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Politics up to the Minute
Headlines from May 26th, 2008
Reggie, Reggie, Reggie
NY Times profiles Obama's bodyman, Mr Love. Essential Reading: Obama's Likes and Dislikes. Permalink
Republican-on-Democrat Action
McCain campaign criticizes Obama after he suggests he may not seek a meeting with Iran's President. "The fact that Sen. Obama would try to backtrack from a key pillar of his foreign policy agenda in the middle of a presidential campaign shows that he clearly doesn't have the judgment or experience to lead as commander in chief." Read more. Permalink
Sen. Kennedy Completes Massachusetts Sailing Race
The Bay State's senior Senator crosses Nantucket Sound Monday in his 50-foot schooner, joined by relatives and Sen. Dodd. "We're with friends and family and it's a great tradition out here... I think we ended up in the front part of the fleet." Permalink
Jindal: R&R, But Not VP Talk, at McCain Ranch
The Louisiana governor says talk of being a vice presidential running mate did not come up at the much-speculated-about weekend at McCain's Arizona ranch. Says he got to know McCain and his family better, talked up his state's business climate. Watch interview above. Former Mass Gov. Romney and Florida Gov. Crist also attended, along with business leaders. Plus: Reporters gathered outside the ranch found few clues to what was going on inside. Permalink
Obama Hits McCain-Bush Alliance Hard in Vegas Speech
The Illinois Senator repeatedly ties his Republican rival to the President in his North Las Vegas address. Starts off by saying: "He’s holding a fundraiser with George Bush behind closed doors in Arizona. No cameras. No reporters. And we all know why. Senator McCain doesn’t want to be seen, hat-in-hand, with the President whose failed policies he promises to continue for another four years." Also attacks McCain on his tax proposals, lobbyist ties and the housing crisis, saying "his plan amounts to little more than borrowing bad ideas from George Bush." Read full prepared remarks here. Permalink
McCain Jabs at Obama in Nuclear Policy Speech
Speaking at the University of Denver, McCain indirectly slams his Democratic rival, suggests he is naïve for being willing to meet with leaders of hostile nations. "Many believe all we need to do to end the nuclear programs of hostile governments is have our president talk with leaders in Pyongyang and Tehran, as if we haven’t tried talking to these governments repeatedly over the past two decades." Also says he will seek to reduce America's weapons arsenal, lays out other nuclear goals. Read full remarks here. Speech gets road-blocked cable coverage. Anti-war protesters repeatedly interrupt the Senator. He responds: "I will never surrender in Iraq." Plus: In WSJ Asia op-ed with Sen. Lieberman, McCain also obliquely targets Obama while discussing diplomacy with America's allies near the Pacific. Obama camp responds: "No speech by John McCain can change the fact that he has not led on non-proliferation issues when he had the chance in the Senate..." Full statement here. Permalink
Candidates Mark Memorial Day
In a Memorial Day address in Albuquerque, McCain defends his opposition to Sen. Webb's GI bill: "It would be easier politically for me to have joined Senator Webb in offering his legislation." But he warns: "We will encourage more people to leave the military after they have completed one enlistment." Adds: "I take a backseat to no one in my affection, respect and devotion to veterans." Read his full speech. Obama, Clinton and President Bush also active this Memorial Day-- click here for more. Permalink
Clinton in Puerto Rico: "¡Sí, Podemos!"
Senator rallies hundreds of union members Monday in "the most raucous rally of her Puerto Rico campaign swing." Permalink
Fidel Castro Criticizes Obama on Cuban Embargo
In a newspaper column, Castro says Obama's plan to maintain the trade embargo "can be translated as a formula for hunger for the country." However, the former Cuban leader does call Obama "the most advanced candidate in the presidential race." Permalink
New Montana Numbers
From CNN: Obama 52, Clinton 35, Undecided 13. Conducted May 19-21. Error margin: 5 points. Permalink
Clinton Catches a Beer and a Quick Groove
The Senator hits a San Juan bar Sunday for a Dominican brew and a few seconds of dancing to Enrique Iglesias. Watch it above. Fox embed reporter: "It was one of the happiest days we’ve seen her spend on the campaign trail in weeks." Permalink
Democratic Donations Too Much for Excel
FEC and analysts having trouble tracking all the donations flooding to Democrats, especially Obama. Politico: Earlier this year Obama "filed an electronic fundraising report so large it could not be processed by popular basic spreadsheet applications like Microsoft Excel 2003 and Lotus 1-2-3." Permalink
Joint Chiefs Chair to Forces: Keep Out of Politics
Adm. Mike Mullen writes an open letter asking U.S. forces to keep their political views to themselves. The military “is and must always be a neutral instrument of the state, no matter which party holds sway... Political opinions have no place in cockpit or camp or conference room.” Permalink
McCain, Obama Strategists Linked to Lobbyists
Members of both campaigns have ties to lobbying groups or similar consulting firms. LA Times: McCain staff includes lobbyists, former lobbyists. Obama strategist Axelrod a partner in a so-called "grass-roots lobbying" firm that works with corporate-backed clients. Permalink
Clinton May Face Tough Return to the Senate
If she drops out of the race, the New Yorker would return to being a mid-level Senator in a body where many colleagues chose not to support her. Sen. Harkin: “There is a little decompression there." Permalink
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