First thoughts: the battle for Iowa

Posted: Monday, November 19, 2007 9:21 AM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: First Thoughts

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Julia Steers
*** The battle for Iowa:

For the next 45 days, until the caucuses take place there, the Democratic presidential race will be all about Iowa. Their campaigns will spend millions of dollars, air countless TV ads, campaign for hundreds of hours, and knock on thousands of doors -- in a state with a population of less than 3 million and where 93% of the residents are white. Indeed, the top Democrats are all in Iowa today. Clinton campaigns in Knoxville, Waterloo, and Vinton; Edwards stumps with Jackson Browne and Bonnie Raitt in Davenport, Iowa City, and Cedar Rapids; and Obama visits Clarion and Fort Dodge.

*** Stepping it up: The reason this has become the central battleground in the Dem contest: It’s the only place where Clinton isn’t leading by a substantial margin. And her campaign, as the New York Times wrote over the weekend, seems to be worried: It has doubled its staff, is increasing its advertising in the state, and promises that rarely a day will go by without either Clinton or that OTHER Clinton stumping in the state. One of two things will happen in Iowa on January 3: Either Clinton wins, and she steamrolls through the primaries on the way to the nomination. Or she doesn’t, and the candidate with a majority of the advantages -- in polls, in endorsements, and with the most famous last name in the Democratic Party -- looks vulnerable and it becomes a two-person fight to the finish with the candidate who wins Iowa.

*** Rudy's new focus on Iowa:

Clinton isn’t the only New Yorker who is stepping things up in the Hawkeye State. So is Giuliani. Is it now two races in the GOP contest for Iowa: Romney versus Huckabee for first, and Giuliani versus Thompson versus McCain for third? What is Rudy up to here? Is this about killing off Thompson in Iowa to get him out of the way in South Carolina, a state the Giuliani folks believe they can win if Thompson isn't a factor? Remember, Dukakis used a third-place finish in the '88 caucuses to claim "victory" and prove viability outside of the Northeast. There is good news for Romney in Giuliani’s stepped-up activity -- it'll make a victory there worth more. But it also puts more pressure on him to win.

*** Is Obama letting folks see him sweat? What a difference a week makes. Last Monday, everyone was buzzing about Obama's stellar J-J performance. But after Obama’s less-than-stellar debate performance late last week, one can sense another one of those momentum switches. His campaign screamed to the top of its lungs after Bob Novak reported that the Clinton campaign was sitting on allegedly scandalous material on Obama. Then Obama got into a spat with an Iowa voter -- which he rarely does -- over national security and illegal immigration, which is one of those "looks worse on video than in print" stories. About the only good news for Obama this weekend is that the spat over the Novak story did appear to change the subject from the debate. That debate (at least for now) looks like a three-day story. By comparison, the Philly debate turned into a two-week-plus story. By the way, there's no truth to the rumor that the Clinton research shop has nicknamed its Obama war room: "The Barack Study Group." But it is a joke making the rounds of unaffiliated Dems...

*** Huck’s Delta Force:

So you’re Mike Huckabee. Your poll numbers begin to soar in Iowa, and the media start paying attention to your campaign. What do you do? You air your first TV ad in Iowa (at a buy of $60,000), and it features Chuck Norris. The ad is certainly buzz-worthy; after all, no one represents toughness -- and fitness -- better than Chuck Norris. But for a candidate desperately trying to be taken seriously as a potential president, does using Norris in your FIRST TV ad, convey enough seriousness?

*** Roger and me: NBC/NJ’s Matt Berger reports Giuliani gave a hearty laugh on Sunday when asked if his campaign is receiving preferential treatment from FOX. "Roger [Ailes] is a close friend of mine, he's been a close friend of mine for a very, very long time," Giuliani said. "I don't receive -- gosh, all you have to do is look at it and you can figure out I don't receive any different treatment there than any place else. The reality is that you have a lot of friendships, and to suggest you get preferential treatment because of them is just not right.” Interesting that Giuliani didn't dispute the closer relationship he has with Ailes. Is that something that will bug the rest of the GOP field? If Ailes is providing even "Kitchen Cabinet" type of advice, it's more advice than he's giving any of Rudy's opponents.

