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

The Page

Politics up to the Minute

Obama to Iowans: "Change is Coming to America"

Speaks to supporters at late night Des Moines rally. "And tonight, in the fullness of spring, with the help of those who stood up from Portland to Louisville, we have returned to Iowa with a majority of delegates elected by the American people, and you have put us within reach of the Democratic nomination..." ONE OF THE BEST-WRITTEN (AND DELIVERED) SPEECHES OF THE CAMPAIGN. Watch video above. Read full text here. Radio Iowa was on the scene. Plus: E-mail to supporters claims Obama has won “an absolute majority of all the delegates chosen by the people.” Read it here. Permalink

OBAMA WINS OREGON

The Illinois Senator takes the Beaver State. Voting in the state done entirely by mail-in (or dropped off) ballots. With 87% of precincts reporting: Obama 58, Clinton 42. Full results here. The Oregonian: "One Big Win Closer" Permalink

CLINTON WINS KENTUCKY

The New York Senator easily takes the Bluegrass State. Addresses supporters in Louisville: "Tonight we've achieved an important victory. It's not just Kentucky bluegrass that's music to my ears; it's the sound of your overwhelming vote of confidence." Click above for a clip. Read full remarks here. Politico asks, "What is Clinton's argument now?" With 100% of precincts reporting: Clinton 65, Obama 30. Permalink

CANDIDATES RELEASE APRIL FUNDRAISING NUMBERS

--OBAMA: Campaign says they raised $31 million, adding 200,000 new donors. Read the campaign's breakdown of the numbers here. Comes after raising $41 million in March. --CLINTON: Campaign says they raised $22 million. Number is in addition to the $6.4 million Clinton loaned herself. --MCCAIN: Campaign confirms they raised $18 million, the highest fundraising month for the campaign, which has struggled to keep up with the Democrats. Permalink

KENTUCKY PRELIMINARY EXITS, OREGON SURVEY NUMBERS

Fox: Only a third of Clinton supporters in Kentucky would vote for Obama over McCain, Clinton dominated usual support groups. Watch video above. Read more here. AP: Kentucky is one of the least liberal Democratic electorates out of contests so far, with Oregon among the most liberal. Read more here. CNN: Voters in Kentucky say the recession has affected them considerably more than in Oregon. Read more here. ABC News: "Socioeconomic rather than racial differences are prevailing." One in 10 Kentucky voters were black, fewer in Oregon. Read more here. CBS News: Unlike in Kentucky, most Oregon Democrats would be satisfied with either candidate as the nominee. Read more here. MSNBC: Nearly three-quarters of Kentucky Democrats said Clinton, not Obama, shares their values. Read more here. Permalink

Former Carter Aide Jordan Dies

Hamilton Jordan, Carter's former chief of staff, succumbs to cancer at 63. Carter Center memorial service set for Friday. Permalink

McCain to Attend NAACP Convention

After passing on it last year, the GOP candidate will address the civil rights group at its July conference in Cincinnati. Permalink

McKinnon Shifts to “Head Cheerleader”

True to his word, McCain media adviser Mark McKinnon is stepping back from his central role making TV ads for-- and advising-- McCain’s presidential campaign. Austin-based Bushman has said he didn’t want to go up against Obama, whom he likes. Source familiar with McKinnon’s thinking tells The Page: “McKinnon won’t be on the front lines making ads. But, he’ll be supporting McCain 100 percent as fan, friend and cheerleader. And, he’ll still be showing up from time to time in his lucky hat.” Permalink

Obama Takes to the Airwaves

Illinois Senator sits for five network interviews Tuesday-- on CNN, Fox, CBS, ABC and MSNBC. Permalink

McCaskill Targets Ferraro for Comments on Obama

The Missouri Senator and Obama supporter criticizes the Clinton backer on MSNBC: "Frankly, it is bitterly disappointing to me that a woman like Geraldine Ferraro would actually publicly say she is thinking about supporting John McCain, and what he would represent to women in this country." "Really, the issues are so much more important than the people here." A response to comments from Ferraro calling Obama "sexist" and suggesting she may not support him if he is the nominee. Permalink

McCain Targets Obama on Cuba, Colombia

The presumptive GOP nominee speaks Tuesday morning in Miami on Cuba’s Independence Day. Attacks the Illinois Senator for supporting an ease on the Cuban trade embargo and his willingness to sit down with Castro. Watch video above. Also criticizes Obama's and Clinton's opposition to the Colombian trade agreement. Read full remarks here. Obama responds in statement: "There's nothing more naïve than continuing a policy that has failed for decades, but that's all John McCain offered today." Full statement here. Other surrogates shoot back: Richardson, Dodd question McCain's Cuba policy -- tying him to Bush, criticizing his understanding of the Cuba regime -- in statements. Read them here. Permalink

VEEPSTAKES QUESTION

For all the talk of gubernatorial running mates, when was the last time a major party candidate added to his ticket a sitting or former governor? The answer here. Permalink

Key Adviser Urges Clinton to Quit

Wall Street Journal: "Roger Altman -- the investment banker and former deputy Treasury Secretary under Bill Clinton -- has advised Sen. Clinton that the time has come for her to drop out of the race, according to people close to the campaign." Part of split within her camp about what to do. Plus: To read key passage from essential Wall Street Journal story -- containing the phrase "Kool-Aid" -- click here. Permalink

Morning Show Summary

Clinton chair McAuliffe, spokesman Wolfson, Geraldine Ferraro and more on the morning shows. Read more here. Permalink

McCain Lobbying Fallout

NY Times focuses on campaign manager Davis' lobbying company -- which he took a leave from in '06 -- specializing in representing foreign politicians, businessmen interests without them having to register. Also looks at chief foreign policy adviser Randy Scheunemann, who was a registered foreign agent until March. Wall Street Journal focuses on top aide Charlie Black's comments to the press, mentions Davis' ties. Permalink