April 2007 - Posts
From NBC's Mark Murray
You certainly can't say Fred Thompson is boring. We missed this when it first came out, but before the NFL Draft, Thompson -- who is thinking about running for president and will speak to Orange County Republicans later this week -- blogged on Pajamas Media about the draft and the troubles of Tennessee Titans cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones, whom the league banned for his off-the-field troubles.
He wrote, "As most football fans and all Titans boosters know, Jones and his entourage invaded a strip club (the usual scene of his hooliganisms) during this year’s NBA All Star Weekend in Las Vegas. There, he reportedly 'made it rain' by showering the ladies with a satchel full of more than $80,000 in dollar bills."
Tell us, what other presidential candidate is blogging about "making it ran" at a strip club? (He earlier blogged about the movie, "300.")
From NBC's Mike Viqueira
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Reid will stage a "signing ceremony" for the contentious Iraq supplemental tomorrow afternoon -- before sending it to President Bush for a promised veto.
Known as enrollment, every bill that passes Congress must have the signature of congressional leaders. But this is very seldom done in a public ceremony.
From Chuck Todd and Mark Murray
*** Time to Exhale: In the couple of days after the Democratic presidential debate and before the GOP one, politics slows down a bit. And we’re not complaining. The things to watch for later this week: 1) Bush’s veto of the Iraq supplemental; 2) Thursday’s Republican debate, moderated by MSNBC’s Chris Matthews; and 3) Fred Thompson’s speech on Friday to Orange County Republicans. Also, Tenet's book debut appears to be putting the White House on the defensive; its morning clip email included responses to Tenet’s charges.
*** Identity Crisis: In advance of Thursday’s debate, we can’t help but notice that the Republican Party seems to be in the midst of an identity crisis. Just what is a conservative nowadays? Whose politics defines the GOP -- Reagan’s, Goldwater’s, Schwarzenegger’s, or Cheney’s? Here’s what David Brooks wrote yesterday: “Instead of offering something new, each of [party’s presidential candidates] has been going around pretending to be the second coming of George Allen — a bland, orthodox candidate who will not challenge any of the party’s customs or prejudices… The big question is, Why are the Republicans so immobile?”
*** Drip, Drip? The Newsweek report that Obama’s scheduler used his Senate fax machine to send him his political call list while in South Carolina -- a no-no -- is the latest dent in his good-government armor. Have the recent investigative/oppo stories on him (Rezko, whether lobbyists have donated to his campaign, and now this) begun to build the narrative that he’s a politician like everyone else? Or are they all peccadilloes that voters won’t care about? One thing is for certain: Since they’ve both become candidates, Obama is receiving much more scrutiny than Clinton is. Will that change? By the way, Newsweek does have a good preview of the policy initiatives Obama is on the verge of unveiling.
*** What Happens in Vegas…: Nevada is a popular destination today. Edwards holds a town hall meeting in Las Vegas, while Richardson addresses address AFL-CIO leaders in Carson City. Also, Elizabeth Edwards opens her husband's New Hampshire headquarters on Monday and spends the day campaigning in the state on his behalf. And Obama is in Dallas for a private event.
The White House is passing around this quote press secretary Tony Snow, who returns to work today, made this morning on ABC: "Of course people want to be out of the war. On the other hand, do people want to adopt a strategy that is going to weaken the hands of the troops who are there? In other words, do you want to bind our forces by saying, 'We're going to give you a timetable for withdrawal,' knowing that that strengthens the hands of the enemy?… If you frame it that way, I’d love to see the poll results. Why don't you try that one in the next poll because my guess is the American people will say 'No, that's insane!'"
In advance of Bush’s upcoming veto of the Iraq supplemental, the Washington Post looks at the key reason why most Republicans aren’t going along with any withdrawal deadlines, even though a majority supports the: The GOP base isn’t letting them. “That cohesion reflects the views of the GOP's core voters, who see the war in Iraq in fundamentally different terms than Democrats and political independents do, said Andrew Kohut, director of the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press. Voters from those groups tend to see unremitting gloom, but Republican base voters continue to see a conflict that is going reasonably well, with a decent chance of military success. “‘That's the dilemma for Republicans going forward,’ Kohut said yesterday. ‘They've got to look out for their base, but they have to acknowledge the independents have aligned themselves with the way Democrats are thinking on the issue of Iraq.’”
CONTINUED >>
Lynn Sweet of the Chicago Sun-Times breaks down Obama’s performance on Thursday. “‘Last night I was a little nervous,’ Obama said at a rally in Charleston on Friday, where he filled the gym at Burke High School. Constrained by a 60-second limit for replies that worked against Obama's speaking style -- a very long windup to the pitch -- his tendency to generalize meant he did not directly answer some questions. Even when asked something noncontroversial, what he personally did to improve the environment, he said 3,000 campaign volunteers planted trees on Earth Day. With a prod from moderator Brian Williams, the NBC anchor, Obama added he's "been working" to install energy efficient light bulbs at home. He sounded out of touch.
More and more analysts are picking up on the fact that one of the front-runners (John Edwards) does not believe there is such thing as a "Global War on Terror."
The Los Angeles Times writes about Richardson’s response that Byron “Whizzer” White, who dissented in Roe v. Wade, is his model Supreme Court justice. "Richardson was asked Sunday to square that response with his support for abortion rights. He fumbled at first, questioning whether White was on the court at the time of the 1973 decision. He then explained he had been ‘thinking really fast during the debate’ and had chosen White because White was appointed by Richardson's hero, President Kennedy, and ‘was an All-American football player besides being a legal scholar.’”
CONTINUED >>
The Los Angeles Times notes that at the California Democratic convention over the weekend, the candidates "opened a new divide over taxes,” as John Edwards "said he would consider an added levy on businesses and individuals reaping the kind of huge financial reward enjoyed by some of the nation's wealthiest investors." Bill Richardson, meanwhile, said that "Democrats, whenever we have a solution, we want to tax. I'm different. I'm a tax cutter."
The New York Daily News had the following lead: "Hillary Clinton brought California Democrats to their feet, but her rival Barack Obama brought the house down yesterday at the party's state convention."
BIDEN: The Delaware senator sat down with NBC’s Tim Russert for nearly a full hour on Meet the Press.
CLINTON: In case you weren't sure of it, pollster Mark Penn is in charge of Clinton’s campaign. The Washington Post writes: "In the four months since Clinton officially became a candidate, Penn has consolidated his power, according to advisers close to the campaign, taking increasing control of the operation. Armed with voluminous data that he collects through his private polling firm, Penn has become involved in virtually every move Clinton makes, with the result that the campaign reflects the chief strategist as much as the candidate."
CONTINUED >>
In the Politico, Elizabeth Wilner writes that Republicans are “now searching for a candidate who embodies the principles for which they elected Bush, but not the policies of his presidency. “The May 3 debate – hosted by The Politico, MSNBC and the Reagan Library – will offer a very public and occasionally awkward glimpse of a party on the hunt for a new and different relationship. While the candidates rhetorically dodge being closely linked to the incumbent, for example, they’ll be quick to embrace the president for whom the venue is named, particularly with hostess Nancy Reagan seated in the audience.”
The aforementioned Sunday column by David Brooks: “The big question is, Why are the Republicans so immobile? There are several reasons… Conservatives have allowed a simplistic view of Ronald Reagan to define the sacred parameters of thought. Reagan himself was flexible, unorthodox and creative. But conservatives have created a mythical, rigid Reagan, and any deviation from that is considered unholy.”
MCCAIN: Channeling First Read, the Sunday Washington Post looked at the ties between McCain and Bush. "At times, Bush had no stronger supporter than McCain; at others, no harsher critic. For McCain, the challenge of the next year will be figuring out how to reconcile those instincts."
CONTINUED >>
The East Valley Tribune, one of Arizona’s most conservative papers, calls for Rep. Rick Renzi to resign in an editorial. “We have no idea if Renzi is guilty of any wrongdoing. But we do know the FBI investigation already is hampering Renzi’s representation of the 1st Congressional District, which reaches across a vast swath of northern Arizona. He has stepped away from all of his committee assignments and made himself largely unavailable for comment… The better choice, the honorable choice, would be for Renzi to step aside and let someone else come forward to represent his district and our state in Congress.
Meanwhile, the Washington Post reported over the weekend that the DCCC has established an AZ-01 Special Election Fund. If/when there is a special election to replace Renzi, the fund will ensure that the Democratic candidate benefits from an immediate infusion of funds for the general election.
From NBC's Lauren AppelbaumThe day after the debate, many of the Democratic candidates campaigned in South Carolina. Clinton, after briefly returning to DC for an event with educators, held a town hall in a church in Greenville, SC. She addressed a tough question from reporters about her southern accent when she was in Selma, AL two months ago. "I lived about a third of my life in Arkansas, and I lived about a third of my life in Illinois, and I lived about a third of my life on the East Coast. I think America is ready for a multilingual president." This line received a loud applause from the audience. Clinton then said "I think America is ready for a lot of other things too."
Edwards and Kucinich were also in Greenville, eating lunch at OJ's Diner. Edwards was asked about his answer to the moral leadership he received during the debate -- an answer that followed after a solid ten-second delay. Edwards replied, "I'm very proud of that ... I couldn't have possibly answered it better." Last night, Edwards said, "I don't think I could identify one person that I consider to be my moral leader." He then went on to talk about the Lord, his wife, and father.
Dodd, at a kitchen table on homeownership in Charleston, was very optimistic. "I plan on being the nominee of the party, I plan on being the president of the United States... Based on the conversations I've had here, people don't want to be told by outsiders the race is over with. They are going to make up their own minds in South Carolina."
From NBC's Chuck Todd and Mark Murray
Last night, NBC's Brian Williams asked the eight Democratic candidates to raise their hand if they believe there is such a thing as a global war on terror. A review of the tape today shows that Biden, Edwards, Gravel, and Kucinich did not raise their hands.
Clinton, Dodd, Obama, and Richardson did.
From NBC's Carrie Dann
One casualty of last night's debate: Hillary Clinton's voice. The senator struggled through obviously strained vocal chords this morning in Washington, where she addressed delegates from NYSUT (New York State United Teachers.) After last night's wide range of hot topics, Clinton may have been relieved to restrict her remarks to one issue she did not address last night -- education policy. But more noteworthy than her criticism of No Child Left Behind and her tricky dance moves around the issue of charter schools (New York public school teachers tend to disagree with the way they're funded) was the mere fact that she was there in the first place. She jetted in last night just for this event, only to return to South Carolina later this afternoon, demonstrating just how hard she's courting NYSUT, which is the biggest union in her home state.
From NBC's Chuck Todd and Mark Murray
*** One Down, About Twenty to Go: Well, that was fun, wasn’t it? Who looked good in last night’s debate? Who didn’t? Our thoughts are below. Listen carefully to the Democratic candidates’ stump speeches today for new additions that might signal what they liked and didn't. Also, be on the lookout for YouTube submissions of clips from the debate that opponents may want to highlight about one or more of the front-runners. One thing we do know for certain: The first debate is behind us, and there are many more to go -- including next week's GOP debate in L.A., moderated by MSNBC's Chris Matthews.
*** Clinton: Hillary was Hillary. You've got to admit, she doesn't make mistakes and didn't last night (but did get a little flustered on hedge funds). Of course, she didn't directly answer some questions, either (like on whether Iraq is "lost"). And the RNC pounced on her comment that she had been advocating withdrawal from Iraq "for a number of years now." But the Clinton people, by and large, were happy with her performance.
*** Obama: Or maybe the Clinton folks were happy that they didn't have the questions surrounding them that Obama did. Perhaps no one seemed more uncomfortable with the tight format. If there are future debates allowing for 90-second or 2-minute responses, he'd likely do better. His speaking style is more professorial than political, which goes hand in hand with the message that he’s trying to getting across: that he represents change.
*** Edwards: He acted like the most experienced debater on the stage, and he was. No one there has debated more times in the past four years than Edwards. He handled the haircut question well, but was mixed on the hedge fund one.
*** Richardson: Outside of Obama, the candidate many were waiting to see shine was Richardson, but he wasn't comfortable and it came across. His answer on the model Supreme Court justice might be a future problem. He picked Byron "Whizzer" White -- a Rhodes Scholar/football star from the West, who was appointed to the Supreme Court by JFK. The problem, especially for a Democrat? He dissented in Roe v. Wade.
*** Dodd: He was prepared and is a total pro. But he never owned a moment. And this raises one of the biggest questions of his candidacy: How does he separate himself from the front-runners? His support for legislation like Reid-Feingold (which he talked about last night) is one way he’s trying to do this, but it hasn’t yet forced the other candidates to take a position.
*** Biden: He may well have hit a homerun on the question about his verbosity and verbal gaffes with his simple "Yes" (and nothing more), which made everyone laugh. Overall, a solid performance. Still, at the end of the day, he faces the same problem Dodd does: How does he break from the pack?
*** Kucinich: He was the first and only true rule-breaker in last night’s debate by whipping out a copy of the Constitution. But he seemed like a legitimate front-runner on the stage compared with Gravel.
*** Gravel: Which brings us to… He was entertaining, even comical -- but was also rude to his fellow candidates. Does he get invited to any more debates?
All three front-runners - Clinton, Obama, and Edwards -- sent out releases declaring victory. The Clinton campaign’s came out first and referred to pundits’ comments. The Edwards folks came out second, using blogs to back up the claim. And Obama’s camp sent out theirs this morning pointing to a robo-dial poll.
The New York Times leads its coverage this way: “Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton was professorial and emphatic as she spoke Thursday night about health care, Iraq and whether Wal-Mart was good for America (a ‘mixed blessing,’ she decided). Senator Barack Obama of Illinois, by reputation a dynamic performer, was reserved and cautious as he talked about a donor with a shady past, how he would respond to a terrorist attack on American shores and his biggest mistake (not doing more to stop Congress from intervening in the Terri Schiavo case, he said).”
The impression by the Washington Post’s Broder is “that the Democrats have a field of contenders that, by any historical measure, matches in quality any the party has offered in decades,” adding that the debate “was fast-paced and civil, with few sharp jabs among the serious contenders.”
The Los Angeles Times: “The exchanges were mostly cordial, with Biden at one point cautioning that Republicans would be making a ‘big mistake’ if they underestimated Clinton's ability to win the general election. But for Clinton and Obama, who have faced criticism from the party's liberal base for not supporting an immediate troop withdrawal from Iraq, the event showcased potential problems.”
The paper also says there was at least at least “one memorable exchange, in which Gravel knocked Obama for saying he would not rule out any options in responding to Iran's nuclear program. ‘Who the hell are we going to nuke? Tell me, Barack,’ Gravel said. ‘I'm not planning to nuke anybody right now, Mike. I promise,’ Obama said, his words muffled by audience laughter.”
The Boston Globe adds that Obama and Clinton “appeared careful to avoid attacking each other personally. Each referred to the other in a companionable manner, with Obama remarking that ‘as Hillary mentioned earlier . . . people are hungry for change,’ and the New York lawmaker referring collegially to ‘Barack’ in one of her responses.”
USA Today: “The candidates spent more time attacking Bush during the 90-minute debate, which also featured questions on health care, gun control and abortion.”
By a 51-46 vote, the Senate passed legislation yesterday calling to begin bringing troops home from Iraq by no later than October of this year. President Bush is certain to veto the measure, likely by next week. Per NBC’s Ken Strickland, two Republicans (Hagel and Smith) voted yes with the Democrats; no Democrats voted against it; one independent (Lieberman) voted no; and three senators weren’t there (the Democrat Johnson and Republicans McCain and Graham)
“The White House reaction was swift and harsh. ‘Eighty days after President Bush submitted his troop funding bill, the Senate has now joined the House in passing defeatist legislation that insists on a date for surrender, micromanages our commanders and generals in combat zones from 6,000 miles away, and adds billions of dollars in unrelated spending to the fighting on the ground,’ said Dana Perino, the administration spokeswoman.”
So where do we go from here? The Washington Post: “The provision most likely to survive the next round is a set of political and diplomatic benchmarks for the Iraqi government. The language all but certain to be dropped, or at least diluted, would require troop withdrawals to begin as early as July 1 and no later than Oct. 1… A significant number of Republicans support the benchmarks -- possibly enough to override a second veto, should Bush resort to that.”
CONTINUED >>
On the trail: McCain takes his announcement tour to Iowa; Romney makes remarks at a Lincoln Day dinner in Michigan; Giuliani addresses the conservative Civitas Institute in Raleigh, NC; and Huckabee is in Iowa.
HUCKABEE: The AP writes that his son, David, “was arrested at an Arkansas airport Thursday after a federal X-ray technician detected a loaded Glock pistol in his carry-on luggage... Huckabee, 26, later pleaded guilty in Little Rock District Court after being charged with a misdemeanor count of possessing a weapon in a prohibited place. ‘It was a silly mistake,' Huckabee told reporters as he left the Pulaski County Jail. When asked whether it would affect his father's presidential campaign, Huckabee responded, ‘It shouldn't.’”
MCCAIN: Covering the senator’s stop in South Carolina yesterday, the Arizona Republic notes that “McCain's outspoken support for the controversial Iraq war doesn't seem to be hurting him in this Red State, the second stop on his formal presidential announcement tour. South Carolina voters want to debate the consequences of a U.S. defeat in Iraq, a serious topic for McCain, said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a top McCain ally here.”
CONTINUED >>
On the trail: The Democratic presidential candidates stick around South Carolina for the state party’s Jefferson-Jackson Day dinner, plus Rep. Jim Clyburn's all-important fish fry. During the day, Richardson meets with Hispanic leaders and then with AARP Presidents in Columbia; Obama does a town hall in Charleston; Edwards has a couple of restaurant photo-ops; and Dodd participates in a handful of smaller events throughout the state. Clinton is in South Carolina too, but not before she hustles back and forth from Washington for an early morning address to teachers from her home state.
Over on The Hotline:
- Still unknown: what constitutes success in Iraq for Edwards, Obama and Clinton.
- "Do you believe there is such a thing as a global war on terror?" Clinton, Obama and Edwards raise hands.
- Obama, potentially realizing that he might face some heat for his response to the question of what'd he do if two American cities were nuked, later clarified his response: "We have genuine enemies out there that have to be hunted down." There is "no contradiction" between using force "intelligently" and building alliances. Kucinich then noted that his statement was "provocative." Obama calls the idea of initiating a war with Iran "a profound mistake" but says "there is no contradiction taking us the seriously the need to want to strengthen our alliances around the world" but "if we have nuclear proliferators around the war.," that is a "grave" threat. It was strong response.
- Edwards's efforts to draw out Clinton and Obama on specifics.
- Obama's refusal to answer the question of how he'd pay for his health care plan.
Click here to read more from Hotline.
From Hardblogger:
- Chris Matthews though the debate was very civilized and therefore, not very exciting.
- MSNBC's Joe Scarborough says there is no clear winner: "John Edwards just gave a fantastic closing argument. It was the most human moment of the debate and is the type of snapshot of a candidate's soul that moves voters. Barack Obama's best moment may have been standing up to Kucinich on Iran. And Joe Biden waving off happy talk was a moment that would even make heartless Republicans smile. A strong ending for these three. Still, no clear winners."
- Scarborough adds: "Clinton, Edwards and Obama have done what is required to get out of the first debate. Hillary Clinton should be the next Democratic nominee for president if she avoids big mistakes. Tonight she did."
- The underperformers, for Scarborough, were Bill Richardson and Chris Dodd.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Chuck Todd
It took 85 minutes, but we FINALLY got a "let me finish."
From NBC's Chuck ToddVery interesting decision by Obama as the debate winds down. He made sure that we knew that he didn't like his first answer to the terrorist attack question. He tried to re-answer. Look for that moment to be dissected.
From NBC's Chuck ToddYes, Kucinich violated the rules of the debate by bringing a prop. (his dog-eared copy of the U.S. Constitution)
From NBC's Chuck Todd
While
Mark noted the lack of guns in the Edwards, Clinton and Obama households (something that won't be a plus in a general), that same trio all agreed that there is indeed such a thing as a "global war on terror," which is something not all Democratic activists believe.
