Archive - September 19, 2008 - The Page by Mark Halperin

Bill Clinton will make his fourth appearance as a guest on "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" Tuesday. His last appearance was in September 2007. Read release here. Clinton will also be a guest on ABC's "The View" Monday. Permalink

INVESTIGATOR: TROOPERGATE PROBE TO END BEFORE ELECTION

The Alaska lawmaker leading the investigation says the probe of whether Gov. Palin improperly fired the state's public safety commissioner will be completed by Oct. 10, despite the fact key witnesses are refusing to testify. None of the 13 people subpoenaed -- including Palin's husband Todd -- showed up to speak before the legislature Friday. Permalink

"That's How We See This Election: Country First Or Obama First"

McCain accuses his rival of putting himself before his country during his Blaine, Minnesota rally, suggesting Obama has been "gaming the system." "That's not country first -- that's Obama first..." Watch video clip above. Also: Again hits Obama on Johnson and Raines. Palin introduces McCain, delivers new remarks on the dangers of Iran's nuclear program. Then goes into stump speech, including electrifying the crowd with her signature line: "There is only one man in this election who has ever really fought for you." Permalink

Obama Mocks McCain, Makes Appeal to Floridian Women

Speaking at a Women's Rally for Change in Florida, the Senator accuses McCain of being "panicked," saying his solution to the economic crisis is to blame him. Offers his usual attacks on McCain's "the fundamentals of our economy are strong" statement, invokes Phil Gramm's "nation of whiners" remarks. Rally interrupted for several minutes by groups of protestors. Missouri Sen. McCaskill and Florida Rep. Wasserman Schultz join Obama on stage. McCain camp responds to his economic remarks here. Miami Herald: "Obama's visit Friday will be pivotal to swaying public opinion just as the first absentee ballots are mailed." Permalink

Clinton Steps Up Pressure on Supporters

The New York Senator kicks off an outreach called "Hillary Sent Me" Friday where she invites her backers to get involved directly in the Obama campaign. As part of the effort, she's urging them to travel to a specific battleground state each weekend, beginning with New Hampshire on Sept. 27. "This is a call to action. This is a must-do. We all have a role. And there is not a moment to lose." Permalink

Palin Blames Democrats For Rally Snub

Speaking in Minnesota, Palin says her disinvitation to an anti-Ahmadinejad rally in New York was due to Democrat partisans. Sen. Clinton planned to attend the rally, but canceled once learning Palin also planned to attend. Permalink

McCain Camp Links Obama to Chavez in Spanish Ad

Latest TV spot airing in Florida suggests Obama would meet with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez without precondition. Quotes some of Chavez's more controversial statements about America. Amount and length of buy TBD. Watch it above. Read script here. Permalink

New Battleground Polls

From the Marist Poll, among registered voters: Michigan: Obama 50, McCain 41 Ohio: McCain 44, Obama 44 Pennsylvania: Obama 45, McCain 42 Conducted varying dates between September 11-17; error margin 3.5 points Permalink

Obama Links "Born Alive" Attack Spot to McCain Camp

In an unannounced TV ad, the Land of Lincolner ties the independent group's spot attacking him on abortion to the slew of McCain camp ads widely disparaged by the media. Ad also suggests McCain is "running on a platform to ban abortion, even in cases of rape and incest." Watch it above. Permalink

Biden on Debate Prep

The Democratic veep candidate tells Katie Couric on CBS' "Evening News" that he's having a tough time getting ready for his October debate against Palin. "It's kind of hard to prepare, because I don't know what she thinks." Interview to air Monday. Permalink

AFL-CIO Drops Anti-McCain Mailer

The two-sided "out-of-touch" flier is being mailed to a million union homes in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Permalink

Obama Calls for "Emergency Economic Plan" for Working Families

The Land of Lincolner asks Bush, McCain and Congress to join him in supporting an agenda to help the middle class cope with the economic slump during remarks in Coral Gables, Florida. Watch video above. Read full remarks here. Adds he is refraining from delivering a more detailed agenda until he can fully review the details of the plan proposed by Bernanke, Paulson. McCain camp responds here. Statement comes after morning meeting with slew of top economic advisers. Details on who he consulted with here. Permalink

"We're Talking Hundreds of Billions"

Treasury Secretary Paulson says the government's financial rescue plan will cost hundreds of billions. But claims it "will cost American families far less than the alternative." Watch video here. NY Times: Lawmakers were "stunned" Thursday by the scope of the problem. Permalink

Bush: We Expect to Be Repaid

The president speaks on the financial crisis at the White House, flanked by Paulson, Bernanke and Cox. Calls it "a pivotal moment for the American economy." Says the proposed rescue package will put "a significant amount of taxpayer dollars on the line. We expect that this money will eventually be paid back." Read his full remarks. Permalink

Brain Trust

Fresh off their candidate's Green Bay financial crisis speech, several members of the Sedona Five -- McCain advisers Charlie Black, Steve Schmidt, and Mark Salter -- appear to be plotting their next move (or just enjoying the moment). See more of them here. Page quiz: which other McCain adviser has his back to the camera above? Answer here. Permalink