Election Central Morning Roundup
Obama Reaching Out To Women Voters Today
Barack Obama's campaign will be focusing heavily on women voters today, starting with this morning's high-profile fundraiser in New York City with Hillary Clinton. The campaign will also release an in-depth plan on "Economic Security for America's Working Women," and the candidate will head to Fairfax, Virginia, where he'll host a town hall focusing on those issues.
McCain Courting Blue-State Voters
John McCain today is visiting two states that have gone Democratic for quite a while: Michigan, which hasn't voted Republican since 1988, and Minnesota, which hasn't gone GOP since the 1972 Nixon landslide. That said, both states have tended to be close in recent elections, and the McCain campaign is hoping to finally win them over.
Obama Almost Forgets To Ask For Money For Hillary
At a joint fundraiser with Hillary Clinton last night in New York, Barack Obama initially forgot to request money to help retire Hillary Clinton's campaign debt when he gave his speech. After realizing his error a few minutes later, he returned to the stage and asked his supporters to help Hillary.
Fiorina Goes Off-Message For McCain
The Los Angeles Times notes this morning that former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina hasn't been all that great a spokesperson for John McCain. For example, Fiorina suggested on Monday that McCain thinks insurance companies should have to cover birth control for women -- something that McCain has voted against in the Senate.
German Chancellor Opposes Obama Speech At Brandenburg Gate
The New York Times reports that German leaders are divided on the rumored plans of the Obama campaign to speak at the Brandenburg Gate, the site of Ronald Reagan's famous "Tear Down This Wall" speech, with the right against it and the left for it. "No German candidate for high office would think to use the National Mall or Red Square in Moscow for a rally, because it would be seen as inappropriate," said a spokesman for conservative Chancellor Angela Merkel.
GOPer Defeated In Special Election Drops Out Of Fall Race
Woody Jenkins, the Republican candidate who lost to Democrat Don Cazayoux in one of those embarrassing special elections this past Spring, has announced that he isn't running again. Republicans are set to rally around Bill Cassidy, a Baton Rouge state Senator, who a GOP source tells us has already managed to put together an impressive campaign structure and fundraising base over the last three weeks.
i saw the fundraiser where obama initially forgot to ask his donors to support hillary. I can understand why, his speech was so good that I almost forgot it was even a fundraiser for Hillary. But at least he corrected his mistake.
http://sensico.wordpress.com
July 10, 2008 9:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
Cue the PUMA frothing-at-the mouth screams of anger and indignation.
July 10, 2008 9:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
The exchange between a reporter and McCain after being asked about what Fiorina said is priceless:
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/07/09/mccain-squirms-on-birth-control-question/
July 10, 2008 9:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
That's why the Obama campaign should push McCain on the issue of birth control. That's the hidden agenda of the religious right---to ban all contraceptives. Once this becomes clear, you'll see a lot more female voters moving over to Obama.
July 10, 2008 9:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, this is a great opening. If even high-profile female McCain surrogates like Carly Fiorina aren't aware of how pervasive the influence of the right-wing is on the GOP, this issue needs to be better publicized. It's a good position for Obama that helps with women and the sensible middle and hurts McCain. If McCain flip-flops to appease women, he loses more of the conservative base of the GOP.
July 10, 2008 9:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
Another opening for Obama to paint McCain as out of touch on domestic issues and just doing the bidding of the religious right.
Also, can we find out what reporter asked the question? It's a totally fair question to ask and backing down from it and letting McCain off the hook is just so totally ridiculous. They should be embarrassed for themselves. What's the point of riding on the Straight Talk Express if the answer is I don't remember or I'll get back to you.
It's not even a question out of right field or a gotcha, like who is the leader of some small country. It's a pretty straightforward domestic policy issue that matters to millions and millions of Americans, not just women but their husbands as well.
July 10, 2008 9:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
Not lately.
July 10, 2008 11:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
Somebody tell Chancellor Merkel that the "Tear Down this Wall Speech" and the "Ich bin ein Berliner" by Reagan and JFK were both made at political rallies. Granted they were political rallies for the benefit of Germans, even jumpy ones like her who ought to be at least a little grateful the USA led by Democrats in the postwar era set the policy to spend so much of our taxpayer dollars and potentially our blood safeguarding her right to grow up a mouthy a-hole. We could have always turned to an isolationist like Taft who would have left West Germany to the Soviets.
Obama just might have something to say to Europeans and she ought to be honored he wants to say it from Berlin. Of course the idea that he can turn out a bigger crowd of enthusiastic Germans than she'll ever see is probably responsible for her churlish comments.
