The Page
Politics up to the Minute
Headlines from August 14th, 2008
Obama TV Ad Questions McCain on the Economy
Thirty-second spot airing in Indiana juxtaposes positive McCain statements on the economy with Midwestern voters expressing their concerns. Watch "Fixing the Economy" above or read script here. Plus: Read script of a new similar ad here. Buy size and location are yet to be determined. Permalink
Barter Candidate: Trading Free Obama Stickers for Data!!!
The campaign launches a 15-second TV spot asking voters to "support change," and text the campaign to receive a free sticker. Read script here. The text campaign is one way to harvest phone numbers from potential supporters. Ad is airing in locations and at levels TBD. Permalink
Firefighters Union Endorses Obama
The International Association of Firefighters is expected to announce its support of the Illinois Senator at its annual convention in Las Vegas on Thursday. IAFF President Harold Schaitberger: "On every issue important to firefighters Senator Obama is and has been in our corner." Obama has taped a message for the gathering and dispatched Sen. Joe Biden to address the group. Permalink
McCain to Sit Down With Isaacson at Aspen Institute
The Arizonan participates in a conversation with the legendary Walter Isaacson at the Aspen Institute in Colorado Thursday evening. Permalink
Where They Are Thursday
McCain: Aspen, CO Obama: Honolulu, HI (no public events) Permalink
McCain Wins Week's Russian Roulette
In the smoking-fresh upcoming issue of TIME, Mark Halperin's weekly Scorecard gives the nod to McCain. Read all about the politics of Russia, the Obama-Clinton tensions, and John Edwards here. Permalink
Obama Reacts to "Shocking" Inflation Numbers
Says in statement: "Senator McCain apparently thinks the economy is doing just fine, and refuses to support any meaningful, short-term relief..." Inflation ran at 0.8% -- twice the expected pace -- last month, pushed up by costlier energy and food. The year-over-year change was 5.6%, the most in more than 17 years. Permalink
Report: Giuliani Slotted for Tuesday at GOP Convention
NY Post: Sources say the former New York mayor is tentatively scheduled to address the delegates in St. Paul during the second night of festivities. Giuliani was a marquee speaker on the first day of the '04 convention in Madison Square Garden. Plus: Colorado Sen. Ken Salazar is expected to speak at the Democratic convention Thursday. Permalink
Mile-High Oprah
Chicago Sun-Times confirms the talk show superstar will be at the Denver convention when Obama accepts the nomination this month. A representative says there are no plans for her to speak at the convention, dismisses reports about her renting a $50,000 house during the last week in August. Plus: Jesse Jackson tells Essence magazine he has accepted a convention invitation from Obama, though he will not have a formal role. On his crude televised remark about Obama: "We've gone on to the next stage." Permalink
Obama Rolls the Dice, Bets the Farm, and Goes for Broke
Does Barack Obama’s big play in Red States mean he could be spreading himself too thin? Does going for a big win (and a big mandate) make him more likely to win more than 370 electoral votes — or fewer than 270? HALPERIN’S TAKE: 270 or bust. Read it in the new issue of TIME here. Permalink
POLICY CORNER
--Obama economic advisers Furman and Goolsbee promote the Senator's tax plan in the WSJ. Plan to hold a media call on the subject later Thursday. --An AFL-CIO mailing tags McCain on Social Security-- and his personal wealth. Permalink
Rove: Four Battlegrounds Could Be Pivotal
The former GOP architect says Colorado, Virginia, Ohio and Michigan will be "the center of the action." Permalink
Russia: Forget About Georgia Territorial Integrity
Russia's Foreign Minister tells reporters the world "can forget about any talk about Georgia's territorial integrity" because it'll be " impossible" to persuade South Ossetia to return under Georgia rule. The statement comes as Russian President Medvedev was meeting in the Kremlin with leaders of Georgia's two separatist provinces. Earlier: Explosions were heard near Gori Thursday as a Russian troop withdrawal from the strategic city seemed to collapse. Plus: McCain keeps the issue at the forefront Thursday with WSJ op-ed on the latest developments. Permalink
Obama Visits Grandfather's Grave in Hawaii
The presumptive Democratic nominee visits the grave site of his maternal grandfather at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl while on vacation Wednesday. He also spent Day 6 of his R&R playing golf, visiting the Pali Lookout and taking 12 children for shave ice. Permalink
New Obama TV Ad Mocks McCain on the Economy
Thirty-second TV spot shows clip of McCain talking up the economy-- mixed with regular voters saying the opposite. McCain: "We’ve had a pretty good, prosperous time...." Man: "I’ve been out of the military for six months and I’ve been unable to find a job." Read script here. Details of ad buy still TBD. Permalink
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