Archive - November 1, 2008 - The Page by Mark Halperin

The Page

Politics up to the Minute

ROCKED!!!!!

The comedian goes on the stump for Obama in Tampa, has some rough jokes for McCain. Get all the details here. Warning: Not all language suitable for children. Permalink

The VP candidate spends several minutes on the phone with a pair of Canadian comedians Saturday-- thinking she was speaking with French President Sarkozy. The Sarkozy imposter suggests he enjoys hunting. Palin: “Oh, very good, we should go hunting together." Comedian: “As long as we don’t bring Vice President Cheney.” Palin. “No, I’ll be a careful shot." Palin spokeswoman responds later: "C'est la vie." Listen to the call here. Permalink

The World According to Axe

The top Obama strategist chats with reporters while traveling with Obama in Nevada Saturday. Assures they are making a play for Arizona, says Obama doesn't need to gamble in Nevada and challenges Gov. Schwarzenegger to a basketball game. Read more notes from the interview here. Listen to the audio of his remarks here. Permalink

Obama Team: McCain Attack "Pathetic"

The Democrat's campaign fires back after McCain criticizes Obama Saturday: "It's pathetic that John McCain would take a statement Barack Obama has been making for a year about his faith in the American people and distort it to attack his patriotism...." Read full statement. Earlier Saturday: McCain seizes on Obama's comment that his Iowa caucuses victory "vindicated" his faith in the American people. “My country has never had to prove anything to me, my friends. I have always had faith in it and I have been humbled and honored to serve it." Permalink

Obama Goes to Town on Cheney's Endorsement of McCain

The Democrat pounces on Vice President Cheney's praise for McCain Saturday. Says in Pueblo, Colorado: "That endorsement didn't come easy. Senator McCain had to vote 90 percent of the time with George Bush and Dick Cheney to get it." "So George Bush may be in an undisclosed location, but Dick Cheney's out there on the campaign trail because he'd be delighted to pass the baton to John McCain." Read more excerpts here. McCain response: “Barack Obama and Dick Cheney aren't just cousins, they’ve shared support for the Bush energy policy and the out-of-control spending that John McCain has fought to oppose.” Read full response here. Permalink

Where We Are

Two views of where the race stands from the NY Times: --Obama topper Plouffe: "All the Kerry states right now are in good shape for us," letting the Democrat focus on keeping McCain on the defensive." --McCain aide Wallace: “We have never been as convinced as others by some of the discouraging numbers." "We are not saying we are moving ahead of him. But we are certainly encouraged by the tightening of the polls." Permalink

"Three Days"

The Land of Lincolner promises transformational change, an end to divisive politics "once and for all" during a Saturday rally in Henderson, Nevada. "We can prove that we are not as divided as our politics would suggest, that we are more than a collection of Red States and Blue States – we are the United States of America." "We can steer ourselves out of this crisis – with a new politics for a new time." Read prepared remarks here. Permalink

Biden Calls Out Protesters at Florida Rally

As a group of protesters wailed outside of Biden's FSU rally, he seized the opportunity to call for an end to the politics of division. "We can't moan about the politics of division unless after this election's over, God willing we win, we reach out to the very people out in the outer parking... Somebody's got to be big enough to stand up and end it." , 12:30 PM

"Florida, Would You Hire Us?"

The Alaska Governor speaks in Lakewood Saturday morning, urges voters to choose her and McCain Tuesday for the job in the White House. Permalink

Cheney: McCain "the Right Leader for This Moment in History"

While stumping for GOP candidates in Laramie, Wyoming, the vice president pushes for voters to pick McCain Tuesday. Says McCain "understands the danger" the U.S. faces with national security and is well-prepared to lead. "He is a man who has looked in the face of evil and not flinched...he's earned our support and confidence and the time is now for him to be our next president." Also praises Palin, citing her "executive talent, toughneess and common sense." Watch video here. Permalink

THE ROVE CARD

In Evansville, Indiana, Biden invokes The Architect in decrying McCain-Palin campaign tactics. Says it is “genuinely disappointing” that McCain has “reached into that bag of Karl Rove politics.” “Folks, we’ve had enough of this stuff.” "They are trying to take the low road to the highest office in the land." Also: Biden tells funny story about going to Mass Saturday morning for All Saints Day -- part of apparently successful appeal to Catholic voters. Permalink

What It Takes: Saturday Edition

HALPERIN'S TAKE: The five most important people in American politics right now -- who aren't running for president. Permalink

The Obamas Vote

, 10:08 AM

Obama Team Returning Aunt's Donations

The campaign is giving back a small number of donations from the candidate's aunt, a Kenyan living illegally in Boston. Earlier: Campaign says Obama "has no knowledge of her status but obviously believes that any and all appropriate laws be followed." Zeituni Onyango was told to leave the U.S. four years ago by an immigration judge who denied her asylum request. Read carefully written AP piece that broke the story here. Permalink

A Bush in a McCain Ad

The President's brother Jeb Bush speaks directly to camera in new TV spot airing in Florida. The Spanish-language ad focuses on taxes, spending and more. Watch it above. Read translated script here. Permalink