The Page
Politics up to the Minute
Headlines from August 22nd, 2008
AMERICA'S STORY
America's families. America's family..... Permalink
Oh, The Expectations They'll Set!!!!
McCain camp memo claims to believe Obama will see a 15-point bounce out of Denver. Read it here. Obama camp responds: "They should figure out how to spin the fact that John McCain owns a dozen houses and thinks the fundamentals of our economy are strong before trying to spin our convention." Permalink
New McCain "Celebrity" Ad Hits Obama on Taxes
Ad launching Friday says Obama is "ready to raise your taxes, but not ready to lead." Click above to watch, and read script here. Amid chants of "Obama!," announces says: "Celebrities don't have to worry about family budgets, but we sure do." Airs on national cable and battleground broadcast TV. Permalink
Florida Dems Bash John, Cindy McCain's Wealth
Party crafts video mocking the couple's homes and airplane, among other things— including clip of Cindy McCain praising private air travel. Click above to watch. McCain response: “If Barack Obama expects the American people to believe he is a man of his word, he has a personal responsibility to condemn this ad.” Read full response. Permalink
Housing Wars, Day 2
Obama campaign manager David Plouffe sends out message to supporters rehashing "out of touch" message on McCain's houses. E-mail urges supporters to "write a letter to your local newspaper exposing the real John McCain." Read it here. Earlier: Obama takes McCain to task for not answering Politico when asked how many houses he and his wife own. Permalink
Obama Responds to Tentative Iraq Troop Withdrawal Agreement
The Illinois Senator praises the solution as "pragmatic and responsible." "Success in Iraq depends on an Iraqi government that is reconciling its differences and taking responsibility for its future, and a timetable is the best way to press the Iraqis to do just that." Also take opportunity to hit McCain on Iraq and continue newest line of attack, calling him "out of touch with reality." Earlier: Bush administration agrees to plan for conditional Iraq withdrawal by 2011. Permalink
Obama Keeps McCain "Houses" Gaffe Alive in TV Spot
His latest spot accuses his rival of being "out of touch," chastises him for not answering Politico when asked how many houses he and his wife own. "Call it 'Country Club Economics.' How many houses does he own? John McCain says he can't even remember anymore. Well, it's seven." Watch it above. Read script here. Ad will air on national cable. Amount of buy and how long it's running unknown. Plus: Obama aide Gibbs also hits McCain on gaffe in Fox News interview, saying "It's like Wheel of Fortune. Spin the wheel and figure out how many houses John McCain has." Permalink
BATTLE OF THE BANDS
Denver's Marquee Stars: Monday: Jesse Jackson Jr., McCaskill, Pelosi, Michelle Obama Tuesday: Rendell, Sebelius, Warner, Hillary Clinton Wednesday: Kerry, Daschle, Bayh, Bill Clinton, vice presidential choice Thursday: Gore, Obama Read the latest full Democratic schedule here. St. Paul's Marquee Stars: Monday: Schwarzenegger, Lieberman, Laura Bush, Vice President Cheney, President Bush Tuesday: Fred Thompson, Huckabee, Ridge, Giuliani Wednesday: Coleman, Fiorina, Jindal, Cindy McCain, Romney, vice presidential choice Thursday: Crist, Pawlenty, McCain Read the latest full Republican schedule here. Permalink
Master at Work
Long excerpt of Obama biography by WashPost's Maraniss hits the Web. Says growing up in Hawaii was "all contradiction and contrast" for the future candidate. Permalink
ABC News: SECRET SERVICE HEADED TO BIDEN'S
The network says a protective detail has been dispatched to the Senator's Delaware home Permalink
NEVER VETTED
Politico reports Clinton was never vetted by the Obama camp. Democratic official: "She was not asked for a single piece of paper. She and Senator Obama have never had a single conversation about it. How would he know if she'd take it?" How will Clinton's supporters feel about this? And/But: That didn't stop the chattering class for converging on her as the possible shocker veep announcement this week. More: Gibbs sidesteps the vetting question on Fox. Watch video here. Plus: Rush Limbaugh, whipping things up, says the Obama campaign has shown "disrespect" to the Clintons. NY magazine: Your guide to the Clintons and the convention. Permalink
MOST LIKELY TO....
Obama getting ready to announce his decision, with Democratic sources continuing to say "Watch Biden." 2 Republican sources say McCain has apparently settled on Romney as his pick, but no offer has been made. And/but: NY Times: "People close to the campaign also floated a wild-card choice, Gen. David H. Petraeus, the top American commander in Iraq." Plus: Politico reports McCain will hold a major rally with Romney, Huckabee in St. Louis the Sunday before the GOP convention. Permalink
UNDER PRESSURE
At a time of declining budgets and reduced staffing, the television networks and the Associated Press are sparing no expense in chasing veep prospects of both parties all over America. But most of the work of trying to get the scoop occurs over the phone and email. HALPERIN'S TAKE: What reporters say to Obama and McCain aides to try to break the veepstakes story. Permalink
Newsrooms on Fire
A local Kansas City affiliate is reporting that Gill Studios of Lenexa, which specializes in political literature, has been printing Obama-Bayh material. Developing... Permalink
Edwards Chats With Reporters on Veep Speculation
The little-known Texas Rep. Chet Edwards, who recently popped up on the veep radar, tells CNN outside his home he's "honored" Pelosi and others thought he'd be a good No. 2. "And I'm honored to be considered by the Obama campaign in this process." Watch video above. Adds he has not talked to Obama lately. Edwards also chats with Fox News, giving similar remarks. Earlier: AP reports Edwards was vetted by the Obama camp. Also reports he was a finalist for the job. Plus: Republicans drop rapid oppo on Edwards to The Page here. And: Rush Limbaugh reads from Edwards' voting voting and says he is not compatible with Obama... Permalink
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