*** Rove the writer:

Nothing is going to be more fun than attempting to read between the lines of Karl Rove's Newsweek columns. His inaugural piece has a fascinating anecdote about Hillary Clinton and a West Wing mirror, and he uses it to paint her toughness and make the case that Republicans shouldn't just assume that simply running against her is a campaign message. What is Rove proposing exactly? Run on issues that Democrats usually run on, including the economy and health care. But the most fascinating thing about Rove's column is what he didn't write about: Bush. Not a single mention of his former boss’s name. An accident? Unlikely. The subtle message? The GOP nominee cannot run on Bush (but it appears Rove isn't ready to concede that the Republican has to run against Bush). Or is that for a later column?

*** On the trail: Elsewhere today, Giuliani holds a fundraiser and press conference in McAllen, TX; Huckabee raises money in Ohio; Kucinich, in New York, also raises money; McCain delivers a speech in New Hampshire and then holds a press conference in Boston before heading to Philadelphia; Paul is in Nevada; Richardson campaigns in New Hampshire; Romney is in Boise, ID before traveling to Seattle; Tancredo hits a fundraiser in the Dallas, TX area; and Thompson is in Mississippi.

Countdown to Iowa: 45 days
Countdown to New Hampshire: 50 days
Countdown to Michigan: 57 days
Countdown to Nevada and SC GOP primary: 61 days
Countdown to SC Dem primary: 68 days
Countdown to Florida: 71 days
Countdown to Tsunami Tuesday: 78 days
Countdown to Election Day 2008: 351 days
Countdown to Inauguration Day 2009: 428 days

EMAIL THIS

Comments

NBC/NJ’s Matt Berger reports Giuliani gave a hearty laugh on Sunday when asked if his campaign is receiving preferential treatment from FOX.

Oh, this is rich. NBC, who is the lead cheerleader for Hillary, asking if another candidate is getting preferential treatment.

NBC better watch out though, CNN is catching up to them for getting on the Hillary bandwagon. Anyone that has Gergen and Carville on as "unbiased" commentators after last weeks debate has got to be in the running for The Hillary Butt Sniffer of the Year Award.

Jerry Norton, Wilmington NC (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 9:46 AM)

I've noticed (like everyone else) that Huckabee has been rising in the polls. It seems like the media actually believes he has the opportunity to win now.

Huckabee is just a regular guy with an incredible message. I checked out:

www.mikehuckabee.com
and
www.hucksarmy.com

and got some good info. I didn't know that Huckabee was a supporter of the fair tax...kinda cool.

Chris, Loomis, Ca (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 9:54 AM)

What a surprise! The next Bush clone is cronies with the head of FoxNuts. Who'da thunk it?

Class Warrior, D.C. (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 10:22 AM)

No More Drama! Vote Obama!

With an Ex-Presedient stumping for her, Bill's Campaign staff "analyzing" the other candidates on Clinton News Network, Big Corp's giving Big Money, the best the media can do is gin up a siwft boat attack and highlight a spat? How many people have been arrested protesting sHillary?

No More Drama! Vote Obama!

Ben, Las Vegas (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 10:25 AM)

In order to match Huckabee and his 'Texas Ranger', Chuck Norris, Mitt plans on issuing oversized 'American Ranger' badges to all his staff. His personal guards will also wear converted Eastern Bloc giant 'General Hats', and will 'Duck Walk'.

Steve Turner Cedar Falls Iowa (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 10:26 AM)

That CNN debate was a joke. The whole country knows it. CNN filled the audience with Hillary supporters, arranged a few political activists in the name of "undecided voters", allowed the audience to engage in rude behaviors by interfering other candidates in expressing their opinion, and then arranged ex-Clinton employees to do the post debate spins........and this is billed as a Clinton victory??!! I mean what media think about people? People have a functioning brain and their own judgment. They can look through the media bias and filter the right information.

On the Novak report, Obama did it right. Clintons are playing old dirty politics. They are using left and right media to play their dirt. Regardless Obama win or loose, he is a man of principle and integrity and he should stand tall to defend it. What kind of crap is that: I have dirt to throw on you and i won't say it. I will allow it to pay in people's mind forever. He asked release the dirt and say you are not behind it. It's fair. Novak might be a right wing journalist, involved in cases like Valerie Plam identity disclosure. I don't like him, don't agree with him on substance but I don't think he is a liar. I can't say the same about Clinton campaign because history is the witness, this couple is full of shameless lies. They can tell lie looking into cameras, under oath. I will take Novak's word any day over Hillary's. And I am a registered democrat.

