Archive - May 28, 2008 - The Page by Mark Halperin

The Page

Politics up to the Minute

Obama Considering Trip to Iraq This Summer

In interview with the New York Times, he says he's debating taking a foreign trip after he secures the nomination. Adds no details have been set, but: “Iraq would obviously be at the top of the list of stops.” Plus: McCain responds late Wednesday saying he's "glad" he's considering the trip. "It's long overdue...And I'm confident that when he goes he will then change his position on the conflict in Iraq." Comes after McCain spends the day hammering his rival over only having been to Iraq once. Read more here. Permalink

Obama Brings His Mensaje to Puerto Rican TV

The Senator shows off his Spanish chops ahead of the island's June 3 primary. Click above to watch the ad, entirely en español. Permalink

Rendell: Clinton "Very Unlikely" To Win

The Pennsylvania governor -- one of Clinton's top supporters -- tells Bloomberg Television that he's a "realist" who recognizes supers are likely to flock to Obama until he gets the nomination. But also adds he thinks the Dems will pick the weaker candidate, citing polling that shows Clinton a "far better candidate" than Obama in swing states. Plus: Rendell says Obama may be signaling he's considering Clinton as a running mate. Permalink

Obama Takes on No Child Left Behind

The Illinois Senator keeps the focus on education while speaking at a the Mapleton Expeditionary School of the Arts in Thornton, Colorado. "We must fix the failures of No Child Left Behind. We must provide the funding we were promised, give our states the resources they need, and finally meet our commitment to special education." Read full remarks here. McCain camp responds: "While in the U.S. Senate, Barack Obama has never spearheaded education reforms, which despite his lofty rhetoric, demonstrates his weak leadership." Full statement here. Plus: Obama also tours the art school prior to his speech. Read pool report here. More: Obama also holds a fundraiser in Denver. Read more here. Permalink

Plouffe: "We're Willing to Give Some Delegates"

Obama's campaign manager says his team wants to focus on the general election and will go along with a compromise to seat Michigan and Florida's delegates-- to a point. "What we're interested in is a fair resolution," he says on afternoon conference call, but adds, "We don't think it's fair to seat them fully." Permalink

Clinton Makes Case Directly to Superdelegates

The New Yorker sends a letter and memo to every superdelegate, arguing she's the party's strongest contender against McCain. "Ultimately, the point of our primary process is to pick our strongest nominee... I hope you will consider the results of the recent primaries and what they tell us about the mindset of voters in the key battleground states." Read letter here, and the memo here. (PDF) Permalink

Clinton Camp Puts Focus on Florida, Michigan

DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee Member Tina Flournoy, senior adviser Ickes and communications director Wolfson hold morning media call with reporters outlining the logistics of Saturday's meeting. Aides stay coy on whether they'll appeal if the ruling isn't in their favor, Ickes says "that's a bridge to cross when we come to that particular stream." They also insist they'll be satisfied only if full delegations are seated. Comes after DNC lawyers release memo saying the two states must lose at least half of their delegates for moving up their contests. Plus: Florida Democratic Party sends memo to the DNC outlining the diversity in their delegate selections for the convention. Read PDF here. Permalink

Paterson: Clinton More "Frustrated" Than "Desperate"

The Clinton-supporting New York Governor backtracks from statement he made last week saying Clinton was showing desperation in her popular vote argument. Says on local radio Wednesday: "I think a better word would have been 'frustration'...I still believe that number one, she is the best candidate...Number two, she is the most likely to defeat John McCain." Permalink

Evening News Roundup

All three networks led with McClellan's bombshell memoir. ABC: Led with coverage of the "absolutely brutal" charges from "one of the President's most trusted aides." Next, package said McCain and Obama are essentially ignoring Clinton, said she made an exaggerated claim that "every" poll considers her a tougher opponent against McCain. Clip of Rendell saying it's "very unlikely that Sen. Clinton can prevail." Stephanopoulos said half the Michigan/Florida delegates will be seated, leaving Obama 3-4 dozen delegates away from clinching the nomination. Brian Ross reported on a free trip to a Hawaiian resort by Rep. Dan Lungren (R-Calif.) financed by a fundraiser arranged by an aviation lobbying group. CBS: Led with "huge firestorm" touched off by McClellan. Ari Fleischer said McClellan told him the publisher "tweaked" his writing; the publisher claimed every word was McClellan's. Campaign Notebook included McCain hitting Obama on Iraq, Clinton at Mt. Rushmore and her letter to superdelegates. NBC: Spent about first 10 minutes on McClellan book. Called it the "shot heard round Washington" because of his criticism of Bush on Iraq, overall credibility. Robert Draper said book is out of character for McClellan, suggested publisher may have pushed him. Reported insiders say CIA leak case played big role in his writing it. Brokaw defended media on McClellan charge that they let Bush get away with going to Iraq, said "the President was determined to go to war" calling it "theology" with a lot of the facts being "unknowable." Permalink

Candidates Unite on Darfur

Sens. Clinton, McCain and Obama issue rare joint statement condemning Sudan for its ties to killings in Darfur, and warning it against trying to wait out the Bush Administration. "We wish to make clear to the Sudanese government that on this moral issue of tremendous importance, there is no divide between us." Read their statement here. Permalink

Bush Joins Romney in Utah for McCain Fundraisers

The two headline a pair of fundraisers -- one at Romney's home for $30,800/person, second at a private home for $500/person, where they'll be joined by Gov. Huntsman. Salt Lake Tribune: Ticket sales to second fundraiser have been "lackluster, prompting the campaign to move the event to the private residence." Expected to raise several million dollars. Permalink

Blink And You Missed It

McCain and President Bush's public appearance lasts less than a minute after Tuesday's fundraiser in Arizona. Watch video here. WashPost: Fleeting appearance highlights McCain's delicate balance wooing the GOP base as well as Bush opponents. Permalink