Election Central Morning Roundup
Mark Warner To Keynote Dem Convention
The Obama campaign has announced that former Virginia Governor Mark Warner, who is on track to pick up a Senate seat this November, will be the keynote speaker at the convention. This should be seen as another major play for Virginia, by putting a very popular Democratic name there in prime time to advocate for Obama's election.
McCain In Michigan Today
John McCain is campaigning today in Birmingham, Michigan, in a big swing state that hasn't voted Republican since 1988. McCain has a media availability scheduled for 5:15 p.m. ET.
Obama Brings In $1.3 Million In Hawaiian Fundraiser
Barack Obama had a good evening last night in Hawaii, with a Honolulu fundraiser taking in $1.3 million. Obama offered this joke about why he's vacationing in Hawaii, a state he's virtually guaranteed to win this November: "It's going to be really embarrassing if we don't pull it out. I think I need to spend two or three days campaigning."
Poll: McCain Leads With Hunters, But Not By Much
A new poll from the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation finds John McCain ahead of Barack Obama among hunters, but by less of a margin than the Republican should be able to count on. McCain is ahead 45%-31%, compared to to a 27-point lead that George W. Bush had in 2004.
Right-Wingers Oppose Drilling Compromise
The Wall St. Journal reports that some conservative Republicans are coming out against the "Gang Of 10" energy compromise, which increases offshore drilling while simultaneously increasing funding for alternative energy. The Journal notes that drilling could cease to be an effective wedge issue if both parties actually came together and agreed to a compromise plan.
McCain Not Canceling Fundraiser With Ex-Abramoff Partner
The McCain campaign is ignoring calls from good-government groups for him to cancel an upcoming fundraiser with Ralph Reed, the former Jack Abramoff business partner. For his part, Reed is employing some interesting logic to say he isn't actually hosting a fundraiser: "I am just strongly supporting Senator McCain. I'm contributing to him and encouraging others to do so."
Additional news - Chuck Hagel announces he will not be endorsing either candidate:
http://strategy08.wordpress.com/2008/08/12/hagel-will-not-endorse/
August 13, 2008 9:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
Morning, Dan.
August 13, 2008 9:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
Top 'o the morning to you - how are you today?
August 13, 2008 9:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm drinking my coffee and slowly waking up.
August 13, 2008 9:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
I don't blame Hagel for not wanting to be the anti-Lieberman. Unless he plans to quit the Republic Party officially, there's simply no upside in it. Holy Joe should have been so circumspect.
August 13, 2008 12:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sounds like that anti-Obama book will convince a lot of people who weren't going to vote for Obama to not vote for Obama. Beyond that, can't see it getting much traction, even with the brain-dead press corps. Republicans always have to push things until they make them blatantly obvious. They couldn't find a different hatchet man than the one they used in 2004 to write this one? Hopefully it will finally force the media to admit that these conservative books only make it to "best-seller" status through these ridiculous bulk-buys and giveaways to the true believers.
August 13, 2008 9:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
It can make the NY Times best seller list without selling a copy. The list is based on printing numbers. Amazon numbers are based on sales and a prety good indicater of how well a book is selling. It is #9 on Amazon.
August 13, 2008 10:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm trying to find some way to make sure Obama benefits from this. I'm encouraging everyone to buy The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama (link to ebooks version). If Corsi is reeling in $$ from his collection of lies, Obama should see a spike in book sales. I think that would send out a great message.
August 13, 2008 3:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Smart move on Warner. Shows how serious the Dems are about Virginia this year, and gives a politician on the rise some exposure. Let's not forget this was a guy who people had been sizing up for a 2008 prez election a year or two ago.
August 13, 2008 9:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
Not to mention it's the keynote that launched Obama to the national spotlight back in 2004...
August 13, 2008 10:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
...Working off a series of text messages written by George Clooney.
August 13, 2008 9:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hopefully, putting VIrginia in the spotlight with Warner's keynote also means that Tim Kaine will not be the VP.
August 13, 2008 9:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
Good news for the Democrats in Ohio and PA. The new voters's law in Ohio is a big win for Obama.
I expect Obama's campaign to move their voters' registration to the campus come September. Register and vote right away. That is a big win for Obama and democracy as a whole.
August 13, 2008 9:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
A new poll has Obama up in PA despite huge influx of negative Ad from McCain.
Likely Voters
Obama 46
McCain 41
Margin of error +/- 3.9%
Registered Voters
Obama 44
McCain 36
Marging of error +/- 3.9%
If you're looking for internals, look here
http://www.philly.com/dailynews/local/20080813_Poll__Obama_leads_in_Pa___but_not_by_much.html
August 13, 2008 9:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
Some fun Georgia news:
August 13, 2008 9:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
That's scary, and I'm wondering why Saakashvili specifically appeared on American morning news:
August 13, 2008 9:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
Americans should be worried, the neo-cons are only using that guy as a proxy.