Arshad, Newburgh, NY (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 10:28 AM)

Unnamed sources claim Karl is 'Swifting' for Mitt, now.

Steve Turner Cedar Falls Iowa (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 10:29 AM)

lane filler, Spartanburg, SC (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 10:29 AM)

I would argue that the backlash from the CNN debate's bias coupled with the possibility of smearing Obama has turned the momentum back against Clinton, just as it was in the two weeks following the Philidelphia debate. There's no way to argue that Clinton benefitted from the Novak exchange; any campaign put in Obama's position, including Clinton's, is best off confronting the rumors and asking others to denounce the story. I'm sure if the roles had been reversed in this controversy, Obama wouldn't have taken three or four responses to have denied any involvement, nor would he complain about having to deny it. Letting a Republican smear fester because Democrats are unwilling to deny involvement is no primary strategy, let alone a general election strategy, yet the Clinton campaign thinks this is the proper way to deal with these things.

Also, the conclusion that Clinton will stay in a two way race after losing Iowa is flawed. If she comes in a distant third in Iowa and tanks nationally, we could have an Obama-Edwards final two. This is only one of a few likely scenarios, of course, but it's ridiculous to dismiss it as the punditry seems so eager to do.

Shadow, Hamden, CT (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 10:41 AM)

Daily First Read Truth-Pak-

Trust no one...
The following sites devote as much time and space to Denis Kucinich and Joe Biden as they do to the big three. Whether you are a dem or republican, liberal, moderate or conservative, your candidate is represented equally at these sites. Forget about Big Media and the MSM, create your own narrative.

We don't need anyone to spoon-feed information to us about the candidates or the election, it's right there for everyone if you know where to go. Campaign money, donors expenses, go here

http://www.opensecrets.org/ Opensecrets.org is "Your guide to money in U.S elections."

Just about every poll from every pollster, averaged out, with a link to the source
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/ Is THE source for political junkies, with links to every major political site on the right, left and center.

What the candidates actually have said about the issues.
http://www.ontheissues.org/default.htm This is a Great site! Every candidate on every issue!

How the candidates have voted and their LIberal/Conservative ratings
http://nationaljournal.com/voteratings/sen/lib.htm?o1=lib_composite&o2=asc#vr Has the voting records for all members of congress, and their Liberal/Conservative ratings.

http://votesmart.org/index.htm Here's what they say at the site;
Thousands of candidates and elected officials. Who works for you? Who is seeking your vote? Project Vote Smart, a citizen's organization, has developed a Voter's Self-Defense System to provide you with the necessary tools to self-govern effectively: abundant, accurate, unbiased and relevant information. As a national library of factual information, Project Vote Smart covers your candidates and elected officials in five basic categories: biographical information, issue positions, voting records, campaign finances and interest group ratings.

http://www.govtrack.us/ Do you take transparency seriously? Consider how important to you an open and transparent government is to a healthy society. More work needs to be done to make Congress open. Make a statement to your elected officials by joining now 200 others in signing a pledge for transparency.

Van

vanreuter, NY NY (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 10:44 AM)

A major reason for the HRC campaign to put on a push in IA is her weakness in the "second choice" category. In the caucuses your candidate isn't considered "viable" if he/she pulls less than 14% of the participants at a given caucus location. That means most of the supporters of second tier candidates must join another candidate's group or leave without being counted. Very few of the supporters of second tier candidates indicate Clinton as their second choice. As far as viability goes, why does ANYONE still listen to Novak? Of course when you still treat Novak as a legitimate columnist instead of a political operative it becomes acceptable to hire the ultimate political operative, one who's smear tactics, lies, and underhanded methods are known to all and admired by a few. Shame on Newsweek for hiring Karl Rove.

John B, Des Moines, IA (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 10:48 AM)

Democrats crush Republicans in a new general election poll from Missouri, as they win all 12 general election match-ups! Link and numbers: http://www.campaigndiaries.com/2007/11/democrats-strong-in-minnesota-and.html

Daniel, NY (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 10:50 AM)

I am really dissapointed in obama! he actually took novak's word over hillary! I mean really he trusts NOVAK over HILLARY?. what is hapenning to this brilliant man.
1st he takes advise from chris mathews -"hit her hard" then advise from carl rove and now from Novak. who is next kenneth star? you bet

K David, Cherry Hill, NJ (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 10:51 AM)

'...after Bob Novak reported that the Clinton campaign was sitting on allegedly scandalous material on Obama...'

