect the war on terror, and I do think he's going to be the president." Takes questions on topics ranging from ethanol to Afghanistan. Ribs NY Times' Stolberg for her paper's decision to skip the White House Correspondents Dinner. Permalink
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