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First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.

Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director

Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC Political Researcher



The campaigners-in-chief

Posted: Tuesday, October 31, 2006 9:03 AM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: ,

 

The New York Times writes that at yesterday’s rally in Texas, Bush was greeted like a man "whose public approval ratings are 73 percent, not 37 percent…  The back-to-back rallies created just the image White House strategists are seeking for the president in the waning days of the campaign: that of a confident leader, surrounded by adoring supporters.” 

The Washington Times notices Bush suddenly talking about judicial nominees, border security, and a gay-marriage ban yesterday -- "themes that have been absent for most of the election season, but which he is now using to energize the party's base...  White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said themes were added because Mr. Bush is speaking to different audiences at the rallies and said this stump speech will carry Mr. Bush through Election Day." 

En route back to Washington from Texas last night, a jovial Karl Rove once again passed out candy (chocolate-covered pecans) to the traveling press corps.  "Those who daintily took just one were admonished by the bearer to 'take more, take more,'" per the pool report.  "He made a quick round of the cabin and paused on his way back out to declare, 'Sweets for my sweets.'"

Republican National Committee chair Ken Mehlman campaigns in some of the "killing fields" today for Indiana Rep. Mike Sodrel and Ohio Reps. Steve Chabot and Jean Schmidt.

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"Sweets for my sweets"? From Karl Rove? Pass me the vomit bag.
It's a shame that the President of theses United States has to beg, borrow and steal in order to get folks to come to see him. In this case, a picture is not worth a thousand words!
I doubt very much that Dubya has a 73 per cent approval rating anywhere. Another cherry-picked audience of adoration-prone ding-bats, foaming at the mouth over Activist Judges of their own and guaranteed fix $9,000,000-a-mile barricades, with faces traumatized by dangerous nuptual-seeking Gays, hardly is the heartbeat of America. Looking like the GOP-equivalent of a Heavens' Gate pic-nic, the worshippers, some of whom undoubtedly have "W" tattoos on their buttocks's, treated every twitch of the 'President' as a sign from God, every flatus as scripture. Can you say "Ranch Dividians"? Top it off with Rove's newest scam, "Nuts from the Nuts", and you've got as surreal a picture as you can get, from a mob that has specialized in such moments from day one. OK, A-mer-ca...you're either with'em or again'em.
I'm sure that in psycho George's mind his approval rating is 110%, and Karl Rove is just the gut to prove it. He's a President for all Americans - willing to kiss his butt.
Karl Rove is like the loser behind the curtain in The Wizard of Oz. Unfortuately, we don't get to wake up from this nightmare.
All that was missing was the grape Kool-Aid...
Where is Bill?
Folks- what if Karl pulls it off? then what? do we Dems continue to complain or do we work for a better America? I am worried the vote will not give us enough to push through legislation and W will become veto happy....
Ijust read an intering poll that over 57% of the hetesexal populaltion is favor of Gay Marriage, 20% civil uuions. and only 20% were agianst and type same sex marriage or civil union, the rest were undecied that isn't going fly this year. People are fed up
Talk about torture.. If the Rep. maintain control of the congress we will all be tortured for the next two years.
These are staged propaganda events that shouldn't even be covered by the news media. They should force the RNC to pay for the air time during newscasts as they are campaign events - not news. The only people attending these events are hand-picked lemmings that keep Bush divorced from the reality of the disgust most people have of him and his policies.
I live in a city with many Scientologists. As I looked at the people fawning over Bush it reminded me very much of these types of people- with the blank look ,pasted smiles, pale skin,clapping on cue.Some of these folks have a very weak identity.These people are afraid to hear the truth,unwilling to think on their own and capable of doing ANYTHING they are told by their supreme leader. Theres alot of cult-like stuff happening right here with this administration. Scarey, huh? Oh, Happy Halloween.
The Liar in Chief spent the day talking up the gay marriage (non)issue. How stupid does he think we are? Well not as stupid as we were two years ago. Say goodnight George.
Exactly how does "Dubya" get his "base" to fall in "lock-step" behind him so easily. Consider the fact that Republicans have held both houses of Congress since 1994, the White House since 2000 and a 7 to 2 majority of Republican appointed justices on the Supreme Court... It stands to reason that someone should eventually put 2 and 2 together and ask when are you going to do something about these issues and quit talking about them. It's not like all us evil liberals are in control!
First of all, Tony Snow being named Press Secretary to the Bush administration is one of the dumbest moves of the administration. And before his appointment he was with Fox News? Fox News? That's an oxymoron like military intelligence
Hey Jan in Clearwater...that's 'Sacred Leader' not 'Supreme Leader'. But after the Election...well, we'll see.


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