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click on each candidate to see today's news stories (caricatures by Linda Eddy)

 

Weekend Report, March 22-23, 2008

GENERAL NEWS HEADLINES with excerpts

 

Richardson's tense talk with Clinton precedes Obama endorsement... Carville: 'Judas'

“I talked to Senator Clinton last night,” Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico said on Friday, describing the tense telephone call in which he informed Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton that, despite two months of personal entreaties by her and her husband, he would be endorsing Senator Barack Obama for president.

“Let me tell you: we’ve had better conversations,” Mr. Richardson said.

... “I’m not going to advise any other candidate when to get in and out of the race,” Mr. Richardson said after appearing in Portland with Mr. Obama. “Senator Clinton has a right to stay in the race, but eventually we don’t want to go into the Democratic convention bloodied. This was another reason for my getting in and endorsing, the need to perhaps send a message that we need unity.”

... Mr. Clinton helped elevate Mr. Richardson to the national stage by naming him his energy secretary and ambassador to the United Nations. And Mr. Clinton left no doubt that he viewed Mr. Richardson’s support as important to his wife’s campaign: He even flew to New Mexico to watch the Super Bowl with Mr. Richardson as part of the Clintons’ high-profile courtship of him.

... “An act of betrayal,” said James Carville, an adviser to Mrs. Clinton and a friend of Mr. Clinton.

“Mr. Richardson’s endorsement came right around the anniversary of the day when Judas sold out for 30 pieces of silver, so I think the timing is appropriate, if ironic,” Mr. Carville said, referring to Holy Week.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John Edwards unlikely to endorse

John Edwards is unlikely to endorse either Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton before the nomination is decided, according to interviews with several members of the former candidate's inner circle.

At least three individuals who have recently spoken to Edwards expect that he will choose to stay out of the fight, though they warn that no one other than his wife, Elizabeth, can be certain of his thinking.

“My gut instinct, at this point: He’s probably going to remain neutral and sort of try to play on that Al Gore status as party elder,” said a former Edwards operative who is in regular contact with the former North Carolina senator and who asked that his name be withheld.

 

Poll: McCain gains from Obama/Clinton battle

1 in 5 Dems to defect to McCain if their candidate loses

The lengthy Democratic primary contest bodes well for Republican chances of holding the White House, a new poll suggests.

As Democratic Senators Barack Obama of Illinois and Hillary Clinton of New York slug it out for the nomination, many of their supporters -- at least in Pennsylvania, site of the next major primary -- aren't committed to the party's ticket in November, according to a Franklin & Marshall College Poll.

Among Obama supporters, 20 percent said they would vote for Sen. John McCain of Arizona, the Republican nominee, if Clinton beats their candidate for the nomination. Among Clinton supporters, 19 percent said they would support McCain in November if Obama is the Democratic nominee. (See poll)

 


 

 

THE CANDIDATES:

 

John McCain... today's headlines with excerpts

McCain aide circulates Obama/Wright video, is suspended

An aide to John McCain was suspended from the campaign today for blasting out an inflammatory video that raises questions about Barack Obama's patriotism.  

Soren Dayton, who works in McCain's political department, sent out the YouTube link of "Is Obama Wright?" on twitter at 12:31 today with the tag, "Good video on Obama and Wright."  It has since been taken down.

Twitter is an online device that allows users to send out short messages and links en masse through computers or PDAs.

McCain moves towards public financing

McCain’s campaign stressed Thursday he hasn’t decided whether to participate in the public financing program. But this month, he filed papers with the Federal Election Commission creating a separate campaign account that would enable him to make the public money go further.
 

 

 

Hillary Clinton... today's headlines with excerpts

Politico: The Clinton myth

One big fact has largely been lost in the recent coverage of the Democratic presidential race: Hillary Rodham Clinton has virtually no chance of winning.

Her own campaign acknowledges there is no way that she will finish ahead in pledged delegates. That means the only way she wins is if Democratic superdelegates are ready to risk a backlash of historic proportions from the party’s most reliable constituency.

Unless Clinton is able to at least win the primary popular vote — which also would take nothing less than an electoral miracle — and use that achievement to pressure superdelegates, she has only one scenario for victory. An African-American opponent and his backers would be told that, even though he won the contest with voters, the prize is going to someone else.

People who think that scenario is even remotely likely are living on another planet.

Obama aide: Bill Clinton like McCarthy

"I think it would be a great thing if we had an election year where you had two people who loved this country and were devoted to the interest of this country," said Bill Clinton, who was speaking to a group of veterans Friday in Charlotte, N.C. "And people could actually ask themselves who is right on these issues, instead of all this other stuff that always seems to intrude itself on our politics."

Retired Air Force Gen. Merrill "Tony" McPeak, a former chief of staff of the Air Force and currently a co-chair of Obama's presidential campaign, said that sounded like McCarthy.

"I grew up, I was going to college when Joe McCarthy was accusing good Americans of being traitors, so I've had enough of it," McPeak said.

 

 

 

Barack Obama... today's headlines with excerpts

The Richardson endorsement

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson offered a strong endorsement of Barack Obama for president Friday, appealing for peace in the Democratic Party and hailing the Illinois senator as a unifying force for the country.

"Your candidacy is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our country, and you are a once-in-a-lifetime leader," said Richardson, the nation's only Hispanic governor, before a cheering crowd of about 12,000 in Portland's Memorial Coliseum. "You will make every American proud to be an American."

 

 

 

 

Obama skips Easter at Wright's church - beach bound?

Barack Obama was able to take the focus off of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright on Friday by picking up the endorsement of (a bearded) Bill Richardson.

Obama's allies are hoping the focus will stay off of Wright this Easter Sunday when the Democratic frontrunner skips services at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago and heads on vacation. 

Per ABC News' Sunlen Miller, sources familiar with Obama's plans say the Illinois Democrat is expected to go on a tropical vacation with the most likely bet appearing to be St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Obama, whose campaign will not confirm his plans, is expected to leave Chicago on Sunday morning and will return either on Tuesday night or Wednesday morning.

Obama's financial edge

Barack Obama had three times as much money in the bank at the end of February as Hillary Clinton, putting the Illinois senator on a stronger financial footing heading into the last round of primaries and caucuses for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Sen. Obama reported having $32 million on hand at the end of February that could be spent on the nominating contest, with minimal debt, according to his latest monthly financial report, filed with the Federal Election Commission.

New York Sen. Clinton reported having $11 million on hand at the end of February. Her debts to outside vendors were $3.7 million.

 

 

 

 

Ralph Nader... today's headlines with excerpts

 

 

 

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