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Entries in category General ElectionObama Ad Biden Disowned Aired Only Six Times By Josh Gerstein | Tue, 23 Sep 2008 at 12:52 PM Excerpt: An Obama campaign ad which poked fund at Senator McCain over his inability to use computers and was disowned yesterday by the Democratic vice presidential nominee, Senator Biden, aired a grand total of six times, according to a private firm which tracks... [continue] McCain Adviser Schmidt Rips New York Times By Josh Gerstein | Mon, 22 Sep 2008 at 12:20 PM Excerpt: During a conference call for reporters just now, a top adviser to Senator McCain's campaign, Steven Schmidt ripped into the New York Times, accusing it of flagrant bias in its coverage of the presidential race."Whatever the New York Times once was, it is... [continue] By Josh Gerstein | Sun, 21 Sep 2008 at 8:54 PM Excerpt: With just weeks to go before the November election, a former aide to John Edwards is starting a so-called 527 political organization that may seek to boost Democrats' chances at the polls. Citizens for Safety & Security was formally registered with the... [continue] Mich. GOP: Web Site Faces Libel Suit Over Foreclosure Voting Story By Josh Gerstein | Tue, 16 Sep 2008 at 3:53 PM Excerpt: A libel suit will be filed soon against an online publication, the Michigan Messenger, over its report that a county Republican chairman in the state said foreclosure lists would be used to challenge voters at the polls in November, the Michigan... [continue] Fannie Mae Slips from Obama Lobbyist Litany By Josh Gerstein | Tue, 16 Sep 2008 at 2:15 AM Excerpt: There was a curious omission Monday when Senator Obama lit into Senator McCain over the presence of lobbyists in the upper echelon of his campaign. "Listen, it's great that he now wants to talk about putting corporate lobbyists in their place. But he... [continue] By Josh Gerstein | Thu, 11 Sep 2008 at 1:48 PM Excerpt: Buzzing through the ranks of panicky Democrats in the last day or two was a video clip of a television interview in which movie star Matt Damon expresses deep skepticism about Senator McCain's choice of Governor Palin of Alaska to be his runningmate. The... [continue] GOP 527 Must Show Us The Money By Josh Gerstein | Thu, 11 Sep 2008 at 12:53 PM Excerpt: A new Republican-run 527 group planning advertising that could bolster the presidential campaign of Senator McCain of Arizona and undercut that of Senator Obama of Illinois, Leadership for America's Future, plans to disclose its donors publicly, contrary... [continue] By Josh Gerstein | Wed, 10 Sep 2008 at 12:26 PM Excerpt: Back in June, Senator McCain of Arizona proposed ten debates with Senator Obama of Illinois. Mr. Obama's camp declined, but I bet if that offer were on the table today, the Democratic nominee would jump at it.Even if some time at those discussions was... [continue] Union Big: No Contact From Obama Camp About Trooper By Josh Gerstein | Mon, 8 Sep 2008 at 9:31 PM Excerpt: A top official with an Alaska police union says Senator Obama's campaign never contacted the labor group to seek information about efforts by Governor Palin of Alaska to have her former brother in law fired as a state trooper."I want to state... [continue] By Josh Gerstein | Mon, 8 Sep 2008 at 6:19 PM Excerpt: The Republican ticket of Senator McCain of Arizona and Governor Palin of Alaska is now officially on public assistance.The Federal Election Commission announced today that on Friday it approved a payment from the federal treasury of $84.1 million to the... [continue] New 527 Group Plans Attack on Obama Themes By Josh Gerstein | Mon, 8 Sep 2008 at 12:56 AM Excerpt: Republican political strategists in California are setting up a new political organization which hopes to run television commercials undermining the central themes of Senator Obama's presidential campaign while underscoring the strengths of his... [continue] By Josh Gerstein | Thu, 4 Sep 2008 at 3:56 PM Excerpt: The morning after Governor Palin's stiletto-sharp speech last night to the Republican National Convention Democrats are struggling to find ways to parry her attacks and her folksy persona without getting trapped in the minefield of gender.The challenge... [continue] Gaffe of the Night: 'Sarah Pawlenty' By Josh Gerstein | Tue, 2 Sep 2008 at 8:18 PM Excerpt: A co-chairwoman of the Republican National Committee and the head of the committee