Imagine, Hillary hining about 'Republican style' 'mud'....
They're accursing others of doing WHAT THEY'RE DOING !!

The "The Barack Study Group." ??
Mark Penn is hard at work with his Karl Rove imitation.

People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones....
Remember Whitewater ? Travelgate ? Monica ? Norman Hsu ? planted questions ? a packed house in the Nevada debate ? Peter Paul ?

Opposition research on fellow Democrats ?
Does anyone remember the previous debate ?
Merle Stanley started talking about COCAINE...
My, my the Clinton cult plays rough...

Expect OTHER DEMOCRATS to support Hillary if she gets the nomination ? After a dirty and divisive primary ?

Hillary Clinton, 15 years of dishonesty, scandals and divisiveness

Sierra, SF (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 10:53 AM)

if the democratic party wants to win the general elections edwards has always been the only dem candidate that can accomplish that, and still is.

it's time to forget about the novelty candidates and their entertaining tabloidish appeal, nominate edwards to defeat the evil republican empire or get used to the term, president giuliani

MK,MO (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 10:54 AM)

Shadow, Hamden, CT: '...Also, the conclusion that Clinton will stay in a two way race after losing Iowa is flawed. If she comes in a distant third in Iowa and tanks nationally, we could have an Obama-Edwards final two. This is only one of a few likely scenarios, of course, but it's ridiculous to dismiss it as the punditry seems so eager to do...'

Shadow, I suspect/hope that if Hillary does poorly in Iowa, it will affect her in New Hamphire.
The buzz is gone and someone else is getting that buzz.

If Obama finishes strongly in Iowa and New Hampshire and Hillary does poorly in both, she might lose her African American support in SC.

In saw a column is the LA Times saying the secret of Iowa and New Hampshire is that there are A LOT OF UNDECIDES !!
These last few weeks couldn't have moved them to Hillary !!

Sierra, SF (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 11:01 AM)

I think I've finally come to my senses. I now fully support Hillary as president.

Sierra, SF (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 11:08 AM)

Unlike human beings who either dupe others or are duped, dogs will give an honest bark at the truth.

Diogenes (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 11:12 AM)

am really dissapointed in obama! he actually took novak's word over hillary! I mean really he trusts NOVAK over HILLARY?. what is hapenning to this brilliant man.
1st he takes advise from chris mathews -"hit her hard" then advise from carl rove and now from Novak. who is next kenneth star? you bet

K David, Cherry Hill, NJ

------------------------------------------------

Even a blind man will trust Novak over Hillary Clinton. The Clinton machine will do anything to get elected.

Her campaign has leaked story to her greatest enemy in the past – Drudge Report
They are also behind the madrasa story line…. We all know what the Clinton campaign is up to and it is better for Obama to stay on offensive regarding this kind of mud coming from Clinton.

As a matter of facts, Novak is more credible than Hillary Clinton.

Bee (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 11:17 AM)

Seems to me that Obama's da-ned if he does and da-med if he doesn't with the media.

erik (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 11:22 AM)

I guess the neo-con Republicans have accomplished what they set out to do: vilify the Clintons so much so that people actually start to believe it. Yikes, even 'registered democrats' now believe their spin. Relax... We are so used to 's(p)in' and vitriol from the Republican conspiracy machine (going all the way back to Lee Atwater in 1988) that some simply cannot fathom that Hillary Clinton is running a smart campaign, earning people's votes one at a time, and really has some good ideas. Another difficult concept for hardened conspiracists (dems and GOPers alike) to grasp: there are a lot of decent people out there that also happen to strongly support Hillary Clinton for President.
How is the media affecting this race? Chuck Todd provides the voter with the perfect example: his comments on MTP yesterday which are reiterated nearly ad verbatim above, "One of two things will happen in Iowa..." Where does Todd get this information? From his crystal ball? Should Obama win in Iowa, how does this disqualify Edwards? Or Biden? Why does this result make this a two-person race? Should Clinton win, why should that disqualify all the others? Are all the talking heads going to then go home? Not likely. This horse race is ENTIRELY created by the media. Let's get back to basics: we have a 50-state primary race and those candidates collect delegates who then nominate a candidate to run for President. Let the best candidate win, Todd! Please ease up on the hyperbolic prognostications!

T. X. Peccini, registered expat voter in Nicosia, Cyprus (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 11:23 AM)

"I am just looking for an honest man."