From NBC's Mark Murray
It took more than a hour, but here's the first rapid response e-mail I received.
Statement from Luis Navarro, Biden campaign manager, in response to Gov. Richardson's adoption of Biden plan for Iraq:
"We welcome Bill Richardson adopting the key elements of the Biden Plan for Iraq -- a political settlement that gives its warring factions breathing room in their own regions with control over the fabric of their daily lives including the police, education, jobs, marriage and religion. But while we should start to withdraw our troops now and get most of them out by early next year, Richardson is wrong to rule out a small residual force to prevent Al Qaeda from gaining a foothold and to continue training Iraqis."
From NBC's Chuck Todd
In case you are wondering, Richardson has gone over the time limit more than any other candidate, so take that Joe Biden!
From our Hardblogging friendsProducer
Brooke Brower, blogging from inside the hall, says that mumbling ensued in the crowd as candidates answered the question about who has ever had a gun in the house. “Richardson, Biden and Dodd quickly raised their hands, but a few seconds passed before Gravel and Kucinich raised theirs.”
Brower also points out that Gravel is prompting some in the audience to talk among themselves.
Joe Scarborough is drawn to Kucinich’s statement on opposing the war while funding it is impossible. “That shot at Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama may not win Kucinich any votes, but it is sure to energize the Democratic base.”
From NBC's Mark Murray
Gravel: that he wouldn't hold his opponents' youth and inexperience against them
Kucinich: fired his police chief, while mayor of Cleveland, on the 6 o'clock news
Clinton: health-care reform and believing Bush's claims that Iraq had WMD
Obama: not fighting hard enough against the congressional effort to keep Terri Schiavo's feeding tube in
Biden: overestimating the competence of the Bush administration
Edwards: voting for the Iraq war authorization.
Dodd: voting for the Iraq war authorization
Richardson: his impatience
An update in response to reader comments: Just to clarify, Obama said his biggest mistake was not trying to stop the GOP-led effort to keep Terri Schiavo alive. He added that such decisions should be left up to the families.
From NBC's Chuck ToddEdwards, Dodd, Biden and Clinton using the word "mistake" to talk about Iraq shows just how afraid they may be of this issue. Caution during the Iraq section and now the term "mistake" say it all.
From NBC's Chuck ToddWas Obama not ready for the Confederate Flag question? It seemed that way to this observer.
From NBC's Chuck Todd
That's the theme of this debate so far. This was a group of candidates afraid to make news tonight and afraid to engage. They took the "first impression" factor to heart.
From NBC's Chuck Todd & Mark Murray
A surprising amount of the Democratic candidates claimed to have had guns in their household. Look for reporters to follow-up with them and find out what kind and when.
Gravel, Biden, Dodd, Richardson, and Kucinich raised their hands. Clinton, Obama, and Edwards didn't.
From NBC's Mark MurrayRichardson was asked who his model Supreme Court judge is, and he replied with Byron "Whizzer" White, who was appointed by John Kennedy -- but who dissented in Roe v. Wade.
From NBC's Mark Murray
Sen. Biden was asked about five minutes ago if, with the multiple verbal gaffes he's committed over the years (ex: calling Obama "clean" and "articulate"), he has the discipline to be president.
His response? "Yes" -- that was it, and it drew laughter from the crowd.
From NBC's Chuck Todd
In all seriousness, these questions are important if only to see how quick they are on their feet. Edwards and Richardson seemed to be the most uncomfortable but overall, they all probably are grateful for the opportunity to respond to these "elephants."
From NBC's Mark MurrayRichardson recently called for AG Alberto Gonzales' resignation, but it wasn't before he told a Capitol Hill newspaper that he was on the fence because Gonzales -- like him -- is Hispanic. Richardson was just asked about that, and he replied, "That's how I felt... Maybe I was last [to call for his resignation], but I wanted to give him a chance."
From our Hardblogging colleagues
Bob Shrum and Hilary Rosen both think Hillary Clinton started out strong. Rosen says “Senators Clinton and Biden gave good focused starting answers. Clinton gave the best and firm overview of the politics. Biden gave a great brief overview of the tactical military and political questions we face.” Rosen also hopes that tonight’s debate is a testament to Jack Valenti's kind of politics. Valenti, who passed away today, was her friend and mentor. “He loved politics. The civil kind,” she writes.
Shrum says “It was crisp, almost without a whiff of nuance. Edwards definitely managed to draw the contrast with Clinton on the war without seeming to attack her. And Shrum tells the “second-tier” candidates what they have to do: “make a good impression that outlasts the night, get noticed, inch up, and begin raising some more money.”
Brooke Bower, Hardball producer, describes candidates’ actions, the clicking of the cameras, and the hush in the room as the debate started.
From NBC's Mark MurrayThe first round of questions -- on Iraq -- has just ended, and there weren't any real fireworks. Sen. Edwards was asked whether his past comment -- "We need a leader... who will tell the truth when they've made a mistake" -- was a shot against Clinton and her refusal to apologize for voting to authorize the Iraq war. He said it was a matter of her "conscience," and Clinton responded by saying she has taken responsibility for her Iraq war authorization vote. The bigger question, she said, is "what do we do now?"
From NBC's Chuck ToddThe most amazing thing about the Iraq section of this debate -- the fear apparently all of the candidates had with making news. Amazing caution on this issue; the Democratic activists may not be happy.
From NBC's Chuck ToddBTW, kudos to the candidates, most of them are hitting their time cues. It's possible we'll cover more issues than we thought.
From NBC's Chuck Todd
Gov. Richardson saying he wouldn't fund the war seems to be a move farther to the left. Remember, though, for the non-voting viable candidates, saying you wouldn't fund the war is a lot easier than if they actually had to vote.
From NBC's Chuck Todd
So far, the candidates aren't answering the questions. Sen. Clinton in the rebuttal is at least answering the rebuttal directly.
Update: Check that, Rep. Kucinich answered the question directly. Out of five questions, candidates have answered two directly now.
From NBC's Mark MurrayNBC's Brian Williams led off the debate with two questions -- Sens.
Clinton and
Biden -- on whether they agreed or not with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's recent comment that the "war is lost." Both made critical remarks about the war, but both ducked the question.
From NBC's Chuck Todd
OK, I have to get this out of the way because it will be noted by everyone soon. But, thanks to my perch, I can give you the following debate preview. The only candidate not featuring a splash of color in their wardrobe (i.e. something not black, white or gray) is Sen. Hillary Clinton. Oh, how some bloggers and columnists will over-analyze that.
From NBC's Chuck Todd
I'll be blogging from the control room. My job: listen for news, listen for surprising answers and make sure we follow our planned script of questions as closely as possible. With 20 minutes to go before show time, I can report that all the candidates showed up on time for wiring. They are backstage, ready to be brought on stage very soon.
The cameras roll at 7 p.m. ET. Here's the format:
- 90 minutes, no commercial breaks
- No opening or closing statements
- 1 minute for each answer + possible 30-second rebuttal
- "Lightning round" at end with 30-second responses
From NBC's Mark Murray
Sen. Barack Obama just walked into Sen. Hillary Clinton's holding room to chat.
Readers already know Chuck and Mark are in Orangeburg. I'm the lucky guy back in Washington helping them publish all their posts. Both expect to "live" blog during the debate itself, now less than 90 minutes away.
Our sister blog, Hardblogger, is also getting busy in the blogosphere. Here's what they’ve got cooking so far:
For Chris Matthews, just having candidates stand together on the same stage can change the direction of campaigns.
Presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin thinks it's unlikely that these early debates will make or break a candidacy. “Unless, of course, one of them makes an unfortunate slip of the tongue as Sen. Kerry and Gov. Allen did in recent months.”
Contributor Hilary Rosen wonders how moderator Brian Williams can make sure that the non-front runners -- Biden, Richardson, Dodd, Gravel and Kucinich -- also get equal time.
Check Hardblogger often for more ... I'll excerpt the best-of again at some point during the first hour of the debate.
Also, check out this impressive live blogging effort from the The Times & Democrat, the Orangeburg, S.C., daily newspaper that has welcomed the media horde to their turf.
From NBC's Chuck Todd
Time magazine's Tumulty and Carney have the type of scoop that on any other day would be the talk of the presidential campaign trail. From the now-end-of-the-week newsweekly reporting on the state of Hillary Clinton's campaign:
"Clinton's campaign still professes publicly to be unperturbed, maintaining that it never believed the race would be a cakewalk. "The game plan that we began this campaign with is the game plan we are using today," insists spokesman Phil Singer. But Clinton's advisers privately acknowledge that she is retooling her strategy on four fronts: intensifying her fund-raising, emphasizing her experience and policy depth (she's counting on the upcoming debates to put those on display), pondering when and how to go on the offensive against Obama and dusting off the "two for the price of one" theme of her husband's 1992 campaign. But this time it's Bill you would get in the bargain."
Read the whole story for more detail, including some acknowledgment by Terry McAuliffe that Barack Obama works the phones better than they anticipated.
From NBC's Ken Strickland
By a 51-46 vote, the Senate today passed the Iraq supplemental that calls for US troops to being withdrawing from Iraq by no later than Oct.1 of this year. It will go to the president for his expected veto early next week.
Republicans voting yes were Gordon Smith and Chuck Hagel, no Democrat voted no, and the independent Joe Lieberman voted no. Not voting were Tim Johnson (D), John McCain (R), and Lindsey Graham (R).
From NBC's Carrie Dann
A week after receiving criticism for his "Bomb, bomb Iran" joke, guess what song was playing as the exit music at McCain's rally this morning? The Beach Boys' 1965 single, "Barbara Ann" -- the song he was parodying in that joke.
In a press conference afterwards, McCain laughed with a reporter who joked that the tune could become an official campaign song (and added that he "didn't anticipate" hearing it at the rally today).
From NBC's Chuck Todd and Mark Murray
Hours before tonight's debate, the Clinton campaign has issued a press release trumpeting a new Quinnipiac poll showing her leading the Democratic field in the key general-election battlegrounds: Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
We presume her campaign wants Clinton to be seen as the front-runner going into the debate.
From Chuck Todd and Mark Murray in Orangeburg, SC
*** Let's Get Ready to Rumble: Tonight, all eight Democratic presidential candidates -- Biden, Clinton, Dodd, Edwards, Gravel, Kucinich, Obama, and Richardson -- assemble on the stage of the Martin Luther King Jr. auditorium at South Carolina State University to participate in the first debate of the 2008 campaign. Moderated by NBC's Brian Williams, the debate airs live on MSNBC and South Carolina NBC affiliates at 7:00 pm ET. Who will throw the first punch? How will Clinton and Obama fare? Which non-frontrunner will impress the most? Or the least? Tune in for the answers. We already know who’s winning the sign war… We saw Obama’s folks outside at 6:45 am placing Obama signs on the road outside the auditorium.
*** Gaining Ground: Just in time for the debate, a new NBC/WSJ poll shows that Obama has cut into Clinton's lead -- from 12 points in March (40%-28%) to 5 points now (36%-31%). Edwards is in third at 20% (up 5 points since March), while no other Democrat gets more than 3%. Democrats also appear to be in good shape for the general election. In head-to-head match ups, Clinton beats Fred Thompson (46%-40%), while Obama tops McCain (45%-39%). What's more, a generic Democratic candidate bests the generic GOP one, 49%-31%. And more than three-quarters of Democrats say they are satisfied with their presidential candidates, while just more than half of Republicans say this about their field.
*** The More You Know...: Going inside the numbers of our poll, there's even more bad news for Clinton and McCain. Among those who are "very closely" watching the presidential campaign (about a quarter of each primary sample), Obama actually leads Clinton, 38%-31%, with Edwards at 20%. Among those "very closely" following the GOP primary (again, a quarter of the sample), Giuliani's lead shrinks to almost nothing, but the second place candidate is Thompson. In fact, among these voters, Giuliani nabs 30%, Thompson gets 28%, Romney gets 20% and -- here's the shocker -- McCain is in single digits at 9%. Does this mean that the more voters learn about the candidates, the more Clinton and McCain see their support erode? Are all their poll numbers artificially high because of name I.D. from campaigns past?
*** Harry Reid's America? Last night, the House narrowly passed the Iraq supplemental that would begin to bring home US troops in Iraq beginning in October; it goes to the Senate today. And in the NBC/WSJ poll, a majority agrees with the Democrats -- 56% say they agree with the Democrats in Congress who want to set a deadline for troop withdrawal from Iraq, compared with just 37% who agree with Bush that there shouldn't be a deadline. In addition, 67% are less confident the war will come to a successful conclusion, 57% believe stabilizing Iraq isn't even possible, and only 12% believe the situation there has gotten better in the past three months. But are Democrats going far enough? Just 31% say they are concerned that Congress will go too far on Iraq -- versus 61% who are more worried that Bush will not make enough changes. And a paltry 20% think the new Congress has brought the right kind of change.
*** Like Father, Like Son? Perhaps the most striking finding in the NBC/WSJ poll is that only 22% believe the country is on the right track. It's the lowest number on that poll since October 1992 when -- you guessed it -- Bush's father was running for re-election (and later lost). Elsewhere in the poll, Bush's job approval remains at 35% for the third consecutive poll, just 27% approve of his handling of Iraq, and only 31% approve of Congress' job.
*** Back to the Center? McCain begins the second leg of his announcement tour in South Carolina, joining the Democrats in the state. As we mentioned yesterday, the NBC/WSJ poll has McCain on top (although within the margin of error) when GOP voters are asked which candidate would follow Bush’s policies closely. So maybe it isn’t surprising that he used his announcement speech yesterday to criticize the Bush Administration -- implicitly -- on Iraq, Katrina, and Walter Reed.
*** On the Trail: Elsewhere, Gilmore announces he's running for president via a live webcast from the Iowa Republican Party's headquarters, and Romney is in New Hampshire for some smaller-scaled meetings with local residents.
The AP’s Pickler tees up tonight’s debate by focusing on the expectations game. “Here's how it's played: Before a debate, rival campaigns build up the skills of their opponents while downgrading their own candidate's verbal abilities. That way, any bright moments make a performance seem like a home run… ‘I've just got to make sure I don't trip walking on the stage," joked Delaware Sen. Joe Biden, who complained that the candidates get no opening or closing statements and that responses to questions are limited to 60 seconds.’”
More: “Illinois Sen. Barack Obama cracked, ‘It takes me 60 seconds to clear my throat.’”
But the Chicago Sun-Times isn’t buying the lower expectations for Obama. “Obama joked that he was going to be 'winging it,' suggesting he was barely preparing for the first presidential debate of the 2008 primary season… But he has been wedging practice and study sessions into his schedule for days to prepare for tonight's debate… He has prepped at the Washington office of Bob Bauer, his campaign lawyer and held at least one other session. He expanded his tight inner circle for the debate to include issue experts plus kitchen-cabinet member Anita Dunn, a Democratic consultant, and Cook County Board member Forrest Claypool, a close friend of chief Obama strategist David Axelrod.”
CONTINUED >>
The New York Times: “Only hours after Gen. David H. Petraeus, the commander in Iraq, told lawmakers he needed more time to gauge the effectiveness of a troop buildup there, the House voted 218 to 208 to pass a measure that sought the removal of most combat forces by next spring. Mr. Bush has said unequivocally and repeatedly that he will veto it… On the final vote, 216 Democrats and 2 Republicans supported the bill; 195 Republicans and 13 Democrats opposed it.”
The AP: “Passage puts the bill on track to clear Congress by week's end and arrive on the president's desk in coming days as the first binding congressional challenge to Bush's handling of the conflict now in its fifth year.”
As one of us writes on MSNBC.com: “As the Democrat-controlled Congress and the White House clash over an Iraq spending bill, with President Bush vowing to veto it because it contains withdrawal deadlines, the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll finds that a solid majority of Americans side with the Democrats… ‘They don't see the surge working,’ says Democratic pollster Peter D. Hart… Instead, they are saying ‘we need to get out.’”
CONTINUED >>
Also in our NBC/WSJ poll, a majority opposes Bush's proposal to allow illegal immigrants to earn legal status. One of the biggest detractors? African Americans. More than 60% of them oppose the plan. Will this make some of the Democratic presidential candidates re-think their support for comprehensive immigration reform, particularly when campaigning in a state like South Carolina?
CLINTON: NBC's Lauren Appelbaum says the New York senator was warmly received at yesterday's National Jewish Democratic Council Convention -- hardly surprising given her and her husband's good relationships with the organization. After giving her typical stump speech, Clinton addressed the Supreme Court's partial-birth abortion ban, using it as a segway to show her views on freedom of religion in addition to the freedom to choose. "If the court is willing to undermine an established precedent when it comes to a woman's right to choose, what are they going to do when they turn their attention to religious liberty, or the separation of church and state?" She continued, "Once we allow state-sponsored religion in our public places, then at best, we make those who are not religious feel like they are interlopers and at worst, we begin a slippery slide that will undermined basic rights of conscience and freedom of association. No one should feel that way in our country. They should not feel excluded, disrespected or marginalized."
CONTINUED >>
BROWNBACK: "I like my position. I like my bracket." So said the Kansas senator and GOP presidential candidate at yesterday's Christian Science Monitor breakfast, reports NBC's Carrie Dann. Brownback said he's optimistic about his run despite the seeming impossibility of cracking the hard top-tier ceiling above him. "I'm the tortoise in the race," he chuckled, saying that he's hoping to step into the void left by GOP frontrunners' "clear disconnect" with conservative voters on issues like abortion and fiscal responsibility.
On Iraq, Brownback said he's in "preliminary discussions" with Democrat and oh-eight contender Joe Biden to introduce a resolution in favor of a three-way partitioning of the country. Asked about immigration reform, he accused Democrats of "letting the system languish" by shirking the responsibility of taking up the issue in earnest.
MCCAIN: USA Today writes, “Arizona Sen. John McCain returned Wednesday to the state that made him the surprise upstart of the 2000 presidential campaign, this time as a candidate faced with explaining why he's not the favorite for next year's Republican nomination.”
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Mark Murray
Sorry for the lack of additional posts today, but we were traveling to South Carolina for Thursday's Democratic presidential debate. But we're now back to work, and here's a story to chew on in advance of the debate...
There’s one thing you can safely say about the early presidential contest: It hasn’t been boring.
Much of the drama, intrigue and bickering has occurred on the Democratic side: intramural squabbling over the 2002 Iraq war authorization vote; a tiff over David Geffen’s remarks about Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y.; the money race between Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.; or the revelation that Elizabeth Edwards’ cancer has returned.
But with the first Democratic debate set for Thursday – moderated by NBC’s Brian Williams, broadcast live on MSNBC, and streamed live here on MSNBC.com – these mini-dramas have obscured an interesting fact about the Democratic contest.
The candidates actually agree on nearly all of the major issues.
Click here for more.
From Chuck Todd and Mark Murray
*** The Tie That Binds Them: Perhaps it's only fitting that on the very day McCain officially kicks off his White House bid in New Hampshire, the Iraq supplemental makes its way to the House floor. As we (and others) have noted before, no other presidential candidate is more tied to Bush's Iraq war than McCain -- which is ironic, because he's often been the Un-Bush (whether it was during the 2000 campaign, with the Gang of 14, or in the debate over torture). George Allen was always supposed to be the Bush-like candidate, not McCain.
*** Look at the Numbers: But in the latest NBC/WSJ poll, McCain comes out on top (although within the margin of error) when GOP voters are asked which candidate would follow Bush’s policies closely. McCain receives 63%, Giuliani 62%, Fred Thompson 39%, and Romney 37%. In the horserace, Giuliani leads McCain by 11 points (33%-22%), followed by Thompson at 17% and Romney at 12%; no other Republican gets more than 2%. On the feeling thermometer, 42% view McCain positively versus 22% who view him negatively -- which is virtually unchanged from March, but a drop from the 50%-13% split he held back in May 2004, before McCain began aligning himself so close to Bush.
