Archive - September 22, 2008 - The Page by Mark Halperin

The former President goes on CBS' "The Late Show" and tells Letterman why this is a good time to be running for the White House. "It would be a great honor to be President now…I do think Barack Obama or John McCain should be looking at this with great relish." Watch clip above. McCain will be on the program Wednesday. Permalink

IT'S NOT THE ECONOMY, STUPID

HALPERIN’S TAKE: A dozen factors that will be more important than the current economic crisis in determining who wins the White House. Permalink

Biden: Obama Ad Mocking McCain Was "Terrible"

The Democratic veep candidate tells CBS' Katie Couric in a taped interview that the campaign ad mocking McCain for not using computers was "terrible." "If I had anything to do with it, we would have never done it." Click above to watch. And/But: He also says the ad is "very different" from McCain's sex education attack against Obama. Biden later attempts to clarify, responds in a statement. Read it here. Permalink

New Hampshire Poll Suggests McCain Regains Slight Lead

From WMUR/Granite State Poll: McCain 47, Obama 45 The same poll had McCain trailing by three points in July, after leading in April by six points. Read more on the poll-- including respondents' top issues-- click here. Conducted Sept. 14-21; error margin: 4.3 points. Permalink

Bill Clinton: I Understand Palin's Appeal

The former president tells TIME's Jeffrey Kluger that Democrats would be wise to avoid attacking the Alaska governor directly. "I’m from Arkansas. I understand why she’s popular.... It’s the job of our side not to attack who she is but to focus on differences in policy." For more from Clinton-- including his strategy to ease the mortgage crisis-- click here. Permalink

Obama Aide Pokes at McCain Economic Plan

Economic adviser Austan Goolsbee compares the Arizonan's agenda in response to the economic crisis to a popular childhood snack. "The specific plan that McCain put forward literally looks like something that came out of a Cracker Jacks box. I mean, it's 10 lines long. It wasn't a specific plan." Transcript here. Permalink

McCain Expresses Skepticism About Administration Plan

At Media, Pennsylvania rally, the Arizonan suggests proposal doesn't include enough oversight. Palin introduces her runningmate, takes Obama to task, saying he lacks a bipartisan record, slaps him on energy independence. Plus: AFL-CIO opposes Bush bailout plan. Permalink

Report: Palin Agrees to Cooperate in Troopergate

ABC News: Attorneys for Alaska Governor met with a special investigator for the Alaska Personnel Board Monday to broker the veep candidate's cooperation with the Troopergate probe. Permalink

ABC/WASHPOST POLL: VIRGINIA RACE TIGHT

Their latest polling of the battleground state shows: Obama 49, McCain 46 Also finds 52% of Virginian voters see the economy as the single most important issue. Dates conducted: Sept. 18-21. Error margin: 3 points. Read more -- including breakdowns by gender, race and party -- here. Permalink

Poll: Obama Up on Economy, McCain Leads on Crisis Management

From CNN/Opinion Research, among likely voters: Obama 51, McCain 47 Poll gives Obama the lead in handling the economy—52 to 44— but respondents say McCain could best handle an international crisis, 53 to 44. Click here for more on the poll. Conducted Sept. 19-21; error margin: up to 3.5 points. Permalink

Clinton Touts Obama on Economic Crisis

The New York Senator tells Fox Business Network she has spoken with Obama about the government bailout plan, saying "I'm confident he's on top of this" and "understands the gravity of the situation." "He is working with a number of very knowledgeable experts to be sure that he’s kept fully apprised of all of these changes that are going on in the negotiations." Like Obama, says she's "generally supportive" of the Treasury proposal, but thinks there needs to be accountability and oversight. Watch interview above. More interview excerpts here. Permalink

Dow Drops More Than 370 Points

NY Times cites bailout skepticism, a spike in oil prices for fall in stocks by close of business Monday. Permalink

Obama Shows Solid Lead in Iowa Poll

From Quad City Times/Lee Enterprises, among likely voters: Obama 53, McCain 39 The economy cited as top concern, trailed distantly by Iraq and health care. Conducted Sept. 15-17; error margin 4 points. Permalink

Biden Wants Stronger Voice for National Guard

The Delaware Senator tells the National Guard Association in address Monday that their role in the war on terror should allow them a bigger role within the Defense Department. Also suggests Lt. Gen. Craig McKinley, slated to become the first four-star general to head the National Guard, deserves a seat at the table with the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Full remarks here. McCain camp responds here. Permalink

ON THE LOW ROAD

Obama equalizes the lying game with advertisements/rhetoric on immigration, health care, and Social Security. "To Democrats who worry about whether their nominee is willing to do whatever it takes to win: You can calm down." Permalink