Diogenes (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 11:27 AM)

Hillary rocks ! Rock on ! hillaryclinton.com

Betty Combs, Cedar Rapids, Iowa (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 11:29 AM)

I regularly purchased and read Newsweek, I will not do so now. I will not even read it on the Internet.
Never will I knowingly have one cent go to rove.

H P Boston (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 11:30 AM)

I will take Novak's word any day over Hillary's. And I am a registered democrat.

--

Whoever says that proves that he or she is a Republican:-). Only people fooled by Novak are either dumb people or Republicans!

Simon, Des Moines, IA (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 11:30 AM)

HILLARY 08 (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 11:34 AM)

T. X. Peccini......Great post, it is the truth and a sad fact of America. The country runs on HYPERBOL!

H P Boston (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 11:36 AM)

Van: re. First Thoughts: Viva Las Vegas vanreuter, NY NY (Sent Friday, November 16, 2007 4:46 PM)

I feel like I’m one of the candidates with all this back and forth stuff. My last response on Friday seems to have somehow been lost, probably appropriately ‘on the cutting room floor’, but there really is no need to dwell further on debating our objectivity/bias over Hillary. Just let me say that I believe objectivity shouldn’t be blind and rather it needs to be honestly seeing and accepting the truth, while in contrast selectively viewing and interpreting things may be loyal but it simply is not objective.

It isn’t important but, if I can be allowed to read between the lines, I think I can identify our actual differences without faulting either. Your strong focus and concern seems to be to have the Democrats win, likely even favoring Hillary, while my desire is simply to see change that insures we won’t have ‘more of the same’. The subtle difference lies in the fact that I am really not a Democrat. In fact, before voting for Al Gore (against GWB) I hadn’t voted for a Democrat since John F. Kennedy. I even was a registered Republican for many years, believing that “the best government is the least government” and that “government should only do for the people that which they can’t do for themselves” but even then I never voted for Nixon and probably should be best classified simply as an Independent (currently registered as “Undeclared”). Presently, consistent with Democratic style, I can see where we really need some significant government spending on domestic concerns to offset the several years of neglect, like with our infrastructure and so much else. And we definitely don’t need more of anything like Bush/Cheney/Rove with supporting cast dishonestly pursuing their private agenda for Special Interests and a select few while they arrogantly give the average American apathy, subterfuge and the costs. However, it really isn’t the party that I focus on rather what is important to me is the quality of the individual and how I think they will perform. Today I sincerely hope Hillary Clinton does not become the Democratic candidate just as much as I hope that neither Rudy Giuliani nor Fred Thompson become the Republican candidate, and all for the same reasons. Simply said, as I see it (my opinion) you just can’t trust them; you can’t trust them to get out of themselves and do what is right for the majority, as for them it is all about them.

REG; East Valley Phx. AZ (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 11:37 AM)

Simon, Des Moines, IA (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 11:38 AM)

Simon, Des Moines, IA (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 11:39 AM)

Obama handled this like an expert. He was able to QUASH the story in no time, and has Clinton backtracking. Novak says his sources were DEFINITELY democratic and part of the Hillary campaign. There are no Republicans involved. People are actually buying into Hillary's chirades that this shows his inexperience? At any threat of a "rumor" or a swift boat tactic, it should be put to death. Obama put it to death. How is that inexperienced? He didn't "fall for a Republican tactic"... he QUASHED a Republican tactic, one that Hillary Clinton's campaign has been linked to. Hillary Clinton's campaign has a habit of sending dirty news about the other dem candidates to news sources (see the Salon article others are talking about). It's no secret that Bill and Hill play dirty politics.

But Hillary is right, it IS a Republican tactic, SHE should STOP doing it! Obama QUASHED it. He excelled at STOPPING the Republican tactic. How silly of him!

Great job Obama. Just proves that experience and judgment go deeper than a resume...

Ron, TX (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 11:40 AM)

am really disappointed in obama! he actually took novak's word over hillary! I mean really he trusts NOVAK over HILLARY?. what is happening to this brilliant man.
1st he takes advise from chris mathews -"hit her hard" then advice from carl rove and now from Novak. who is next kenneth star? you bet

K David, Cherry Hill, NJ
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I agree K David, imagine any sane person even reading or listening to a scab like novak.
Obama should sue him for slander!

