Archive - June 25, 2008 - The Page by Mark Halperin

The Page

Politics up to the Minute

The Importance of Christian conservatives to McCain

By providing much of the on-the-ground, door-to-door activity for Bush's 2004 campaign, they helped the President to win re-election in Ohio and other swing states. The AP writes that "there's been scant sign that the Republican nominee-in-waiting is making inroads among these fervent believers." Permalink

Bush Praises McCain in Detroit

At a fundraising event, the President emphasized foreign policy, telling GOP supporters McCain "has been tested and will not flinch" from making tough decisions. "We need a commander-in-chief who understands that we must defeat the enemy overseas so we do not have to face him here at home, and that man is John McCain." The 20-minute speech was a relatively rare public fundraising event for Bush, whose 29 GOP fundraisers this year have generally been held inside private homes. Permalink

Auto CEOs Get Face Time with Obama

The Wall Street Journal weighs in on a development that could thaw festering tension between the Democratic candidate and Detroit's auto makers. Permalink

The Future Is Now, Part IV

HALPERIN’S TAKE: What smart Republican strategists think should be on John McCain’s to-do list. Permalink

Republican-on-Democrat Action

--The McCain camp goes after Obama for refusing to say he had "flip flopped" or "broken his word" on public financing in Chicago presser. "His arrogant refusal to concede that he broke his word to the American people either shows that he is unable to admit the facts or that he believes Americans aren't smart enough to recognize typical politics when they see it." Read memo here. Permalink

Obama Meets the Press in Chicago

In wide-ranging afternoon availability, the Illinois Senator says he disagrees with the Supreme Court's rapist decision, lists qualities he wants in a Veep, talks up the Clintons and defends public financing decision. Read details here. Opens up with energy, gas prices. Read prepared remarks here. Avail comes after he hosts a private meeting with business leaders to discuss their role of strengthening the economy. Permalink

Sebelius Predicts GOP Will Play Race Card

Kansas Governor and Veep prospect says Republican critiques of Obama will be full of “code words” in an effort “to try and frighten people about him." “I don’t think anybody's going to go directly at the race issue, but that’s going to be an underlying theme." Permalink

Plouffe Gives Hints on Veep Selection

Obama's campaign manager says in press briefing at DNC's headquarters Wednesday that he doesn't think the Veep candidate's ability to carry a state will be "a factor in the selection." Adds that Obama will choose someone "qualified to be president and someone who'll be a partner in governing." Cites Dick Cheney, Al Gore as models. Plus: Also says Libertarian candidate Barr could be a spoiler for McCain in Alaska, Georgia and possibly tip the scales to Obama. Read Plouffe's Powerpoint presentation here (pdf). Permalink

Clinton Embraced by Democratic House Members

Applause and cheers audible at 20-minute closed-door session with the former candidate and House colleagues. Rep. Hastings: "She offered scintillating remarks on our need for unity." Speaker Pelosi: “Sen. Clinton has emerged from this election as the most respected political figure in America for now, and for a long a time." Plus: Clinton tells reporters after event: "This is a make-or-break election, and I am 100 percent committed to make sure I do all I can to make sure Sen. Obama is sworn in as the next president of the United States." More: Roll Call reports Obama will install his congressional outreach team and establish plan for the general by the time Congress returns from recess July 7. Permalink

Cindy McCain: Princess Di Inspired Me

The potential next first lady tells The Times of London she plans to expand her humanitarian work if she makes it to the White House. Points to the former Princess of Wales as a role model. Adds that while the campaign trail gets tiring, "I remind myself that I have a ringside seat on American history." Permalink

McCain Camp Fights Back Against Week's Biggest Problem

Campaign memo from Arizonan's ace polling firm Public Opinion Strategies takes apart the LA Times/Bloomberg poll. Tries to shatter emerging conventional wisdom that Obama is up nationally by mid-double digits. Read it here. Plus: McCain addresses national polling on the trail. "People are really are not gonna start focusing on the campaign until the conventions." Pool report here. Permalink

Evening News Roundup

ABC: Led with Supreme Court decisions. Fourteen minutes in, report on continued tension between Clinton and Obama camps. Tape of Obama and Clinton praising each other, but also Obama saying he won't ask small donors to help her. Rep. Rangel said he saw "awkwardness and flare-ups" between Obama and Bill Clinton, while Gov. Rendell expects Clinton to tell her supporters to "get over it." CBS: Led with Supreme Court. Twenty minutes in, report on Obama's polling bounce, though Jeff Greenfield noted past bounces have fizzled. Mentioned Sen. Smith ad as good omen for Democrats. NBC: No mention of presidential politics. Led with report on global warming and energy consumption. Covered Supreme Court decision striking down execution of child rapist and Bush concern over election crisis in Zimbabwe. Permalink

McCain Keeps Focus on Energy in Vegas

In speech at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, the Arizonan lays out his comprehensive plan for energy security-- dubbed "The Lexington Project"-- vowing total independence from foreign oil by 2025 if elected. "Energy security requires unity because it is not just one issue among many – another box on the candidate questionnaire." Full remarks here. Plus: McCain also attends two Nevada fundraisers, says if the election was held today the GOP would lose congressional seats. Read pool report here. Permalink

AFL-CIO Frames General Election Plan

56-member union coalition announces details for $53.4 million campaign leading up to November. Expect to deploy 250,000 volunteers and focus on key battleground states of Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Permalink

Fed Holds Interest Rates Steady

The federal fund rate, a key short term interest rate, left at 2%. Move was expected. Fed expresses concern about inflation: read statement. Permalink