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Politics up to the Minute

Headlines from September 20th, 2008

NY Times: Palin Shielded by Debate Format

Paper says "There will... be much less opportunity for free-wheeling, direct exchanges" in the veep candidate showdown than in McCain-Obama debates, "at the insistence of the McCain campaign." Story chock full of information about the debate-about-debates and final formats. Permalink

Candidates Weigh In on Islamabad Bombing

Obama, McCain release statements on the Saturday explosion at the Pakistan Marriott hotel that killed 40. Obama: "Today’s attack demonstrates the grave and urgent threat that al Qaeda and its affiliates pose to the United States, to Pakistan, and to the security of all nations." Full statement here. McCain: "Today’s bombing must serve to deepen the resolve of Americans and Pakistanis alike to aggressively confront those terrorist groups that seek our destruction." Full statement here. Permalink

Dems Pounce on McCain Health Care Remark

Obama goes after McCain's remarks suggesting he's for deregulating the health insurance market, comparing it to the banking system, in Florida speech. "So let me get this straight – he wants to run health care like they’ve been running Wall Street. Well, Senator, I know some folks on Main Street who aren’t going to think that’s a good idea." Sens. Casey, Sherrod Brown hold afternoon media call to further push back against remark. Read McCain's essay in Contingencies magazine here. Permalink

OBAMA TO PREP FOR FIRST DEBATE IN SUNSHINE STATE

NY Times: The Land of Lincolner will "sequester himself near Tampa Bay beginning Tuesday for intensive preparation" ahead of Friday's debate. He'll be surrounded by a tight circle of key advisers, including Greg Craig, a foreign policy specialist, who is playing the role of McCain. Permalink

Obama Targets McCain on Regulation, Lobbyist Ties, Social Security

The Land of Lincolner goes after his rival in a range of attacks during Daytona Beach, Florida event Saturday. "There’s only one candidate who’s called himself 'fundamentally a deregulator' when deregulation is part of the problem." "There’s only one candidate whose campaign is being run by seven of Washington’s most powerful lobbyists." "But if my opponent had his way, the millions of Floridians who rely on it would’ve had their Social Security tied up in the stock market this week." Full remarks here. McCain camp responds: "This is a desperate attempt to gain political advantage using scare tactics and deceit." Full statement here. Permalink

AP: Race Matters

Essential reading: AP-Yahoo News poll finds "deep-seated racial misgivings could cost Barack Obama the White House if the election is close." Says "one-third of white Democrats harbor negative views toward blacks -- many calling them 'lazy,' 'violent' or responsible for their own troubles." Suggests the percentage of voters who may turn away from Obama because of race could "easily be larger than the final difference between the candidates in 2004" -- about 2.5 percentage points. Read more stats here. Permalink

Buddy Picture

2 reporters on the road deconstruct the McCain-Palin routine: TIME's Mark Halperin on why it matters. WashPost's Robert Barnes breaks down Palin's perf. Permalink

Bush: It's "Essential" Bailout Package Be "Robust and Strong"

The President makes remarks outside the White House following a meeting with the Colombia President, defends the government's bailout of Wall Street. "My first instinct wasn't to lay out a huge government plan. My first instinct was to let the market work. Until I realized when being briefed by the experts how significant the problem has become. So I decided to act and act boldly." The Bush administration is asking Congress to let the government buy $700 billion in troubled mortgages, according to a draft of the plan. Permalink

Palin to Sit Down With Afghan President

WashPost: The GOP veep candidate will meet next week with Afghan President Hamid Karzai in New York as the UN General Assembly gets underway. Biden will also travel to New York for the General Assembly's opening. He plans to meet there with new Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari. Permalink

McCain Attends 50th Class Reunion

The Arizonan watches the football game Saturday afternoon between Navy and Rutgers at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Permalink

Radio, Radio

Dueling Saturday morning audio from the potential next presidents address the economic crisis. Obama delivers the weekly Democratic radio address, labels McCain as "out of touch," reiterates his plan for shoring up the economy. Listen to it here. In McCain's weekly radio address he mostly stays away from pointing fingers at Obama, gets into the gritty details of his proposed solution. Listen to it here. Permalink

Focus on Science

The LA Times prints excerpts of the candidates' responses to Science Debate 2008. McCain, Obama discuss what they think about how to keep America innovative, climate change, biological attacks and more. Permalink

Rangel: Palin "Disabled"

The representative says when asked by New York's WCBS-2 television why Democrats seem afraid of Palin's popularity, "You got to be kind to the disabled." Adds after the reporter repeats the phrase: "Yes. There's no question about it. Politically it's a nightmare to think that a person's foreign policy is based on their ability to look at Russia from where they live." Later says he misspoke, meant to say "disadvantaged." Permalink

McCain Spends Major Cash in August

Last month was McCain's most exorbitant in spending so far, laying out nearly $41 million due to increased travel expeditures, payroll and media spending. McCain's spending still shy Obama's $55 million in August expenditures. Permalink

Music to His Ears

The Obama camp launches a CD soundtrack entitled "Yes We Can: Voices of a Grassroots Movement," featuring Kanye West, John Legend, Sheryl Crow, Stevie Wonder and others. Proceeds from the disc ($24.99 for a digital download, $30 for a physical product) will help fund Obama's campaign until Nov. 4. Permalink