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March 2008

2008.03.31

More on Hillary's debt

She runs on a platform of free health care for everyone, but didn't pay for her staff's health care:

Among the debtsreported this month by Hillary Rodham Clinton’s struggling presidentialcampaign, the $292,000 in unpaid health insurance premiums for hercampaign staff stands out.

Clinton, who is being pressured to end her campaign against Barack Obama for the Democratic nomination, has made her plan for universal health care a centerpiece of her agenda.

Not the biggest deal.  However, it does underscore the growing financial differences between the two campaigns.

 

Edwards may endorse Hillary tomorrow

There's a rumor circulating the blogs today that, in a stunning announcement, John Edwards will endorse Hillary Clinton as soon as tomorrow.

If he does, Edwards will hurt his own political future, unless he truly believes that his endorsement will turn the tide and help Hillary win the nomination.

Hillary needs another crying moment -- this time in North Carolina

A new American Research Group poll shows Barack Obama having a significant lead over Hillary Clinton in the state of North Carolina.  Among all voters, he leads 51% to 38%.  But the most troubling statistic for the former First Lady is her deficit among women.  Obama leads her among female voters 51% to 40%.  Unless that number turns around, she can't mount a comeback.  After Pennsylvania, assuming she wins there, look for the Clinton Campaign to target female voters like crazy in order to turn the tide there.

Remember, even if Clinton survives Pennsylvania, she has an uphill battle.  Indiana and North Carolina vote on the same day in May.  According to a number of Clinton advisers, they will encourage her to drop out unless she wins either Indiana or North Carolina.

Chelsea made false statement about mother's condemnation of Darfur

Yes, that one member of the audience crossed the line a week ago by asking Chelsea about her take on the Lewinsky scandal.  But since she is a campaign surrogate speaking on her mom's behalf, she isn't immune to all scrutiny.

During a campaign stop in Pennsylvania, Chelsea Clinton falsely claimed that her mother was the first person to call the situation in Darfur a "genocide."

Actually, it was Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) who first spoke about genocide in March of 2004.  Clinton said nothing about genocide before then, and it wasn't until May of 2004 when she finally supported legislation that condemned the situation there.

Blue Radar

As we post each morning, here are the political buzz stories headlining the newspapers and blogs before you head to work today:

  • BASEBALL President Bush was booed loudly as he threw out the first pitch at the Washington Nationals opening baseball game.
  • POVERTY The number of Americans using food stamps is at an all-time high.
  • ENVIRONMENT Al Gore is launching a $300 million ad campaign on the issue of global warming.  His first ad is here.
  • IRAQ A number of Iraqi forces have defected to Moqtada al Sadr's Mehdi Army.
  • 2008 ELECTION Joe Lieberman proclaimed on Sunday that "the Democratic Party has changed," a hint that he will not support the Democratic presidential nominee.
  • 2008 ELECTION/PRESIDENTIAL The final delegate count in Texas is 5 Obama.
  • 2008 ELECTION/PRESIDENTIAL John Kerry is urging super delegates to make a decision regarding who they will support before July.
  • 2008 ELECTION/PRESIDENTIAL Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) has endorsed Barack Obama for president.
  • 2008 ELECTION/PRESIDENTIAL Democrats nationwide (Gallup): Barack Obama - 52%, Hillary Clinton - 42%.

More posts throughout the day.

Blue Nightowl Clips

As we post in the middle of each night, here are some of the top political clips making their rounds on the blogs at this hour:

  1. Donna Brazile explains Credentials Committee.
  2. Mark Halperin explains the Clinton argument for staying in.
  3. Obama on Sunday in Harrisburg, PA.
  4. Karl Rove heckled at George Washington University.
  5. Paul Krugman and panel on the state of the economy.

More clips tomorrow.

2008.03.29

Baghdad falls ...again

In a span of just one week, the political players went from a fragile ceasefire agreement to all-out war.  This weekend, as the Iraq army in Basra faltered, parts of Baghdad fell into the hands of militia leaders:

Iraq’s Prime Minister was staring into the abyss today after his operation tocrush militia strongholds in Basra stalled, members of his own securityforces defected and district after district of his own capital fell to Shiamilitia gunmen.

With the threat of a civil war looming in the south, Nouri al-Maliki’s policechief in Basra narrowly escaped assassination in the crucial port city,while in Baghdad, the spokesman for the Iraqi side of the US military surgewas kidnapped by gunmen and his house burnt to the ground.

Saboteurs also blew up one of Iraq's two main oil pipelines from Basra,cutting at least a third of the exports from the city which provides 80 percent of government revenue, a clear sign that the militias — who siphonsignificant sums off the oil smuggling trade — would not stop at mereinsurrection.

The diplomatic agreement between Iraqi factions, not the US surge, was what led to the relatively peaceful winter there.  Now that the ceasefire has been broken, the floodgates have re-opened and the violence is back.  But this time can a deal be reached, or has Iraq already missed its diplomatic opportunity?

Powerful lobbyist joins McCain Campaign

So much for being a champion of ethics reform.  This is from The Hill's web site:

Top Washington lobbyist Charlie Black is leaving his firm to join Sen. John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) presidential campaign.

Black,chairman of BKSH & Associates, told The Hill his resignation wouldbe effective Monday, March 31. He will join McCain's campaign on afull-time basis starting Tuesday.

“McCain asked me to play a pretty significant role in the campaign,"said Black, whose clients have included JP Morgan and Lockheed Martin,according to Senate records.

Therefore, Senator McCain has absolutely no right to claim to take the moral high ground by taking public financing.  He has lobbyists running his campaign, and Obama has real people donating to his.  Big difference.

New ad buy for Obama in Pennsylvania

Yes, he is going for it.  Hillary Clinton is supposed to win Pennsylvania, but Barack Obama is in the middle of a six-day bus tour through the state trying to make up ground.  He launched this ad one day ago:

By linking the issues of economy and ethics reform, he is trying to chip into Hillary's base.  Obama needs more support from white working men.

He trailed 51% to 39% in the latest Pennsylvania poll.

2008.03.28

Clinton's efforts to steal delegates in Texas

We had thought Texas was over with and done with after Obama grabbed a slight majority of the pledged delegates there.  Actually, the Clinton campaign is trying to contest the election of some Obama delegates there.  Wow!

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