*** Age vs. Experience: In the announcement speech, per excerpts, McCain will acknowledge his age but couch it as an asset -- noting that no one has more experience for the job. “I'm not the youngest candidate. But I am the most experienced,” he will say. “I know how the military works, what it can do, what it can do better, and what it should not do. I know how Congress works, and how to make it work for the country and not just the re-election of its members. I know how the world works.”
*** Want More? For more poll numbers -- including those on the debate over the war and the Democratic horserace -- tune into NBC’s Nightly News or visit MSNBC.com at 6:30 pm ET.
*** Adding Fuel to the Fire: With Democrats and Republicans already at each others’ throats over the Iraq supplemental, Giuliani says, per the Politico, that another 9/11 is more likely if the Democrats win in ’08. “‘But the question is,’ he said, ‘how long will it take and how many casualties will we have? If we are on defense [with a Democratic president], we will have more losses and it will go on longer.’” Also: “‘America will safer with a Republican president.’” This kind of tactic worked for Republicans in 2004. Will it work in 2008?
*** Subpoena Time: Henry Waxman’s House committee today will consider subpoenaing Condi Rice on the Niger/uranium matter. The State Department is resisting so far. After taking control of Congress Democrats, have been unable to build veto-proof majorities on some of the most contentious matters (like Iraq), but this is something they can definitely do now in the majority.
*** Let’s Debate: Exactly one day before the Democratic presidential debate in Orangeburg, SC -- the first of the campaign season, which will be aired on MSNBC -- Biden will be there today to open up his Orangeburg regional headquarters.
*** On the Trail: On the final day of its convention, the National Jewish Democratic Council hears from Clinton and Richardson, while Romney does a meet-and-greet in Salem, NH.
NBC’s Mike Viqueira says the House will not take up the Iraq supplemental until about 5:00 pm ET today. There is one hour of procedural debate (the "rule"), a vote, then one hour of debate on the measure itself, and then a vote on passage. The guess is that the gavel doesn't come down until around 8:00 pm ET. Also, Gen. Petraeus holds a closed-door briefing for all House members this afternoon.
The New York Times adds: “General Petraeus’s briefing will come in a week when war-related developments are not running in the administration’s favor. Nine American soldiers were killed in Iraq on Monday and 20 others were wounded. And members of the family of Cpl. Pat Tillman, the former professional football player and Army Ranger accidentally killed by other American soldiers in Afghanistan in 2004, appeared at an emotional House hearing Tuesday and accused the Pentagon and administration of misrepresenting the circumstances of his death.”
The Washington Times writes about Bush’s and Cheney’s tough words yesterday on the Iraq supplemental. “‘What is most troubling about Mr. Reid's comments yesterday is his defeatism,’ the vice president said in a rare Capitol Hill press conference. ‘Indeed, last week, he said the war is already lost, and the timetable legislation he is pursuing would guarantee defeat.’”
CONTINUED >>
GILMORE: He's announcing via webcast from the Iowa Republican Party’s headquarters. “Gilmore’s official announcement of candidacy will be at 12 noon Thursday at GOP headquarters, 621 East 9th Street in Des Moines.”
GIULIANI: The Politico writes, “Rudy Giuliani said if a Democrat is elected president in 2008, America will be at risk of another terrorist attack on the scale of Sept. 11, 2001. But if a Republican is elected, he said -- especially if it is him -- terrorist attacks can be anticipated and stopped.”
With a headline that includes the word "Rude-y,” the New York Daily News writes up Giuliani's New Hampshire town hall and notes the "in your face" Rudy made an appearance.
Also in New Hampshire yesterday, Giuliani defended his more moderate stances on key social issues at his town hall. The AP's Sidoti characterized him as being on the defensive regarding both his abortion and gun stances.
CONTINUED >>
DODD: The Boston Globe profiles the Connecticut senator and notes: "Dodd, while clearly frustrated by the lack of media attention to his long-shot campaign, said in an interview that the initial fascination with two or three leading candidates is ‘not uncommon,’ and insisted he will attract support and ultimately votes by running an old-fashioned, grass-roots campaign. ... Still, presidential politics is often unkind to politicians like Dodd who have dominated their states for so long that they may have grown rusty from lack of opposition."
EDWARDS: The campaign is releasing a CD, courtesy of rural strategist David "Mudcat" Saunders, the AP writes. The CD, entitled "Moneyland" is aimed at raising awareness about the plight of rural Americans. Anyone who contributes $50+ to Edwards receives a copy of it. Artists on the CD include Merle Haggard, who earlier this year, released a song that promoted Hillary Clinton's candidacy. The CD, by the way, is apparently available to any campaign. No song explicitly advocates election Edwards or any candidate. Saunders, an Edwards adviser, is a co-producer of the album and claims it is "apolitical."
Remember the news earlier this week of Edwards' ties to a major hedge fund in New York? Well, stories like this could dog Edwards at some point, since he spends more time talking about the wage gap than any other candidate right now. Said one hedge fund partner at a panel discussion about whether hedge funds should be regulated by the government more: "Obviously what we make is absolutely obscene. I'm not saying it's wrong, trust me, but it's still obscene."
CONTINUED >>
Bill and Melinda Gates and Eli Broad are teaming up on an education initiative targeting the early presidential primary/caucus states in order to push candidates of both parties to take up the cause of education reform. The Gates' and Broad are promising a $60 million campaign in the first four states. Broad said the campaign will "try to get all the candidates to be interested in education, not let them get by with the pablum of 'We need better schools and better teachers.'"
The other "Law and Order" star who has been dipping his toe into presidential politics, Sam Waterson gives a speech at the National Press Club today promoting Unity ’08, the group that’s trying to get a bipartisan presidential ticket elected. In an interview with First Read, Waterson said he got involved because he thinks it is time for the country to have an "independent executive" with "no strings attached." He believes that no matter who wins the GOP and Dem nominations, there will be room for a Unity '08 candidate because candidates "are affected by the river they are swimming in" -- meaning that no matter the rhetoric a candidate espouses for the middle, the candidate will always owe their base. Asked about New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Waterson called him a "probable" Unity '08 candidate, but admitted he hadn't spent time with Bloomberg about the idea. He clearly is smitten with Bloomberg. Asked about his "Law and Order" colleague Fred Thompson, Waterson said, based on his conversations with the Republican actor, he thinks Thompson will run.
And speaking of independent or third-party candidates, "Survivor" producer Mark Burnett is teaming up with MySpace to launch a reality TV show to find an indie presidential candidate. Prize money: $1 million, but the money has to be spent on an actual campaign. No TV network has picked up the show.
The Washington Post writes about more GOP senators, including Norm Coleman and Lamar Alexander, who are criticizing Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.
Rep. Rick Renzi (R) is now the subject of a criminal inquiry into a land deal, but the Wall Street Journal writes that the investigation stalled as Renzi faced re-election. “As midterm elections approached last November, federal investigators in Arizona faced unexpected obstacles in getting needed Justice Department approvals to advance a corruption investigation of … Renzi, people close to the case said. The delays … raise new questions about whether Attorney General Alberto Gonzales or other officials may have weighed political issues in some investigations.” The Justice Department denies any foot-dragging.
NBC’s Ken Strickland reports that Gonzales today will meet on Capitol Hill with Sen. Senator Mark Pryor, D-Ark., in an apparent effort to make amends. Early in the controversy over the firing of the US attorneys, Gonzales made statements to Pryor that were later contradicted in e-mails from Justice Department staff. They involved the firing of the Arkansas prosecutor, who was replaced by Karl Rove protégé Tim Griffin.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Lauren Appelbaum
In his speech this afternoon before the National Jewish Democratic Council, Obama didn't fully discuss his relationship with Israel until the Q&A session, when he was asked about his relationship with Muslim and Arab voters. Obama responded that he actually has more support from the Jewish community than the Muslim community -- although he would welcome support from both. Regarding Israel, Obama said, "The truth is that we have to be very hard headed and clear eyed in terms of the dangers that exist throughout the Middle East, and those that seek to perpetrate terror on the United States as well as Israel."
He continued," But we also have to recognize that the status quo is not inevitable. We can aspire to something greater. If we can find partners on the other side that are committed to recognizing Israel and committed to renouncing violence, [then] we have the need to reach out to them and we should want to have that difficult tough discussion -- but nevertheless have that discussion, about how we're going to arrive at, what I think everybody wants, which is two states living side by side in peace and security. So, my commitment to you is unwavering."
From NBC's Mike Viqueira
Well, it looks like Kucinich will be calling today to impeach Vice President Cheney after all.
The Ohio congressman (and Democratic presidential candidate) had earlier postponed his presser to announce his initiative to impeach Cheney after news broke of the veep's doctor visit to check on his leg. The apparently ungrateful Cheney promptly left the hospital, traveled to Capitol Hill, appeared before the cameras, and then put a rhetorical leg to Harry Reid's backside.
Thus chastened, Kucinich's presser is now rescheduled for 5:00 pm ET.
From NBC's Lauren Appelbaum
Unlike Edwards and Dodd, who began their speeches to the National Jewish Democratic Council by speaking about Israel, Biden instead chose to speak on the Holocaust. He mentioned the Virginia Tech tragedy, commending the Holocaust survivor who sacrificed his life for his students in that tragedy. He continued to talk about lessons of the Holocaust before moving on to Iraq, promising to end the war responsibly. "The President hasn't only waged war on Iraq, he has waged war on our civil liberties... They want to change the court, they want to change our civil liberties."
Halfway through his speech, Biden addressed Israel. He questioned why President Bush has not visited that country. "There is nothing like tasting it, feeling it." He continued to assert that peace and security in Israel would be a priority in his Administration.
And Biden spoke about his habit of speaking his mind too much. "The problem I have with my party is we are too timid." After some applause, he continued, "I may be too blunt, and it may cost me the presidency. I am not running for president to hear hail to the chief, I'm running to solve problems... The next president will change the world."
From NBC's Mark Murray
His visit to the doctor earlier today didn't stop Vice President Cheney from launching a scathing attack on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's recent statements on Iraq -- calling them "unfortunate," "uninformed," and "misleading."
In his remarks from Capitol Hill, Cheney added, "What was most troubling about Sen. Reid's comments is his defeatism."
From NBC's Lauren Appelbaum
Relationships with Israel dominated the morning session of today's National Jewish Democratic Council convention. Sen. Chris Dodd talked about his father, an interrogator during the Nuremberg Trials, who then taught his children that what happened during the Holocaust should never happen again. Dodd equated taking care of Israel with ensuring human rights around the country. "Israel cannot afford to lose one conflict. Then there wouldn't even be a second one." Dodd continued to talk about his six-decade friendship with Israel, asserting "no one will ever have to persuade me to Israel's goodness."
Howard Dean followed Dodd and echoed the sentiment. "Last election, they tried to make Israel a wedge issue... The Bush administration has made Israel weak. Rhetoric has to be followed up by policy, not just election-year division."
In his remarks, Dodd also called for withdrawal from Iraq. "As far as I know, I am the only candidate to support Feingold-Reid to end the war by March 31 2008. I call on the other candidates to do the same." Dodd also made some jabs that could be interpreted as swipes at Barack Obama anti-Obama. They included: "It is not time for on-the-job training"; " Hope alone is not going to restore America's leadership"; "I am 62 years old. This is not a warm up for a future run"; and "For 2008, some say we need experience, others say we need hope. I say we need both."
Obama and Biden will address the group after lunch.
From NBC's Mark Murray
Another day, another dust up over the Iraq supplemental. This morning, before he departed to New York to talk about his No Child Left Behind education law, President Bush blasted the legislation a House-Senate conference agreed upon yesterday, which calls for the “goal” of having all US combat troops leave Iraq by March 2008. "They know I'm going to veto a bill containing these provisions, and they know that my veto will be sustained. But instead of fashioning a bill I could sign, the Democratic leaders chose to further delay funding our troops, and they chose to make a political statement. That's their right. But it is wrong for our troops and it's wrong for our country."
On cue, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid fired back with this statement: "While ten more of our brave men and women died yesterday in one of the deadliest days of this war, President Bush continues to offer more of the same: a failed policy that has our troops mired in an open-ended civil war that risks our security at home."
From NBC's Mike ViqueiraRep. Dennis Kucinich has decided to postpone his call for the impeachment of the vice president, because of Cheney's doctor visit this morning for an ultrasound of the clot in his left leg.
From Chuck Todd and Mark Murray
*** Game On: A House-Senate conference yesterday approved an Iraq supplemental that heads to the House floor on Wednesday and Senate floor on Thursday. The legislation calls for the “goal” of having all US combat troops leave Iraq by March 2008. Is that tough enough to win votes from House liberals? Bush, of course, is waiting to veto it, and he plans to fire his latest volley at the legislation this morning before heading to New York.
*** Let’s Debate: Just before Thursday’s Democratic presidential debate in South Carolina, a new poll by NBC affiliate WIS-TV shows Clinton and Obama virtually tied (24%-23%), with Edwards (who won the state in 2004) in third at 16%. On the GOP side, meanwhile, a new Zogby poll has McCain leading Giuliani in South Carolina (22%-19%), with Fred Thompson in third and Romney in fourth.
*** Speaking of Polls: While Edwards ($400 haircuts, hedge fund) and Obama (Tony Rezko) have been the recipients of tough news articles lately, we’ve been seeing Clinton’s national unfavorable ratings rise (to 52% in a recent USA Today/Gallup poll). Now a new Sienna College survey has Clinton's unfavorable rating rising in New York. And this is before the papers and TV networks begin to dig into her past. A thought: Over the years, the more political Clinton has looked, the weaker her poll ratings have been. It's been when she has risen above politics (or been a treated simply as a legislator or a First Lady), that her numbers begin to improve. Can she run a non-political presidential campaign? And if her need to excite Democratic primary voters is to get edgier with the left, won't that hurt her national numbers even more?
*** Stand By Your Man: Does anyone else see the similarities between Bush's decision to stick by Gonzales and how long he stuck by Rumsfeld? Rumsfeld had lost the confidence of key Republican lawmakers months before he eventually was let go. Is Bush using a similar timetable regarding Gonzales' future? (If so, will we see the president announce Gonzales’ resignation come November 5, 2008?)
*** Chuck-Mentum? The conservative blogs are giddy about a poll showing that, should Sen. Chuck Hagel (R) receive a primary challenge if he decides to run for re-election, he could lose. Is this the situation that Joe Lieberman faced last year, but in reverse: unpopular in his own party, and possibly facing a challenge on the war -- from the right?
*** Base Crazy? Kucinich holds a news conference today to announce the introduction of articles of impeachment against Cheney, while Tom DeLay tells the conservative Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that Reid and Pelosi "are getting very, very close to treason” for opposing the Iraq war. To paraphrase Rodney King, can’t we all get along?
*** Another Cattle Call: The National Jewish Democratic Council hears from Dodd, Biden, Obama, and Kucinich. Edwards spoke to the group last night, while Clinton and Richardson go Wednesday.
*** On the Trail: Elsewhere, Giuliani campaigns in New Hampshire, and McCain keynotes the Co-operation Ireland 2007 Annual Dinner in New York. McCain also appears on the Daily Show.
With very little fanfare, a House-Senate conference has just approved the Iraq war supplemental spending bill, NBC’s Mike Viqueira reports. The measure now heads to the House floor Wednesday and the Senate on Thursday. Then it's on to the president for a certain veto next week. The measure calls for a withdrawal to begin by October 1, with a "goal" of having combat troops gone by March 2008.
Reid and Pelosi issued this statement: “If the President follows through on his veto threat, he will be the one who has failed to provide our troops and our veterans with the resources they need and it will be the President who has rejected the benchmarks he announced in January to measure success in Iraq. The bill ensures our troops are combat-ready before they are deployed to Iraq, provides our troops the resources and health care they deserve in Iraq and here at home, and responsibly winds down this war.”
NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell says Bush will make a statement on the war supplemental before departing on Marine One at 11:15am for his trip to New York to talk about No Child Left Behind. Advisers add the president will speak for as many as eight to ten minutes.
CONTINUED >>
CLINTON: The New York Times runs this front-page article: "Only a few months ago, the vast majority of black elected officials in New York were expected to support the presidential candidacy of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. But no longer. In a series of interviews, a significant number of those officials now say they are undecided about whether to back Mrs. Clinton or one of her main rivals for the Democratic nomination, Senator Barack Obama of Illinois, the only black politician in the race.”
A new Sienna College poll has Clinton's unfavorable rating rising in New York now. “Clinton was viewed favorably by 50 percent of voters and unfavorably by 42 percent. Last month her favorability rating was 56-37 percent. Senator Barack Obama’s favorability rating is 55-23 percent. And Senator John Edwards has a 52-29 percent favorability rating.”
Clinton is ramping up her low-dollar events, as evidenced by a big one in New York City last night.
CONTINUED >>
A GOP poll released by Zogby has McCain leading Giuliani in South Carolina, 22-19% with Thompson edging Romney for third 11%-10%.
BROWNBACK: In Boston, Brownback and Dodd, "stepping beyond the traditional bounds of their respective parties, outlined a series of political differences Monday rooted in their varying interpretations of their shared Catholic faith." The session was moderated by NBC’s own Tim Russert.
GINGRICH: The ex-Speaker has an op-ed in the conservative journal Human Events, in which he pushes the idea of "green conservatism."
GIULIANI: When the former mayor comes back to New York for public events, he gets trailed by 9/11 protestors.
CONTINUED >>
The Los Angeles Times covers Bush’s statement of confidence yesterday in Gonzales. "Gonzales has few fans these days among the power elite in the nation's capital, especially since his underwhelming appearance before a Senate panel last week. But he has at least one enthusiast left — the only one who really counts.”
The Washington Post: "[T]he comments suggested that the president intends to ride out the storm despite qualms among Republican lawmakers and even some of his own aides."
The Times says the same thing: “It indicated that Mr. Bush, at least for now, has concluded his attorney general can weather the challenge to his leadership at the Justice Department, barring any evidence of wrongdoing.”
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Mark Murray and Chuck Todd
Just three days before the Democratic presidential debate in South Carolina, a new poll by South Carolina NBC affiliate WIS-TV finds that Clinton and Obama are running neck and neck in the state. In the poll, which was conducted by Garin-Hart-Yang Research Group, Clinton is the preferred choice of 24% of likely Democratic primary voters, Obama is at 23%, and Edwards is at 16%.
The votes were also split along racial lines. Seventeen percent of white voters said they backed Clinton, compared with 31% of African Americans who did so. Obama received similar support (16% among whites and 29% among blacks), but Edwards' numbers were flipped (28% among whites and 7% among blacks).
From NBC's Mike Viqueira
With very little fanfare, a House-Senate conference has just approved the Iraq supplemental spending bill. The measure now heads to the House floor Wednesday and the Senate on Thursday. Then it's on to the president for a certain veto next week.
The measure would call for a withdrawal to begin by October 1, with a "goal" of having combat troops gone by March 2008.
From NBC's Carrie DannIn his energy policy address today -- his third speech in advance of his official campaign kickoff later this week -- John McCain tried to balance his moderate stance on global warming with a solidly conservative plan to combat it with market-based incentives. Global warming "is a serious and urgent economic, environmental, and national security challenge," he warned, (although a large chunk of the GOP base might disagree). But he emphasized that, under his proposals, "the profit motive ... will unleash the market to move clean alternative fuels and advanced energy technologies from the margins into the mainstream."
McCain, still smarting from a tough week after his stint as a Beach Boys cover singer traced its way from YouTube to a stinging attack by MoveOn.org, received a more merciful treatment from reporters after his address. Journalists limited their efforts for more "Bomb, bomb Iran" reaction to a single question at the end of the presser -- inviting him instead to delve into the specifics of his cap-and-trade legislation and of McCain-Feingold, which comes before the Supreme Court this week. But when the inevitable question about last week's musical pseudo-gaffe was finally broached, McCain showed that he intends to stand by his joke as firmly as he stands by his unpopular strategy for Iraq. "When I'm in the company of my comrades and friends who have served in the military, I will always use humor, he said. "And for those who can't understand it or don't like it, my answer is 'lighten up and get a life.'"
