The Page
Politics up to the Minute
Headlines from July 16th, 2008
Obama Joins Forces With 18 State Parties
The candidate establishes a joint fundraising agreement with 18 Democratic parties to provide money for his campaign. Party leaders think the program can also help downballot Democrats. Permalink
Former Obama Aide Tries to Use His Success as Leverage
Former campaign and legislative aide Dan Shomon has sought government-affairs clients in Washington by reminding potential prospects that he may have insider advice if Obama is elected. The Obama camp called the e-mail "inappropriate" and the former aide said he'll be more careful in the future. The pitch reflects the effort by some supporters and associates of the senator to leverage his political success for their own benefit. Permalink
McCain Ain't Kidding About Veep Choice
Nine-year-old Scholastic Kids reporter grills the candidate on his Veep choice in Albuquerque. Asked what qualities he's looking for in a running mate, McCain tells the boy: "Someone exactly like you. Young, vigorous, talented." But declines to specify when a choice might be named. Permalink
Delphic Oracles
Former Georgia Sen. Nunn and Indiana Sen. Bayh tackle the Veep question while meeting with reporters at Obama's event in West Lafayette Wednesday. Nunn: "It's always nice to have your name mentioned... Certainly, I would talk to Sen. Obama if he wanted to talk about it. But I think the chances of an offer are pretty slim." Bayh: "I think any questions about the vice presidential thing are understandable and it's good for my ego, but I should probably let Sen. Obama and his campaign address those sorts of questions." Permalink
Stocks Surge As Oil Drops
Dow leaps 277 points -- more than 2% -- as oil tumbles for the second straight day. Other major indices also rise 2%. Financial names help lead the charge. Permalink
Network Anchors Pack Their Bags
WashPost's Kurtz: NBC's Brian Williams, ABC's Charlie Gibson and CBS' Katie Couric will meet up with Obama on his swing through Europe and the Middle East next week. The interviews will be parceled out on successive nights in different countries. Get more details here. Permalink
Obama to Be Boston Birthday Star
The Senator is expected to host a Beantown fundraiser on Aug. 4 -- his 47th birthday. Three-hour event expected will be his only event in Boston that day. Permalink
CONVENTION CORNER
--Rolling Stone: Hip-hop's Kanye West, Wyclef Jean and N.E.R.D. will perform at the Democratic convention in Denver. --Michelle Obama and Colorado First Lady Jeannie Ritter will spend Wednesday Aug. 27 urging Americans to participate more in national service. --A federal judge in Minneapolis rules in support of restrictions for antiwar protestors planning on setting up shop outside the Republican convention. Permalink
Evening News Roundup
ABC: Led with continuing “wild ride” in the economy. Later, news of new White House Iran initiative, with mention it resembles Obama’s Iran plan. Quoted John Bolton: “This is like getting an Obama administration six months early." At close of the show, played new JibJab cartoon lampooning both candidates. CBS: Led with package on economic woes. Seven minutes in, Jeff Greenfield recapped McCain's NAACP address and explored the "tangled issue" of race relations in the campaign, including findings of recent NY Times/CBS poll. NBC: Spent the first six minutes on economic packages covering consumer prices soaring, oil prices dropping, stocks surging and the investigation into IndyMac. Eight minutes in, turned to McCain's NAACP speech, said he "scored points" by praising Obama, acting gracefully before the crowd and taking questions (something Obama didn't do). Said his tone reflected a "political reality," because getting "even a sliver" of the black vote will be tough. Permalink
U.S. May Cut Iraq Troop Levels This Fall
Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Adm. Mullen says at a Pentagon presser he expects to be able to recommend further troop reductions after finding conditions had improved more than expected. "I won't go so far as to say that progress in Iraq from a military perspective has reached a tipping point or is reversible -- it has not and it is not...But security is unquestionably and remarkably better." Permalink
Obama Releases Another Ad Touting National Security Creds
Thirty-second cable spot promotes the Senator's work on securing nuclear weapons, destroying terror groups and more. Like the ad released earlier this week, he again highlights his bipartisan work with Sen. Lugar. Click above to watch. Read script here. Spot begins running Thursday. Ad sent out by campaign immediately following his roundtable on 21st-century security threats. McCain camp responds with scathing statement: "Barack Obama has arrogantly insulted America’s allies around the world.... You cannot ‘rebuild alliances’ if you’re only interested in advancing your own political interests.” Permalink
McCain Aide: Obama Mirrors Bush's Stubbornness on War
In media call, McCain national security adviser Randy Scheunemann says Obama has an "ideologically driven commitment to withdraw at all costs" from Iraq. Implicitly compares him to Bush: "I think the American people have had enough of inflexibility and stubbornness on national security policy." Permalink
Obama: "We Are Constantly Fighting the Last War"
The presumptive Democratic nominee pledges to focus on emerging nuclear, biological and cyber threats during a national security summit at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. Lists goals of his administration as securing all loose nuclear material during his first term, ridding the world of nuclear weapons. Read his full remarks here and read campaign fact sheet here. Remarks are followed by a panel on such threats, which Obama moderates. During event he was flanked by Veep contenders Sen. Bayh of Indiana and former Sen. Nunn of Georgia. Permalink
SCHOOL FIGHT
McCain uses his address to the NAACP to push his education agenda, says he'll expand opportunities for children in failing schools, including offering private school vouchers. Read details here. Obama camp hammers back with a statement on McCain's education policy. Read statement here. Plus: McCain camp holds media call with education policy advisers reiterating talking points from NAACP speech. Phil Handy: "This is real reform.... this speech wasn't just about education, it was about opportunities in America." Permalink
Bernanke: Fannie, Freddie Not in Danger of Failing
The Fed Chair reassures Congress Wednesday the troubled mortgage giants are stable, says the best way to proceed is to keep them operating as is instead of having the government take them over. Bernanke made his remarks to the House Financial Services Committee on his second day of Capitol Hill testimony about the ailing economy. Permalink
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