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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 News Political Reporter



Biden points to Obama's 'steady hands'

Posted: Monday, October 13, 2008 12:00 PM by Carrie Dann

From NBC/NJ's Mike Memoli

ROCHESTER, NH – Previewing today’s dueling major speeches at the top of the ticket, Joe Biden argued that Barack Obama will show he wants to fix the economy, while John McCain is more interested in playing more politics.

“It looks like John McCain’s entire speech is gonna be attack, attack, attack, attack,” Biden said. “It couldn’t be clearer to me what’s going on here. John McCain wants to attack Barack Obama and Barack Obama wants to [tackle] the problems that face America today.”

Speaking in the Granite State, Biden acknowledged McCain’s favored status here. And, he argued, McCain should have had a built-in advantage in times of crisis because he is a “war hero.” But he’s squandered that by his behavior, Biden said.

“John’s hands have been anything but certain in the last year,” he said. “The McCain administration would be uncertain, clinging to the past, lurching from one bad idea to another. … In a New England sense, it’s about a steady hand. It really is about a steady hand and good ideas. Because this is not beyond our capacity. This is not beyond our capacity to turn this country around. And ladies and gentlemen, Barack Obama has steady hands.”

Republicans reacted by, for the first time, invoking the scandal that ended Biden's 1988 presidential campaign, saying that the Democrats' plan "mirrors the proposals that President Hoover implemented at the onset of the Great Depression."

"It's plagiarism of the very worst economic policies in American history," McCain spokesperson Ben Porritt said in a statement.

Biden's speech at the American Legion Hall began by noting that there were “two big worries” here. Of course, the economy was one concern across the nation. The other might be more specific to Red Sox Nation, which of course, includes New Hampshire.

“My Phillies didn’t do too well last night,” the Delaware senator said. “But I understand we got our priorities: first, Josh Beckett’s arm, and second, the economy.”

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In synchronization with Bush, McCain has given America a ten trillion dollar debt and taken away the means to pay for it. What else can he do for America?

The next president will have to deal not only with the economic crisis but also with the means that Bush has chosen to deal with that crisis short-term.
McCain has a history of rising from the ashes of defeat. I would not count him out of the race. If Obama slips up McCain will seize the opening.
Quaint how Porritt wants to bring up something from 20 years ago that was clearly a mistake,...

Gosh Darn it, Repubs - this is the 21st century - we are all looking forward - not back.

I love the playoffs and those sports metaphors are winners, every time!  Go Phillies & Boston!
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“…If obama wins this election this will be how ! Fraudulent registers and voters.”  Ron, Ohio (Sent Monday, October 13, 2008 9:56 AM)
Ron, while false registrations are disappointing and burdensome on the election boards – they do not constitute VOTER FRAUD.  Each registrant is required to show some form of id (voter ID card, recent utility bill, photo id – in some places).  This fear mongering about false votes is bunk.  Get on with the business of healing when your candidate loses.  But quit firing yourself up about ACORN and voter registration,…it is what it is and has always been.

PS. Ron, are you better off now than you were four weeks ago?
Because he can't do that without raising your taxes or digging us further into debt. I'm going to make government live on a budget just like you do.
Didn't Obama say this at the debate?

These are hard times. Our economy is in crisis.

But...John McCain, who admitted on Sunday that "the economy has hurt us a LITTLE BIT, HUH?in the last week or two," is desperately trying to turn the political page.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/13/mccains-week-off-to-rocky_n_134067.html

What America needs in this hour is a fighter; someone who puts all his cards on the table and trusts the judgment of the American people.

OK...OK...OOOOK....WHERE THE CARDS ON HOW YOU PLAN TO HELP US. OOOH HERE THEY ARE
And yet, as soon as the Senator began leaving behind last week's shadows, he stepped right back into the internal confusion and mixed messaging that has haunted his presidential run to this point.

Late Sunday evening word emerged from McCain headquarters that, in fact, there would be no bold new economic proposal to throw on the table.

"We do not have any immediate plans to announce any policy proposals outside of the proposals that John McCain has announced, and the certain proposals that would result as economic news continues to come our way," said spokesman Tucker Bounds.

OK, is it just me or did some of those ideal sound like Obama's
Is it just me, but did fighting get us in this mess
Is it just me, but didn't McCain fight against deregulation that got us in this mess
Is it just me, but McCain just vote against CHIP for health childrens furture
Is it just me, when we could have stood up and fought our enemies we went the other way
Is it just me, that McCain voted 95% with Bush infighting and selfishness and not to mention the war
is it just me, that he is sticking to disbuted (many times over, by many many more) lies
The only thing he said I agree with is
Don't give up hope. Be strong. Have courage. And fight. For Obama, oooops he forget that part.
Hey, is MSNBC now the "All McCain, ALl The Time" network during the day? I just watched your network air the ENTIRE McCain-Palin rally this morning -- from intros to end-- BACK TO BACK. Prior to that, you generously devoted a small soundbite of Biden's speech. You call this FAIR and BALANCED coverage? What's the matter..you think McCain deserves a little free campaign coverage just to make the race interesting? SHAME ON YOU MSNBC.
Joe Biden makes great speeches and comes up with great punch lines, something the decrepit old fighter and his wicked witch can never do because they're just not smart or honest enough.