From NBC's Mark Murray
On the eve of Thursday's Democratic presidential debate in South Carolina -- which will air on MSNBC and NBC affiliates throughout the state -- the League of Conservation Voters has begun running a TV ad in South Carolina and Washington, DC that features actor Robert Redford urging the candidates to make the issue of global warming a priority.
In the ad, Redford says: "In every generation, there are a few defining moments when we have a chance to chart a new course that will leave our children a better world… We need to challenge all of the presidential candidates to make solving global warming a top priority."
A League of Conservation spokesman tells First Read that the ad went up last night and will air for a week. The spokesman would not reveal the size of the ad buy, but said it is a "strong" cable buy in South Carolina," and a "nominal" cable buy in DC.
From NBC's Mark Murray
During his meeting this morning with General David Petraeus, President Bush took two questions from the press. The first was on whether he would compromise on any legislation that sets a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq. "I believe strongly that politicians in Washington shouldn't be telling generals how to do their job," Bush replied. "And I believe artificial timetables of withdrawal would be a mistake... I will, of course, be willing to work with the Congress, both Republicans and Democrats, on a way forward... But I also made it clear that no matter how tough it may look, that for the Congress to micromanage this process is a mistake."
And on Alberto Gonzales (and the criticism the attorney general has received over his Senate testimony last week) Bush said that Gonzales' performance "increased my confidence in his ability to do the job... [I]t was clear that the Attorney General broke no law, did no wrongdoing. And some senators didn't like his explanation, but he answered as honestly as he could. This is an honest, honorable man, in whom I have confidence."
From Chuck Todd and Mark Murray
*** McCain's Big Week: After Imus and Virginia Tech overshadowed his recent Iraq and economic speeches, respectively, McCain tries once again to claim the center stage. Today, he's giving an address on energy and national security in DC, and on Wednesday he begins his four-day official announcement tour (through New Hampshire, South Carolina, Iowa, Nevada, and Arizona). According to excerpts of today’s speech, McCain will renew his call to combat global warming (which might not please some conservatives), but he’ll do it by advocating market-based solutions (which will).
*** The Teflon Man? When Romney was "evolving" from a moderate to conservative, every move he made was chronicled and ridiculed (by McCain’s folks?) to the point where the flip-flop label stuck to him. Giuliani's conservative evolution of late has been just as stark on some recent issues (guns, immigration, and partial-birth abortion), but his foes haven't attacked him directly yet. Did Romney actually provide Rudy cover?
*** The Hits Keep on Coming? After his $400 haircut received plenty of scrutiny -- including a column by Maureen Dowd -- the Washington Post writes about Edwards’ ties to the New York-based hedge fund Fortress Investment Group. Has the “Two Americas” line lost some of its luster?
*** The Hits Keep on Coming, Part II? Edwards isn’t the only one who has been receiving some tough coverage. The Chicago Sun-Times digs some more into Obama’s ties to Tony Rezko. Also check out the LA Times’ look at the loopholes in Obama’s refusal to take money from lobbyists.
*** Two for the Price of One: Clinton hits a fundraiser tonight that features a guest appearance by -- guess who -- husband Bill in New York. Speaking of, her comment that Bill would be some sort of roaming ambassador in her Administration gets fresh play (including a critical Wall Street Journal editorial), even though it’s not necessarily new. Bill Clinton’s poll numbers seem higher than they’ve been in years, but are Americans ready for a sort-of third term?
*** Just A Matter of Time? Specter said on Sunday that Alberto Gonzales’ refusal (so far) to step down is “bad for the Justice Department.”
*** If It's Monday, It's...: NBC's Tim Russert moderates a forum at Boston College on faith and public policy featuring Catholic oh-eighters Brownback and Dodd. Meanwhile, the first full-fledged debate -- which airs on MSNBC and is moderated by NBC's Brian Williams -- takes place Thursday night.
*** On the Trail: The Edwardses, in Chapel Hill, participate in the "Ed Schultz Show" National Town Hall hosted by WCHL 1360 AM; Obama, in Chicago, gives the foreign-policy speech that got canceled after Virginia Tech; Richardson fundraises in Los Angeles; and Romney has a couple of events in Florida. Also, Edwards speaks tonight to the National Jewish Democratic Council, which will hear from nearly all the Democratic presidential candidates from today through Wednesday.
BIDEN: “Delaware senator and presidential candidate Joe Biden predicted Saturday that within six months, every one of his Democratic rivals would adopt his position on the war in Iraq,” the Des Moines Register wrote over the weekend. “In front of more than 100 people, Biden spoke passionately about the need for a middle road between the plans proposed by his Republican and Democratic counterparts. ‘It is the only rational way,’ said Biden, who proposes a federal system dividing Iraq into separate states of Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds. ‘No one can answer the question that comes next. After you surge, then what? After you cap, what then?’”
CLINTON: The Wall Street Journal’s editorial page seizes on the AP report that has Clinton saying she will make her husband a roaming ambassador to the world. “While Hillary is clearly pushing the global ambassador idea as a discrete and limited job for her husband, anyone who believes that's all he'll be is delusional. Senator Clinton's election would usher in a third Clinton term and a co-presidency redux.”
While she was in Iowa this weekend, one thing jumped out at us. "She also addressed the NAFTA agreement, saying President Bush has mishandled the economy, and that the nation needs a new approach to negotiating trade agreements, including the addition of labor and environmental standards." (Does this mean Clinton will be left of her husband on trade agreements?)
CONTINUED >>
GIULIANI: The Sunday New York Times front-paged Giuliani's changing tone on immigration -- from defender of illegal immigrants to someone who now stresses that he will crack down on illegal immigration. Still, on the policy, Giuliani supports comprehensive immigration reform.
The Los Angeles Times examines Giuliani's early success at wooing Christian conservatives (which is something we've seen in polling for months).
His campaign, moreover, has an unofficial effort underway to get U.S. citizens living in Israel to support his presidential bid.
HUCKABEE: In a twist on a straw poll, Spartanburg County Republicans were asked to rate the various candidates on specific issues following presentations from most of the candidates in person (or a surrogate). And the candidate who came out on top? Huckabee. “Delegates gave each candidate up to five points, five being the best, for their skill in addressing each of those topics. Huckabee won 3,522 points, substantially more than second-place finisher Rudy Giuliani, the former New York mayor, who scored 3,161.”
CONTINUED >>
The New York Times writes about the flood of debates that all the presidential candidates are being invited to. The result has been public — and not-so-public — maneuvering by candidates from both parties as they try to limit the number of debates without making it look as if they might be trying to limit the number of debates. The sprint begins with a Democratic debate this Thursday in South Carolina and a Republican debate a week later in California.
Want more debates? Yahoo!, The Huffington Post, and Slate are announcing today the formation of a partnership to host two online debates moderated by Charlie Rose. The Democratic debate will include introductory remarks by DNC Chair Howard Dean. Few details were released about the GOP debate. Will Yahoo! and Rose be enough to attract the GOP candidates, as the two other sponsors are known for their left-of-center audiences and points of view? (In the Times story above, McCain spokesperson Brian Jones is quoted as saying McCain's camp has already said no to the HuffPo debate.)
The Nevada GOP voted over the weekend to join the state Democratic Party in hosting a caucus on Jan. 19, which right now is set for the Saturday after Iowa and before New Hampshire. However, many New Hampshire primary watchers are expecting Secretary of State Bill Gardner to leap frog Nevada -- possibly for the Tuesday before -- triggering the Iowa caucuses to move up a week as well (from Jan. 14 to Jan. 7). When Nevada was hosting only a Democratic caucus, there was reason to believe some in the media would skip Nevada. Now, with both parties holding an event in the state, the media may now take Nevada's caucuses more seriously.
CONTINUED >>
Reid gives a speech on Iraq at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Per NBC’s Ken Strickland, he will defend Democrats' efforts to send Bush a war-funding bill that sets a timetable for troop withdrawal. He'll also use strong language to renew his attack on the White House war strategy. "No more will Congress turn a blind eye to the Bush Administration's incompetence and dishonesty," Reid will say, according to excerpts released by his office.
While Democrats are still crafting the final language for their withdrawal plan, he'll call it "fair and reasonable... If the president disagrees, let him come to us with an alternative. Instead of sending us back to square one with a veto, some tough talk and nothing more, let him come to the table in the spirit of bipartisanship." In addition, Reid will criticize the president's assessment that "progress" is being made in Iraq, as Bush asserted in a speech on Friday. "He said that while there were still horrific attacks in Baghdad, 'The direction of the fight is beginning to shift.'... The White House transcript says the President made those remarks in the State of Michigan. I believe he made them in the state of denial."
Bush will respond with his own statement on Iraq at 9:50 am ET. A senior Administration official tells NBC’s John Yang that the statement is a continuation of the White House’s push on the war supplemental. Nothing new is expected.
Arlen Specter, the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee “said Sunday that Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales’s failure to step down was ‘no doubt, bad for the Justice Department,’” the
New York Times writes. Mr. Specter’s comments … reflected a growing lack of support for Mr. Gonzales among key Republicans on Capitol Hill as he faces accusations that the dismissals of eight United States attorneys were politically motivated.”
The Sunday Washington Post said that the new legal and ethics issues hovering over GOP Reps. John Doolittle and Rick Renzi could potentially complicate "GOP efforts to retake Congress next year... [They] were only the most recent in a series of developments that have kept the focus on the old ethical and legal clouds that helped chase the Republican Party from power on Capitol Hill."
The Sacramento Bee takes a look at the case developing against Doolittle, noting the similarities between his case and the one that ended up putting Bob Ney behind bars.
Meanwhile, Republicans are fighting back. A couple of Hill veterans -- one of whom gets the internet about as well as any operative -- are starting their own watchdog news site that will exclusively cover the new Democratic majority in what is likely to be in an unflattering light.
From NBC's Carrie Dann, Lauren Appelbaum, and Eman Varoqua
In her remarks at Rutgers University today, Hillary Clinton heaped praise upon the members of its women's basketball team for their bravery and poise in the midst of Don Imus's insensitive comments about them. But she chose not to mention Imus' even once during her speech.
"I'm happy she didn't say his name," said Patrice Morris, 28, a Ph.D. student at Rutgers and native of Jamaica. "Everyone already knows and now she put the focus on the players who stood up for themselves instead."
The tone of Clinton's speech was respectful, but not always somber. One moment of levity came when, sounding more like a befuddled parent than an impeccably disciplined candidate, she tried to expound on how the war on intolerance can be waged through social networking websites."How can we use ... Myface? What's it called?" she asked. When the mashup of "MySpace" and "Facebook" drew a giggle from the audience, Clinton could only laughingly add, "My daughter's going to kill me."
Later in the day, Clinton addressed Al Sharpton's National Action Network -- and once again talked about the Rutgers women's basketball team. She said, "We need to stand with them, and be clear that as women, we will no longer put up with the degradation and demeaning treatment that too often has visited upon our girls and women." After some applause, Clinton went on, "So yes, I am proud to be a woman and I hope that by my running, other young girls and women can think about how they can keep going, what barriers they break through, what their possibilities are for the lives they want to lead."
From NBC's Ken Strickland
Without acknowledging his comments yesterday when he said the "war is lost," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said President Bush and his allies "attacked those of us with courage to ask the tough questions and tell the truth about Iraq." He described their criticism of him and other Democrats as "an effort to shift attention from this Administration's failed policies" in Iraq.
In a remarks on the Senate floor after Bush's speech today, Reid did not repeat the "war is lost" comments. Instead, he said that "the longer we continue down the president's path the further we will be from responsibly ending this war." He repeated the sentiment two additional times in the speech and added, "but there is still a chance to change course and we must change course."
Reid also refuted the GOP claims following Reid's controversial remarks yesterday that Democrats don't support the troops and want to cut funding for them. "We take a back seat to no one in supporting our troops," Reid said. "And we will never abandon our troops in a time of war."
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Mark Murray
Liberal MoveOn says that it will go up with a TV ad in Iowa and New Hampshire next week that takes John McCain to task for the "Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran" comment he jokingly made earlier this week. The ad -- which comes at a buy of $100,000 and is already posted on YouTube -- goes: "America has lived through six years of a reckless foreign policy. We're stuck in Iraq. More than 3,000 Americans are dead. And thousands more wounded. Now comes John McCain with his answer to what we should do about Iran." The ad then plays McCain's "Bomb, bomb" comment, and it concludes: "John McCain? We can't afford another reckless president."
The McCain campaign quickly responded to the ad: "It comes as no surprise that America's most liberal interest group would attack John McCain's belief that we cannot allow Iran to destroy Israel," said spokesman Matt David. "After all, MoveOn.org posted ads comparing President Bush to Hitler during the last presidential election."
From Chuck Todd and Mark Murray
*** Bedtime for Gonzo? Panned by GOP senators and lampooned on the Daily Show, Alberto Gonzales certainly didn’t have a good day before the Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday. Perhaps the most damning line came from Sen. Lindsey Graham (R): “You said something that struck me, that sometimes it just came down to these were not the right people at the right time. If I applied that standard to you, what would you say?”
*** Lone Star Falling: Speaking of Gonzales’ tough day, has/did anyone from Bush’s Texas gang had/have a good second term? There’s Harriet Miers and Scott McClellan. Karen Hughes, in her new post, hardly seems to be winning over the hearts and minds of the Muslim world. And Karl Rove, especially after the Social Security push and then the midterms, appears to have lost his mojo. Did these folks stay in Washington too long?
*** Tough Being the Front-runner? McCain’s “Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran” rendition of the Beach Boys song gets tons of play. Eight years ago, when he was first running for the presidency, many would have described it as another example of how funny the off-the-cuff McCain can be. But are some in the media applying a different standard to McCain now that he’s a front-runner and not an insurgent?
*** Bad Boys, Bad Boys, Whatcha Gonna Do… : In the last 48 hours, the FBI has raided the homes/offices of two Republican congressmen -- on two different coasts. Does it seem like 2005-2006 all over again for the GOP?
*** Hitting the Airwaves: On Monday, Richardson will begin running a pair of TV ads in Iowa and New Hampshire (at a buy of about $100,000), making him the first of the Democrats to go up on the air. Romney was the first to go up on the GOP side. And much like Romney, Richardson is trying to boost his name ID as he competes among better-known candidates for his party’s nomination. Richardson also seems trying to avoid being drowned out when the better-funded candidates begin airing their own ads.
*** You Go, Girl: After being postponed due to the flooding in the Northeast, Clinton finally speaks at Rutgers, where we’re sure she works in a line or two about Imus’ recent controversial comments about the women’s basketball team. But as with Gonzales’ testimony, did the floods (and later Virginia Tech shootings) knock this speech out of the spotlight it once would have commanded? Afterwards, Clinton heads to Al Sharpton’s National Action Network convention, which will also hear from Mike Gravel.
*** On the Trail: Biden is in Iowa; Brownback keynotes the New Jersey Right to Life dinner; Dodd is in New Hampshire; Edwards takes his rural-recovery campaign to Iowa; Giuliani gives a speech at Texas A&M University; Huckabee stops in South Carolina; McCain has a finance event in Arizona; Obama campaigns in New Hampshire and Boston; Richardson visits Iowa; and Romney stumps in Iowa and Indiana.
As we mentioned earlier, Alberto Gonzales didn’t win rave reviews for his testimony yesterday. The Washington Post: "[He] appeared frustrated, weary and at times combative during a five-hour Senate panel hearing that was widely considered crucial to his bid to hold on to his job. He sought to present a careful defense of the firings, apologizing for the way they were handled but defending them as the "right decision."
The analysis from the New York Times: “Not a single Republican, with the possible exception of Senator Orrin G. Hatch of Utah, came to Mr. Gonzales’s defense — not even his old Texas friend Senator John Cornyn.”
The Wall Street Journal: “[I]t was Republican senators who asked questions that went to the heart of earlier misleading and incomplete answers from Mr. Gonzales and others at the Justice Department in explaining how the attorneys were fired. It was Republicans who returned repeatedly to questions about how Mr. Gonzales could stand by the firings, yet not explain why each one was carried out.”
CONTINUED >>
NBC's Ken Strickland says Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid gave the White House and their GOP allies fresh ammunition to criticize his position on the war when Reid said at a press conference Thursday "this war is lost and that the surge is not accomplishing anything, as indicated by the extreme violence in Iraq yesterday."
Senate Republican leaders pounced. "I can't begin to imagine how our troops in the field, who are risking their lives every day, are going to react ... and hear that [Reid] has declared the war is lost," said Republican Leader Mitch McConnell. Democrats "are no longer willing to stand behind them," added John Cornyn.
Reid's office says the leader does feels that the "war is lost" if the Administration continues its failed strategy. Jim Manley, Reid's spokesperson, acknowledged his boss could have been "more clearer" in his morning remarks and pointed to Reid's comments on the Senate floor later that further amplified his thinking. "As long as we follow the president's path in Iraq, the war is lost. But there's still a chance to change course, and we must change course."
CONTINUED >>
CLINTON: With the New York senator slated to speak before Al Sharpton’s confab today, husband Bill did the honors yesterday. He “gave a wide-ranging talk on topics from the genocide in Darfur to his efforts to reduce the calorie content of soft drinks. He spoke of a booming global economy that has enriched many but has remained unattainable for most… A highly popular figure among black voters, President Clinton offered an added boost to his wife, who was scheduled to address the group Friday. Sen. Barack Obama, who hopes to be the first black president, was set to speak Saturday.”
Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton has picked up the support of St. Louis mayor Francis Slay, the first prominent Missouri Democrat to endorse a candidate.
DODD: He’s spending his Earth Day weekend in New Hampshire; his visit started last night as he touted his energy proposal, the AP says. "Dodd earlier Thursday unveiled an environmental policy that calls for a steep increase of auto fuel economy standards to 50 miles per gallon by 2017 and a mandate for the government to use clean-energy vehicles and green technology in all its offices. Dodd's proposal sets a goal of reducing 80 percent of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050."
CONTINUED >>
GIULIANI: In his latest National Journal column, NBC political analyst Charlie Cook wonders if he’s underestimated Giuliani’s chances. “I have long joked that I would win the Tour de France -- without benefit of steroids -- before the former New York City mayor would win the Republican nomination. Putting aside your mental image of a portly Charlie Cook in black spandex, am I wrong?” He concludes, “Don’t get me wrong, I still think that Giuliani can’t get nominated. I’m no longer certain of it, though. And I’m thinking of getting into better shape -- I hear the Tour de France is a pretty long race.”
MCCAIN: He was in Nevada last night, and the state's leading political guru, Jon Ralston, provided us with a transcript of McCain's press avail:
McCain on his "bomb, bomb, bomb Iran" takeoff of a Beach Boys song: “Please … I was talking with some of my old veterans friends and my response is, lighten up and get a life"
Reporter: Was it insensitive?
McCain: Insensitive to what? The Iranians? (laughs)
McCain: "My response is, lighten up and get a life. I will continue to joke with my veteran friends at the VFW posts around America."
McCain, responding to Senate Maj. Leader Harry Reid's the "war is lost" comment: "My response is that having just come from Iraq that's not the view of the men and women who are putting their lives on the line as we speak … and I'm frankly taken aback at such a statement while we have young men and women in harm's way trying to win a conflict that will have a profound impact not only today but on future generations of Americans if we lose this war. Senator Reid should understand that Presidents don't lose wars, and political parties don't lose wars; nations lose wars.
Analyst Stu Rothenberg doesn't believe McCain or Clinton has answered the Roger Mudd question. "But why are Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) running for president? I’m not sure, except that McCain seemed to be next in line for the GOP nomination and Clinton is, well, Clinton."
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg hosted a group of the city's most prominent donors and asked them to hold out on giving presidential candidates money until "they side with the city on a checklist of issues, such as Wall Street regulations, homeland security money and funding for ailing ground zero workers." Bloomberg denied interest in running himself. And lest you think Bloomberg is trying to woo donors for himself, remember that he's never raised outside money for his two bids for mayor. He's always self-funded. By the way, this event also featured a panel discussion between Harold Ford Jr. and Newt Gingrich.
