Election Central Morning Roundup
Obama To Meet With Merkel Next Week
Barack Obama will be meeting this coming Thursday with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has opposed his campaign's floated idea of speaking at the Brandenburg Gate. However, it appears Obama will still have the chance to personally meet with the conservative head of government when he tours Europe.
McCain In Michigan Today
John McCain is holding a town hall today in Michigan, a state that his campaign is aggressively targeting to turn from blue to red. Given the state's troubled automotive industry, expect McCain to push his gas tax holiday proposals. The Obama campaign has not announced any events for today.
Netroots Nation: Fox News Is Opinion Journalism
The Netroots Nation convention has adopted a fun policy for Fox News: If any Fox correspondents come by, their credentials badges will classify them as opinion journalism. For their part, Fox News isn't sending anybody over.
Freedom's Watch Making Robocalls On Oil Drilling
Right-wing independent group Freedom's Watch has stepped up its robocall campaign against targeted House Democrats. The New Hampshire Union Leader reports that the group is now hitting both of the state's Dem members of Congress, with calls declaring that "The only thing standing between us and billions of barrels of American oil are Democrats in Congress."
House Dem Facing Tougher Race This Fall
CQ has changed their rating for the Pennsylvania seat of Dem Rep. Paul Kanjorski from "Safe Democrat" to only "Leans Democrat." Kanjorski easily won re-election in 2006, but this year he faces a very well-financed challenge from Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta.
Bush Sewage Plant Initiative Makes The Ballot In San Fran
A voter initiative in San Francisco to rename a sewage plant in honor of George W. Bush has received a sufficient number of signatures, and will appear on the November ballot. The idea was hatched by a group calling itself the "Presidential Memorial Commission," which by their own admission was formed over drinks at a bar.
Hmm...don't love that Virginia poll. Having said that, unfavorable/favorable ratings are fairly changeable too.
For example, Bill Clinton had high unfavorable ratings because so many people thought he was a rich elitist. After they showed the "Man from Hope," at the convention, it went a long way towards correcting mis impressions.
Let's hope Obama has a "Man from Hope" style film prepared as well.
http://strategy08.wordpress.com
July 18, 2008 9:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
The Virginia poll is a great result, it gives us plenty of room to work with, especially if you consider these negatives are coming off a month of some of the most hostile press coverage Obama has faced.
Leave it to Eric to find some esoteric cause for CONCERN.
July 18, 2008 9:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
Are you saying being tied in a historically deep-red state means Barack Obama has a problem?
July 18, 2008 9:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
obama will now speak at victory column in berlin...........http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/219772,report-barack-obama-to-speak-at-berlins-victory-column.html
July 18, 2008 9:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
Victory column? Why does Obama hate the Danes?
July 18, 2008 9:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/219772,report-barack-obama-to-speak-at-berlins-victory-column.html
July 18, 2008 9:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
What does a gas tax holiday have to do with the automobile industry? People driving more for a month or two doesn't mean they're going to buy more gas guzzlers. I predict McCain will instead yammer on about Iraq given that he seems determined to make this election another referendum on the war.
Looks like Obama has 6 points of room to grow in Virginia, not counting any increase in turn-out.
July 18, 2008 9:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
Seems to me, all he's got to do to leave a good impression is not talk about eating pigs and not give her a massage. Anything beyond that would be icing on the cake.
July 18, 2008 9:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
He's meeting with Urkel week after next.
July 18, 2008 10:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'd subscribe to cable TV to see that!
July 18, 2008 12:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
I love the Bush sewage plant. My only fear is that it will be cursed by the name Bush and won't work.
July 18, 2008 9:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
I know, me too. I sooooo hope this passes. I would lmao knowing that Bush's legacy is honored by a sewage plant. :)
July 18, 2008 9:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
"If any Fox correspondents come by, their credentials badges will classify them as opinion journalism."
Of course if Keith Olberman shows up he'll get a regular journalist credential...Grow up.
July 18, 2008 9:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
There's a whole channel called "Keith Olbermann?" Awesome!
July 18, 2008 10:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
Just found this on Huff Post
i have been criticizing the media because i felt that they have been trying to keep the illusion that the race is close like the primary was to generate higher ratings...
you can see it in the stories, obama works out twice in a day and suddenly its like obama is going to shut down fast food and take away your life
meanwhile mccain hangs out with phil gramm and that barely gets a mention
anyway here was the story
ABC News/Wash. Post withheld results of poll favorable to Obama
Summary: ABC News and The Washington Post issued staggered releases of the results of their latest poll, withholding from their first release results favorable to Sen. Barack Obama, including the finding that 50 percent of registered voters would vote for Obama for president versus 42 percent for Sen. John McCain. The next day, the Post ran an article headlined "Poll Finds Voters Split on Candidates' Iraq-Pullout Positions," which did not mention Obama's 8-point lead over McCain. Later that day, ABC News and the Post issued a second release with additional poll results that stated: "Obama continues to hold most of the advantages in the presidential race."
and the link
http://mediamatters.org/items/200807170011
July 18, 2008 10:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think it's a disgrace to name a perfectly good sewage treatment plant after Bush. It cleans up the crap, not creates it. Perhaps the anus or colon should be renamed after him instead.
July 18, 2008 1:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
I am starting a petition to get the most infamous bathroom at MacArthur Park (in Los Angeles) named after 'the shrub'.
July 18, 2008 2:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Any names in mind?
I'm thinking "Bush Bowl" or "Can O' Bush", or, something more formal, like "George W. Bush Public Recreation Area".
BTW, I'm in S.F., and although naming a sewage plant after Bush gives sewage plants a bad name I'll still support the measure. (Sorry Justin, I can't help myself.)
July 18, 2008 4:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
You gotta vote the way you feel best; I'll be doing the same and voting against it. My money is on the measure passing, though.
July 18, 2008 7:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
COME ON FAUX NOISE . . . MAN UP AND SHOW UP AT Netroots Nation!
July 18, 2008 2:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
"MAN UP " kind of a sexist statement for a lefty like you...isn't it?
July 18, 2008 3:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
I would've expected..."PERSON UP!"
July 18, 2008 3:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Think in caricatures much?
July 18, 2008 3:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
It wouldn't be difficult for even a rookie politician to improve on the "sweetie" performance of Obama. And McCain is no rookie. He knows that the Democratic Party's treatment of Michigan during the Primary Campaign has also laid groundwork for him and he's going to build on that.
July 19, 2008 10:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
It's called Karmic kickback. This was often the behavior of the press during the Primary race with -- at that time -- Obama as the beneficiary. You look for the latest poll and they refer you back a few days. So you know something's switched.
July 19, 2008 10:26 AM | Reply | Permalink