How can we ever trust "Manchurian Candidate" McCain when Vietnam now favors him for president?  What programming have they given him that we should know about?  Hey the incompetent fighter pals around with commies!

Go Obama/Biden 08/12!
why don't you guys talk about Palin being found Guilty in troopergate?  Are you afraid?  This is really sad
They McCain camp should just quit and ride out the election if that's the best they can come up with. Invoking a 20 year old plagerism charge that was stupid at the start but even more ridiculous now? That's all they have? I don't think they're even trying anymore.
Where is the article on the McCain speech? Let's see how you spin that to say it "contained substance".  Good grief.
One campaign focused and steady, one in disarray - and vastly different ground games from the two. Read more at:

http://democratictribune.com
I for the life of me can't figure Terry Francona out. I love this guy; he's the best manager we've had, EVER! But his decision to keep Beckett in too long is killing us. It's the playoffs Terry! You gotta yank 'em when all signs indicate Beckett's not on. Twice in the playoffs you've gone with him too long. Twice!!!!!!

You're killing me.
why aren't you guys especally msnbc talking about the thirteen states that are being investigated for voter
frauth by acorn. one person just addmitted that he registered seventy three times right on tv that spells trouble for the obama team they will fall at the end
so will hardball and keith obama man the viewer will
see just how msnbc tried to blind us.thatswhy people don't trust the blacks in this country.
Biden rocks!

Hey, Chuck!  Isn't it time to update the "Obama Landslide" scenario on the map? If W. Verginia is in play, and Arkansas comes home, that pushes the ceiling to 411.
That's right, you tell 'em. Go get 'em like like you always do. I  love your sharp, accurate contrasts.


If McCain’s base knew of the real McCain, apart from McCain’s  lurching falsehoods all over the place like a Mexican jumping bean McCain’s support would be even less. Everyone should read… “Make-Believe Maverick”, an account of McCain’s  record of recklessness and dishonesty. This is an indicator of how disappointing a McCain/Palin administration would be.

www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/make_believe_maverick_the_real_john_mccain - 47k


Wasn’t it McCain who believes Americans are fundamently strong and better off economically than they were before Bush took office.  Crazy!!!

Enough of failed Bush/Cheney/ McCain policies
McCain =more of the same.
Nobody but Obama/Biden
The American people don't need Biden to see that Obama's had the steady hand through all of this, and that McCain is just firing blindly on the issues, desperately trying to eventually hit something.
What I don't get is Palin/McCain going on about voter fraud. If not for voter fraud in FL in 2000 and OH in 2004 we wouldn't have had the 8 years of lies and misery known in some quarters as the "Bush administration."

It would be wonderful if the right wingnut yuppies that scared the vote counters in FL and the Oh officials who turned a blind eye to 100% overvoting would or could somehow understand they not only broke election laws, they perverted the very nature of our country AND PUT A MORON IN OFFICE!

So what are these two morons whining about? Voter fraud is Palin/McCain's only hope.
The bomber can see that it's  4th and long and the clock is about to run out,he has throwen so many hail-marys in the waning minutes and had them all incompleat.He has a weak reciver core and they seem to have the drops lately(lobbist are knowen to have slippery fingers).His running game has no punch, do to poor draft choice(Palin) and the game looks out of reach,if we could just get a first down we have a chance,but the economoy(defence) has been to strong to overlook even though we have tried.Even calling the other team names hasn't had any effect,other then the near roits by fans leaving the Palin rallys.You see 4th and 90 yards to go with a Quaterback with a questionable arm is a tough position to be in this late in the game.Punt let the clock expire,take your ball and go homes,to whice ever one you choose.and take your running Back with you.
Of course what does the McCain camp do? Attack with more negativity, rather than come up with a policy.

Can McCain say . . . I'm sinking . . . I'm sinking . . . I'm sinking?
Keep up the good work Joe.
Mccain changes tactics as much as he
changes his mind on solutions. He has
shown how unstable and uncertain he is
on his policies and this appalling,
dishonorable campaign he and hocky mom
have run is criminal.
Our country needs to unite, not be torn
apart by their spewing hate, anger,
distrust and fear.
Our country cannot survive if these two
radicals get in office.
"It's plagiarism of the very worst economic policies in American history," McCain spokesperson Ben Porritt said in a statement.
********************************************************

If that's the best comeback they have, the McCain campaign is in trouble.

That's simply weak.

http://thepajamapundit.com/
After the 'whip his you know what' comment about this week's debate by Sen. McCain today, I sincerely hope that Obama can guide that steady hand and appear awake enough to articulate some very specific solutions to our problems on Wed. night.  I just really hope Obama hands it right back.
If the McCain camp really wants to go back 20 years for scandals, it better be prepared to hear a lot more about the Keating 5, about Cindy's drug addiction and theft from charity, about John's love of gambling, and about Cindy's business connections with Keating that went on long after the scandal.
He's right. At this particular moment, Beckett's arm is a major concern. He says he 100%, but it's obvious he's just gutting it out on these starts...
Republicans reacted by, for the first time, invoking the scandal that ended Biden's 1988 presidential campaign
-----------------------------------------
I don't understand why the McCain Palin camp hasn't yet realized that all the negative campaigning isn't working very well.  Give it up already!  I would rather hear the POSITIVE ideas they have for our country than listen to or read a rehash of old news.