For the second time this week, a House Republican has garnered a headline that has the words "FBI" and "raid." Arizona GOP Rep. Rick Renzi saw his family business raided by the FBI yesterday. "In October, Justice Department officials confirmed that Renzi was the subject of an inquiry into a 2005 land swap that would benefit a business associate, according to The Associated Press."
Renzi represents a fairly competitive seat. He also made the decision to temporarily step down from his post on the House Intelligence Committee.
The other GOP member to be the subject of an FBI raid this week, California's John Doolittle, said he's temporarily stepping down from his position on the House Appropriations Committee.
From NBC's Mark Murray
Deputy White House press secretary Dana Perino has issued this statement relaying the White House's support of Alberto Gonzales. "President Bush was pleased with the Attorney General’s testimony today. After hours of testimony in which he answered all of the Senators’ questions and provided thousands of pages of documents, he again showed that nothing improper occurred. He admitted the matter could have been handled much better, and he apologized for the disruption to the lives of the U.S. Attorneys involved, as well as for the lack of clarity in his initial responses."
More: "The Attorney General has the full confidence of the President, and he appreciates the work he is doing at the Department of Justice to help keep our citizens safe from terrorists, our children safe from predators, our government safe from corruption, and our streets free from gang violence."
From NBC's Chuck Todd and Mark Murray
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson will be the first Democratic presidential candidate to air a TV ad, albeit at a relatively small buy. Two ads will begin running on Monday -- a 60-second one that describes his record and a 30-second that tells viewers why he's running and what he'll do about Iraq. The ads, at about a $100,000 buy, will run on broadcast TV in Sioux City, Mason City, Des Moines, and Cedar Rapids-Waterloo; and on cable in the Omaha and Quad Cities markets. The ad will also air on WMUR in New Hampshire.
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney was the first on the Republican side to go up with TV ads. And like Romney, Richardson faces the challenge of voters getting to know him as he competes against better-known candidates for his party's presidential nomination.
From NBC's Joel Seidman
Oklahoma GOP Sen. Tom Coburn has asked for Alberto Gonzales to resign. At today's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Coburn said the firing of US attorneys "was handled incompetently," adding: "The best way to put this behind us is your resignation."
Coburn told Gonzales, "You set the standard, leadership management skills." And he said the Justice Department needs a clean slate.
From NBC's Mark Murray
Will this end up influencing the Democratic and Republican nomination contests in New Hampshire? The AP reports that New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch (D) will sign legislation establishing civil unions in his state. "New Hampshire thus will become the fourth state to adopt civil unions and the first to do so without first having a court fight over denying gays the right to marry."
Lynch tells the AP that he doubts his signature will won't likely impact the New Hampshire primary. But, at the very least, it seems it will become a topic of discussion for all the candidates.
From NBC's Lauren Appelbaum
Speaking today in Oklahoma City at the annual remembrance ceremony of the 1995 bombing there, Giuliani talked about the resolve of the American people -- as well as September 11 and God. "What [the terrorists] are using against us is fear," he said to the bombing's survivors and the victims' families. "What they believe is that we're weak. We'll win this victory over terrorism if we prove to them they're wrong, that we're strong and resilient people. We mourn and hurt and we'll never forget but we don't live under fear."
Addressing the "why" surrounding the events of Oklahoma City, 9/11, and Virginia Tech, Giuliani referred to God. "The only place and the only way we're going to get an understanding from this is understanding that we get from God." He continued, "[Terrorists] don't understand America, they don't understand freedom, they don't understand where it comes from. It doesn't come from us. It comes from God."
Giuliani pledged to use the lessons learned from these three events for the future. "We owe to those we lost at Virginia Tech, those that we lost here and on September 11th, that we will do everything we can to prevent a future act. Maybe we can't achieve that 100% but we must try."
From NBC's Mark Murray
WHO-TV's Dave Price reports that Jimmy Carter -- the first White House candidate to use the Iowa caucuses to jump start his campaign -- came to Iowa yesterday and said Iowans "should no longer get to make the first pick. Jimmy Carter made his comments in front of about 6,000 Wednesday night in Iowa City... Carter said instead of Iowa going first, the country should get divided into four regions with a primary on the east coast starting the process. He said, 'This will give every American an equal chance to elect candidates and also it will let candidate concentrate their television and radio advertising in particular regions.' Carter says he hopes the country would start this new process in 2012."
From Chuck Todd and Mark Murray
*** The Main Attraction? After being postponed because of the Virginia Tech tragedy, Alberto Gonzales finally testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee on the US attorneys controversy. But has this issue, which once captivated Washington, been eclipsed by other stories (the shootings, Imus, yesterday’s Supreme Court ruling on abortion)? Or will what Gonzales says today place the story back on the center stage? There are hints today that he is on a VERY short Bush leash.
*** Abortion’s Return to Politics: Yesterday's Supreme Court ruling is more proof that elections have consequences. It's also a reminder that Republicans have cared much more about judicial nominations and the Supreme Court than Democrats have, especially on the campaign trail. Will that change? Also, just throwing this out there -- would the vote had been the same if Harriet Miers, and not Sam Alito, was on the court?
*** A Tough Week for Rudy? The Virginia Tech shootings and yesterday's Supreme Court decision forced Giuliani to issue statements about guns and abortion that he might not have made as New York mayor. As our friends at Hotline’s Last Call put it yesterday, “With everyone asking about guns and abortion, Rudy decided to get a root canal.”
*** Stuck in the Middle with You: Today, Democrats begin the House-Senate conference on the Iraq supplemental. Republicans may very well face the long-term problem on Iraq (just look at the polls), but Democratic leaders have to feel like they're caught in a bind in the short term -- between being able to pass a bill that can pass both chambers, and a left that wants troops out of Iraq ASAP. Maybe that's why Democrats seemed to be playing nice after their meeting at the White House yesterday.
*** Jack’s Back: Jack Abramoff is back in the news -- this time due to the FBI’s raid of GOP Rep. John Doolittle’s home in Northern Virginia.
*** The Sharpton Primary, Day Two: Richardson, Biden, and Dodd take their turn addressing Al Sharpton's National Action Network. Gravel and Clinton speak Friday, and Kucinich and Obama go on Saturday.
*** On the Trail: Edwards is in Roanoke, VA; Giuliani travels to Oklahoma City to participate in a ceremony memorializing the anniversary of the 1995 bombing there; Huckabee continues to campaign in New Hampshire; McCain hits Las Vegas, where he holds a press avail and then attends a GOP dinner; and Romney stumps in Iowa.
In a 5-to-4 decision yesterday, the Supreme Court upheld the nationwide ban against the controversial abortion procedure often referred to as “partial-birth” abortion. The AP says the ruling handed “abortion opponents the long-awaited victory they expected from a more conservative bench… It was the first time the court banned a specific procedure in a case over how — not whether — to perform an abortion.”
The New York Times: “While the ruling will thus have a direct impact on only a relatively small subset of abortion practice, the decision has broader implications for abortion regulations generally, indicating a change in the court’s balancing of the various interests involved in the abortion debate. Most notable was the emphasis in the majority opinion, by Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, on the implication of abortion’s ‘ethical and moral concerns.’ ‘The act expresses respect for the dignity of human life,’ Justice Kennedy said."
Another Times article, looking at the politics of the ruling, writes that abortion rights advocates said the ruling “underscored the stakes of the 2008 presidential election, arguing that the next president will almost certainly appoint a justice who could shift the balance of the court on Roe itself.”
CONTINUED >>
Bush travels to Tipp City, OH to make remarks on the global war on terrorism at 1:00 pm ET.
NBC’s Mike Viqueira says today will be the day that Pelosi and the House Democratic leadership agree to begin the House-Senate conference on the Iraq supplemental. It’s a formality on the floor involving a motion and a vote. The trouble for Democrats is that Republicans can offer a motion of their own to "instruct" the conferees, and they will use the opportunity to force a vote to instruct the conference to throw out all references to timelines for withdrawal. Pelosi and Democrats have been working to make sure they don't get embarrassed on this vote, which is non-binding but still could cause them problems -- if for no other reason than for appearances. Republicans would argue, “Why should Bush cave in on the legislation if the Democrats can't even get a majority in the House?”
Viq adds that Pelosi and Democrats are in a very difficult position at this point. First, there is some question over whether a House-Senate conference can pass a bill with a firm withdrawal deadline like the House has; without it, they are down to the soft "goal" the Senate version contains. So the anti-war left, which has already had to hold its nose and vote for what it considers a distant deadline of late summer 2008, would then be forced to vote on something yet weaker.
CONTINUED >>
The Washington Post offers up some clues as to what Bush is looking for in Gonzales’ testimony today. "Bush does not think Gonzales did anything wrong in dismissing the prosecutors, according to aides, but has been aggravated by his friend's clumsy, shifting explanations of what happened. In effect, advisers said, Bush is giving Gonzales a chance to fix the situation today. What happens if he does not remains unclear. No one in the White House believes Gonzales can say anything that would get Democrats to drop the matter, but his supporters hope he can be confident and consistent enough to explain his role without providing more ammunition for critics. Should he stumble, some Republicans said, Gonzales has a responsibility to fall on his sword, sparing Bush having to ask.”
A new CBS News poll suggests that a large majority of folks haven't been following the US attorneys controversy -- which may be why 36% of those surveyed didn't have an opinion about whether they thought Gonzales should resign or not. For the record, 36% were in favor of him resigning, 28% were not in favor.
Also, did anyone else know that Bill Richardson has not yet called for Gonzales’ ouster? And check out his reason… According to The Hill, Richardson “said Monday the reason he has not called for the removal of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is that the two both have Hispanic backgrounds. Richardson, in an interview with The Hill, said he is ‘pretty close’ to making such a call, but added that he is reluctant to do so before Gonzales’s Senate testimony despite the high-profile involvement of New Mexico in the U.S. attorneys scandal. ‘The only reason I’m not there is because he’s Hispanic, and I know him and like him,’ Richardson said, adding, ‘It’s because he’s Hispanic. I’m honest. I want to give him the benefit of the doubt.’”
A new Washington Post/ABC poll has Giuliani's lead in the national GOP primary slipping a bit to 12 points over McCain. Fred Thompson and Romney are tied at 9%, with Thompson's inclusion the primary reason for Giuliani's fall from the low 40s to the low 30s. On the Dem side, Clinton maintains a double-digit lead over Obama, with Al Gore (17%) and John Edwards (14%) trailing them. The poll did not report a result without Al Gore.
CLINTON: Is Harold Ickes more of a central player in the campaign than many realized? Does he deserve the credit for keeping costs down?
DODD: The Hartford Courant says Dodd plans to unveil an “ambitious” energy plan today “that aims to reduce 80 percent of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and enact a ‘corporate carbon tax’ that would bring in $50 billion annually. His greenhouse gas emission framework would require the U.S. to reduce emissions by one-third of 80 percent below 1990 levels. Ten years later, emissions must be cut another third, and by 2050, the 80 percent level must be reached.”
CONTINUED >>
Remember the disgraced lobbyist? Well, he's still causing heartburn for GOP lawmakers. The FBI raided the Northern Virginia home of California Rep. John Doolittle (R). "Abramoff, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy, mail fraud and other charges, is in federal prison and has been cooperating with the FBI investigation."
The New York Times adds, “Mr. Doolittle was elected to a ninth term last fall in a race that was unusually close for a heavily Republican district, largely because of questions over an unusual business arrangement with his wife’s company as well as his ties to Mr. Abramoff. Under the arrangement, Mrs. Doolittle, through her company, served as her husband’s chief fund-raising consultant and took a 15 percent commission on most of his donations. An October 2006 fund-raiser for Mr. Doolittle that featured President Bush’s visit to the district netted about $90,000 for Mrs. Doolittle. Mr. Doolittle has defended his wife, saying her commission is in line with what other consultants charge.”
Doolittle released this statement yesterday: "My wife has been cooperating with the FBI and the Justice Department for almost three years and that cooperation is going to continue in the future. I support my wife 100 percent and fully expect that the truth will prevail."
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Joel Seidman
Sixty-three House Republicans attended a private meeting on Capitol Hill this afternoon with former GOP Sen. Fred Thompson, to discuss his potential White House bid. The attendees were a Who's Who of House conservatives: Reps. Dan Burton, Steve Buyer, Shelley Moore Capito, Don Manzullo, and Zack Wamp (who organized the event).
After the meeting, Thompson told the press, "I came over to see some old friends, meet some new friends, and I will see you again." That's all he said about his possible bid. But the members who attended the meeting said they were excited and called Thompson "presidential."
From NBC's Mark Murray
According to advance excerpts of his speech tonight at Al Sharpton's National Action Network convention, John Edwards takes the issues of Don Imus and racial intolerance head on. "I find it astonishing that there was even a debate over whether Don Imus' comments crossed the line. And I know I don't have to tell anybody here: Don Imus' comments didn't just cross the line. They defined the line that divides this country like the blade of a knife. There can be no debate over how much bigotry is too much bigotry. Any bigotry is too much."
He goes on to say, per the excerpts: "It's a shame we have to wait for the Don Imus' of the world to provoke a national conversation through bigotry - but we should jump at the chance to have this conversation, not just to look at whatever bigotry lies in our own hearts, but to finally engage on a problem that isn't going anywhere unless we do something about it."
From NBC's Mark Murray
As we predicted, many of the other 2008 presidential candidates have begun weighing in on the Supreme Court's 5-4 ruling that upholds the nationwide ban on the controversial abortion procedure. The Republicans have applauded the ruling, while the Democrats have criticized it.
Brownback: "This ban was enacted to put an end to one of the most grotesque forms of abortion, and it is completely in line with the respect for life that is at the very heart of our Constitution. This is a great step forward for our nation's citizens, born and unborn."
Giuliani: "The Supreme Court reached the correct conclusion in upholding the congressional ban on partial birth abortion. I agree with it." (However, it should be noted that this hasn't always been Giuliani's position. In 2000, he said on Meet the Press that he backed Bill Clinton's veto of the ban.)
Edwards: "This hard right turn is a stark reminder of why Democrats cannot afford to lose the 2008 election. Too much is at stake -- starting with, as the Court made all too clear today, a woman's right to choose."
Obama: "As Justice Ginsburg emphasized in her dissenting opinion, this ruling signals an alarming willingness on the part of the conservative majority to disregard its prior rulings respecting a woman's medical concerns and the very personal decisions between a doctor and patient. I am extremely concerned that this ruling will embolden state legislatures to enact further measures to restrict a woman's right to choose."
From NBC's Andrea Mitchell
Rutgers' Center for American Women and Politics has announced that Hillary Clinton has rescheduled her appearance there for this Friday, April 20.
She was to address the center on Monday, but it was cancelled at the last minute because of the floods.
Clinton has had a longstanding invitation to speak at Rutgers, which she acted upon after the Imus controversy. However, given that the Virginia Tech shootings have eclipsed the Imus story, it's unclear whether her speech on Friday will receive the same amount of attention it once had.
From NBC's Mark Murray
John McCain was the first presidential candidate to respond to today's 5-4 Supreme Court ruling. "Today's Supreme Court ruling is a victory for those who cherish the sanctity of life and integrity of the judiciary," he said in a statement. "The ruling ensures that an unacceptable and unjustifiable practice will not be carried out on our innocent children. It also clearly speaks to the importance of nominating and confirming strict constructionist judges who interpret the law as it is written, and do not usurp the authority of Congress and state legislatures. As we move forward, it is critically important that our party continues to stand on the side of life."
Even though it's never been a top-shelf issue for him, McCain has been stressing what he says are his consistent anti-abortion views -- in contrast to Giuliani's and Romney's positions on the issue.
From NBC's Mark MurrayWith his wife running for president,
Bloomberg reports that Bill Clinton this year is tripling the number of university commencement addresses he gives -- by speaking to graduates "on six campuses, led by Harvard University and the University of New Hampshire, the biggest school in the state that hosts the nation's first presidential primary... Clinton will [also] make addresses in May and June at Rochester Institute of Technology in New York, Vermont's Middlebury College and Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois."
From NBC's Mark MurrayIn a decision that's likely to dominate politics today -- perhaps more than the Virginia Tech shootings -- the US Supreme Court, in a 5-4 vote, has upheld the nationwide ban on the so-called "partial-birth" abortion procedure. We'll have more on this throughout the day.
From Chuck Todd and Mark Murray
*** War Games: Politics begins to return to normal today when Bush and congressional leaders sit down at the White House to discuss the contentious Iraq supplemental. Since a compromise between Bush and congressional Democrats doesn’t appear to be likely, the questions on our mind are: 1) What will the eventual House-Senate conference bill look like? 2) Will that bill be able to pass both chambers? 3) And what will Democrats do after Bush vetoes the legislation? A new Gallup poll shows that 57% support a timetable for withdrawal. Democrats seem to have public opinion on their side, but they seem hesitant to test the depth of that support.
*** To the Rescue: Fred Thompson meets today with about 50 House GOP members to discuss a possible White House bid, and is expected to hold a press availability afterwards. Is he Ronald Reagan with a drawl? Or the next Wes Clark? One thing is for certain: There is a hunger among many Republicans for someone else.
*** Go Ahead, Make My Day: On Thursday, House Democrats plan to bring up the legislation that would award a member of Congress to Washington, DC -- daring Republicans to again attach a repeal of the District’s gun ban to the legislation, this time just days removed from Virginia Tech shootings. Will Republicans blink?
*** Think Imus Will Come Up? Al Sharpton’s National Action Network confab begins today in New York -- with a speech tonight by Edwards. And he won’t be alone: Richardson, Biden, and Dodd speak on Thursday; Gravel and Clinton go Friday; and Kucinich and Obama address the group on Saturday. Meanwhile, Sharpton has cancelled an event that would have honored the head of a music group, whose roster includes the rapper Ludacris. “We don’t want to be inconsistent,” Sharpton said.
*** Labor Parties: The AFL-CIO has announced its own forums for the Democratic hopefuls -- including town halls for the individual candidates, plus a group forum in early August. Despite labor's mixed record of success in recent Democratic presidential primaries, there isn't a labor group that the field has turned down. By the way, has anyone counted up the number of debates and town halls that are scheduled for 2007?
*** On the Trail: Huckabee stumps in New Hampshire; Richardson, in New York, gives a speech to the Asia Society; Dodd (as part of his Senate job) has a media availability on Capitol Hill after holding a closed-press homeownership summit; and McCain, in South Carolina, does two town halls and a finance event.
*** And on a Lighter Note: Will Florida Gov. Charlie Crist light the fire of Doors fans and pardon Jim Morrison for an infamous indecent exposure charge in Miami?
The New York Times says the shooting tragedy -- and the way the guns used in it were purchased -- “has prompted calls from several Democrats and at least one leading presidential candidate, John Edwards, for measures to restrict gun sales, even as they proclaimed their support for the Second Amendment.”
The Politico reports that Giuliani's camp yesterday issued a statement in Giuliani’s name stating that the Virginia Tech tragedy “‘does not alter the Second Amendment.’” Said Giuliani: “‘People have the right to keep and bear arms and the Constitution says this right will not be infringed. The recent Parker decision makes it clear that restrictions, if any, must be reasonable and these are best decided on a state-by-state basis,’ [he] concluded, referring to the recent federal appeals court decision overturning the gun ban in Washington, D.C. But Giuliani was once a strong supporter of enacting federal restrictions on access to firearms.”
Another Politico article examines why the gun lobby usually wins. “The National Rifle Association has money, motivated members and powerful allies in Congress. But what puts the NRA in a separate class among interest groups is its track record of defeating incumbents. In Washington, that is real power.”
CONTINUED >>
Per the New York Post, Al Sharpton cancelled a planned event that would have honored the head of Island Def Jam Music Group -- “whose stable of singers includes foul- mouthed Ludacris. ‘We don't want to be inconsistent,’ Sharpton told The Post.
John Kerry -- a frequent Imus guest -- doesn't think the shock jock should have been fired.
