Archive - June 5, 2008 - The Page by Mark Halperin

The Page

Politics up to the Minute

McCain Frames Himself as the Underdog

The presumptive GOP nominee sits down with "World News" anchor Charlie Gibson for interview Thursday night. "I'm surprised, frankly, to see the polls as close as they are, given our brand problems in the Republican Party. I'm pleased where we are." Says it was "pretty apparent there for a while that it was going to be Senator Obama." Criticizes Obama on experience, Iraq and other issues. Says his own greatest obstacle will be attracting independents and Reagan Democrats. Watch video above. Permalink

Obama Lays Down the Law on Veep Talk

The presumptive Democratic nominee tells the press on his plane Thursday afternoon: “The next time you hear from me about the vice presidential process will be when I’ve selected a vice president and when you hear secondhand accounts, rumors, gossip about the selection process you can take it from me that it is wrong because we are not going to be talking about it in the press.” Watch video above. Permalink

Obama Rallies The Old Dominion

The Illinois Senator takes the stage in Bristow, Virginia Thursday evening. He's joined by Virginia Sen. Jim Webb and Gov. Tim Kaine -- both mentioned as Veep prospects -- and spends the first few minutes lavishing praise on them. Permalink

Obama on Congress: "I'll Whoop ‘Em!"

After receiving a walking stick as a gift, the presumed nominee jokes he'll use it on Congress if they don't pass his health care bill. "They better not mess with me. I’ll have that stick.” Also says in Bristol, Virginia, "We’ve still got work to do. Just winning the nomination is not the endpoint." Read his full prepared remarks, focused on health care. And read McCain camp's response. Permalink

McCain Keeps Pressure on Obama for Town Halls

The presumptive GOP nominee kicks off his remarks to a Florida journalism group at Walt Disney World by asking Obama to meet him in New York City next week for the first of 10 unmoderated town halls. Criticizes the "gotcha"-driven media, saying: "One thing we can all agree on is that Americans are getting tired of politics as usual." Watch video above. Again blasts earmarks and government pork, says nation must reform Social Security and Medicare. Addresses air traffic control, education, Iraq, renewable energy and more. Plus: McCain plans to tour the Everglades Friday, make remarks about the environment and energy. Permalink

Clinton Disavows Efforts to Get Her on the Ticket

In a statement, her campaign calls veep choice “Senator Obama’s and his alone.” Statement: "She is not seeking the vice presidency, and no one speaks for her but her. The choice here is Senator Obama’s and his alone.” Read it here. THE PAGE EXCLUSIVE: A Clinton confidante explains her thinking to TIME. Permalink

Evening News Roundup

ABC: Led with politics, looking at both candidates in battleground states. Clip of Obama vowing to "whoop 'em" in Virginia, and McCain appealing to female voters in Florida. Additional report said Clinton's campaign is discouraging veep talk from supporters, and there will be no joint Clinton-Obama appearance on Saturday. Then, McCain interview. CBS: Led with Khalid Shaikh Mohammed hearing, followed by brief political block. In Campaign Notebook, word of Clinton camp saying the VP decision is up to Obama, Obama's own comments about a running mate, the DNC adopting Obama's standards on donations, and McCain's fundraising numbers. Jeff Greenfield reflected on RFK 40 years after his killing. NBC: Led with airline woes, turned to politics about 7 minutes in. Said Obama spent the day trying to consolidate control over the party, adding he headed south to court blue collar voters in Appalachia, while McCain went to Florida to do the same. Noted Clinton statement saying she wasn’t seeking Veep slot, NY delegation’s comments about Clinton’s exit. Next, package covered significance of Obama nomination to African Americans, Rep. John Lewis said “it is unreal.” Ended with commemorative RFK package. Permalink

Obama on Veep: "Everybody Just Needs to Settle Down"

The Illinois Senator tells CNN that he won't cave into calls to name Clinton as his No. 2 immediately, will go through a vetting process first. “I am a big believer in making decisions well -- not making them fast and not responding to pressure.” Also talked about Iraq withdrawal plan, Israel-Palestinian conflict. Read more highlights here. Watch video above. Read full transcript here. Permalink

"He Has Won the Nomination"

Rep. Charlie Rangel, a former Clinton supporter, leads New York's congressional delegation in a group appearance in Washington. Click above for a clip. "In our collective opinion, he has won the nomination. No question about it." Delegation also praises Clinton's decision to pull out of the race. "We're so proud of her her," Rangel says. Asked about Clinton as a potential VP candidate, Rangel says "I think she'd be a fantastic partner in government." Then adds, "I should not even have said that." Plus: ABC reports that according to aides Reid will endorse Obama sometime Friday. Permalink

Campaign '08: Must-See TV

Enterainment Weekly says the Democratic race tops the best sitcoms and dramas on TV. The campaign has had it all: "Power-hungry lawyers, cross-country chases, snipers on airport tarmacs, fire-breathing preachers, and one famous former (White) Housewife looking more desperate by the day." Permalink

Obama Starts Merge With DNC

The presumptive Democratic nominee starts making decisions within the national party -- including keeping Dean at the helm and instituting campaign adviser Paul Tewes to oversee the operation. Read DNC statement welcoming the Obama team into the party. Plus: The DNC will no longer accept donations from lobbyists and political action committees, to comply with Obama's campaign policy. Read DNC statement here. Permalink

McCain Raised $21.5 Mil in May

The presumptive GOP nominee also ended the month with $31.5 million in cash on hand. Makes it the Arizonan's best month yet. Permalink

Where They Are Thursday

Obama: Bristol, Bristow, VA Clinton: No public events McCain: Lake Buena Vista, FL Permalink

Report: Home Foreclosures Up 35% Nationwide Since '07

Mortgage Bankers Association Study found foreclosures rose to a record high in the first quarter of the year. 14.5 % of homes for sale across the country in April were due to foreclosure. Permalink

Obama, McCain Debate National Catastrophe Fund

--Obama camp sends out a release criticizing McCain's opposition to the proposal to correspond with his visit to hurricane-prone Florida. Read it here. Campaign holds afternoon media call with Rep. Ron Klein and Florida House Democratic Leader Dan Gelber where they accuse McCain of wrongly falling in line with Bush on the issue. Read Obama's plan here. McCain camp responds: "It’s disappointing that for the second day in a row for Senator Obama has chosen to use natural catastrophes to launch political attacks — that’s not ‘change we can believe in.’" Permalink