Kelly O'Donnell
From NBC's Carrie Dann
In an interview with NBC's Kelly O'Donnell today, McCain took a step back from blaming Obama for infusing politics into the bailout negotiations, and he previewed fellow "underdog" Palin's debate appearance later this week.
Asked if he still believes that Obama and his Democratic colleagues fueled a partisan atmosphere on the Hill as lawmakers struggled over the economic recovery bill, McCain responded that he wants to "put that aside now."
"I believe that politics has played too great a role in this. I think that Speaker Pelosi's speech was very unnecessary and inflammatory," he said, "But that's not a reason for us not to work together and come up with a solution. I think it's time now not to fix the blame but to fix the problem."
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From NBC's Kelly O'Donnell
Palin worked until about midnight last night practicing her speech and resumed again this morning at 5 a.m., according to McCain advisors who have been with the Alaska governor day and night.
The chief speechwriter on this address is Matthew Scully, who is one of McCain's speechwriters and also wrote President Bush.
Palin has been involved in the drafting of her remarks and describe the process as a "total collaboration," aides said, adding Palin is professional and "not rattled" by the attention and scrutiny of this night.
The governor was in "prompter practice" from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. today, aides said. Last night at about 10:30 p.m., aides added, they did a full run-through at a practice podium in an effort to create the feeling of performing at the hour she will appear tonight.
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From NBC's Kelly O'Donnell
Reporting on the road with the McCain campaign...
The "Biden" ad: Advisors say that spot has been ready for "a couple days." The McCain team says they assessed that Kaine "utterly disqualified himself" on the basis of the experience question and asserted that Obama does not particularly like Evan Bayh. "Who did that leave?" So they had the Biden spot ready to go.
"Passed Over" ad: McCain advisors say they assesd the 3 a.m. Obama text as an "avoidable" slight to Sen. Clinton and a belated elbow for the primary season 3 a.m. call spot. As First Read mentioned in First Thoughts, the campaign featured Hillary Clinton's words as an attack on Obama in the latest "Passed Over" ad.
Reaction to Biden selection: McCain advisors say Biden's career has not been covered in the Pennsylvania media market. They acknowledge his Scranton, blue-collar roots, but suggest Delaware, with a very small media market, does not have the kind of bleed over seen in New Jersey where NY politicians/issues are saturated. Biden "will fire up conservatives," they claim, because of his positions and conduct on the Judiciary Committee. "That gives us license there," advisors say. Think Roberts, Alito and Clarence Thomas.
The JUDGMENT question: McCain advisors say Obama has waged his candidacy on his "superior judgment" and they point out that Biden supported the Iraq war vote, then advocated partitioning of Iraq which McCain folks call "a terrible idea." Obviously, they will press on the readiness factor, saying Biden has "strongly and consistently" criticized Obama's readiness to be president while Biden "spoke glowingly about McCain on a number of issues."
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From NBC's Kelly O'Donnell
Huckabee will drop out now, according to sources.
From NBC's Ron Allen and Kelly O'Donnell
A police motorcycle officer died after a crash escorting Clinton's motorcade in Dallas today. In a statement afterwards, Clinton called the accident is "devastating" news -- she feels "heart-sick" and expressed her condolences to the family and to the Dallas police department. Clinton placed a call to the chief, and she added that this reminds us of what people in law enforcement do everyday. "We respect their service."
VIDEO: A Dallas police officer was killed in a motor accident while escorting Sen. Hillary Clinton to a campaign rally. NBC's Peter Alexander reports. Clinton looked profoundly upset by what had happened -- a routine police operation she's probably been part of countless times as first lady, senator and now presidential candidate.
It's also worth noting that at least two officers have died in accidents while working in motorcades for President Bush in the last few years. The incidents occurred in Honolulu and Albuquerque.
As of this writing, the Clinton motorcade is rolling slowly down a highway. We're heading to another event. It's such a contrast to the way motorcades usually race through cities and towns....with crowds catching a glimpse of dignitaries. The press bus is silent. I think everyone is just stunned. Such an unexpected tragedy.