And 55% agree with Kerry, per a new Gallup poll -- although many of them supported a suspension for Imus.
NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell reports that Bush’s White House meeting with the bipartisan congressional leaders is going forward today as planned. The White House has described this meeting as "not a negotiation," but an opportunity to discuss the war supplemental. Democrats want compromise from the president on their demands for a timetable for withdrawal.
NBC’s Viqueira says that GOP leaders McConnell, Lott, Boehner, and Blunt spoke with Bush yesterday to strategize about today’s meeting. On the Democratic side, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi will hold a press conference with veterans and military families at 11:45 am ET, before heading over to the White House for their meeting on the Iraq supplemental.
The AP writes, “Congressional Democrats say there is no doubt President Bush will soon be confronted with legislation calling for an end to the Iraq war. But the new majority must decide how far to go in trying to tie Bush's hands and what will happen after the president's inevitable veto. The debate is likely to expose fissures among Democrats, who remain divided on whether to cut off money for the unpopular war and risk leaving troops in the lurch.”
CONTINUED >>
The House Judiciary Committee will meet this morning to consider granting immunity to ex-DOJ aide Monica Goodling -- to get her to testify in the US attorneys controversy. Goodling has so far declined to talk, invoking the Fifth Amendment. Two-thirds of the Committee must approve immunity.
The Washington Post: “Such a grant of immunity … would free Goodling to speak about the plan to fire the U.S. attorneys and the dismissals' aftermath, without fear that prosecutors could use her testimony in a criminal proceeding.” The article adds that the RNC “yesterday turned down congressional demands that it hand over e-mails related to the firings, angering Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers Jr.”
The AFL-CIO is organizing two sets of forums for the Democratic candidates. The first is a series of town halls with the individual candidates. The second is a group forum in Chicago on August 6 or 7. Here's the rundown of individual forums: Dodd (April 29 in Sacramento); Edwards (May 1 in Seattle); Obama (May 14 in Trenton, NJ); Biden (May 16 in Miami); Clinton (May 19 in Detroit); Richardson (June 4 in Phoenix); and Kucinich (TBD).
CLINTON: The Washington Post profiles Clinton's tenure in the Senate and notes: "But keeping her plate full at the Senate is also part of Clinton's campaign strategy, a real-time illustration that she is a workhorse with a practical view of government. That emphasis on small-scale initiatives rather than ambitious ones was famously championed by Mark Penn, her campaign pollster and chief strategist, when he worked for President Bill Clinton nearly a decade ago and promoted such administration policies as school uniforms."
CONTINUED >>
NBC’s Viqueira says the House GOP conference is currently trying to arrange to have all Republican presidential candidates come to address them --one at a time -- over the course of the next several weeks. They habitually meet on the second day of legislative activity in a given week, and they are trying to arrange for the candidates to come by during these regular confabs. Hunter has done so already, but he has home-field advantage, of course.
GIULIANI: Oil baron (and Oklahoma State sports patron) T. Boone Pickens says he's raised $500,000 already for Giuliani, the Wall Street Journal writes.
HAGEL: Remember GOP Sen. Chuck Hagel? Is he a presidential candidate, or is he running for re-election? Well, he filed an FEC report that seems to offer few clues about his future. He raised about $150,000 for the quarter, the Omaha World-Herald reports -- not a lot for somebody thinking about a presidential race and not really a lot for someone thinking about re-election. And so goes the difficulty that is Hagel's ambition. What is it?
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Mark Murray
A new national Gallup poll finds that Barack Obama is gaining ground on Hillary Clinton. In the Democratic horserace, Clinton leads Obama, 31%-26% -- followed by Edwards at 16% and Gore at 15%; no other Democrat gets more than 3%. A Gallup poll earlier this month had Clinton up on Obama by 19 points (38%-19%).
Perhaps more troublesome for Clinton is that 52% have an unfavorable opinion of her in the poll, versus 45% who have a favorable view. By comparison, Obama has a 52%-27% fav/unfav rating.
In the GOP field, Giuliani is at 35%, McCain at 22%, Fred Thompson at 10%, and Romney at 9%. Moreover, the poll finds that just 36% approve of Bush's job; only 25% approve of Alberto Gonzales' job; and just 26% believe the troop surge in Iraq is making the situation there better.
From NBC's Mark Murray
We've now received word that Obama's foreign policy speech today in Chicago has also been canceled, which means that there's not a single political event -- to the best of our knowledge -- going on today in the wake of the Virginia Tech tragedy.
***Update*** Obama's speech is rescheduled for April 23.
From Chuck Todd and Mark Murray
*** Politics Postponed: What was supposed to be an eventful day in politics -- especially Alberto Gonzales’ testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee -- takes a back seat to the tragic shootings at Virginia Tech. Gonzales’ hearing has been postponed until Thursday, while Giuliani canceled today’s speech at Pat Robertson’s Regent University in Virginia Beach, VA (which his campaign is working to reschedule). Romney and McCain also scratched their events today.
*** Bush to Blacksburg: NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell reports that, according to advisers, President Bush is heading to Virginia Tech to attend and speak at the convocation there. The First Lady will also attend.
*** Blast from the Past: The Don Imus controversy sparked the beginning of a conversation about race in America. Will yesterday’s shootings do the same for guns? Other than Mitt Romney’s recent “I’ve been a hunter pretty much all my life” remark, the issue has been largely absent from the presidential campaign trail, especially on the Democratic side. The Columbine tragedy actually occurred at the same point in the 2000 race -- April 20, 1999 -- but guns never turned into a top-shelf issue, although some Democrats believe that Gore’s pro-gun control stance in that campaign hurt him among rural and Southern voters. As the Politico’s Simon writes today: “Had Gore won his home state of Tennessee, Clinton’s home state of Arkansas or the Democratic state of West Virginia, he would not have needed to win Florida in order to gain the presidency. But he lost them all. And guns had a lot to do with it.”
*** What Not To Say: Lost in the coverage of yesterday’s shootings was Tommy Thompson’s joke to a Jewish group that went wrong. “I'm in the private sector and for the first time in my life I'm earning money,'' he said. “You know that's sort of part of the Jewish tradition and I do not find anything wrong with that.'' Thompson later apologized.
*** On the Trail: With all of the cancellations today, the only notable political event is Obama’s foreign policy speech in Chicago.
Most of the presidential candidates issued press releases or spoke on camera about yesterday’s tragedy:
BIDEN: “There are few comforting words in such senseless times as these. Our humble thoughts and prayers go out to the victims’ families and loved ones. We will grieve as a nation together with all those affected by this terrible tragedy.”
CLINTON: “This tragedy is still unfolding and I hope as a nation we can come together and keep in our thoughts all those affected as we learn more about the events which took place this morning."
DODD: “My prayers are with the families who lost loved ones. My thoughts are also with the innocent victims who were injured, and I pray that they stage full and speedy recoveries. I am deeply saddened by this unnecessary loss of life, but I believe our nation will find the strength to support those touched by this tragedy.”
CONTINUED >>
NBC's Ken Strickland says congressional leaders will meet with President Bush at the White House on Wednesday to discuss the Iraq emergency-spending bill. Bush has promised to veto any bill that sets timelines for troop withdrawal. Both the House and Senate versions of the bill include different timetables.
The reconciliation of those two bills also starts this week when selected members of each chamber will meet to iron out the difference in drafting a new bill. The cornerstone of the House version requires combat troop withdrawal by September 2008, while the Senate only sets it a "goal" for withdrawal by March 2008. The new bill will have to again be passed by both the House and Senate before reaching the president's desk for his expected veto. And re-passage of the bills with is not a forgone conclusion since they passed by only narrow margins the first time.
However, a new Washington Post/ABC poll finds that Democrats might have the edge as they work on a final bill. According to the poll, 58% trust the Democrats in Congress to do a better job handling the situation in Iraq, compared with 33% who trusted Bush. “But Americans remain divided over specific policy changes. About 51 percent support legislation similar to the House bill, which would continue funding the war but would set a deadline of no later than August 2008 for the withdrawal of U.S. combat forces; 46 percent oppose such a bill.”
CONTINUED >>
The Washington Post covers the Senate Judiciary Committee’s decision to postpone Gonzales’ hearing until Thursday. More from the article: “A Washington Post-ABC News poll released yesterday showed that two-thirds of Americans, including a narrow majority of Republicans, see political motivations behind the prosecutor firings. Nearly six in 10 disapproved of the way Gonzales has handled the issue, including nearly half of Republicans. But the poll suggests that the nation is divided along partisan lines about whether Gonzales should step down. Forty-five percent of Americans said Gonzales should lose his job, 39 percent said he should remain in his post, and 16 percent expressed no opinion.”
The New York Times reports that former Gonzales chief of staff Kyle Sampson has told congressional investigators “that Mr. Gonzales was ‘inaccurate,’ or ‘at least not complete’ in asserting that he had no role in the deliberations about individual United States attorneys who were later dismissed, a Democratic senator said Monday. In his interview, Mr. Sampson said under oath that Mr. Gonzales took part in discussions last fall about David C. Iglesias … as well as in a June 2006 meeting that addressed concerns about Carol C. Lam…, said Senator Charles E. Schumer, Democrat of New York. Mr. Sampson made similar statements in public testimony to the Judiciary Committee on March 29, but appeared to offer more specifics in the interview.”
The Washington Post’s Balz writes: “The first-quarter fundraising reports from the 2008 presidential campaign crystallized two realities of this intensely fought election: The battle for each party's nomination is more open than it was just three months ago, and each contest pits three relatively well-funded candidates against one another, with the rest of the field at a disadvantage.”
The Politico has this take: “From Congress to the presidential campaign, Republican fundraising is lagging while Democratic donations are surging. Yet beneath the record-breaking million-dollar totals lies another statistic that could be more ominous in 2008 for Republicans: a yawning gap between the presidential primary fields' donor bases. According to campaign figures, the Democrats' top three candidates received donations from about 204,000 individuals. The first-tier Republican trio drew checks from 110,000, roughly half as many. That donor disparity helped give the Democrats a big first-quarter financial advantage.”
According to Bloomberg, Obama did better among Wall Street types than Clinton did. Not only is this significant since Wall Street is on Clinton's home turf, but it’s symbolic in recent history: One of the early signs that Bill Clinton was going to be a national player was his surprising success in wooing Wall Street.
CONTINUED >>
EDWARDS: Did Edwards really get two $400 Beverly Hills haircuts? So says the FEC report. This was likely spark new interest in the now-infamous YouTube of Edwards fixing his hair, in which the video creator used "I Feel Pretty" as the background music.
And there is still some bad blood between the Kerry and Edwards camps. It seems some Kerry folks decided to talk to the Boston Globe's Lehigh to give their version of events regarding Edwards' strategy on what to say about their votes for the Iraq war resolution. “‘I specifically remember Edwards having a very distinct take,’ says one person in attendance, who paraphrases Edwards's argument this way: ‘We need to stick to this. We should stand by our votes, say we would vote that way again. If you admit a mistake, it shows weakness in time of war. That's what the Republicans want us to do.’”
More: “Asked about the difference between the advice Edwards was giving in fall 2004 and his stance now, campaign spokeswoman Kate Bedingfield would say only this: ‘John Edwards's campaign is about looking forward and not backward and bringing about the kind of real change that we need in this country.’”
CONTINUED >>
MCCAIN: The New York Times covers the Arizona senator’s economic policy speech yesterday, which contained “some strong words for the way his fellow Republicans governed when they controlled Congress. ‘Worst of all, we forgot who we were: tight-fisted stewards of the federal treasury who keep our priorities straight,’ Mr. McCain said... ‘We asked Americans to make us the governing party, and we rewarded them by becoming the party of government.’”
The pro-tax cuts Club for Growth, which hasn’t been all that kind to McCain, released this statement from its president, Pat Toomey: “On paper, Senator McCain’s speech reads like a stereotypical Republican stump speech. But when one considers his record of ardently opposing tax cuts, his consistent support for double taxation in the form of the Death Tax, and his historical ambivalence towards free market policies, platitudes and stump speeches are not persuasive. If Senator McCain wants to convince us that he is serious about charting a new, pro-growth course, he will need to take serious and specific steps in the direction of economic freedom.”
ROMNEY: Looks like another statement from Mitt Romney's past is coming back to haunt him -- this time about the praise he gave to Hillary Clinton’s “It Takes A Village” mantra regarding children. He was supportive of the concept in '98, but he's no longer supportive now.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Mark Murray
President Bush said this on the Virginia Tech shootings: "Our nation is shocked and saddened by the news of the shootings at Virginia Tech today... I've spoken with Governor Tim Kaine and Virginia Tech President Charles Steger. I told them that Laura and I and many across our nation are praying for the victims and their families and all the members of the university community who have been devastated by this terrible tragedy. I told them that my administration would do everything possible to assist with the investigation, and that I pledged that we would stand ready to help local law enforcement and the local community in any way we can during this time of sorrow."
From NBC's Lauren Appelbaum
After a Women for Obama event, the Illinois senator addressed the Virginia Tech shootings: "It's heart breaking. Obviously still getting details as to how such a tragedy could happen. Our first concern has to be with the parents right now who probably still don't know whether their own sons and daughters are okay. These were future leaders, our most precious resource. To see them struck down at the prime of life like this is a tragedy and I think we have to do some soul searching to find out are there ways we can prevent these things from happening again."
***UPDATE*** Hillary Clinton has also put this statement: "As a parent, I am filled with sorrow for the mothers and fathers and loved ones struggling with the sudden, unbearable news of a lost son or daughter, friend or family member. This tragedy is still unfolding and I hope as a nation we can come together and keep in our thoughts all those affected as we learn more about the events which took place this morning."
From NBC's Lauren AppelbaumAt a farmers market today in Nashville, TN to kick off his rural agenda, John Edwards commented on the tragic shootings at Virginia Tech. "For those of you who haven't heard, it appears more than 20 who have died in the shooting. More who have been injured from these preliminary reports, from the little information we have so far. Our prayers go out to these young people, it appears to be mostly students and their families. God bless them and it's a terrible tragedy in America."
From NBC's Mark Murray
As has been the case since the debate over the Iraq supplemental began, once Bush fires his shot at the Democrats, the Democrats return the fire. Said Sen. Jim Webb in a statement: “President Bush has threatened to veto the Iraq War supplemental bill, which is favored by a majority of Americans and a majority in Congress. This is just another example of the one-dimensional approach of this administration with respect to the resolution of this ill-conceived war."
“In the Constitution, the Congress appropriates funds and writes the checks. We’re sending the President a bill that provides $100 billion for our troops to continue their mission in Iraq. Nobody is cutting the money from the troops unless the President vetoes the bill Congress sends him.”
From NBC's Mark Murray
Surrounded by military family members inside the White House this morning, President Bush once again called on Democrats to pass a "clean" Iraq emergency spending bill -- without withdrawal deadlines and congressional earmarks attached to it -- but this time he did it by invoking September 11. "If we do not defeat the terrorists and extremists in Iraq, they won't leave us alone. They will follow us to the United States of America. That's what makes this battle in the war on terror so incredibly important."
Bush added, "One of the lessons of September the 11th is what happens overseas matters to the security of the United States of America, and we must not forget that lesson. The consequences of failure would be death and destruction in the Middle East and here in America."
After that, Bush launched his broadside against the Democrats, saying they were undercutting US troops. "Seventy days ago, I sent Congress an emergency war spending bill that would provide the vital funds our troops urgently need. But instead of approving this funding, the Democrats in Congress have spent the past 70 days pushing legislation that would undercut our troops. They passed bills in the House and the Senate that would impose restrictions on our military commanders. They set an arbitrary date for withdrawal from Iraq. And they spent billions of dollars on domestic projects that have nothing to do with the war."
From NBC's Chris Donovan
As a reference for tomorrow's testimony by Attorney General Alberto Gonzales before the Senate Judiciary Committee, here are some tidbits from Gonzales' AG confirmation vote from February 3, 2005:
-- None of the 10 Democrats currently sitting on the Judiciary Committee voted to confirm Gonzales. Eight of them (Leahy, Kennedy, Biden, Kohl, Feinstein, Feingold, Schumer, and Durbin) voted NO on Gonzales, and two were not senators at the time (Cardin and Whitehouse).
-- All 9 Republicans currently sitting on the Judiciary Committee voted for Gonzales' confirmation.
-- Gonzales was confirmed, 60-36, with six Democrats voting to confirm him and no Republicans voting against him.
-- All of the Democratic senators running for president (Biden, Clinton, Dodd, and Obama) voted against him.
From Hotline's blog
There's been a change in the senior ranks of John Edwards's presidential team. Jennifer Swanson, Edwards's finance director, has left the campaign. Democratic fundraising sources said that Swanson announced her decision to leave late last week, about two weeks into the second fundraising quarter. Swanson was not fired, sources said.
Late Thursday, Swanson posted this little-noticed blog item on Edwards's website: "... I want to take a moment to announce that I will be moving on from my job as National Finance Director of the campaign and that Brian Mixer has been named the new Director. I joined the campaign to lead the finance team through the first critical quarter of this year, knowing I couldn't move to Chapel Hill, but I couldn't be more pleased to be giving you the news that Brian is going to be doing this job! Brian and I have worked together for John and Elizabeth for a number of years and have been committed to this cause with you for a long time... I want to thank you for all your support and look forward to continuing to be involved in John Edwards' campaign to build the America we all believe in."
Swanson was chief of staff of Edwards's finance department in 2004. Loyal to the Edwards family and close to both Elizabeth and John Edwards, Swanson was among those senior Edwards staffers who was unable to move to North Carolina. Both Edwardses were happy with Swanson's performance as finance director, the sources said.
An Edwards spokesman said the blog post spoke for itself.
From Chuck Todd and Mark Murray
*** The Official Results Are In: As expected, Obama outraised Clinton in first-quarter primary funds, $25 million to $19 million. Also, the Clinton folks are being a bit, well, Clintonian by claiming to have $31 million in the bank: That number includes $7 million she raised for the general election (money that can’t be used unless she wins the nomination), so her real cash on hand is $24 million (and a large chunk of that is the $10 million she transferred from her Senate campaign account). By comparison, Obama’s cash on hand is $18.2 million and Edwards’ is $10.7 million. What may be most impressive about Clinton’s FEC report, however, is how frugal her campaign was, as it spent only $5 million -- although it did rack up $1.6 million in debt.
*** Burn, Baby, Burn: In contrast, perhaps the biggest news in the GOP field is that McCain has just $5.2 million in the bank (raising about $13 million but spending $8 million). Meanwhile, even though he raked in the most money in the first quarter among Republicans, Romney’s cash on hand is just $1 million more than Giuliani’s ($11.9 million vs. $10.8 million).
*** More Questions Than Answers? In a Washington Post op-ed yesterday -- two days before he testifies on Capitol Hill -- Alberto Gonzales said he was the one who decided to privately seek the resignations of a handful of US attorneys, but why didn’t he admit that from the beginning? And in his prepared remarks, he will say that he believes no one involved in the process fired the attorneys for partisan gain or to influence a particular case. But how does that explain the firing of David Iglesias?
*** Mo’ Money, Mo’ Problems: With Obama’s win in first-quarter primary funds comes two negative articles -- one by the Boston Globe comparing the similarities between Obama’s rhetoric and Deval Patrick’s (David Axelrod’s influence here?), and another noting that Obama has introduced bills that are very similar to Clinton’s.
*** Mother Nature Steps In: Clinton was expected to extend the Imus story yet another day by speaking today at Rutgers -- and meeting with the women’s basketball team -- but the poor weather in the Northeast has forced her to cancel the event.
*** It's the Economy, Stupid: In a speech today from Memphis, TN, McCain turns to a topic other than Iraq: the economy. And per excerpts of his speech, he implicitly criticizes the Bush Administration for not vetoing enough bloated spending bills, for not balancing the budget without “smoke and mirrors,” and for not cutting spending after pushing through those large tax cuts. But compared with his other more Iraq-focused events (Baghdad visit, last week's speech), how much media attention will this get?
