Archive - September 10, 2008 - The Page by Mark Halperin

The Page

Politics up to the Minute

Obama Recalls the Pre-Palin Good Ol' Days

The Land of Lincolner jokes with Letterman about how it feels to no longer be the media favorite now that the Alaska Governor is front-and-center in an interview Wednesday. "I mean, as somebody who used to be on the cover of Time and Newsweek, those were the days, I had a recent offer with Popular Mechanics, centerfold with a wrench.” Also talks about suggestions he’s been disrespectful to Palin, his plans to visit Kenya if elected, growing up in Hawaii and more. Read excerpts here. Plus: Read the pool report of Obama's arrival in Manhattan for the Letterman taping here. Permalink

Balz: So Much For Turning the Page

The WashPost sage bemoans the campaign’s tone and content, saying it echoes the partisan divide of the last eight years. "For all the talk about ending business as usual, what is taking place is a reminder that the forces that have controlled politics for many years are now deeply ingrained." "Good luck to the winner, who will then try to govern in the aftermath." Permalink

Another Evening News Victory for Steve Schmidt

Networks all lead with Land of Lincolner forced to defend “innocent remark” on a barnyard animal and cosmetics. Earlier: Land of Lincolner addresses the statement at start of Virginia event. Click here to watch, and here to read some of his comments. Cable, broadcast, talk radio, the web -- and everything else media -- are filled with animals, wheelchairs, sex education, and NOT the Bush record. Click here to see the future: the key to Obama's week (and maybe his whole campaign). Permalink

Bush Said to Have Given Pakistan Raids Order

The President secretly approved orders in July that for the first time allowed American Special Operations forces to carry out ground assaults inside Pakistan without the prior approval of its government, according to senior officials. Permalink

Oh, Oh, Oh, It's "Magical"

A McCain camp aide suggests they are "very seriously considering" having McCain and Palin campaign together more often than not in the next two months. Aide says aboard Palin campaign plane en route to Alaska: "Sometimes these vice presidential selections, the pairings, work in a magical way." Adds it could be the most a presidential and vice presidential candidate campaign in tandem in recent history. Permalink

NRA Mailer: Obama Would Be "Most Anti-Gun President in American History"

The gun rights group slams the Democrat over Second Amendment in mass mailing to members, gun stores and gun shows. Six million copies have reportedly already been printed. See it here. Permalink

Excerpts From Gibson-Palin Interview

Republican VP Candidate Speaks with ABC News' Charlie Gibson in Exclusive Interview Sept. 11, 2008— The following three excerpts are from the ABC News exclusive interview with Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin in Fairbanks, Alaska, conducted by "World News" anchor Charlie Gibson on September 11, 2008 Sarah Palin on Experience: GIBSON: Governor, let me start by asking you a question that I asked John McCain about you, and it is really the central question. Can you look the country in the eye and say "I have the experience and I have the ability to be not just vice president, but perhaps president of the United States of America?" PALIN: I do, Charlie, and on January 20, when John McCain and I are sworn in, if we are so privileged to be elected to serve this country, will be ready. I'm ready. GIBSON: And you didn't say to yourself, "Am I experienced enough? Am I ready? Do I know enough about international affairs? Do I -- will I feel comfortable enough on the national stage to do this?" PALIN: I didn't hesitate, no. GIBSON: (INAUDIBLE -- Didn't that take some hubris?) PALIN: I -- I answered him yes because I have the confidence in that readiness and knowing that you can't blink, you have to be wired in a way of being so committed to the mission, the mission that we're on, reform of this country and victory in the war, you can't blink. So I didn't blink then even when asked to run as his running mate. Sarah ... , 5:37 PM

Biden: McCain Camp Repeating 2000 Attacks

The Democratic veep candidate accuses the Arizonan's campaign of employing the same methods McCain viciously denounced when they were used against him by Bush eight years ago. Says at a Boston fundraiser: "What really disappoints me is the very tactics used against him, they're trying to use against Barack Obama now. It's literally saddening." "I didn't expect it...But I guess I should learn to expect everything." Permalink

Biden: Clinton "May Have Been a Better Pick Than Me"

The Democratic veep candidate lavishes praise on the New York Senator in response to a question at a Nashua, New Hampshire, event. “Make no mistake about it Hillary Clinton is as qualified as or more qualified than I am.” Watch video here. Permalink

BATTLEGROUND POLLS

The latest TIME/CNN numbers: Michigan: Obama 49, McCain 45 Get more -- including breakdowns by gender, age, income -- here. Missouri: McCain 50, Obama 45 Get more -- including breakdowns by gender, age, income -- here. New Hampshire: Obama 51, McCain 45 Get more -- including breakdowns by gender, age, income -- here. Virginia: McCain 50, Obama 46 Get more -- including breakdowns by gender, age, income -- here. Dates conducted: September 7-9. Error margin: 3 points. Permalink

42 Sunshine

Bill Clinton heads to Florida on September 29 to campaign for Obama-Biden. Permalink

Evening News Roundup

All networks treated the farm animal/cosmetics controversy as more important than Iraq, the economy, and health care, and meta-attempted to hold the McCain campaign accountable for its crocodile tears, forgetting or ignoring Michael Deaver’s rule about the importance of pictures over editorial points on TV. ABC: Led with the “lipstick” furor-- the latest instance of “short-fuse politics.” Package explicitly refuted the McCain team’s claim, saying Obama had spoken for more than 25 minutes and never mentioned Palin, and played McCain using the expression three times on other dates. Next report looked at the tactic of exaggerating or distorting an opponent’s words, also mentioning McCain ad loosely rendering Obama’s comments about Iran as well as Obama saying McCain wants to fight the Iraq War for 100 years. Next, Stephanopoulos looked at the electoral map, said the candidates appear to have roughly the same number of electoral votes. Predicted that two trios-- Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan; and Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada— could be decisive. CBS: Led with "mud slinging politics" of "lipstick" back-and-forth. Reported Wednesday marked a "sharp turn away from the issues and into a bitter war of words," Larry Sabato said the situation benefits the McCain camp. Covered Obama's response to "lipstick" controversy and previewed Letterman appearance. "Reality Check" played clips of McCain and Cheney using the "lipstick on a pig" expression and challenged accuracy of McCain ad on sex education. Ran piece on how Palin can "serve as a ... Permalink

South Carolina Democratic Chair Apologizes for Abortion Comment

Carol Fowler says in statement that she misspoke and is sorry if she offended anyone. "I clumsily was making a point about people in South Carolina who may vote based on a single issue." Full statement here. Earlier: On afternoon conference call, Sen. Graham and Rep. Blackburn pounce on comments from South Carolina's Democratic chair. Carol Fowler said Palin's top qualification "seems to be that she hasn’t had an abortion." Graham: "This is a striking back that is coming from panic more than anything else, and it is completely out of bounds... They really are in a meltdown." Permalink

Biden Opens Up to CNN

The Delaware Senator gets emotional in an interview with the cable network on remarrying after his first wife was killed in a car accident. Watch video above. "[Jill] restored my life. I know that sounds corny, but she really did." Full interview airs 10 pm ET on Saturday. Permalink