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Headlines from June 9th, 2008
Obama Pushes Unity at St. Louis Fundraiser
The presumptive Democratic nominee reiterated remarks paying tribute to Clinton for a tough race, was introduced by her former Missouri state director. Evening event at the Renaissance Grand Hotel hosted donors ranging from $500-$2,300. Read pool report here. Plus: Addendum to the report says the crowd was a mix of Obama and Clinton supporters. Read it here. Permalink
Obama Camp Deploys, Maintains Staff in All 50 States
The Illinois Senator's Deputy Campaign Manager Steve Hildebrand announces the implementation of their 50-state strategy in a fundraising e-mail to supporters. Also acknowledges that "some states will be more competitive than others, and we will scale our resources accordingly." Permalink
McCain Compares Obama to Jimmy Carter
In an interview on NBC's "Nightly News" Monday, McCain hits back at his Democratic rival for comparing him to Bush by bringing up Carter because of his spending, tax proposals. "Senator Obama says that I’m running for a Bush's third terms. It seems to me he's running for Jimmy Carter's second.” Also discusses the economic problems, energy crisis. Read full transcript here. McCain will sit down with Bloomberg TV Tuesday. Plus: CNBC will air Obama, McCain interviews in Tuesday night special at 8 pm ET. Read release here. Permalink
McCain Lashes Out at Obama Veep Vetter
The presumptive GOP nominee responds to reports about former Fannie Mae CEO Jim Johnson receiving a special mortgage loan through Countrywide's chief exec in Monday Fox News interview. "I think it suggests a bit of a contradiction talking about how his campaign is going to be not associated with people like that. Clearly he is very much associated with that." Watch video here. Comes after the RNC and McCain camps spend the day distributing press releases, quotes and opposition research galore on the issue. Read more here. First on The Page: Obama camp — in its seemingly first response to the story — sends out talking points calling it “an overblown story about what appear to be completely above-board transactions.” Read them here. Plus: Obama spokesman Vietor seeks to turn the tables: "It’s the height of hypocrisy for the McCain campaign to try and make this an issue when John Green, one of John McCain’s top advisors, lobbied for Ameriquest, which was one of the nation’s largest subprime lenders." Read full statement. Permalink
McCain Attends High-Dollar Virginia Fundraiser
The presumptive GOP nominee attended a roughly 40-person luncheon in Richmond, Virginia Monday costing $10,000 per party of four. McCain mingled with the attendees, including Lt. Gov. John Hager and Rep. Eric Cantor. Event was first pooled press fundraiser of campaign after they changed their policy Saturday. Permalink
Obama Makes His Economic Case
The presumptive Democratic nominee kicks off his two-week economic tour with a major speech at the North Carolina Fairgrounds in Raleigh. Attempts to tie McCain to Bush on health care costs, Iraq spending, taxes, housing, jobs and more. Read full remarks here. Watch video above. Plus: Says he will work with Elizabeth Edwards on health care policy. John Edwards and several Democratic governors attend the event. Read GOP response to speech here. Permalink
Poll: Numbers Suggest Mixed Feelings About Clinton for Veep
Associated Press-Yahoo News poll: 32% of independents, 67% of Republicans, 58% of conservatives say they strongly dislike the New York Senator — something that could prevent Obama from courting votes outside the party if he adds her to the ticket. Poll finds other groups with significantly stronger negative feelings about Clinton than Obama include whites under 30, male college grads, white men and whites earning at least $100,000 a year. Permalink
Obama's Veep Team Mention "A Lot of Names" During Capitol Hill Visit
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer -- who met with Jim Johnson and Eric Holder Monday -- said they had a "good, long discussion" about Veep possibilities. When asked if Clinton was on the list: "I think it would be reasonable to assume that all of the alternatives were considered." The duo also sat with Sen. Reid for half an hour and met with Speaker Pelosi. The third member of the veep vetting team, Caroline Kennedy, didn't attend. Permalink
Obama Camp to Meet with Top Clinton Fundraisers
Talking Points Memo: Campaign Manager Plouffe hopes to begin pulling in top Clinton donors for the general election during a private presentation Thursday in New York City. Permalink
Sen. Kennedy: "Good to be Home, Good to be Here"
The Senator arrived at his Hyannisport compound in Cape Cod Monday afternoon following his release from Duke University Medical Center Monday morning. Within hours he went out for a sail with his wife Vicki. His son Patrick says he plans to have dinner with him Monday evening. Permalink
Report: Homes Sales Up
National Association of Realtors finds pending home sales increased more than 6% between March and April, to the highest level since October. Though numbers still 13% off from a year ago. Permalink
Bush to Talk Economy on Farewell Europe Trip
The President -- speaking from the White House lawn Monday morning before embarking on 8-day trip -- says he "can understand why" Americans are concerned, will be discussing issue with foreign leaders. Adds that the country hasn't felt the effects of the stimulus package yet, pushed Congress to consider his proposal of opening ANWAR to obtain more crude oil. Plus: Also discusses his wife's trip to Afghanistan. Read his full remarks here. Permalink
Obama Reaches Out to the Faithful
NY Times: Obama camp plans to add a full-time evangelical-focused staffer, is rolling out effort over the summer to organize a thousand house parties built around curriculum on faith and politics. "With the broadening of the evangelical agenda to include issues like poverty, global warming and AIDS, Mr. Obama’s advisers hope to peel off more moderate evangelical voters." Plus: Brody File reports on the new program -- called the "Joshua Generation Project" based on the biblical story of leading the Israelites to the Promised Land-- to attract young Evangelicals, Catholics. Permalink
Obama's (Potential) Ohio Problem
Columbus Dispatch: After retracing Clinton’s swing through the state ahead of the primary, interviews with local voters show Obama has work to do. One voter: "Don't let anyone tell you (some people) aren't prejudiced.” Another: "I don't think Obama can beat McCain by himself.” And/But: LA Times says GOP machinery in the state helped get Bush into office, "but it's not firing yet on McCain's behalf." More: AP interviews voters in Clinton Pennsylvania strongholds on the race factor, while the WSJ looks at Clinton holdouts nationally. USA Today: He needs to win over the women too. Permalink
Laura Bush Defends Michelle Obama
The first lady tells ABC she thinks Sen. Obama's wife "proud of my country" comment was misinterpreted. "I think she probably meant more proud," Bush says in Afghanistan. "You have to be really careful with what you say." Also says she admires Sen. Clinton's grit and determination. Watch video clip above. Permalink
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