H P Boston (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 11:41 AM)

J. Merle Stanley writes in his 10;53 entry on Clinton v barack "I cannot, and will not be held hostage to vote for someone like that ( concerning barack). This is exactly how over 50% of american's feel about hillary. How do we as democrats retake the Whitehouse with That kind of support?

Rick,ky (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 11:44 AM)

Just in time for Christmas. hillaryclintn.com

It's the Bee (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 11:44 AM)

I regularly purchased and read Newsweek, I will not do so now. I will not even read it on the Internet.
Never will I knowingly have one cent go to rove.

H P Boston

------------

It is always good to ignore news organizations that you don't agree with.

J. Hollings Rouse, Clayton Missouri (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 11:48 AM)

I think I've finally come to my senses. I now fully support Hillary as president.
Sierra, SF (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 11:08 AM)

----------------------------------------------------
Bee agrees with you Sierra. You two are making great progress.

I am sure the Clinton campaign will do anything to get elected. Why can't you post all your stupid comment and put my name on it.

Shame on you for being unethical ... I know when the real Sierra, SF shows up - she will put the whole fake sierra to rest.

Bee (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 11:48 AM)

Sierra, I know that the post listed in your name at 11:08 was bogus. But your point on South Carolina, in the post before, is right on.

I'll state the last part more strongly. The Hillary 'inevitability propaganda' is directed primarily at the Afro-American vote in SC. Because of sensitivities (and understandably so) to disenfranchisement, it was hoped that spreading the perception that the nomination was over before the voting, would dissuade African-Americans from voting for Obama. The thinking went that if they perceived that their vote was to be wasted on a candidate who was already going to lose, they would not wish to throw it away.

Michelle Obama has pointed out something like this in her interview with Mika Brzezinski. She felt that once black voters understood that Barack can actually be nominated, he will handily win the African-American vote in SC (and also in the larger states across the nation). This is critical and I hope black voters understand that their vote for Obama will make the big difference in the nominating process. I know Mark Penn understands that without black voters Hillary's campaign is doomed.
Obama '08

Mitchell Feldman, Vestal, NY (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 11:50 AM)

You guys at FR must be kidding! Obama was being swift and strong. for one, it is a matter of reputation and it is also a matter of swiftboating.
I read this article posted on another thread about Novack on Fox news and compared this what Nixon did and Hillary learned those nixon tactics well in the early 70s.
Obama showed that he will not stand for swiftboating attacks on his character and he is not going to let Hillary walk away. He called her on it.
And, CNN may have cleaned up their debate tape but, did rerun it this weekend and guess what. obama did answer the question on licenses at first but, Blitzer would not accept it and keep pushing like he did not answer.

diane (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 11:50 AM)

"Sponge Bob for President! He's Waterboard Proof!" (Sponge Bob didn't approve of this commercial.) -Independent Party News Service

Steve Turner Cedar Falls Iowa (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 12:04 PM)

H P Boston (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 12:07 PM)

It is always good to ignore news organizations that you don't agree with.

J. Hollings Rouse, Clayton Missouri (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 11:48 AM)

I think H P Boston is protesting Rove, not Newsweek. I could be wrong though, as I am not H P Boston.

CitizenJ (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 12:12 PM)

T. X. Peccini:

Chuck Todd is a political analyst with an opinion. Unlike you, he's a professional. He and other pundits tell you what they think based on how they see things and like it or not, they see more and have access to more than you do. That is their job.

I think you have invested too much emotion in what you apparently perceive as First Read's machiavellian influence on the election process and their ability to control the minds of the voters. (Queue in melodramatic horror movie laugh.)

Your use of the word "hyperbolic" is just a bit comical, as well, considering what precedes it in your post.

A final serious question:

Do you honestly and sincerely believe that Republicans have the market cornered on "spin and vitriol"?

I know I see things differently than you, but is there any question at all that the Democrat "machine" has vilified George Bush since the day he entered office and continues to do so on a regular basis? It even showed in the last debate. Whenever a Democrat had a mind fart or didn't have an answer, the fallback was to vilify Bush and Republicans. Did anyone else notice that? Then again, it's such a clever ploy that it might have gone unnoticed by the audience who nevertheless responded positively to every instance.

Do Republicans regularly raise the ghost of Bill Clinton, or the Clinton's in general? Absolutely. The difference is that I'll admit it.