I honestly believe if Sen McCain had picked a more experienced and less combative running mate, resisted the advice to take the campaign negative, and would have spoken forthrightly about his qualifications, he would be in a much closer race for the Presidency.

The Sen McCain of the Presidential campaign does not seem to me to be the Sen McCain of the primaries.  I liked the primary one better.
Steady hands? At doing what? Obama hasn't even been on the boat, let alone holding the tiller.
Obama and Biden all the way.... America we are almost there and yes the attacks can cause great fear... but I am more affraid to have McCain as President and Palin a heart beat away.... she is unethical and not ready.... check out the report from Alaska .... I also question McSame judgement for picking her.... the VP choice says alot about the man who want to be our President. No way, No how, Now McCain/Palin.
There goes Joe again, making stuff up. Obama probably does have steady hands, except when he's having a nicotine fit.
Obamas steady hands are planning to drive this country off this highest cliff !  Slow, steady and secure is the way to go and thats McCain. Roy I'm borrowing your post.

Obama may well win, but most people don't know what they're getting. For example, he has voted against extending the Bush tax cuts – even for the middle class, which expire in 2010. This means -for families with taxable income of:
$17,000 - increased taxes of $400
$29,000 - increased taxes of $1,100
$72,000 - increased taxes of $2,300
$251,000 - increased taxes of $6,900
Source - www.smartmoney.com/tax
When he says that people making under $250,000 won't see a tax increase, he means no “additional” increase above the already scheduled increase at the end of 2010. And if you have anything that sells at a profit (capital gains), there will be more taxes on that as well. McCain voted to make these tax cuts permanent, but the Democrats in Congress voted against it. Watch your wallets when Obama gets in and he has control of Congress. And just think of all the other possibilities – Full amnesty for all illegal immigrants, including free health care at taxpayer expense and taxpayer subsidized mortgages for the poor, and that's just for starters.
Steady hand, good economic policy, smart and highly organized and surrounds himself with people who know their business and are as steady as he is.  What more could we ask for in a President?  Obama has it all and is not tarnished by years in Washington politics.  Let's get this over with and look forward to a new day and a new President Obama!
McCain has had almost 30 years in government.  I look around at the mess we are currently in and know McCain has done nothing to prevent this.  He did not reach across his "bipartisan aisle" and create a coalition to fend this disaster off.  He did not use his collective "experience" to deter an economic meltdown.  He did not use "leadership skills" to save our economy, or circumvent borrow and spend financing, or prevent nation building, or to avoid a preemptive war.  To the contrary, he was cheerleading for more deregulation, more military intervention and aggression, more and more of the same old Bush disastrous policies.  Suddenly, today, he wants us to believe he has all new answers, all new know-how, all new skills to unravel the mess he was complicit in constructing.  Just how stupid does he really think we are?

No way, no how, No McCain
McNASTY is DONE.
I cant wait for Obama to knock his old butt out wednesday
Time to put the old geezer out of his misery
Palin: “Let’s Not Talk About the Past”

Unless you are getting slammed in the present, right?
McCain Palin are toast...burnt toast. Republicans are getting what they deserve. Too bad Bush and Cheney had to take this country and the rest of the world down with them.
Obama is the rock that this country needs right now. Steady, solid, good foundation.

America is fed up with the hate rhetoric and lies that the McCain campaign now resorts to because they've got NOTHING to offer main street America.

Words alone -- especially hateful, racist, divisive, inflammatory words -- belong to our past, just like John McCain... a dinosaur relic from the 20th century.

And Palin? We can't wait to send your act back to Alaska, where I hear they are also realizing what a loser you are. Good luck with your political career, Sarah, and don't let the door hit you on your butt on the way out.

America is better than the McCain/Palin ticket masterminded by Lee Atwater's proteges Schmidt & Eskew. Your hateful demeanor and confused strategies just show that all you can hope for is a "bradley effect" to win.

And Jon Voigt... leave Contessa alone! No wonder Angelina detests YOU.
To Obama winning elections is like the dog that chases cars. All full of himself and confident during the chase, but if he ever manages to catch the car, he stands there totally bewildered and wondering what to do next. To bad the answer always seems to be to go chase another car.
Go Joe!  If anyone in this campaign knows what they are talking about, it is you.  Just by you being on Obama's ticket is good enough for me.  Obama did a really great job of picking you for VP and you do the campaign proud.
Now that football season is here in full swing, it's obvious that having a good back-up quarterback is an essential element for a strong contending team. Obama has that in effect with Joe Biden. McCain does not with Sarah Palin. Add to that Obama's superior skills, intellect and his mastery of the opposition defenses on the field of play, Obama/Biden are the clear choice going forward.
Biden is funny. He talks about McCains speech being about "Attack, attack, attack!", but then, isn't that what his speech is about?


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