August 13, 2008 10:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
Also wonder why Bush has stayed away, allowing McCain to be seen as running the show. It's all so McCain can be seen as Presidential - it's one big set-up.
August 13, 2008 10:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
Some might call that presumptuous.
August 13, 2008 10:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
Some might, but I'm sure that the press won't.
They'll save that for the other guy.
August 13, 2008 10:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
McCain is shamelessly paraphrasing the French headline that appeared after 9/11 which read, "We Are All Americans Now." It was an expression of the good will towards the U.S. that people like Bush and McCain quickly pissed away.
August 13, 2008 10:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
I was hoping to see Ted Kennedy give a gripping, likely final address in the keynote spot.
Reading the tea leaves, Warner as keynote might be a sign that Obama might be selecting an older VP, because Warner is the really early favorite for the 2016 Dem nod (assuming Obama wins the GE and serves two terms).
Will Obama get back on the campaign trail already. This vacation has been ridiculous.
McCain is using Reed fundraiser issue to get free press saying he was the senator who exposed Abramoff. He's not going to actually go through with the fundraiser, but is using the sucker. At least that's my theory as to why he's going near the guy. If he does go though with the fund raiser, it could be a boon for Bob Barr in GA.
August 13, 2008 10:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
Jonze,
Obama will be back from vacation on Friday. Just chill.
August 13, 2008 10:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
Chill nothing. Who takes a weeklong+ vacation in the middle is a terribly important Presidential election? He couldn't gut it out for three more months?
August 13, 2008 10:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
This is the perfect time to take a break. He's been running pretty much non-stop for 22 consecutive months, and this will be a blistering sprint to the finish for both guys. After this, there is a lot of work to do as President, regardless of who wins. You won't see Obama take two and 1/2 months off in his first year like Bush did.
With the Olympics blanketing coverage this week and the conventions coming up, I couldn't think of a better time to spend some time with his family. He needs to be on his game during the stretch run.
August 13, 2008 10:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
You are, of course, absolutely right. But Jonze is just doing the duty of the resident worrywart. You have to keep them separated from the secondguessers or a thread just goes to hell...
"What makes Obama think he should be on vacation at a time like this?"
"I know! His campaign is a shambles!"
August 13, 2008 11:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
Once again Obama's campaign is asleep at the wheel with the Reed fundraiser controversy. Man these folks never recognize a gift when they see it.
August 13, 2008 10:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
That early voting in Ohio WILL be a big boon for Obama. I expect Obama to camp in Ohio that entire week and get people voting. I expect all the Dems to be fanning out throughout Ohio to get people to vote from Strickland to Hillary to Bill to Obama to Sherrod Brown, etc.
Ohio will be closely watched that week and will be immersed with ads.
August 13, 2008 10:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
Regarding the book . . .
Apparently Hannity listners are littering non-winger radio and reading the dust jacket on air.
- - - - -
Ralph Reed is reason 750 gazillion and five why McCain and the Republicants NEED to be reduced to a footnote in history by the end of this election cycle.
August 13, 2008 10:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hoo, boy. They're really gonna let old McFeeble take questions from the press? Batten down the hatches!
August 13, 2008 10:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
It will likely be concluded at 5:16 p.m..
I'm surprised they haven't hired a Japanese company to construct a robotic McCain facsimile. It would at least be able to stick to a script and make short, awkward movements. Lifelike in every detail.
August 13, 2008 11:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
Obama on vacation. why not? At least he isn't wind surfing.
He ought to capitalize on that with an ad showing him with the wife, kids and grandma watching the Olympics at home like everyone else is according to NBC's numbers. He can make his pro-Georgia statments during the day and show he's a regular guy with such an ad cheering on our athletes.
August 13, 2008 10:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
I wonder if Warner means no Kaine as VP. I mean the keynote speaker is basically the 3rd most important speech right? Behind the Presidential nominee and the Vice-Presidential nominee. Would you double down on Virginia by having two of the three top speaking spots from there?
I guess we'll all know within the week. And I would assume the VP finalists who are not chosen will be added to speak in lesser roles.
August 13, 2008 11:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
I agree with this, unless Obama's making a superpush for Virgina, which I wouldn't discount.
I was originally hoping that they keynote speaker would be Brian Schweitzer, as he's a very good speaker and as a well-liked governor from a red state in the Mountain West, he's a standout choice to give a front and center roll at the convention.
That is, unless he's going to have some other highly visible roll in a potential Obama administration...
August 13, 2008 11:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Things are looking bleaker for the GOP here in New Hampshire as the Divide Among Area Republicans Widens. (http://www.laconiademocrats.org ) And it isn't just the national issues having an impact - it's the arrogance of the local party.
The News Is Good!
August 13, 2008 11:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
I still believe Warner will be the VP. Anyone else catch the clue left by the announcement?
August 13, 2008 12:48 PM | Reply | Permalink