Archive - July 11, 2008 - The Page by Mark Halperin

The Page

Politics up to the Minute

House Democrats Set to Spend $35 Million on TV Ads

Documents show the DCCC has reserved the ad time for 31 congressional races throughout the country, including 19 in GOP hands. Final spending decisions have not been made. TPM has the full list buys in which districts here. Permalink

McCain Courts Hispanics in New TV Ad

30-second spot praises Hispanics' service in the Armed Forces, highlights quote from a June '07 New Hampshire debate. "So let's from time to time remember that these are God's children. They must come into country legally, but they have enriched our culture and our nation as every generation of immigrants before them." Watch it above. Read script here. The ad will air in Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico. Amount and length of buy unknown. Permalink

Oil Hits Record High Above $147 Per Barrel

Prices jumped almost $10 in the last 48 hours, erasing any of the price decreases in recent days. Plus: Dow falls below 11,000 for the first time in nearly two years. Mortgage giants Fannie and Freddie plunge on fears that the companies can't stay afloat. Permalink

Morning Show Summary

Edwards on ABC defended Obama on Iraq, declined to answer if Obama asked for his vetting info while Richardson hit up all the cable networks and Clinton's Wolfson talked veepstakes on Fox. Read The Page's full coverage here. Permalink

Obama Team Asks Dodd for Vetting Info

The Connecticut Senator indicates he has been approached by the Obama camp as part of their search. "There's been some inquiries, yeah. They ask for a lot of stuff. I'll leave it there." Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton and Dodd's Senate office decline to comment. Among other possible choices: McCaskill, Sebelius, Edwards, Richardson will not say if they've been approached. Biden and Salazar say they have not. Permalink

Wolfson: Clinton Not Being Vetted "As Far As I Know"

The former Clinton camp spokesman tells Fox News he isn't aware the New York Senator has been asked to undergo the formal vetting process. Suggests that doesn't mean she's not being considered for the ticket. "There is more information available about Hillary in the public record than just about any other public figure in America... That may be sufficient for him to make whatever decision he wants to make." Permalink

McCain's Failed Marriage, Fractured Reagan Relationship

LA Times digs into McCain's past and finds McCain has made several statements about how he divorced his first wife and married Cindy Hensley that conflict with public record. Discrepancies include whether he was separated from his first wife before dating Hensley, whether it was months or only weeks after the divorce that he was remarried. Also reports that McCain's divorce put a strain on his relationship with the Reagans, who rushed to help his first wife, find her a new home. Permalink

Third-Party Updates

--Georgia Rep. McKinney is the favorite at the Green Party convention underway in Chicago. The party is also trying to raise money for convention costs after being forced to borrow from members. --Nader takes questions from voters during a WashPost chat session, touches on Iraq, energy, health care, the third-party system and how he differs from Obama, McCain. Transcript here. Permalink

Obama's Camp Names Names

His campaign publishes the names of 181 new bundlers of campaign contributions following inquiries from the NY Times. Permalink

Obama May Sponsor NASCAR Car

Candidate in talks to back a car in Pennsylvania’s Pocono race next month. May attend July 23 press conference in Miami to announce the deal. Would be the first candidate ever to be a NASCAR sponsor. Permalink