Last week, it seemed Barack Obama spent just about every day on the defensive. If today’s speech in Lansing, Mich., is any indication, it’s a new week. “You won’t hear me say this too often, but I couldn’t agree more with the explanation that Senator McCain offered a few weeks ago. He said, ‘Our dangerous […]
In the new television ad from the Obama campaign, viewers learn, “Big Oil’s filling John McCain’s campaign with 2 million dollars in contributions…. After one president in the pocket of big oil, we can’t afford another.” The timing of this, therefore, couldn’t be better. Ten senior Hess Corporation executives and/or members of the Hess family […]
John McCain has always seemed to revel in the sycophantic adulation he’s enjoyed among the media elite, so it’s kind of fascinating to see McCain’s one-time media fans realize that he’s not the man they thought he was. The first, and probably most notable, was Time’s Joe Klein, who conceded last week that he was […]
Today’s installment of campaign-related news items that wouldn’t generate a post of their own, but may be of interest to political observers: * Remember the extraordinarily heated fight over Democratic convention delegates from Florida’s and Michigan’s non-binding primaries? Well, it’s been resolved: “Now Senator Barack Obama, the party’s presumptive nominee, has asked the credentials committee […]
Atrios asked this morning, “Does anyone understand why Obama suggesting that people keep their tires properly inflated is some sort of hilarious gaffe?” I’ve been trying to figure out the same thing for days. As the Obama campaign kicks off “energy week” with a new contrast ad and a policy speech in Michigan, Time’s Mark […]
For quite a while, there were certain trends that political observers were simply supposed to accept as fact: Barack Obama would struggle to win support from Latino voters. And Jewish voters. And working-class, low-income voters. These were obvious “truths” that “everyone” knew. Except none of these observations are holding up well. Obama is doing very […]
There was considerable talk in Democratic circles last week about Barack Obama’s desire to maintain an entirely positive message — and whether that was wise given the relentlessly negative McCain campaign message. More than a few Dems thought it was time to maybe throw a punch or two. It looks like the Obama campaign agrees. […]
John McCain has said, repeatedly and on the record, that he would never consider raising payroll taxes as part of a Social Security reform effort. Asked in March if there are “any circumstances” in which he would consider this, even as part of negotiations with congressional Democrats, McCain said, “No. None. None.” Got it. Clear […]
When it comes to identifying loaded campaign rhetoric, David Gergen probably isn’t the first media figure that comes to mind. He’s a Republican, and has been a member in a good standing of the DC political establishment for quite a while. And yet, when he sees Republican “code”-attacks, Gergen isn’t afraid to call them out, […]