First thoughts: Calling Rudy
Posted: Friday, December 21, 2007 9:22 AM by Domenico Montanaro
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First Thoughts
From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, and Domenico Montanaro
*** Will we hear from Rudy today? Our guess is yes. The campaign won't resume a normal schedule until Saturday, but given that yesterday's various delays in releasing Giuliani from the hospital only added to the questions those of us in the media have about the mayor's condition, don't be surprised if we do hear from him -- perhaps via a radio interview or even on the TV. We're guessing the Giulianis were very surprised by the media's intense interest in his condition all. It's one of the things that can surprise first-time presidential candidates. But doctor visits or hospital stays that can be seen as routine for civilians can become GIANT stories overnight for presidential candidates. Just ask Bill Bradley, whose heart scare in the heat of the primary with Gore may have been a bigger issue than the campaign ever realized.
*** Doing Hillary’s dirty work? As we’ve noted over the past week, Clinton has stopped engaging Obama and instead has shown her softer side (in testimonials and TV ads). But that doesn’t mean the anti-Obama jabs from the Clinton campaign have stopped. Yesterday, three Clinton surrogates -- Reps. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, Anthony Weiner, and Joe Crowley -- held a conference call with reporters whacking Obama over his “present” votes while serving in the Illinois legislature. (Just asking: Has any other campaign used its congressional supporters to attack a fellow colleague?) And the pro-Clinton AFSCME, using Edwards’ name, is hitting Obama over the issue of health care. Indeed, the Obama campaign emailed reporters that, per FEC numbers, pro-Clinton groups (like AFSCME, AFT, and Emily’s List) have spent $2.1 million in independent expenditures, while pro-Edwards groups have spent $1.3 million.
*** Pushing back: McCain's decision to address the Drudge rumor so publicly -- as his campaign did in a statement yesterday -- is probably a risk. Does he dare the New York Times to run the story (about allegedly doing favors for a lobbyist) now? Every night at approximately 10:00 pm ET, the campaign will no doubt begin refreshing the Times’ Web site to see if the piece is running that night. Perhaps the piece runs on the 24th or 25th? McCain's lawyer Bob Bennett spoke to the Washington Post's Kurtz and equated the potential firestorm with McCain's troubles in 2000 in South Carolina. Will McCain's aggressive pushback eventually mitigate the damage the story does if it runs and if the allegations are proven true? Dealings with a lobbyist could be deadly to McCain's straight-talking image.
*** Romney's memory (or lack thereof): The Romney campaign ought to be glad that between Rudy and Drudge, many in the press corps were distracted from what wasn't a smooth answer to the question of whether Mitt saw his father march with MLK. It turns out his father never did… The danger in this story for Romney is that it could add to this notion that he'll say anything to get elected. It's something his opponents are pushing hard, and Romney can't allow himself to get caught in a trap like this MLK deal if he doesn't want a few press clips that decide to delve into instances in which Romney has overstated something. Just ask Al Gore how this storyline can get out of control in a hurry.
*** Throwing some chin music: At the debates, Richardson has certainly channeled his inner Rodney King (“Can’t we all just get along?”). Which is why this statement he released last night -- entitled “Richardson calls Hillary on Iraq flip-flop” -- raised our eyebrows. "Senator Clinton's statement that we could 'certainly get all the troops out within a year' is a stunning flip-flop from what she has been saying all along,” he said. “She consistently has called for leaving troops in Iraq to fight al-Qaeda, train Iraqis, and protect U.S. assets. Has that suddenly been abandoned?” More: “It is clear that she is responding directly to my latest ad and my statements that she repeatedly has called for leaving thousands of troops in Iraq indefinitely. Rather than defending her position, apparently she simply has changed it." Whoa. Is this a last-ditch effort by Richardson to become THE anti-war candidate? Is Richardson signaling to supporters that Clinton should NOT be their second choice?
*** On the trail: Biden, Dodd, Edwards, Huckabee, Obama, Richardson, Thompson, and Bill Clinton all are in Iowa. Hillary Clinton, Paul, and Romney all campaign in New Hampshire. And elsewhere, McCain stumps in Louisiana and raises money in Phoenix, while Hunter campaigns in Michigan.
*** And a final note: The morning edition of First Read will not publish on Monday, December 24 and Tuesday, December 25, although we’ll be updating the site occasionally. The morning edition will be back Wednesday -- for the real sprint to Iowa and beyond. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.
Countdown to Iowa: 13 days
Countdown to New Hampshire: 18 days
Countdown to Michigan: 25 days
Countdown to Nevada and SC GOP primary: 29 days
Countdown to SC Dem primary: 36 days
Countdown to Florida: 39 days
Countdown to Tsunami Tuesday: 46 days
Countdown to Election Day 2008: 319 days
Countdown to Inauguration Day 2009: 396 days
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