Mark Halperin's three things to watch for in presidential politics for Wednesday, July 23:
1) Barack Obama is still on his international trip, spending time in Israel and the West Bank on Wednesday. Watch to see how much the media keeps on him about two questions: his view of the surge and his view of troop withdrawals from Iraq if he is elected president. Watch how much pressure there is for him to give more definitive answers on these questions than he has up until now.
2) Watch the McCain campaign; John McCain is trying to figure out how to drive both a positive message and a negative message that are not reactive to what Obama is doing overseas. McCain will hold a midday town hall meeting in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania on Wednesday. Watch to see what kind of progress he can make in getting his message across.
3) Barack Obama is in Israel dealing with the very complicated Israeli-Palestinian issue. He will try to balance his diplomatic agenda while reassuring American Jews of his support for Israel. Watch to see how he does in his Wednesday meetings with Israeli President Shimon Peres and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, as well as in questions that he takes from the press.
The Political Schedule
Wednesday, December 2
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- 1:45 pm
- President Obama receives the economic daily briefing in the Oval Office
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- 2:45 pm
- President Obama meets with senior advisors in the Oval Office
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- 3:25 pm
- President Obama meets with Senator Bayh in the Oval Office
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- 4:10 pm
- President Obama meets with Senator Graham in the Oval Office
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- 7:30 pm
- Ed Gillespie gives speech on "Rebuilding the Republican Party" at the University of Delaware