July 10, 2008 9:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
The Bush Admin. or ambassador probably asked her to do it as a favor. The last thing they want is a big show of European support for Obama during the election campaign, validating the idea that he will bring the world back together. And I say European because he would undoubtedly draw people from all across Europe to his rally.
July 10, 2008 9:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
That was my thought too, ohiomeister, that Merkel, through a spokesperson, made such a statement as a favor to the Republicans......maybe this was a return back rub for Bush.
July 10, 2008 10:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
I don't think it was to help Bush, but rather a sign that they are worried that Obama may inspire change in the German status quo and benefit the SPD. Merkel's attitude toward the Obama visit reminded me of this article that I just saw yesterday about the SPD in Germany searching for its own "Obama".
July 10, 2008 10:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
Looks like we called this one right! I can't help myself -- I'm going to brag in the other comment threads.
July 10, 2008 5:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
This reminds me of an article I saw earlier this summer--I think in Der Spiegel--about apathy toward German government, in which it was suggested that German politicians might be a little jealous of the massive crowds Obama was drawing in the U.S.
It also baffles me that Merkel would be willing to make such an ignorant statement publicly.
July 10, 2008 10:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
Someone yelled "nigger" at me this morning on my drive into work. Well, either at me or at my Obama sticker.
July 10, 2008 9:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
Wow. Just wow.
July 10, 2008 10:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah. He yelled it out his window as our cars passed (my Obama sticker in on my roof bike rack).
I was too taken aback to respond, which is probably a good thing.
July 10, 2008 10:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
Welcome to America, hyperrevue
July 10, 2008 10:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
It's pathetic!
I was called a "nigger lover" by a guy in passing pick up truck for having an Obama sign in my front yard.
July 10, 2008 10:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
hyperRevue let's think up a nice response to that. "Asshole" comes to mind but there's gotta be a better one.
July 10, 2008 10:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
My nice response...
VOTE!
July 10, 2008 10:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
how about: "black is the new president, bitch. god bless america."
July 10, 2008 10:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
Not surprising. The good thing to remember is for every 1 like that bozo, there are 10 people more motivated to come out and vote, who never did before, for obama. 20 years ago I would have been more concerned with the racists. Today, not so much. We've come a long way as a country.
July 10, 2008 1:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
hyperRevue:
This reminds me, I need to go buy more Obama stickers... :)
July 10, 2008 10:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
Though I'm thrilled about his visit, I too think the scale and symbolism of speaking at the Brandenburg Gate is inappropriate for a presidential candidate. It also diminishes the impact of any later speech he might make there as President.
There are plenty of places where he could "introduce himself" to Europe which would be more suitable for such a visit. Potsdamer Platz comes to mind, for one.
July 10, 2008 10:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
I am inclined to agree. It is not as if there is a shortage of dramatic backdrops available.
July 10, 2008 11:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm inclined to agree as well. I think he should back off asap and the controversy will be forgotten. There are a ton of other places in berlin for the rally that will be just as persuasive and historic.
July 10, 2008 1:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Who would Jesus vote for? We had to ask the question, right? Everyone claims to know. Just not sure about this one. I mean really. Can they Guy even vote? He’s not American. And I doubt whether he would be allowed into the US in any case. Think about it. Long beard, wears a dress and a Middle Eastern passport. But what if He could vote? Who would He vote for? Does He even care who you vote for? Let’s speculate. It’s all we can do. We have no direct line and He doesn’t have a Facebook Group Page or radio show. Sorry Hagee, Pat and gang – neither do you have him on your “5 friends” list on your phone. I gave it a shot – but not sure I got an answer. http://angryafrican.net/2008/07/09/who-would-jesus-vote-for/
July 10, 2008 11:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
I have no answer for your many questions, but I can say with some certainty that Jesus would not eat spam...
July 10, 2008 11:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
Granted, Jesus was fairly progressive when he was young but 2000 years is a long time and by now he might be yelling at kids to get the hell off his lawn. The G.O.P. is the party of choice for crotchety old people.
July 10, 2008 12:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
I can't believe mcbush has forino as a spokesperson on the gd economy of all things. She ran hp into the ground and offshored every job that she could. She was a terrible ceo and she was freaking wiretapping and spying on the board of hp before she was booted. What a joke and she's a spokesperson? The titanic is taking on water fast! Rearrange the deck chairs quick!
July 10, 2008 1:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
His answer would depend on when he was polled.
If you asked him during his blood-sweating agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, he'd probably say McSame. Any other time, though, he'd give a big thumbs-up for BigO.
That Jesus. What a flip-flopper!
July 10, 2008 2:42 PM | Reply | Permalink