which planned the party's convention, Jo Ann Davidson, just muffed Senator McCain's pick for vice president, referring to Governor Palin of Alaska as "Sarah Pawlenty, our... [continue] Ex-Gov. Whitman: 'Surprised' by McCain's Choice of Palin By Josh Gerstein | Tue, 2 Sep 2008 at 8:02 PM Excerpt: A former New Jersey governor and key figure in the moderate wing of the Republican Party, Christine Todd Whitman, says she was "surprised" by Senator John McCain's choice of Governor Palin of Alaska as his running mate."I think I was as surprised as... [continue] Ex-Clinton Backer: Graham Can Work McCain Against Tort Reform By Josh Gerstein | Tue, 2 Sep 2008 at 6:38 PM Excerpt: A prominent trial lawyer who is endorsing Senator McCain's campaign after backing Senator Clinton during the Democratic primary, John Coale, says opponents of tort reform should be able to "work things out" with the presumptive Republican nominee... [continue] DNC Vignettes: $80 Parking, Former Chair at the Fence By Josh Gerstein | Thu, 28 Aug 2008 at 7:24 PM Excerpt: Hordes of people are milling amid some chaos outside the Invesco Field as tens of thousands of delegates, press, community members, and VIPs try to make their way into the heavily secured site.There's no parking for the general public at the stadium... [continue] Congresswoman Invokes Judaism, Israel While Nominating Obama By Josh Gerstein | Wed, 27 Aug 2008 at 6:00 PM Excerpt: Departing from her pre-released text, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida just mentioned her Judaism and Senator Obama's views on Israel as she seconded Mr. Obama's nomination for president at the Democratic National Convention in Denver."As an... [continue] Obama Adviser: Next President's First Term May Be Last Chance for Mideast Peace By Josh Gerstein | Wed, 27 Aug 2008 at 4:54 PM Excerpt: A senior foreign policy adviser to Senator Obama, Gregory Craig, is arguing that the next four years may offer a final opportunity to achieve peace in the Middle East."This is, maybe, a last chance this next term," Mr. Craig said at a foreign policy... [continue] By Josh Gerstein | Tue, 26 Aug 2008 at 11:58 PM Excerpt: Is Senator Obama's campaign making a deliberate effort to tone down Democrats' public pillorying of free trade agreements like Nafta?It certainly seemed that way tonight at the Democratic National Convention here in Denver. Labor leaders, workers, and... [continue] Biden: After Iraq, Court Will Be Obama's Most Important Legacy By Josh Gerstein | Tue, 26 Aug 2008 at 5:23 PM Excerpt: Senator Biden wants voters and Democratic activists to put more focus on the consequences for the Supreme Court that will flow from the outcome of this fall's presidential race."Other than ending the war in Iraq, the single most significant thing that... [continue] Biden Warns of GOP Attack on Spending By Josh Gerstein | Tue, 26 Aug 2008 at 4:41 PM Excerpt: Senator Biden of Delaware sounded more like a sage political strategist than an attack dog when he appeared with Michelle Obama at a women-focused economic forum in Denver this morning.After hearing heart-rending stories from several women who faced... [continue] Clinton Asks Hispanics to Get Behind Obama By Josh Gerstein | Mon, 25 Aug 2008 at 2:40 PM Excerpt: The Hispanic activists who were among Senator Clinton's most loyal supporters gave her a rousing welcome this morning when she turned up at the Hispanic caucus meeting at the Democratic National Convention in Denver.As he introduced Mrs. Clinton, Senator... [continue] Convention Prompts Food Shortage in Mile High City By Josh Gerstein | Mon, 25 Aug 2008 at 2:12 AM Excerpt: The crush of delegates, politicians, and journalists descending on Denver for the Democratic National Convention has proven too much for the "Taco Bell" branch on the 16th Street pedestrian mall."Sorry, we are out of chicken, beef, pizzas," reads a... [continue] In Denver, Jewish Dems Kvell Over Biden By Josh Gerstein | Mon, 25 Aug 2008 at 1:18 AM Excerpt: Jewish Democrats in Denver for the Democratic National Convention are kvelling over Senator Obama's decision to choose Senator Biden of Delaware as his runningmate, judging by reaction at a reception hosted last night by the National Jewish Democratic... [continue] Church-State Separatists Disappointed, Not Panicked, Over Obama Plan By Josh Gerstein | Tue, 1 Jul 2008 at 2:41 PM Excerpt: A wave of concern spread among activists