Archive - July 27, 2008 - The Page by Mark Halperin

The Page

Politics up to the Minute

Obama Visits Hospital for Sore Hip From Basketball Injury

The 47-year-old swings by Chicago Medical Center to have an orthopedic check out his hip late Sunday night. Obama spokesman Gibbs says the injury from shooting hoops is nothing serious. After about 50 minutes in the hospital, some x-rays were taken. Obama: "It's all good ... I think I'm going to be good in about a week." Permalink

WashPost: Obama May Need More Southern Black Voters Than He Thinks

WashPost anaylsis: Despite the Obama camp's major push to register black voters in the south to try to help him claim victory, their projections of what they need may not be enough. Permalink

Obama Looks to Red States

In an interview with the Associated Press, the Illinois Senator says he's succeeded in expanding the electoral map, mostly in southern and southwestern states, but also in Montana and North Dakota. "It doesn't mean we're going to win all those states but at least we're making it a contest and giving voters something to choose from." Permalink

Obama Speaks to Minority Journalists in Chicago

The presumptive Democratic nominee addresses UNITY, a major minority journalism alliance Sunday in his first national appearance after returning to U.S. soil. Permalink

Hagel: McCain "Treading on Some Very Thin Ground"

The Republican Senator criticizes McCain for seemingly questioning Obama's patriotism and motives in latest attacks on CBS's "Face the Nation." Watch video above. "I think John is treading on some very thin ground here when he impugns motives.... John's better than that." Also hits McCain on latest ad, says it is "not appropriate." Read transcript here. Adds: "Both of these men are smart, capable, decent men who love their country." Permalink

Obama on Veep: I Want Someone "Who Can Help Me Govern"

The Senator tells NBC's "Meet the Press" he wants a No. 2 with "integrity" and "independence" who complements him with a useful area of expertise. "I'm not interested in a vice president who I just send off to go to funerals. I want somebody who's going to be able to roll up their sleeves and really do some work." Watch video above. Adds Hillary Clinton "would be on anybody's short list," says he would "love to have Bill Clinton campaigning for me." Brokaw also asks questions about each leg of his international trip and more. Permalink

McCain Tries to Explain "Timetable" Remarks

The Arizonan walks back from saying Obama's plan for a 16-month phased troop withdrawal from Iraq would be "a pretty good timetable" on ABC's "This Week." "Look, it's not a timetable, as I said. I was asked, 'How does that sound?' Anything sounds good to me." Watch video above. Full transcript here. Also discusses his latest attacks on Obama, talks about his abortion, affirmative action positions and stays coy on Veepstakes. Read key quotes here. Plus: DNC responds to McCain affirmative action remarks. Permalink

ON THE SUNDAY SHOWS

Read The Page's full coverage here. Permalink

Obama Backs Bush on Sending Diplomat to Iran Talks

The Illinois Senator tells Reuters the President's decision to dispatch U.S. diplomat William Burns to nuclear talks was a substantive move, should be taken seriously by Tehran. "Bill Burns is a very serious guy. And the Iranians should take that gesture seriously." Permalink

Kennedy to Stump for Obama, Downballot Candidates

NY Daily News: Sources say JFK's daughter has been inundated with speaking requests -- and will do campaigning for Obama and Democratic House and Senate candidates this fall. Permalink

Plouffe Doesn't Expect "Bounce" from Trip

Obama's campaign manager tells Politico Obama's globe trotting will help win votes in the long run but won't produce an immediate surge in the polls. "It was an important week, but it was just one week in this campaign. Come November 4th, this week will be important to voters, but every week will be.” Permalink

Obama's Real Trip Victory

Essential reading: Land of Lincolner more than survives interview with NY Times journo Maureen Dowd. Permalink

Clinton to Hit the Trail for Obama in August

The New York Senator says at a presser on FEMA trailers in Long Island Saturday that the Obama camp is dispatching her to "several" battleground states next month. "I'm going to leave it to them to announce. I don't want to in any way get ahead of them. But, you know, I'm doing whatever I'm asked and whatever I can." Permalink

Staff Profiling

The Chicago Tribune examines role of "tough-minded" Democratic strategist Valerie Jarrett who serves as "the other side of Obama's brain." Permalink

NYT: Black Radio is Obama's Answer to Conservative Talk

Sunday paper reports that supportive black talk radio is balancing out the criticism from Limbaugh, Hannity, et al. May also boost African-American turnout in November. Permalink