Blue Radar

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

• IRAQ General David Petraeus will testify before Congress today and face challenges from lawmakers to clearly outline an exit strategy from Iraq.  Petraeus plans to oppose Democratic calls for troop cuts.
• HISTORY In a survey of 109 professional historians, 61% of them ranked George W. Bush as the worst president in US history.  Another 35% ranked the current presidency among the bottom ten.  Only 4 of the 109 historians put the Bush Administration among the top two-thirds in history.
• 2008 ELECTION/PRESIDENTIAL Amid speculation that Condoleezza Rice will seek the VP slot on the Republican side, her spokesman contends she will return to teaching at Stanford University.
• 2008 ELECTION/PRESIDENTIAL John McCain raised $15 million in the month of March.
• 2008 ELECTION/PRESIDENTIAL A few months ago, a photo was taken of Terry McAuliffe holding an Obama campaign sign.  McAuliffe is the chairman of the Clinton Campaign.
• 2008 ELECTION/PRESIDENTIAL Democrats nationwide (Gallup): Obama - 52%, Clinton - 43%.
• 2008 ELECTION/PRESIDENTIAL Democrats nationwide (Rasmussen): Obama - 51%, Clinton - 41%.
• 2008 ELECTION/PRESIDENTIAL Pennsylvania Democrats (ARG): Clinton - 45%, Obama - 45%.
  2008 ELECTION/PRESIDENTIAL North Carolina Democrats (PPP): Obama - 54%, Clinton - 33%.

More posts throughout the day.

Comments

[Purple State Pundit]

That ARG poll looks a little too optimistic for Obama. He is already maxed out among black voters in it, which means they probably push leaners harder than other polls. It's possible that he could win the black vote 89-9 but it usually doesn't look that polarized in polls 2 weeks out. Generally more African Americans remain undecided until the end. Also, the ARG poll had men as 46% of the sample, and most other Democratic primaries this year have had about a 59-41 gender gap between women and men. So they may have overweighted men a little in this poll.

[bacaangel]

Media reports: Mark Penn steps down -- which gives the false impression that he is no longer affiliated with the Clinton campaign. False. It is Missleading, a disservice and Dishonest for the Media to claim that Mark Penn has been fired or has stepped down or that he will not be affilated with the campaign. Maggie Williams' statement is "After the events of the last few days, Mark Penn has asked to give up his role as Chief Strategist of the Clinton Campaign; Mark, and Penn, Schoen and Berland Associates, Inc. will continue to provide polling and advice to the campaign. " From the following statement it is accurate for the Media to say he has been DEMOTED!

In a lack of their duty to inform, some in the media do not question Hillary, when they do an interview of her or her campaign staff, why he is still on the conference calls, and if he has stepped down what exactly is Penn's role in the campaign since he is still on morning conference calls, but rather dismiss this question, as if he has really gone. This is a derelict of the Media's duty to the Public!

There are some true reporters, however, like Candy Crowley and Linda Douglas and others, who report this charade for what it is -- a minor Demotion, in title only, yet his duties will still be the same. If they say he has stepped down, then he should step down for Real, not be on Morning Conference Calls. However, THAT IS NOT WHAT MAGGIE WILLIAMS SAID, "he has been asked to" GIVE UP HIS TITLE, BUT HE WILL STILL ADVISE!

[RJ]

Todd, your "109 professional historians" link does not lead to it's intended target.