for church-state separation this morning as reports circulated that Senator Obama was planning to announce a faith-based initiative that would permit faith-related groups to fire and hire on the basis of religion... [continue] Obama and White Men: Where's the Gap? By Josh Gerstein | Thu, 12 Jun 2008 at 1:50 PM Excerpt: Just watched a discussion on MSNBC where Andrea Mitchell and Jay Carney of Time were talking about the nasty rumors about Senator Obama and his wife on the Internets. Like the old should-this-be-an-issue-to-discuss-in-the-press Nightline shows, the... [continue] Obama: America's First Jewish President By Josh Gerstein | Mon, 12 May 2008 at 9:21 PM Excerpt: Bill Clinton was America's first black president. Or so we thought. Until recently, John Edwards was running to be America's first woman president. Now, shocking word that Barack Obama may be in line to be America's first Jewish president. Discussing his... [continue] GOP Official: Wright Will Not Be Used In Ads By Russell Berman | Wed, 23 Apr 2008 at 12:29 PM Excerpt: With a rebuke of state party officials for using Senator Obama's former pastor in a television ad, the Republican National Committee and the McCain campaign are beginning to define what will be fair game in a general election match-up with the Illinois... [continue] Faux 'Nazi Skinheads for McCain' Group Registers with IRS By Josh Gerstein | Tue, 22 Apr 2008 at 9:21 PM Excerpt: A political group registered last week with the Internal Revenue Service, "Nazi Skinheads for McCain 2008," is aimed at skewering the presumptive Republican nominee, not backing him, an organizer said yesterday. "I'm not a Nazi skinhead. I'm not a... [continue] Clinton Backer Says of McCain: 'It's No Old Man's Job' By Russell Berman | Wed, 16 Apr 2008 at 12:02 PM Excerpt: WASHINGTON — A prominent backer of Senator Clinton, Rep. John Murtha of Pennsylvania, veered a bit off-message when introducing her this morning in Washington, saying in regard to Senator McCain that the presidency is "no old man's job." Mr. Murtha, a... [continue] Senator Clinton's First Lady Schedules to Drop Tomorrow By Josh Gerstein | Tue, 18 Mar 2008 at 12:11 PM Excerpt: More than 11,000 pages of Senator Clinton's schedules from her eight-year stint as first lady are going to be released tomorrow by the National Archives, which operates the Clinton Presidential Library, a spokeswoman said today. The records are to be... [continue] Amid Gaza Crisis, McCain Urges Cease-fire, Negotiations By Josh Gerstein | Mon, 3 Mar 2008 at 1:54 PM Excerpt: The all-but-certain Republican nominee for president, Senator McCain of Arizona, seemed to call this morning for negotiations to end the crisis caused by repeated missile attacks on Israel from Gaza and by retaliatory military strikes Israel has carried... [continue] Limbaugh Defends Clinton and Obama on Iraq By Josh Gerstein | Mon, 4 Feb 2008 at 5:27 PM Excerpt: Talk show host Rush Limbaugh is so exasperated about Senator McCain's surge in the Republican presidential contest that he is coming to the defense of Senators Clinton and Obama. On Mr. Limbaugh's program today, he said people should not be rushing to... [continue] Lieberman: McCain Could Keep Bloomberg Out of Race By Russell Berman | Thu, 31 Jan 2008 at 3:21 PM Excerpt: Senator Lieberman says the increasing likelihood that Senator McCain will win the Republican nomination could keep Mayor Bloomberg on the sidelines of the presidential race this fall. "My feeling all along has been that if he ran, it would be because... [continue] Indy Campaign Vet Says Bloomberg Could Win By Grace Rauh | Mon, 7 Jan 2008 at 1:13 PM Excerpt: At former senator David Boren's forum on bipartisanship and political independence at the University of Oklahoma there is chatter galore about a possible presidential bid by Mayor Bloomberg. Dean Barkley, a former senator who ran the campaigns of... [continue] "Breakthrough" Seen on Clinton Library Records By Josh Gerstein | Thu, 8 Nov 2007 at 5:28 PM Excerpt: The process for releasing records from President Clinton's library in Little Rock seems to have gathered speed in recent days as the issue hit center-stage in Senator Clinton's presidential bid. "We have had a breakthrough," a National Archives... [continue] Bloggers' Notebook: Potential First Spouses By Josh Gerstein | Tue, 23 Oct 2007 at 11:51 PM Excerpt: Five of the potential first spouses who could occupy the