*** Just A Good Ol' Boy: Also in Tennessee today (Nashville) Edwards kicks off his weeklong rural recovery agenda with a concert and a rally. The RNC lampoons the event by pointing out that Nashville is the nation's 25th-largest city -- and, of course, Edwards' multi-million-dollar home/complex in Chapel Hill.
The New York Times leads with how some of Obama’s biggest fundraisers and bundlers have past ties to Bill Clinton. “A list of Mr. Obama’s top fund-raisers released Sunday showed the extent to which the Democratic Party establishment, once presumed to back Mrs. Clinton, has become more fragmented and drifted into her rival’s camp, lending the early stages of the Democratic primary campaign the feeling of a family feud.”
The Washington Post adds: “Perhaps the greatest advantage for Obama going forward is that fewer than half of his 104,000 contributors "maxed out" for the primary by hitting the $2,300 contribution limit, meaning he can turn to them again for support. Clinton, by contrast, received nearly three-quarters of her haul from those who wrote $2,300 checks and who cannot contribute to her again unless she is the party's nominee.”
CONTINUED >>
Alberto Gonzales’ Washington Post op-ed on Sunday: “My decision some months ago to privately seek the resignations of a small number of U.S. attorneys has erupted into a public firestorm… What began as a well-intentioned management effort to identify where, among the 93 U.S. attorneys, changes in leadership might benefit the department, and therefore the American people, has become an unintended public controversy.”
NBC’s Pete Williams adds that in his written testimony prepared for Tuesday's hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Gonzales will say, "I made mistakes in not ensuring that these US attorneys received more dignified treatment. Others with in the Department of Justice also made mistakes." But, he notes, these were honest mistakes of perception and judgment, not intentional acts of misconduct. Gonzales says he has no reason to believe that anyone involved in the process fired any of the prosecutors for an improper reason -- such as "to interfere with or influence a particular prosecution for partisan political gain."
CONTINUED >>
At the White House this morning, Bush will make yet another statement on the Iraq supplemental. NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell reports that, per senior advisers, the president is not expected to take questions after his remarks. Of course, that could always change.
In his interview on Sunday, Cheney predicted that Democrats would “cave in” to the White House’s demands for an Iraq supplemental without withdrawal dates, the New York Times says. “‘I think the Congress will pass clean legislation,’ Mr. Cheney said … adding, ‘I do believe that positions that the Democratic leaders have taken, to a large extent now, are irresponsible.’”
In a Washington Post op-ed, retired Marine Corps General John Sheehan explains why he turned down the opportunity to be the Bush Administration’s Iraq and Afghanistan war “czar.” “It would have been a great honor to serve this nation again. But after thoughtful discussions with people both in and outside of this administration, I concluded that the current Washington decision-making process lacks a linkage to a broader view of the region and how the parts fit together strategically. We got it right during the early days of Afghanistan -- and then lost focus. We have never gotten it right in Iraq.”
CLINTON: While touting her good government proposal in New Hampshire over the weekend, Clinton acknowledged in an AP interview that the "perception of secrecy" hurt her ability to reform the health care system in 1993. Also in New Hampshire, Clinton had to deal with another war heckler. "Addressing nearly a thousand people later in a high school gym, Clinton faced her harshest questioner of the day: a young woman who said she had traveled from New York to ask the senator whether she had read a 92-page intelligence document before her 2002 vote to authorize the war. ‘I was thoroughly briefed on it. I was briefed on it,’ Clinton said repeatedly, as the woman tried to interrupt her. ‘I think it's such a difficult thing to go back in time and say what everyone was thinking… I believed that what we were doing was giving the president the authority to put inspectors in Iraq. That's what we were told privately. That's what we were told publicly.’”
EDWARDS: On Saturday, he spoke about climate change and said industry ought to pay for their pollution. "Edwards said charging polluters could generate up to $40 billion to invest in clean technology to ‘get us off our addiction to oil.’ He also said the United States should ban the construction of new coal-fired power plants"
OBAMA: Huge, huge crowds again this weekend. In Tampa on Sunday, 2,000 showed up. The St. Pete Times notes, however, "Obama's broad platform differs little from most of the other Democrats: Iraq is a mess, and the troops should come home soon; health care for all; better schools; energy independence."
CONTINUED >>
All of the major GOP candidates spoke in Iowa Saturday night at the state party's Lincoln Day Dinner. No one committed news. Perhaps the oddest speech came from ex-Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore, who coined the phrase "Rudy McRomney" in taking a shot at the conservative credentials of the frontrunners. He also took a shot at Fred Thompson, not by name, but by profession. He contrasted his law-and-order background (he's an ex-VA AG and prosecutor) with Thompson's Hollywood background.
GIULIANI: The former New York City mayor speaks at Regent University tomorrow. McClatchy does a curtain-raiser focusing on Giuliani’s attempts to court Christian conservatives.
MCCAIN: In his economic policy address today, according to excerpts from the campaign, McCain takes some more shots at the Democrats, but also check out his implicit criticism of the Bush Administration. “To illustrate how badly the problem [pork barrel politics] skews our priorities look at the recent debate in Congress over the spending bill to support our troops in Iraq. Democratic leaders wanted to use the bill to force the President to withdraw our troops from Iraq by next year. But they didn’t have the votes… They took the lid off the pork barrel, and said to wavering members ‘help yourself, there’s plenty more where that came from.’”
CONTINUED >>
Democrats were
dealt a blow in Louisiana as ex-Sen. John Breaux (D) decided against running for governor this year. Questions about Breaux’s residency eligibility were likely not going to be resolved until sometime this summer, making a campaign very difficult to launch. GOP Rep. Bobby Jindal is now the frontrunner (he may have been anyway, had Breaux run). Among the new list of Dems considering is LG Mitch Landrieu, who lost a bid for New Orleans mayor last year. Current Gov. Kathleen Blanco (D) announced last month she would not seek re-election.
From NBC's Carrie DannThe unofficial
Imus litmus test has prompted reax from most of the Oh-Eight hopefuls, who have gone on record this week to condemn the remark that cost the controversial radio host his CBS and MSNBC gigs.
Giuliani, McCain, Huckabee, Edwards and
Chris Dodd - who announced his candidacy on Imus's show in January - all appealed for his forgiveness. But Gov.
Bill Richardson declined to comment about his relationship with Imus at his "Hey-look-I'm-back-from-North-Korea" presser Friday afternoon in Santa Fe. "I'm not going to talk about that," he said brusquely.
Richardson's shortness on the matter may stem from his spotty, though, seemingly personal relationship with the now-unemployed radio star, who owns a ranch in Richardson's home state of New Mexico. The two scuffled last month when Imus called the governor a "fat sissy" but then sang his praises for funding renovation projects in Imus's NM neighborhood. But the non-response from Richardson, a Hispanic-American, is particularly notable in contrast to the conspicuous and strongly-worded denunciations of
Hillary Clinton and
Barack Obama - the other two non-white males on the presidential trail. (Clinton stopped short of explicitly calling for Imus's firing, but she's heading to Rutgers on Monday for a high-profile show of disgust for the "small-minded bigotry and coarse sexism" of his remarks. Obama's response was stronger; he firmly told NBC's
David Gregory "he wouldn't be working for me.")
Richardson may be staying silent on Don Imus, but he is jumping on the fundraising ethics bandwagon touched off by Hillary's address in New Hampshire Friday morning. Rather than pressing for transparency, though, Richardson says he's just too darn swamped for shady political payoffs. "I don't even know who contributes to my campaigns," he said. "I'm busy governing or I'm busy, as I'm doing now, running for president."
From NBC's Chuck ToddMitt Romney's campaign has now released their full FEC report and released some intriguing stats surrounding their report. But before we get to those stats, one number jumped out at me: Romney's $11.86 million in cash-in-hand. That number is just one million more than
Rudy Giuliani reported in cash-on-hand. Romney, of course, raised approximately $6 million more in primary money than Giuliani. Now, to put this "lead" of Romney's into context, realize that Romney is carrying a debt of $2.5 million thanks to a loan the candidate gave to the campaign. So subtract the loan from Romney's cash, then Giuliani, the frontrunner in the polls among Republicans would also be the frontrunner in money (at least, in money in hand). It's quite a feat for Giuliani considering the late start the campaign got on fundraising.
Now, as promised, the Romney stats:
-- 32,074 unique donors.
-- top 10 states for donations, in order: California, Utah, Massachusetts, Texas, Michigan, New York, Florida, Arizona, Ohio and Connecticut.
-- 38%, or 12,236 donors, gave $200+
-- 62%, or 19,838 donors, gave less than $200.
-- The campaign claims over $7.2 million was raised online, but more than half of that was raised through Quick ComMitt, their online fundraising pledge software, i.e. donors didn't go to their web site to give money.
From NBC's Mark Murray, Lauren Appelbaum, and Carrie Dann
The preliminary figures came out nearly two weeks ago, but today the Giuliani campaign released the official first-quarter fundraising numbers it has filed to the Federal Election Commission. It raised a total of $16.6 million for the quarter (including $13.6 million in primary funds, $1.1 million in general election funds, and a $1.85 million transfer from Friends of Giuliani). That amount came from 28,000 donors from all 50 states, including less than $1 million raised over the internet.
These fundraising numbers are similar to the preliminary figures it released on April 2, when it said it had raised "more than $15 million in receipts for the primary" and "nearly $14 million in primary election funds."
Yet the news the campaign emphasized was the $10.8 million it has in cash on hand for the primary -- spending about a third of what it had taken in. It also announced it had raised $11.5 million in March alone, a whopping 78% of his overall $14.7 million haul ($13.6 million for the primaries and $1.1 million for the general).
Sunday, April 15 is the deadline for the candidates to officially file their first quarter numbers with the Federal Election Commission.
From NBC's Kelly O'Donnell
Deputy White House press secretary Dana Perino says that so far in its review, the White House has found "no basis to conclude any improper intent" in the use of Republican Party email accounts that critics say allow staffers to circumvent White House record-keeping requirements. Perino says she "could not rule out" that as many as 5 million emails are missing but stressed the White House does not know the extent of what maybe lost. Twenty-two current White House staffers hold RNC email accounts -- 50 during the course of the two terms. About 1,000 people work for the Executive Office of the President. All White House official records are to be preserved indefinitely under the Presidential Records Act
Regarding Karl Rove -- who is in Portland, OR today doing fundraising -- the White House says that in 2004, his email accounts at the RNC were exempted from the RNC's practice of an automatic 30-day purge that applies to other users. In January 2006, Rove's ability to use a "double delete function" was removed so he could no longer manually delete and then empty his delete file. Officials say this applied only to Rove as far as they know now. Officials could not explain why or what prompted this.
The White House says an internal review is underway, and it has reached out to -- but not yet hired -- outside computer forensic experts to seek their expertise to determine what may be retrievable on servers. "Resources are being dedicated to resolve this quickly." Responding to charges from Democrats who claim the White House is "stonewalling", Perino acknowledges the "screw-up" has put them in "an uncomfortable position to be in." But she says the White House disclosing its mistakes on email is an effort to be fully forthcoming.
From NBC's Mark Murray
With Tax Day approaching, Gallup has a new poll showing that a slight majority of respondents (53%) believe the federal income tax they have to pay is too high -- a five-point increase from last year. By comparison, 41% say it's about right, while 2% think the tax is too low.
In addition, the poll notes that 60% believe the federal tax they have to pay is fair, while 37% say it isn't -- a finding that has remained steady over the past five years.
From Chuck Todd and Mark Murray
*** Guess Who’s Coming to Breakfast: Fred Thompson was supposedly in attendance at this morning’s National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in DC, where President Bush just spoke. Next Wednesday, he will meet privately at the Capitol Hill Club with House GOP members, who will urge him to get in the race. And on May 4th, he will head to Los Angeles to address the influential Orange County Lincoln Club.
*** Who’s Holding the Cards? The Thompson-for-president campaign gets another boost this weekend with a big spread in the conservative Weekly Standard. But don't expect any official announcement much before Memorial Day. The reason? The TV season. "Law and Order" doesn't end until the end of May sweeps. After the season is over, then look for Thompson to officially ramp up. By the way, "Law and Order" has not yet been renewed for the '07-08 season. So does that mean our own Jeff Zucker has more influence on Thompson's future than any Republican activist?
*** Roll Out the Barrel: In what appears to be her first big policy rollout, Clinton gives a speech in New Hampshire that’s centered on good government and accountability in a potential Clinton Administration. The obvious intent: to demonstrate her experience and heft, while delivering a jab to the Bush Administration at the same time. But we also can’t help but notice that this sounds like a classic second-term Bill Clinton/Mark Penn policy initiative. Also, Clinton is headed to speak at Rutgers on Monday.
*** The Party of Lincoln: On Saturday, it looks like practically the entire GOP presidential field (Brownback, Gilmore, Giuliani, Hunter, Huckabee, McCain, Romney, and Tancredo) will be attending the Iowa Republican Party’s Lincoln Dinner in Des Moines, IA.
*** Freaky Friday: Both Giuliani and Romney are the recipients of some tough articles on this Friday the 13th. The AP writes that Giuliani’s “honeymoon is over,” and Peggy Noonan questions his stature. Meanwhile, the Washington Post delves into why Romney is no longer talking about Massachusetts’ health-care law.
*** Does This Surprise Anyone? National Journal’s CongressDaily reports that Joe Lieberman (I) is backing Sen. Susan Collins’ (R) re-election bid no matter the Democratic nominee -- even though Democrats are targeting her seat. "I would just feel that I was not being honest to myself and everything I've said about what our politics should be like now if, for partisan reasons, I didn't support somebody who I think is a great senator,” he says. Does McCain become Lieberman’s second GOP endorsement in ‘08, if he wins the Republican nomination?
*** On the Trail: Among the Democrats, Biden gives a foreign policy speech Colorado, Dodd stumps in Nevada, and Obama makes stops in North Carolina and South Carolina. On the GOP side, Brownback and Romney are also in South Carolina, Huckabee visits Iowa, and McCain campaigns in Michigan and Illinois.
GIULIANI: The AP's Sidoti notes how Rudy Giuliani's "honeymoon" has given way to more scrutiny. She ticks through a laundry list of negative things Giuliani has had to deal with in the last month.
Meanwhile, Peggy Noonan is not impressed with Giuliani's "stature" and thinks he's not being serious enough on the trail. She was most critical of his "Godfather" impersonation that Rudy regularly performs. "Candidates on the trail today would be better off keeping as their template for the office Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln--the unattainable greats. It's no good to just be thinking, At least I'm better than Clinton, at least I'm better than Bush."
And Bernard Kerik draws international coverage for his troubles.
CONTINUED >>
CLINTON: Her campaign has named ex-La Raza leader Raul Yzaguirre to head up her Hispanic outreach. Yzaguirre is a high-profile leader in the Hispanic Democratic community, so this is a bit of a blow to Richardson.
Also on the endorsement front, Clinton picked up the support of Florence, South Carolina mayor Frank Willis, who lost a primary for governor in 2006.
DODD: In an interview with the Des Moines Register yesterday, Dodd said: "I think there is an unease that people are feeling about the leading choices. There's going to be a lot of movement over the next nine or ten months." Dodd did not name names on the "leading choices" he was talking about.
EDWARDS: He campaigned in Jacksonville, FL yesterday in front of a crowd of about 300 Jacksonville.
CONTINUED >>
Today (and tomorrow, too) is a busy day in South Carolina for the presidential candidates. Brownback and Romney will be there today and tomorrow; McCain is sending a surrogate, Sen. Richard Burr (R), to some key events; and Barack Obama will also be in the state.
The co-chairs of a gathering of about 20 retired generals and admirals will hold a conference call today to discuss their upcoming weekend travel, which will include meetings with several presidential candidates in New Hampshire on torture and detainee policy. According to a release, the group believes the next president should adhere to "standards for interrogating enemy prisoners that are lawful, humane and consistent with American values. The meetings are not open to the press." The group is confident they'll meet with all the candidates who are in the Granite state this weekend, including Hillary Clinton.
It's Friday the 13th so what better day for House Judiciary Democrats to get unlucky in their search for Karl Rove emails. The RNC says it is having a hard time finding four year’s worth of those emails. By the way, this is the last weekend that Alberto Gonzales can cram from his big testimony day next Tuesday.
The Democratic House campaign committee is running a second radio ad targeting Rep. Heather Wilson (R), questioning her involvement in the US attorneys controversy. It will start running in Albuquerque during drive time on Friday morning and run through Tuesday (the day of the Gonzales' testimony).
Here's an excerpt: "In Washington Alberto Gonzales, the Attorney General of the United States, is testifying under oath about his role in the firing of U.S. Attorneys. But here in New Mexico, no one is getting the truth about Heather Wilson's involvement in the scandal. Wilson said a constituent's complaint led her to call Republican U.S. Attorney David Iglesias about an ongoing federal corruption investigation.”
CONTINUED >>
Sen. John Warner (R-VA) has done very little to tamp down speculation he plans to retire in 2008 rather than seek re-election. During the first quarter of the year, Warner raised $500. That's not a typo.
Meanwhile, other GOP senators First Read is keeping an eye on regarding retirement speculation -- including Sens. Pete Domenici of New Mexico, Elizabeth Dole of North Carolina, and Lamar Alexander of Tennessee -- all raised hefty 1st quarter sums that surpass or match others who are in cycle.
And also of note, NFL Hall-of-Famer Lynn Swann, who lost to Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell badly in 2006, now says he's considering a run for Congress against frosh Democrat Jason Altmire (representing western PA). Does this mean ABC Sports hasn't offered Swann his old sideline job back?
From NBC’s Mike Viqueira
The House Judiciary Committee is
"strongly considering" offering former DoJ official Monica Goodling
immunity in exchange for her testimony in the U.S. Attorney matter, according
to one very solid congressional source.
Goodling had preemptively asserted
her Fifth Amendment rights and has declined to be interviewed or to testify
before Congress. Last week Goodling's lawyer exchanged sharply worded letters
with House Judiciary over her refusal to testify and over whether or not she
had rightfully invoked the Fifth.
Per Pete Williams, Goodling's
attorney, John Dowd, has no comment on the immunity question.
As a reminder, Goodling has resigned
from DoJ.
From NBC's Mark MurrayHillary Clinton will be giving a speech at Rutgers on Monday -- obviously tied to the Imus controversy. Per a campaign spokesman, "The Eagleton Center for American Women and Politics had a standing invitation for her and we felt that it would be an appropriate time to discuss the role of women in society given all that is happening."
From NBC's Lauren Appelbaum and Mark Murray
While Eleanor Holmes Norton is worried about the dominance of blue states in the Democratic nominating process, DNC chairman Howard Dean is stressing his party's advances in purple and red states. At a rally today in Denver, the site of the 2008 Democratic National Convention, Dean highlighted Colorado as one of the success stories of his 50-state strategy. "What we want to do in Colorado is set the table for a new kind of Democratic Party, kind of Democratic Party that is not afraid to be in every single state."
Dean also said that Colorado and the Rocky Mountain states are the gateway to the West, an area of recent success for Democratic candidates -- and an area that's become important for the Democratic presidential nominee to win. "We believe the road to the White House leads through the West. The road to the White House is going to include Colorado and Montana and Nevada and New Mexico and Arizona. And we're not above doing all kinds of things to try to pick up a little ground in places like Utah and Wyoming which are traditionally tough places to do."
However, as we mentioned earlier today, which of the Democratic candidates do you think can win Colorado in a general election -- let alone Nevada or Arizona?
From NBC's Mark Murray
By now, First Readers are well aware that more than 20 states -- including biggies like California, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, and Texas -- are expected to conduct their presidential primaries on February 5, 2008. We're calling it Tsunami Tuesday. Others call it Super-Duper Tuesday.
In any event, one of critics' chief complaints is that this will front-load the nominating process, whereby the Democratic and Republican nominees might be known by February 6 -- or even earlier. But Eleanor Holmes Norton (D), the congressional delegate for Washington DC, which is also having its primary on the 5th, is raising a different complaint for Democrats: that Tsunami Tuesday is too blue. In a letter she sent to DNC chairman Howard Dean, Holmes Norton says that it is mostly large, Democratic-leaning states that have moved up their primaries to this date, which could produce a Democratic nominee with little input from Democratic voters from purple and red states.
