The Page
Politics up to the Minute
Headlines from July 5th, 2008
Obama: Response to Iraq Remarks Overblown
The presumptive Democratic nominee tells reporters on his flight to Missouri that he was surprised at how the media has "finely calibrated" his statement on refining his Iraq policy Thursday. "I was a little puzzled by the frenzy that I set off by what I thought was a pretty innocuous statement," he said. "I am absolutely committed to ending the war." McCain camp responds: “We are all absolutely committed to ending this war, but on Thursday Barack Obama’s words indicated that he also shared John McCain’s commitment to securing the peace beforehand." Read it here. Permalink
Report: Obama May Speak in Berlin During Europe Trip
Der Spiegel: The Berlin Senate has reportedly been asked whether the Illinois Senator can speak in front of the Brandenburg Gate, where Reagan gave his "tear down this wall" speech in '87. An Obama rep has already met with Berlin's mayor and it's been reported the Secret Service has started to investigate security questions surrounding a visit. Permalink
Obama Attends African Methodist Episcopal Church Convention
The Illinois Senator again puts the focus on religion, speaking Saturday afternoon at the church's convention in St. Louis, Missouri. He says it's the government's duty to address what he said are "moral problems" -- war, poverty, joblessness, homelessness, violent streets and crumbling schools -- and enlist religious institutions to help. "As long as we're not doing everything in our individual and collective power to solve the challenges we face, the conscience of our nation cannot rest." Church leaders say they issued an invitation to McCain but he didn't respond. Close to 30,000 leaders of the historically black denomination will attend. Permalink
McCain's Nemisis: The Teleprompter
Sunday NY Times piece looks at the presumptive GOP nominee's struggles to meet the more formal speaking demands of a general election campaign. "His shortcomings have been accentuated in a two-man race, particularly because the other man — Senator Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee — can often dazzle on stage." Permalink
Convention Costs, Delays Worry Dems
Sunday NYT: With the Denver bash less than two months away, problems range from spiraling costs on key contracts, reluctance of local caterers to participate because of stringent rules on food. "At last count, plans to renovate the inside of the Pepsi Center for the Democrats are $6 million over budget, which may force convention planners to scale back on their original design or increase their fund-raising goals." Permalink
Obama Advocates Merit Pay Plan to Teachers, Gets Booed
The presumptive Democratic nominee angered teachers (again) at the NEA conference Saturday when discussing his proposal to pay teachers more if their students perform well on tests or if they take on added responsibilities. They did the same thing last year when he mentioned the plan at their meeting in Philadelphia. Obama addressed the group Saturday via satellite. "I know this wasn't necessarily the most popular part of my speech last year. But I said it then and I say it again today because it's what I believe." Full remarks here. Gets mostly cheers on his other plans for education, including mending No Child Left Behind. The group endorsed him Friday. Permalink
Gore Movie Maker Shooting Obama Convention Video
Davis Guggenheim, director of "An Inconvenient Truth" was with the candidate Friday at the Clark Chateau Museum in Butte, Montana for a film shoot for the DNC and the convention. The campaign maintains that Obama was merely doing a video shoot for the campaign’s new media department, a routine operation. Read pool report here. Permalink
Bush to Speak on GOP Convention's Opening Night
NY Times reports that the President will address the GOP crowd in St. Paul Sept. 1. One Republican close to McCain and Bush says the President will give “an important speech” but that a joint appearance was “highly unlikely.” The White House and the McCain campaign say the details were still being worked out. Permalink
Going Gray
Politico takes note that Obama may be aging before our eyes. "By his own admission this week, 'the gray is coming quick,' so that it now dusts his head like snowflakes." Permalink
McCain's Makeover
The Wall Street Journal has the deets on the presumptive GOP nominee's campaign relaunch. Says his town halls will now start with a scripted speech wound around a topic of the day, he'll also start relying more heavily on surrogates. Permalink
Housing Industry Ramps Up Political Donations
Front-page WSJ story finds mortgage bankers and brokers, real-estate companies and home builders had given more than $95 million to federal candidates, political parties so far this election cycle. In '06, the industry gave about $57 million by June. Permalink
Independent Vets Group to Spend More Than $1 Mil on McCain
Politico: Vets for Freedom -- a 20,000-member, non-partisan organization established by combat veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan -- launches their pro-McCain ad buy next week. Ohio, Virginia and New Mexico are included in the initial buy. Permalink
Obama: I Don't Want a TV in My Lincoln Bedroom
LA Times: The presumptive Democratic nominee says at a recent campaign event that if he's president, he may take the flat screen TV out of the historic White House room. "You should read when you're in the Lincoln Bedroom! Reread the Gettysburg Address. Don't watch TV." Permalink
VEEPSTAKES POTPOURRI
--John Edwards and Karl Rove will appear on stage together Sept. 26 at the University at Buffalo as a part of the school's distinguished speakers series. Permalink
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