White House in 2009 were publicly auditioned Tuesday by California's first lady, Maria Shriver, at an annual conference she holds to discuss women's issues. Ms. Shriver, a former NBC broadcaster,... [continue] By Ryan Sager | Wed, 3 Oct 2007 at 10:22 AM Excerpt: You may have seen that ridiculous Giuliani campaign map yesterday that attempted to show how a Giuliani-Clinton race would put the former mayor in the catbird seat — that is, counting only Vermont and Massachusetts as definite Clinton wins, while... [continue] National Journal on the Interior West (and Virginia) By Ryan Sager | Tue, 2 Oct 2007 at 12:47 PM Excerpt: National Journal takes a look at the interior West (a topic near and dear to my heart) and Virginia and how they'll play in the 2008 election. Long story short, Independents and Goldwater Republicans have become disaffected by today's GOP out West.... [continue] By Seth Gitell | Mon, 1 Oct 2007 at 4:58 PM Excerpt: Mitt Romney commenced his run for president at the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston. Mr. Romney emerged as a point man critical of the Democratic proceedings in Boston and John Kerry. Today, in a major speech on his plans for America's... [continue] By Ryan Sager | Mon, 1 Oct 2007 at 4:49 PM Excerpt: John Fund gives a rundown of just how hollow is the threat of social conservatives running a third-party candidacy against a Rudy Giuliani topped GOP ticket: Threatening a third-party campaign is easier said than done. The task of securing a place on... [continue] By Ryan Sager | Mon, 1 Oct 2007 at 2:41 AM Excerpt: "There are two kinds of people in Montana: those who are for gun control, and those who run for public office." — Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer (D), quoted by the Los Angeles Times in an article about Western Democrats' concerns about the 2008 ticket... [continue] By Ryan Sager | Tue, 18 Sep 2007 at 12:46 AM Excerpt: The Republicans continue to shoot themselves in the feet with Hispanic voters: [Immigration] appears to be the root cause of a Hispanic migration from the GOP. In 2004, Bush got about 40 percent of that bloc—a high that largely resulted from an intense... [continue] By Ryan Sager | Sun, 16 Sep 2007 at 12:09 PM Excerpt: As sent in by Sun Albany correspondent Jacob Gershman: "Rudy Giuliani's spokeswoman, Maria Comella, dismissed the Clinton campaign's response to their web ad, in which a Clinton spokesman argued that Giuliani's attack was the lashing out of a desperate... [continue] By Ryan Sager | Thu, 13 Sep 2007 at 9:18 PM Excerpt: Here's the president's speech on Iraq. Mitt Romney responded before the speech was over: "President Bush understands that our most crucial objective in Iraq is to make sure it does not become a safe haven for al-Qaeda and Jihadist terrorists. But that's... [continue] Political Video of the Day II: Don't Mark Warner By Ryan Sager | Thu, 13 Sep 2007 at 3:37 PM Excerpt: The Republicans are pretty worried about Mark Warner... The NRSC already has a Web ad attacking him for raising taxes (and a Web site: Don'tMarkWarner.com):... [continue] Political Video of the Day: Mark Warner for Senate By Ryan Sager | Thu, 13 Sep 2007 at 10:38 AM Excerpt: Mark Warner is running for Senate in Virginia. Rep. Tom Davis and former Gov. Jim Gilmore are potential Republican contenders for the competitive Senate seat. Mr. Warner made his plans known in this video sent to supporters and posted on a new campaign... [continue] Interior West Watch: Nevada Democrats Gain Advantage By Ryan Sager | Sun, 9 Sep 2007 at 1:34 PM Excerpt: Over the last two years, I may have written a few times about the emerging "purple mountains" — that is, the interior West becoming a political battleground as it becomes less solidly Republican and more open to Democratic advances. There are a number... [continue] Mayor Bloomberg Has No Reason To Run for President By Ryan Sager | Tue, 28 Aug 2007 at 4:58 PM Excerpt: After all, Hillary Clinton and Mike Huckabee both support a national smoking ban.... [continue] By Ryan Sager | Mon, 27 Aug 2007 at 3:43 PM Excerpt: Fred Siegel has a great post up at Commentary's blog, Contentions, about all the hype over the idea of a Michael Bloomberg candidacy for president. (In particular, he's responding to this David Broder column.) Mr. Siegel basic point is that, despite all... [continue] Pew: Giuliani More Popular Than Clinton By Ryan Sager | Thu, 23 