*** UPDATE *** Per NBC's Christina Jamison, what was supposed to be a rally in Fort Worth is now being cut short. Senator Clinton will make brief remarks here in Fort Worth -- she spoke with the Dallas police chief on the drive over here, and then she is going to go visit the officer's family while the traveling press is taken to the airport.
From NBC's Kelly O'Donnell
In an unusual expression of faith at a political party headquarters, supporters are standing in circles, holding hands and offering prayers in the middle of the Huckabee ballroom. They appear to be families with adults and children standing together. This is happening amid the piped in rock music, media standups and giant screen coverage.
We are shooting tape. Lots of still cameras buzzing around the group too.
We'll find out who they are when they're finished praying.
From NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell
A change in plans for a Huckabee fundraiser in Dallas today: The site had to be moved twice to accommodate a larger-than-expected attendance. Advisors say there just wasn't enough room, so the planned gathering went from a private home, to hotel space and then to a bigger meeting room in that hotel.
Sources say the goal for the fundraiser had been $50,000 to $75,000, but those expectations were upped to $150,000, but sources now say the campaign beat that and the number is closer to $250,000. Sources tell NBC News the Huckabee campaign has spent about $750,000 total.
Now hiring: Senior campaign officials say they are "adding staff almost daily." From a lean team of 45 paid staffers nationwide, Huckabee is adding employees in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. For example, the Iowa organization has been running with 14 paid workers plus as many as 15 to 20 full-time volunteers and more offering help hours at a time. The Iowa organization is expected to grow from 14 to 19 paid staffers this week. The six-person New Hampshire staff and five or six working South Carolina could see extra help with days as well.
Pardon our dust: Higher poll numbers appear to equate to more square footage. Huckabee's one and only office, a downtown Des Moines storefront has doubled in size. In Little Rock, sources say walls were "busted out" and overnight, the space tripled in size.
From NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell
NBC News has learned that Jeri Thompson, wife of republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson, is canceling the first public event where she was to appear on her own. Jeri Thompson had previously agreed to participate in a high-profile forum featuring spouses of presidential hopefuls from both political parties. The event, Tuesday Oct 23rd in Long Beach, Calif., will be moderated by California First Lady Maria Shriver to discuss the balance of politics and family as part of her annual Women's Conference.
Sources close to the 41-year-old mother of two small children say, "We regret that we cannot be there" and stressed, "We were apologetic." The reason cited for the cancellation is "scheduling." Jeri Thompson is scheduled to make her first solo trip campaigning as a surrogate for her husband next week. She is also set to deliver a speech at the Jewish Coalition forum tomorrow with no press coverage.
Organizers of the Shriver event say they "heard rumblings yesterday" about a possible cancellation and expressed hope that "it's salvageable." Planners called it a "brain scratcher" and noted that media kits and materials for the event already printed have Jeri Thompson listed as a participant.
Per NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell, President Bush will discuss the departure of Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns at 9:30 am ET. Johanns, the former governor of Nebraska, is leaving to run for the Senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Chuck Hagel (R). “Mr. Johanns would be the fourth Republican candidate in the field. While Nebraska is heavily Republican, the Senate vacancy is creating a
potential opportunity for Democrats, who are trying to recruit Bob Kerrey, a former senator from Nebraska who is president of New School University in New York City, to run.”
Also, O’Donnell reports that Bush will hold a press conference today in the the Brady Press Briefing Room at 10:45 am ET. His last press conference was August 9th.
From NBC's Kelly O'Donnell
It's not yet a presidential campaign, but "Friends of Fred Thompson" is again showing signs of internal growing pains. Just last Friday, Linda Rozett was on the job and putting out releases, but today -- as we mentioned earlier -- she's out as communications director.
In an interview with NBC News, Rozett characterized her unexpected departure as "not a noteworthy event." She added, "My hope is this will be seen for nothing more than [campaign manager] Bill Lacy bringing his own team together. And while it is not my desired outcome, it happens every day in Washington in politics and with high level communications people." Rozett was told Friday.
In an internal memo to the Thompson staff obtained by NBC, Lacy explains his thinking: "I will have to make a lot of tough decisions to make our venture successful, and this was one of them. Linda is a talented, professional and gracious lady who will be missed. But in the limited amount of time we have, I feel it critical to have a communications point person with significant campaign experience."
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