Archive - September 4, 2008 - The Page by Mark Halperin

The Page

Politics up to the Minute

MCCAIN ACCEPTS NOMINATION, SAYS HE'LL BRING CHANGE

The Arizonan accepts the Republican nomination for president with "gratitude, humility and confidence." "Let there be no doubt, my friends, we’re going to win this election." "I will reach out my hand to anyone to help me get this country moving again. I have that record and the scars to prove it. Senator Obama does not." Also plays up his maverick image. "I don’t work for a party. I don’t work for a special interest. I don’t work for myself. I work for you." Ends with energetic riff, driving the crowd wild: "Fight for what’s right for our country.... We never hide from history! We make history!" Read prepared remarks here. Disrupted two or three times by protestors. Responds by saying "please don't be diverted by the ground noise and the static." Obama response: McCain "didn’t mention that he’s been a Bush partisan 90% of the time, that he’s run a Karl Rove campaign, and that he wants to continue this President’s disastrous economic and foreign policies...." Permalink

Cindy McCain: "I Know John. You Can Trust His Hand at the Wheel"

The potential first lady reassures voters that her husband is the man for the job in her convention speech. "It's going to take someone of unusual strength and character - someone exactly like my husband - to lead us through the reefs and currents that lie ahead." Watch video here and read prepared remarks here. Permalink

Hundreds of Protesters Arrested

Police used flash grenades and tear gas to herd a crowd of about 250 people onto a bridge where they were arrested, less than an hour before McCain was scheduled to speak. Permalink

Tiffany Net Has It Tied

CBS News Poll: McCain 42, Obama 42 In a CBS poll conducted last weekend, Obama led by eight points. Read more -- including how the enthusiasm gap has changed -- here. Conducted September 1-3, error margin +/- 3 points. Permalink

"A Warrior Who Has Sometimes Stood Alone"

Tom Ridge honors McCain in his Thursday evening convention remarks. "Where some people see adversity, John McCain accepts a challenge... Ready to lead. Ready to serve. Ready to deliver." Read more excerpts here. Permalink

The Republicans' "Secret" Plan to Beat Obama

A tried-and-true scheme, revealed Wednesday night -- and destined to continue on Thursday at Xcel. Read it here. Permalink

Womeno a Womeno

Obama plans to enlist Sen. Clinton and other prominent Democratic women to try to undermine Gov. Palin. Clinton will appear in Florida Monday, with Govs. Napolitano and Sebelius also expected to make frequent appearances. Former Clinton spokesman McCurry: “What McCain has done with Governor Palin’s nomination is aim right at a demographic that Obama needs to address quickly — non-college educated women." Plus: Axelrod says Obama will not challenge Palin's experience. Permalink

Obama Talks Tough to O'Reilly

The Democrat stays stern on national security in the No Spin Zone. Watch video above. On terrorism: "[There are] a whole host of networks that are bent on attacking America.... We have to go after them." On Iran: "It is unacceptable for Iran to possess a nuclear weapon. It would be a game changer.... I would never take a military option off the table." Read more excerpts here. Read James Poniewozik's take on how Obama did on Time.com. Click here to see do-you-believe-your-own-eyes pix of Obama with O'Reilly. Permalink

Michelle Obama: "I'm Done" With Children

The potential first lady tells Ellen DeGeneres she and her husband don't plan to have a third child. "I think our third child is this campaign.” Interview will air Monday. Permalink

Palin Attended Five Colleges

AP: Over six years, the governor-to-be attended Hawaii Pacific University, North Idaho College, the University of Idaho, Matanuska-Susitna College and then returned to Idaho. Permalink

Palin Keeps Swinging at Obama

The GOP veep candidate settles into the role of attack dog, continues to bash her Democratic opponent while meeting with Republican governors at a Minneapolis museum Thursday. Says after the meeting that leading a state means you have to make decisions and not just vote "present." She was indirectly referring to Obama's days in the Illinois Senate, when he voted "present" dozens of times among the thousands of votes he cast in his eight years there. Read pool reports here and here and here. HALPERIN’S TAKE: The 18 ways Sarah Palin can help McCain close the enthusiasm gap. Permalink

Evening News Roundup

All three shows led with McCain's upcoming acceptance speech. ABC: Led with look ahead to McCain's speech focusing on "bipartisanship and change." Noted it will be his sixth convention speech, played video of his 1988 address, also said battleground state delegations were moved to the front of the hall. Mentioned large audience for Palin's speech, and gauged viewer reaction in Ohio and Virginia, in which Republican voters seemed to respond very favorably to Palin. Stephanopoulos said Palin is helping unify the GOP and sparking energy and donations in both parties, but McCain must connect on the economy. Next package looked at Obama's reaction to the convention and played clips from his presser, including claim that speakers are not addressing economic anxiety. Another of Brian Ross' reports looked at corporate influence over the convention, calling it a "complete contradiction" of McCain's message of campaign finance reform. CBS: Led with preview of McCain's acceptance speech. Described his mood as "relaxed" and stage changes to put him at ease. Recapped Palin speech and Obama-Biden responses, including defense of community organizers. Ran package on low number of minorities at the RNC, Michael Steele said the party has "dropped the ball." Jeff Greenfield broke down Palin speech, saying she used "humor," "folksy language" and "small town" appeal effectively. Ran package on importance of undecided women voters. Bob Schieffer said the Palin speech "galvanized" the far right, Greenfield said McCain needs to "look into the future" in his speech, ... Permalink

Palin=Cash (for Obama)

Politico: An Obama aide confirms the Land of Lincolner has raised about $8 million from more than 130,000 donors and is on pace to raise $10 million by the time McCain reaches the stage tonight. Plus: The GOP picks up $1 million after Palin's speech. Permalink

"I've Been Called Worse on the Basketball Court"

Speaking to reporters in York, Pennsylvania, Obama brushes off criticism from Gov. Palin and others in St. Paul. Says he wasn't surprised the Republicans have gone on the offensive: "What did you guys expect?" Adds: "I believe that the American people need change, they want change, and I'm in the best position to do it." Responding to derision of his community organizing: "They're out of touch and they don't get it because they haven't spent much time working with those folks... They haven't offered a single concrete idea so far in two nights" to improve their lives. Read more presser details here. Listen to the full avail here. Permalink

Palin Draws 37 Million Viewers

Nielsen Media Research reports figures on huge TV audience pulled in by Wednesday night's headliner in St. Paul. Obama's acceptance speech last week in Denver attracted 38 million viewers at home. Permalink