Archive - September 15, 2008 - The Page by Mark Halperin

The Page

Politics up to the Minute

Todd Palin Goes "On the Record"

The GOP veep candidate's husband sits down with Fox's Greta van Susteren for his first cable interview. “I just didn’t see it in her,” he says when asked if he thought his wife would go into politics when they met in high school. Watch video above. Second part will air Tuesday night. Plus: Sarah Palin's interview with Fox's Hannity has been postponed from Tuesday to Wednesday due to Hurricane damage in Cincinnati. Permalink

Obama Ad Hits McCain on Equal Pay

An unannounced Obama spot airing in Virginia criticizes McCain for opposing legislation requiring women receive equal pay. "It’s one more thing John McCain doesn’t get about our economy." Watch it above. McCain camp responds here. Permalink

Obama Relentless on the Economy

The Land of Lincolner keeps up pressure on McCain for saying the "fundamentals" of the U.S. economy are strong Monday, invokes former economic adviser Phil Gramm. Says at an event in Pueblo, Colorado: "We know you meant what you said the first time because you’ve said it before." "And your chief economic advisor – the man who wrote your economic plan – said that we’re in a 'mental recession;' that this is all in our heads; that we’re a nation of whiners." More excerpts here. Permalink

UNDECIDED VOTER

The former GOP Secretary of State tells a group of D.C. students the election of an African-American president “would be electrifying" but he hasn't settled on either candidate for his vote. "At the same time [I have to] make a judgment here on which would be best for America." Permalink

McCain on Pig and Pork

In Associated Press interview, McCain says Obama didn't call Palin a pig -- he implied it -- and stands up for his runningmate on earmarks. Also cuts off a question about Palin's role in killing the "Bridge to Nowhere." "The important thing is she's vetoed a half a billion dollars in earmark projects -- far, far in excess of her predecessor and she's given money back to the taxpayers and she's cut their taxes, so I'm happy with her record." Read more key parts of the interview here. Plus: McCain camp attempts to set the record straight on earmarks, sex education and more in memo. Read it here. Permalink

Obama, McCain to Speak to Clinton Global Initiative

The two presidential candidates will participate with the likes of Queen Rania, Gordon Brown, Hamid Karzai, Al Gore, Michael Bloomberg, Lance Armstrong, Bono and more in addressing the fourth annual meeting. Obama by satellite. The conference takes place in New York City from September 23-26. Release here. Permalink

DOW CLOSES MORE THAN 500 POINTS DOWN

The drop marks the worst day on Wall Street since July 2002. Permalink

Obama to McCain: "What Economy Are You Talking About?"

The Land of Lincolner paints McCain as someone who doesn't understand the economy and is out of touch with voters while speaking at a rally in Grand Junction, Colorado. Watch video above. More excerpts here. McCain camp responds here. Plus: WashPost's Balz writes the Palin-obsessed "phase of the campaign may have ended" as the debate shifts to fundamentals. Key passages here. And: The AP says despite a day of campaigning on the economy "neither White House hopeful offered any fresh ideas for turning things around." Key passages here. Permalink

McCain: Fundamentals of Economy ARE Strong

The Arizonan pushes back against Democratic criticism for his saying in Jacksonville that the "fundamentals of the economy are strong," suggests he was referring to American workers. Says during a town hall in Orlando that the working class is the backbone of the U.S. economy, and their industry, skill and competitiveness can help keep the economy afloat. "My opponents may disagree, but those fundamentals of America are strong.... Our workers have always been the strength of our economy, and they remain the strength of our economy today." More excerpts here. Comes after Obama, Biden pummel McCain for original remarks, saying he's out of touch with the average American. Details here. Permalink

TOGETHER AGAIN

The GOP ticket will go back on the trail together Tuesday with a joint afternoon rally in Vienna, Ohio. Permalink

Report: Palin's E-mail Hacked

TIME's Scherer says he's been told the Internet reports showing screen grabs from the Alaska Governor's personal Yahoo! account are "not a hoax." Permalink

Can Obama Draw $9 Million in a Day?

LA Times reports the Senator could shatter fundraising records with two star-studded, Beverly Hills fundraisers on Tuesday. Read More Here Permalink

Evening News Roundup

All three networks led with lengthy segments on the economic woes. ABC: Led with "dark day" on Wall Street, calling it “all a bit dizzying." 15 minutes in covered candidates' responses saying neither explained how they would fix things and instead threw punches at each other. Noted Obama "seized" on McCain's "fundamentals are strong" remark. CBS: Led with coverage of the financial market turmoil. Continued by outlining how the presidential candidates played on the issue. Also mentioned Palin’s solo day on the stump, continuing her unwillingness to take questions from the traveling press. NBC: Broadcasting live from CNBC's headquarters, led with financial "meltdown." 15 minutes in, covered candidates' responses, including Obama calling the turmoil the "worst in nearly 80 years," McCain looking at "the U.S. economic glass as half full." Detailed the candidates' stances on financial bailouts, government regulation. Permalink

Lobster, Lamb and Beets on the Menu

Gratin of Maine lobster, ginger-scented Farm Lamb, roasted red, gold and white baby beets top off the White House dinner for the President of Ghana Monday night. Read the full menu here. And the guest list here. Permalink

Palin Talks Economy, Spells Out White House Role

The GOP veep candidate spends the bulk of her speech to voters at a rally in Golden, Colorado getting into the issues, including responding to the financial crisis. "Our regulatory system is outdated and it needs a complete overhaul.... We're going to put an end to the mismanagement and abuses on Washington and Wall Street that have resulted in this financial crisis." Watch video above. Also says in a McCain-Palin administration she would concentrate on energy, government reform and helping families with special needs children. Permalink