First thoughts
Posted: Friday, June 22, 2007 9:17 AM by Domenico Montanaro
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First Thoughts
From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Carly Zakin
*** Is He Real Or Is He Memorex? A day after making his earmark requests public, Obama this morning gives a speech on government reform in Manchester, NH -- the same place where Clinton gave her speech on the topic back in April. Since filing his paperwork to form an exploratory committee, Obama has presented himself as a different kind of politician who practices a different kind of politics. But will this be voters’ dominant image of Obama come January 2008? Or will it be one shaped more by (Clinton campaign?) reminders of Rezko, intercepted oppo documents, and a new 527 group (see below)? The answer for Obama, even as he trails Clinton in the national polls, could end up deciding his fate in the early nominating contests.
*** Start Spreading The News: So Edwards goes to New York to give a speech on the “Two Americas” and his vision for “One America,” and what does he get in return? A front-page New York Times story on how the anti-poverty, non-profit organization he created after 2004 mainly benefited himself and his political profile. The piece is not very helpful to Edwards in that he's desperately trying to stay competitive on the fundraising front with Clinton and Obama. And the Times, more than any other publication, has major reach in the Dem donor world. By the way, just noticing, but by our count it’s the second time in the last two weeks the Times has run a front-page investigation into one of Clinton’s rivals.
*** Romney 911: Just how bizarre is this story that Romney’s staff may have made an illegal traffic stop of New York Times reporter Mark Leibovich? It gets another day of play in the news. And apparently there are not one -- but TWO investigations (one related, one unrelated) -- into the security staffer who pulled over Leibovich.
*** Non-Executive Privilege: So, apparently, Cheney is not that interested in fixing his own poll ratings. The news that his office is not an entity within the executive branch seems to have collectively outraged the media. This new revelation is likely to become fodder for Democrats to hit the Administration again on secrecy.
*** On The Trail: Clinton speaks at the National Conference of US Mayors in Los Angeles; Huckabee has a slew of events in South Carolina; Richardson makes three stops in Iowa; and Romney speaks to the Officers Convention of the Montana Republican Party before heading to Idaho. Also the wives are mobilized… Michelle Obama makes two stops in Iowa; Barbara Richardson attends a memorial service for the fallen firefighters in South Carolina; and Elizabeth Kucinich moderates a panel at Hiram College in Ohio.
Countdown to CA-37 Special Election: 4 days
Countdown to the Ames Straw Poll: 50 days
Countdown to MA-05 Special Election: 72 days
Countdown to LA GOV election: 120 days
Countdown to Election Day 2007: 137 days
Countdown to LA GOV run-off (if necessary): 148 days
Countdown to Iowa: 216 days
Countdown to Tsunami Tuesday: 227 days
Countdown to Election Day 2008: 501 days
Countdown to Inauguration Day 2009: 578 days