Aug 2007 at 2:48 PM Excerpt: Hillary Clinton is popular with her base. Rudy Giuliani is not as popular with his. However... Mr. Giuliani is popular with the electorate as a whole. Mrs. Clinton is far less so. All that and more in the latest report out from Pew.... [continue] Political Video of the Day: The First Green President By Ryan Sager | Wed, 22 Aug 2007 at 4:22 PM Excerpt: A new ad in Iowa, from the League of Conservation Voters:... [continue] Political Video of the Day: Clinton Says the Surge Is Working By Ryan Sager | Tue, 21 Aug 2007 at 2:03 PM Excerpt: This should make the Kos Krowd happy: Not only does Hillary Clinton say the surge is working, she says we constantly need to be preparing for the next war. While what she's saying sounds prudent to conservatives, it won't sound too great to liberals... [continue] Quinnipiac: Hillary Inches Up in Swing States By Ryan Sager | Wed, 8 Aug 2007 at 10:01 AM Excerpt: Here's the newsflash from Quinnipiac's latest swing-state poll, released this morning: "New York Sen. Hillary Clinton has inched ahead of her top Republican foe, former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani in Florida and Pennsylvania, and ties Giuliani... [continue] By Ryan Sager | Mon, 6 Aug 2007 at 1:11 PM Excerpt: Is Caroline Giuliani, daughter of Rudy, supporting Barack Obama? Slate's got her belonging to the Facebook group "Barack Obama (One Million Strong for Barack)" — at least until Slate made an inquiry this morning.... [continue] By Ryan Sager | Fri, 3 Aug 2007 at 10:46 AM Excerpt: According to the WSJ: Some 53% back the idea of building a third party to mount presidential candidacy. Support is strongest among men, those younger than 50, professionals and Northeasterners. Seven of 10 say an independent would enhance the... [continue] By Ryan Sager | Tue, 31 Jul 2007 at 10:19 AM Excerpt: The Sienna College Poll out of New York today has some relatively unsurprising findings in the primaries: GOP Giuliani: 40% McCain: 13% Thompson: 11% Gingrich: 9% Romney: 7% Dem Clinton: 48% Obama: 14% Gore: 10% Edwards: 7% In the general election,... [continue] By Ryan Sager | Fri, 27 Jul 2007 at 4:30 PM Excerpt: The Republican presidential candidates could hardly do anything stupider than skipping the CNN YouTube debate after the Democrats stepped up to the plate earlier this week. Only John McCain and Ron Paul — brothers in desperation — have signed up so far.... [continue] By Ryan Sager | Thu, 26 Jul 2007 at 12:20 PM Excerpt: May God strike me dead for citing an Ann Coulter column — but I'm actually citing it (really, truly) for an insightful point she's made, not for her normal, racist, faux-provocativeness (though, there's plenty of that in there, too). I didn't get into... [continue] By Ryan Sager | Wed, 25 Jul 2007 at 5:31 PM Excerpt: A very biased source (one with half a dozen daughters) points this out to me, and it's probably worth notice: Why hasn't a bigger deal been made over Senators Clinton and Obama saying during the Democratic YouTube debate that women should have to... [continue] By Ryan Sager | Wed, 25 Jul 2007 at 12:54 PM Excerpt: I should add a quick explanation of why I think Mayor Bloomberg has a greater potential to hurt Republicans than to hurt Democrats in 2008. It's actually pretty simple: Democrats are hyper-motivated and ready unite behind any candidate who wins the... [continue] Interior West: Patience, Grasshopper By Ryan Sager | Mon, 23 Jul 2007 at 1:38 PM Excerpt: The Denver Post laments that the interior West has yet to become a battleground in the 2008 election. As the originator of all this interior West talk, let me say a few short words in its defense... It has nothing to do with the primaries. The interior... [continue] By Ryan Sager | Thu, 5 Jul 2007 at 10:34 AM Excerpt: According to the latest Quinnipiac poll, Rudy Giuliani still leads in New Jersey — but a Mike Bloomberg independent candidacy would throw the state to a tie. Yet more evidence that Mr. Bloomberg could serve as a spoiler for Republicans in 2008, not... [continue] By Ryan Sager | Tue, 26 Jun 2007 at 8:35 PM Excerpt: The Club for Growth really doesn't like Mayor Bloomberg, and really doesn't want him in the presidential race. (Remember, as recently as yesterday, the Club was out in the press attacking Bloomy's record on spending...) So, what's up with that? Well, I... [continue] |
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