Archive - April 30, 2008 - The Page by Mark Halperin

The Page

Politics up to the Minute

Cindy McCain's "Tonight Show" Appearance

Both she and Jay Leno joke about the presumptive GOP nominee's driving abilities during her Wednesday night appearance. "He's not the best of drivers, I drive most of the time." Leno's retort: "If he was elected president, he would be the only president ever to do a burnout in my Corvette." Permalink

Sen. Bayh: Some in GOP Will Seek to "Swift Boat" Obama

The Indiana Clinton supporter says "the far right" would try to "Swift Boat" Obama over his ties to the Rev. Wright in a general election race. Tells WashPost: "When you're new to the public stage, you're a little more susceptible to having the canvas painted in by your political opponents." Click above for video. Also commends Obama for denouncing his former preacher, says he hopes the Wright issue will not emerge if Obama is the nominee. Permalink

New National Numbers

From CBS News/New York Times poll: Obama 46, Clinton 38. Dates conducted April 25-29. Error margin: 3 points. Read more here. From NBC News/WSJ poll: Obama 46, Clinton 43. Dates conducted: April 25-28. Error margin: 3.1 points. Read more here. Permalink

Michelle Obama: "We Gotta Move Forward"

Obama's wife tells NBC's Meredith Vieira in a joint interview with her husband that the conversation over Rev. Wright "doesn’t help kids out there who are looking for us to make decisions and choices..." Watch video clip aired on "Nightly News" above. Read excerpts here. Full interview to air Thursday on "Today." Permalink

Obama Seeks to Avoid "Perpetual Distraction" From Rev. Wright

Speaking in Indianapolis, the Senator says more about his highly-publicized break with his former pastor. "I made a statement yesterday that was hard to make, but it was what I believed." "What we want to do now though is to make sure this doesn't continue to be a perpetual distraction." Michelle Obama declines to comment on the subject. Click above to watch. Permalink

Obama Responds to Clinton in New North Carolina, Indiana Ad

60-second spot airing in both May 6 states uses footage from stump speech to respond to Clinton's ad criticizing Obama for not supporting a suspension of the gas tax for the summer. Ad slide reads: "Honest answers. Not Washington gimmicks" Watch it above. Permalink

Lunch With the Obamas

Senator and his wife drop by the Fischer home in Beech Grove, Indiana for a meal of Subway sandwiches and chips. Family represents working-class Americans, campaign says. Talk focuses on work and family issues-- read pool report. Michelle Obama wins approval from Cheryl Fischer: “You can just talk to her. She’s like your girlfriend." Permalink

Evening News Roundup

ABC: Led with economics, including a package critical of McCain and Clinton on the gas tax debate. Experts said suspending the tax would cut government funding and not lower prices. Included footage of Clinton at Indiana gas station. Another negative report said Clinton has "conveniently forgotten" the details of a story she tells about an Indiana company being sold to the Chinese, saying her husband's administration authorized the deal. CBS: Led with new poll data, called "a mixed bag" for the candidates. Recapped news of Clinton at gas station and riding to work, Obamas eating with Indiana family, audio clip of Clinton-O'Reilly interview. Footage of Obama responding to question about Wright, showed New York newspaper covers suggesting story has not died. Noted that despite his "awful April," Obama has won more superdels than Clinton since PA primary. Next, package explored why Obama has trouble catching on with blue-collar voters. NBC: Led with economic woes, including rising gas prices, talk of recession. Aired excerpt of Michelle and Barack Obama’s interview with “Today” where M. Obama weighed in on Wright. Covered Clinton “courting O’Reilly viewers” despite his being one of her harshest critics, mentioned focus on Indiana working class, including her having a sheet metal worker drive her to work. Russert announced new NBC/WSJ poll numbers, said “clearly” Wright has hurt Obama. Permalink

Clinton Weighs In on Wright: "I Take Offense to It"

New Yorker comments to Bill O'Reilly on remarks of Obama's former pastor: "Well, I take offense at it. I think it’s offensive and outrageous. And, you know, I’m going to express my opinion, others can express theirs." Watch video clip above. Read interview excerpts here. Also comments on rival's Wright press conference. Plus: Watch Fox's Major Garrett -- who O'Reilly let watch the interview -- preview her comments here. Part of Clinton's two-part interview airing on Fox's "The O'Reilly Factor" this week. Clinton also scheduled to appear on ABC's "Nightline" Thursday night. Permalink

Mississippi Democrat Distances Himself From Obama

Congressional candidate from northern Mississippi launches ad backing away from the Illinois Senator. Calls the claim that Obama endorsed him "an attack"-- Watch the ad here. (RealPlayer) "Senator Obama hasn't endorsed my candidacy. I have not been in contact with his campaign nor has he been in contact with mine." Earlier, Travis Childers' opponent ran an ad linking Childers to Obama. NRCC spokesman: Ad highlights "the toxicity an Obama candidacy can bring to Democratic campaigns down-ballot." Full statement here. Permalink

Obama Strikes Back With Trio of New Superdelegates

Latest endorsement comes from California Rep. Lois Capps. Campaign also confirms Obama will pick up support from Indiana Rep. Baron Hill Wednesday night. And: Iowa Rep. Bruce Braley endorses the Land of Lincolner Wednesday. Former Edwards supporter says on media call he informed Obama he was "fired up and ready to go," Rev. Wright didn't affect his decision. Listen to him discuss his endorsement with Radio Iowa here. More: Obama-backer McCaskill tells Politico that the majority of superdelegates she's talked to on the Hill are committed, and/but it's a matter of timing, and Obama will win more than he loses. Clinton spokesman Singer disagrees, accuses McCaskill of trying to change the subject. Permalink

New National Numbers

From Fox News Poll: Clinton 44, Obama 41. Change from March poll: Clinton +4, Obama -3. Has Wright hurt Obama? Click here for results. Permalink

Clinton Adds Puerto Rico, Pennsylvania Supers

Puerto Rico's Luisette Cabanas pledges her support for Clinton while Chelsea is campaigning in the U.S. territory Wednesday. Gives Clinton majority of supers from the island. Plus: Bill George, president of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, also picks the New York Senator. Permalink

New Clinton North Carolina TV Ad Features Maya Angelou Testimonial

In 60-second spot airing statewide, the famed poet and North Carolina local makes the case for the New York Senator. "Hillary Clinton is a prayer of every American who really longs for fair play." Watch it above. Read script here. Permalink

MoveOn.org Launches Month-Long Campaign Ad Against McCain

Obama-backing group goes up with an $160,000 ad buy in Iowa, New Mexico starting Thursday. New spot focuses on McCain's "100 years" Iraq comment and will air on cable, broadcast in both states. Watch it above. Plans to spend $1 million in ads targeting McCain over next month. Permalink