You live in a fantasy world if you think the Democrats are any cleaner. Further, although it shouldn't be news to you, we all think the media treats our guys and gals unfairly. It just depends on whose ox is being gored.

What I've observed in First Read, and I have no horse in the Democrat race, is that they pretty much piss off all of you at one time or another. When you think about it, doesn't that mean that they are covering all the bases?

Richard, Washington State (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 12:15 PM)

K David, Cherry Hill, NJ
I am really dissapointed in obama! he actually took novak's word over hillary! I mean really he trusts NOVAK over HILLARY?. what is hapenning to this brilliant man.
1st he takes advise from chris mathews -"hit her hard" then advise from carl rove and now from Novak. who is next kenneth star? you bet"

David, Novak's a hack, but he's never been accused of claiming a source said something that they didn't say.

Hillary's campaign has been planting questions, they get caught, they first deny it, then when left with no choice they admit it, but claim it was an over zealous staffer. Sure it was, the staffer on his own made a nice binder complete with subsections on what type of question to ask from what type of person. They claimed it never happened before, until a minister comes forward and states that he was asked to pose a specific question at an event, and refused saying it didn't seem right. Clinton's campaign responded that staff member just asked a friend (the minister) to ask a question. The problem with that when they contacted the minister for comment, the minister said he had never met the Clinton staffer before.

Wake up Hillary supporters, support her win at all costs Karl Rove tactics, but don't be blind to their existence!

Jane Urbandale IA (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 12:18 PM)

H. P. Boston:

I don't subscribe to Newsweek now and if I did it was over 30 years ago. I'm strongly considering getting a subscription now. I'll probably neutralize your vote in the general election as well.

Richard, Washington State (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 12:20 PM)

He didn't get into any spat. The lady complimented Barack Obama and stated that she was a Republican-leaning voter. She said that Saddam had something to do with 9-11, and Barack Obama stated that his interest in protecting this country for his daughters and our children is paramount. The lady wasn't tase'd or dragged out of the room(like some other pols responses we have seen these past few weeks).
Nice try though guys. Watch the entire exchange between them. Overall I am leaning to you guys more than cnn at this point(even though sometimes I shake my head at your non-story stories).

Marbw (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 12:27 PM)

Are we to believe that what Karl Rove, one of President Bush's top advisors and personal friends, writes about the Democratic candidates is unbiased? This man is rather devious and always seems to have his own agenda--so why take him seriously? I'm not sure he merits a national forum from which to spout.

Dot, Illinois (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 12:35 PM)

How come no Obama supporters are mentioning his confrontation with the woman in Iowa? I saw it this morning, and he was pretty harsh with her.

Carrie, Eastern Iowa (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 12:35 PM)

Richard, Washington State; Consider the content of the messages of those you think "vilify" GWB. It's aimed at his POLICIES and his RECORD, not his PERSON. Except of course for his lack of intellectual curiosity and rigor, which even his supporters acknowledge. On issue after issue it becomes obvious that he is taking the nation in the wrong direction. Quite simply he is the Worst. President. Ever.

John B, Des Moines, IA (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 12:37 PM)

Thanks CitzenJ - the point was that some radical people tend to shut off any news organization they do not agree with because of one thing, in this case, Rove. No matter how staunch you are either one way or another, it's important to keep your eyes and ears open to opposing view points because, they might be right.

J. Hollings Rouse, Clayton Missouri (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 12:38 PM)

Let's see,Obama attacks and slanders Clinton,then begs :don't swift boat me Hillary!".Then the genius attacks a voter and verbally abuses her?Wake up people,he will set race relations back to the 1950's.This man is a Rcist that HATES whites.He scares me more than David Dukes.Vote Biden,at least he has integrity,which is very lacking in this popularity,money race.

docrock,tx (Sent Monday, November 19, 2007 12:41 PM)

Next >>

SEND A COMMENT

PLEASE READ: All comments must be approved before appearing in the thread; time and space constraints prevent all comments from appearing. We will only approve comments that are directly related to the blog, use appropriate language and are not attacking the comments of others.

Message (please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):

Your name, city and state (John Doe, Seattle, Wash.):

Your e-mail address (jdoe@msnbc.com):

Your website (it's okay if you don't have one):

Remember me? (We'll keep it private) Remember me?

TRACKBACKS

Trackbacks are links to weblogs that reference this post. Like comments, trackbacks do not appear until approved by us. The trackback URL for this post is: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/trackback.aspx?PostID=472729