Oh-eight (D): On race and gender
Posted: Tuesday, October 23, 2007 9:10 AM by Domenico Montanaro
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Democrats
BIDEN: Campaigning in Iowa yesterday, Biden
discussed Iran and Iraq and touted his foreign policy experience for much of the morning chat. He emphasized the importance of his colleagues seeking the Democratic nomination to have a common agreement on Iran because of its future impact on the country. "We are going to say things in the spirit of trying to get ahead in the nominating fight that are going to give (President) Bush excuses, excuses that we should not take a chance on," Biden said.
CLINTON: “Clinton has paid 697 people to work for her campaign during the last three months, compared to 631 who have toiled for Obama,” according to an analysis by the Center for Responsive Politics. But “Obama has spent $12.6 million on salaries and benefits, compared with Clinton's $3.8 million.”
EDWARDS: The
Los Angeles Times' Wallsten wonders if Edwards is treading on racial and gender biases with his electability claims, "Edwards' status as a Southern white male -- characteristics that helped propel Democrats Lyndon B. Johnson, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton to the White House -- has this year offered some limitations, to the frustration of his campaign… Now, as Edwards lays out the closing argument of his primary election campaign -- that he is the most electable candidate and the most able to help fellow Democrats in conservative states -- race and gender are forcing him to tread lightly.”
“‘He may not be saying it, but he's putting the argument out there that white male rural voters won't vote for a black guy or a woman,’ Taylor Marsh, a Democratic blogger and radio talk-show host, said in an interview. Marsh also recently raised the race and gender questions in a blog posting about Edwards' electability claims.”
“‘The Clinton people talk about her strength with women, and Obama has talked about how there would be record African American turnout if he were the candidate,’ said Harrison Hickman, Edwards' pollster. ‘So, is race a factor? Is gender a factor? Yes, probably all the way around. Each of the candidates does seem to do better than the others among some racial or sex groups.’”
Meanwhile, the Washington Post profiles Joe Trippi and notes how he's Howard Dean-ing John Edwards. "While Trippi was described as a senior adviser when he joined the Edwards campaign in mid-April, he has become much more in the intervening six months: the de facto campaign manager, lead media consultant and -- perhaps most important -- trusted confidante of Elizabeth Edwards, whose influence in the campaign far exceeds that of the conventional candidate's wife.”
OBAMA: NBC/NJ's Aswini Anburajan reports: First diplomacy, now Social Security? Obama voluntarily took a jab at Clinton yesterday morning, saying that she had downplayed the importance of the Social Security crisis in the country. “Social Security is actually not in as bad shape as George Bush said it was, but it’s not in as good shape as some of the Democrats have been claiming. They saw well we don’t have to do anything about this we just need to get our fiscal house in order,” Obama said while campaigning in Nashua, NH. “Senator Clinton and I disagree on this. You know she has not indicated that there’s anything that needs to be done other than to restore fiscal discipline,” he added.
Obama went on to say that he favored a plan to do away with the cap on the payroll tax, and tax all income above and beyond $97,000 to help put the program on the path to fiscal solvency. Removing the cap is an issue that he has been increasingly vocal about on the stump in recent weeks, saying that it is the best way to help put the program on a path of financial solvency. Previously, Obama had said that he would consider all options including raising the retirement age.
The Chicago Tribune's blog, The Swamp, gives play to a story that Obama's foes have been pushing on the blogs. "A Gospel concert tour organized by the Barack Obama campaign on behalf of the candidate is stirring controversy among some gay activists. The three-day tour through early-voting South Carolina starts this Friday and finishes Sunday with a concert that includes Grammy Award-winning Gospel artist Donnie McClurkin, who has provoked controversy among gay activists for his views that homosexuality can be ‘overcome.’”
“The Obama campaign issued a written statement from the candidate saying that he ‘strongly disagree(s)’ with McClurkin's views. Still, a spokesman said McClurkin would remain part of the concert line-up.”
Obama filed to be on the ballot officially in New Hampshire yesterday. And while he was there, he gave a bow to Secretary of State William Gardner. Obama also held a rally beforehand.