"Democrats cannot afford to ignore the political reality of this, as since the 1970’s Republicans have been the big presidential winners by gathering up the electoral votes of small and mid-sized states," she said. "The February 5th rush threatens to take Democrats to a winner-take-all national Democratic primary that will all but decide the nomination and make the front runner an early, lasting and inviting piñata for Republicans and for other Democratic candidates."
From NBC's Libby LeistIn a rare photo op with Sen.
John McCain this morning, Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice reacted to today's bombing inside the Iraqi parliament, saying: "It's obviously again the terrorists … and those who wish to stop the Iraqi people from having a future that would be based on democracy and stability." More Rice: "We've said there are going to be good days and bad days concerning the security plan.... We're really at the beginning of this not at the end of it."
After Rice spoke, her aides tried to hustle the photographers and reporters out, but the Arizona senator said abruptly, "Hang on a sec." He then echoed Rice, saying that it was still early in the surge strategy, and that he fully expects terrorists to try to orchestrate "more spectacular attacks" to grab headlines in America. He also argued for patience with the surge: "I don't think that that should change the larger picture -- which means that we are achieving some small successes already."[
Click the image to watch the video.]
At a gaggle for reporters later, Rice's spokesman
Sean McCormack said that McCain, who visited Iraq last week, had questions for Secretary Rice in their meeting about the civilian side of the surge effort. "The Secretary took those on board and on a couple of these points, she promised to get back to him with some answers," McCormack said.
Photo caption: Rice reacts to a question during her meeting with reporters. Photo by NBC News.
From NBC's
Chuck ToddLost in the shuffle yesterday was a statement obtained by NBC News from ex-Rep./DLC Chair and frequent "Imus" guest
Harold Ford Jr. He released an "unofficial" statement via his current employer, Merrill Lynch, basically saying he'd withhold final judgment until hearing what the Rutgers team said following their private meeting with
Don Imus. Ford released this statement before NBC News announced the cancellation of the "Imus" simulcast.
Ford: "I don't want to be viewed as piling on right now because Don Imus is a good friend and a decent man. However, he did a reprehensible thing. His comments about the Rutgers women's basketball team were hurtful and wrong. Moreover, the comments robbed these young women of an important time to celebrate a magnificent and positive moment in their lives.
I am a big believer in redemption, and I understand that Don has done many good deeds in his life. Yet, no amount of philanthropy gives anyone the license to offend innocent people - particularly when it comes to matters of race and gender. So I'm going to follow the lead of those brilliant and gracious women of the Rutgers basketball team and wait and see how the next two weeks unfold. I certainly hope Don can come to understand better the pain he has caused these young women and their families, and I will leave it to others to decide how his future in media should play out."
From NBC's Mark Murray
Liberal -- and anti-war -- MoveOn has released its members' preference results from the online presidential forum it conducted Tuesday night. Asked which candidate they believe would be best able to lead the country out of Iraq, nearly 28% of the members picked Obama and about 25% selected Edwards. They were followed by Kucinich at 17%, Richardson at 12%, Clinton at almost 11%, Biden at 6%, and Dodd at 1%.
Perhaps the most interesting finding: 89% picked someone other than Clinton.
***Update*** Another finding: Among the MoveOn members who watched the online town hall at a MoveOn-sponsored party, Edwards won (with about 25%), followed by Richardson (at 21%), and then Obama (at about 19%). That suggests that Obama did much better with people who just participated online versus those who attended the parties.
From Chuck Todd and Mark Murray
*** McCain’s Stand: His speech on Iraq gets plenty of ink and airtime (much of it pretty favorable but couched in make-or-break campaign terms). Yet it came on the same day the military announces that tours of duty will be extended three months, and now there’s news that an explosion has rocked the Iraqi parliament, producing casualties -- more reminders that bad news in Iraq continues to outweigh any progress there. Republicans have to wonder: When will that change?
*** War ... Uhh ... What Is It Good For? Obama was everywhere yesterday (on TV, in paper statements) to rebut McCain on the war. Meanwhile, we’re eagerly awaiting the preference results from MoveOn’s online forum on Iraq. Which Democratic presidential candidate will come out on top among the anti-war group’s 3.2 million members -- Edwards or Obama? Obama hasn't been doing well in internet straw polls lately…
*** Does It Mean He’s In? Fred Thompson’s admission yesterday of having cancer (that’s in remission) produces speculation that he’s ready to make a run for the White House. After all, why else would he want to release that information? Also, check out his second-place standing in the Bloomberg/LA Times poll. But more than anything else, Thompson’s revelation -- in addition to Elizabeth Edwards’ earlier news and McCain’s older scare -- shows how big of a story cancer has become in this presidential race.
*** The Other Race: And while they’re not necessarily political, the two biggest stories of the last 24 hours -- the Duke rape case and Imus -- have a common link: race. There’s an opportunity to examine how society is still struggling with race relations. There’s a number of ways to look at it, some not easy and many political sensitive, but there’s a window of opportunity for a bigger discussion that uses both stories as a backdrop.
*** Denver Here We Come: Howard Dean -- remember that guy? -- headlines a rally in Denver celebrating the very early kick off to the Democratic National Convention taking place there next year. Despite the labor headaches it's causing them, Dean and the DNC believe Colorado epitomizes the party's 50-state strategy and ability to compete everywhere. Yet given the Democrats' recent successes there, which of the party's presidential candidates can win Colorado in the general?
*** On the Trail: On the GOP side, Brownback stumps in South Carolina; McCain, in Michigan, hits two different dinners and has one press availability; and Romney meets with local Republican leaders in Chicago. On the Democratic side, Dodd makes several stops in Iowa; John Edwards attends a community gathering in Florida; and wife Elizabeth opens the campaign’s Iowa headquarters.
How McCain's speech played. The Washington Post’s lead: "Sinking in polls and struggling to reinvigorate his foundering presidential campaign, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) delivered a robust defense of the war in Iraq."
The AP’s header: “Campaign faltering, McCain counts on steadfast support of war to help with GOP.”
And the New York Times’ analysis notes that McCain’s “vigorous defense of President Bush’s policy in Iraq on Wednesday served as a bold reminder of the remarkable degree to which his party, and all of its leading presidential candidates, stand united behind the president even as public support for the conflict erodes.” Yet it also adds, “There is a potential upside for Mr. McCain and others who back the war. With some military officers saying the troop increase is showing early signs of success in pacifying Baghdad, the Republicans’ strategy of aligning with the president could prove a daring but potentially fruitful move should the military strategy succeed.”
But stories about McCain’s speech also shared the front page like this one from the Washington Post: “Strained Army Extends Tours To 15 Months.”
Also, McCain will be meeting with Condoleezza Rice this morning, reports NBC’s Libby Leist. They will have a photo opportunity as First Read goes to press. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack downplayed the meeting, saying it’s not a big deal and that it’s a chance for McCain to brief Rice on his trip to Iraq. Rice routinely meets with senators, but McCormack conceded that they usually don't do photo-ops.
On MSNBC’s Hardball yesterday, Obama clarified his recent remark that “nobody wants to play chicken with our troops on the ground,” which has been interpreted that he supports giving Bush a “clean” Iraq supplemental -- without the withdrawal dates -- if the president vetoes the current legislation. “Well, I wasn't quite quoted properly there,” Obama said. “What I've said is, is that Democrats aren't interested in playing chicken with our troops. I certainly am not. I am committed, as is Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi and every other Democrat, to making sure that our troops on the ground have the night-vision goggles and body armor and hopefully the proper training that they need.”
He added, “It's the president who has decided to make this an issue by threatening to veto what I think is a responsible, well thought through piece of legislation. And if he chooses to veto it and he sends it back, then we will continue to try to find ways to ratchet up the pressure on him and do so in a way that is responsible to make sure that our troops come home safely."
GIULIANI: The ex-New York City mayor did it again. He used the “states rights” excuse to duck another controversial issue. Yesterday, it was the Confederate Flag; today, it’s slavery apologies. He said apologies should be left to states. “Giuliani was also scheduled to meet privately with Governor Perdue before headlining a fundraiser in the Atlanta neighborhood of Buckhead -- hosted by Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus.”
Meanwhile, his New York legacy is always seen as mixed from folks who live there, and a new NY1 poll backs up that conclusion. Giuliani’s fav/unfav rating in this new poll is a very divided 46%-44%. By the way, could this mixed legacy also have as much to do with Michael Bloomberg’s popularity?
And he spoke about abortion and gay rights while in August, GA last night, where he told the conservative audience that he was in favor of domestic partnerships but didn’t talk about gay marriage in particular.
CONTINUED >>
BIDEN: In an interview with the Washington Post, Biden "said yesterday that the Bush administration's ‘surge’ strategy in Iraq is doomed to fail and criticized Gen. David H. Petraeus for offering what he called an overly optimistic assessment of the situation on the ground. Biden, in an attempt to separate himself from the crowded Democratic presidential field, also asserted that none of his principal rivals for the nomination has offered a viable plan for success in Iraq."
More from the story: "Acknowledging that he trails the front-runners badly in money raised, Biden said he thinks he will have plenty of cash to compete in the 2008 campaign's four earliest tests -- caucuses in Iowa and Nevada, and primaries in New Hampshire and South Carolina. Biden said his path to victory includes a top-three finish in Iowa's Jan. 14 caucuses, a strong showing in New Hampshire and a victory in South Carolina, where he has focused considerable time and energy."
DODD: WHO-TV’s Dave Price covered Chris Dodd's speech in Iowa last night and filed this blog post: "Dodd took a subtle jab at one of his opponents (who also happens to have way more support in the polls right now). He hinted (o.k., more than ‘hinted’) the past proves a newbie isn't the right guy for the country's future." Dodd said, “‘Sometimes we fail to understand that this also takes experience. We sometimes belittle experience when it comes to doing these things. I don't think after six years of George Bush on the job training ... that we need new leadership in this country that doesn't bring experience to the table that knows how to do these things from the beginning.”
CONTINUED >>
Tsunami Tuesday, scheduled for Feb. 5, will take place two days after the most watched day of the televised year: Super Bowl Sunday. At $2.5 million+ for a 30-second spot, apparently it’s possible a campaign or two will buy ad time. But, remember, this assumes Feb. 5 is going to matter. The states are moving so fast to that date that it’s now looking more likely all of the states BEFORE Feb. 5 will end up becoming even more important. Still, if the candidates continue raising money at a clip they have been now, then a $2.6M 30-second won’t seem out-of-reach. But Super Bowl Ads are supposed to be memorable (and funny). Can any of the candidates’ media consultants pull that off? More importantly, do any of these consultants want that pressure?
Howard Dean’s trip to Denver has as much to do with the party’s attempts to quiet labor and keep those folks at bay as the party continues to plan to hold its convention in what had been a less-than-friendly labor city.
The Senate yesterday passed legislation, 63-34, which would ease limits on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. “But even counting three Democrats who were not present for the vote on Wednesday, the legislation fell one vote shy of what is needed for a veto-proof majority in the Senate. Last year’s bill passed 63 to 37… Even if the Senate is able to muster the votes to override a veto, the legislation is unlikely to become law. The House version, which passed earlier this year, fell far short of the tally needed for an override.”
The office of Sen. Tim Johnson, who is recovering from his brain hemorrhage, is being made wheel-chair accessible. It’s still not clear when Johnson will return to work.
The
Washington Post: "The White House acknowledged yesterday that e-mails dealing with official government business may have been lost because they were improperly sent through private accounts intended to be used for political activities. Democrats have been seeking such missives as part of an investigation into the firing of eight U.S. attorneys. Administration officials said they could offer no estimate of how many e-mails were lost but indicated that some may involve messages from White House senior adviser Karl Rove, whose role in the firings has been under scrutiny by congressional Democrats." This will only feed the conspiracy theories on the left regarding this story.
From NBC's Mark Murray
In a speech he gives later tonight, Chris Dodd also criticizes McCain's support for the Iraq war and Bush's troop increase there. Per excerpts of his prepared remarks, Dodd says, "No one questions Senator McCain's patriotism. He is a war hero and a friend. But like the president, he is wrong."
And like Obama, Dodd takes a shot at McCain's Baghdad marketplace comment. "According to a news report, the day after Senator McCain toured a Baghdad marketplace -- a visit guarded by 100 American soldiers, three Blackhawk helicopters, and two Apache gunships... Senator McCain's market visit makes clear the point many of us have made for some time. We don't need a surge of troops in Iraq -- we need a surge of diplomacy. The Bush/McCain Doctrine is not succeeding -- it is failing."
From NBC's Andrew MertenBarack Obama's wife, Michelle, has begun stepping up her political profile lately -- with her first solo appearance of the campaign on April 1, followed by a trip to New Hampshire last Thursday. And today, she's holding a solo campaign fundraising event at the home of a supporter in Indian Hill, OH, says the
Cincinnati Enquirer.
From NBC's Mark Murray
On her campaign Web site today, Hillary Clinton comments on Don Imus' controversial statement about the Rutgers women's basketball team, and asks viewers to send a message of support to the team. Respondents have the option of signing up for campaign emails.
"Don Imus's comments about them were nothing more than small-minded bigotry and coarse sexism," she says on the Web site. "They showed a disregard for basic decency and were disrespectful and degrading to African Americans and women everywhere. Please join me in sending the young women of Rutgers a message of respect and support. Show them that we are proud to stand with them and for them."
From NBC's Mark Murray and Chuck Todd
As we mentioned earlier today, McCain and Obama have already traded some barbs in the past several days. And that continued today. Obama issued this statement responding to McCain's Iraq speech today (and making another jab at the Arizona senator's comments after his Baghdad marketplace visit): "No matter how much this Administration wishes it to be true, the idea that the situation in Iraq is improving because it only takes a security detail of 100 soldiers, three Blackhawk helicopters, and two Apache gunships to walk through a market in the middle of Baghdad is simply not credible or reflective of the facts on the ground."
Obama added, "What we need today is a surge in honesty. The truth is, the Iraqis have made little progress toward the political solution between Shiia and Sunni which is the last, best hope to end this war. I believe that letting the Iraqi government know America will not be there forever is the best way to pressure the warring factions toward this political settlement."
In his own speech today, meanwhile, McCain referred to Obama by name -- drawing upon Obama's earlier call for Congress to give Bush a "clean" Iraq supplemental after he vetoes legislation that contains the withdrawal timelines. "When the President vetoes, as he should, the bill that refuses to support General Petraeus' new plan, I hope Democrats in Congress will heed the advice of one of their leading candidates for President, Senator Obama, and immediately pass a new bill to provide support to our troops in Iraq without substituting their partisan interests for those of our troops and our country."
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From NBC's Mark Murray
In an interview slated to appear on FOX later today, Fred Thompson, the former GOP Tennessee senator who's mulling a presidential bid, announces that he was diagnosed with indolent lymphoma back in 2004 -- and that it's in remission and treatable. "I have had no illness from it, or even any symptoms," he says in the interview. "My life expectancy should not be affected. I am in remission, and it is very treatable with drugs if treatment is needed in the future -- and with no debilitating side effects."
At 3:45pm ET, in fact, Thompson's doctors will hold a press conference at Georgetown University Hospital to discuss his cancer diagnosis.
If Thompson does decide to run, this kind of information would come out sooner or later. So his admission of having cancer could be a sign he's getting closer to making a run -- assuming that the cancer is as treatable as he suggests it is.
From Chuck Todd and Mark Murray
*** Still the One: As if you needed more evidence that Iraq is -- still -- the dominant political issue, here’s a deluge: McCain’s Iraq address later this morning at the Virginia Military Institute, Dodd’s own Iraq/foreign policy speech tonight in Iowa, yesterday’s MoveOn forum, and Romney’s remarks last night in College Station, TX. Simply put, Iraq is everywhere. The million-dollar question for GOP operatives: If your party continues down the same Iraq path as it did in 2006, how does it avoid what happened in that election? A few Republicans interviewed in today’s New York Times try to provide some answers.
*** Following Bush’s Playbook: Romney's speech yesterday is another reminder that, fundamentally, most of the GOP candidates are on the same page of Bush’s playbook when it comes to Iraq. They support the surge, oppose any timetable for withdrawal, and believe the conflict there is the central front on the war on terror.
*** Following Dean’s Playbook: Similarly, despite all the bells and whistles that they’re divided on Iraq, the Democratic candidates are essentially following Dean’s playbook. They oppose the surge, support a timetable for withdrawal (either a hard date or as a goal), and believe the Iraq war is a diversion from the real war on terrorism. But Dodd is trying to change that apparent unity by calling on his rivals to support the Feingold-Reid legislation that cuts off funding for the war by 2008.
*** McCain vs. Obama, Round Two: During last night’s MoveOn forum, did anyone else catch Obama’s shot at McCain’s comments on his Baghdad marketplace visit? This comes a couple weeks after McCain called out Obama on Iraq. Is this the beginning of a beautiful rivalry? It certainly allows for reporters to begin fantasizing about the general election.
*** The Politics of Race: Do catch the Boston Globe piece looking at the criticism Obama has received for not coming out stronger against Don Imus’ controversial comments. The story, in a way, again raises the question: Just how black is he? (Obama, however, was the first oh-eighter who sent out an official release criticizing Imus.)
*** Elsewhere on the Trail: Edwards is in New York, participating in SEIU’s “Walk a Day in My Shoes” event and attending a labor awards dinner; Giuliani holds a media availability in Atlanta; Romney, in Texas, speaks at the Dallas County Reagan Day Dinner; and and Obama, in DC, has a private national finance committee meeting during the day and a Union Station fundraiser tonight.
The New York Times front-pages that Republicans are starting to openly worry about their chances of holding onto the White House in 2008 -- due to worries about the Iraq war, Bush, and the GOP’s own candidates. Among the choice quotes: “The war in Iraq and public opposition to it has put a pall on Republicans,’ said ex-MO Sen. John C. Danforth (R). Rep. Peter T. King (R) said, “As long as the war appears not to be doing well, it’s going to hurt Republicans.”
Per his campaign, here are advanced excerpts of McCain’s speech today: “And now, we confront a choice, as historically important as any we have faced in a long while. Will this nation’s elected leaders make the politically hard but strategically vital decision to give General Petraeus our full support and do whatever is necessary to succeed in Iraq? Or will we decide to take advantage of the public’s frustration, accept defeat, and hope that whatever the cost to our security the politics of defeat will work out better for us than our opponents? For my part, I would rather lose a campaign than a war.”
More from McCain: “I know the pain war causes. I understand the frustration caused by our mistakes in this war. I sympathize with the fatigue of the American people. And I regret sincerely the additional sacrifices imposed on the brave Americans who defend us. But I also know the toll a lost war takes on an army and a country. We, who are willing to support this new strategy, and give General Petraeus the time and support he needs, have chosen a hard road. But it is the right road. It is necessary and just.”
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GINGRICH: In Gingrich's climate change debate with John Kerry yesterday, the Washington Post's Milbank notes that the two didn't really disagree. "Before Kerry got a word in, Gingrich conceded that global warming is real, that humans have contributed to it and that ‘we should address it very actively.’ Gingrich held up Kerry's new book, ‘This Moment on Earth,’ and called it ‘a very interesting read.’ He then added a personal note about saving vulnerable species from climate change. ‘My name, Newt, actually comes from the Danish Knut, and there's been a major crisis in Germany over a polar bear named Knut,’ he confided.”
GIULIANI: Uh-oh, Giuliani isn't completely in tune with the cost of groceries. Asked yesterday in Alabama, Giuliani said: “‘A gallon of milk is probably about a dollar fifty, a loaf of bread about a dollar twenty-five, a dollar thirty,’ he said, missing the mark on both. According to the Web site for D'Agostino supermarkets, a gallon of milk is priced at $4.19 and a loaf of white bread costs $2.99 to $3.39.” He did get the cost of gas correctly. ($2.89).”
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