Monday’s campaign round-up

May 5, 2008

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:

* The Clinton campaign seems to be raising expectations regarding North Carolina, where Obama has been considered the favorite. Clinton said on Friday, “This primary election on Tuesday is a game changer. This is going to make a huge difference in what happens going forward. The entire country — probably even a lot of the world — is looking to see what North Carolina decides.”

* Speaking of North Carolina, the latest Zogby tracking poll still shows Obama ahead in the state, 48% to 39%. Zogby also shows Obama with a narrow lead in Indiana, 43% to 41%, though nearly every other polling outlet shows Clinton ahead.

* And speaking of Indiana, the latest InsiderAdvantage poll shows Clinton leading Obama by seven, 47% to 40%. A Suffolk University poll has her up by six, 49% to 43%.

* Obama has picked up some new superdelegates, with endorsements from New Mexico Party Chairman Brian Colon, Guam’s Jaime Paulino, and DNC member Kalyn Free.

* An on-screen graphic in McCain’s new TV ad describes him as “President McCain.” Is the election over? Did I miss it?

* The WSJ reported today that Obama privately assured the Teamsters that he supports ending strict federal oversight over the union, which in turn helped Obama win the Teamsters’ endorsement. The Clinton campaign is criticizing Obama for secrecy, though the Obama campaign responded that Obama’s position has been consistent and public for four years.

* Citing Obama’s position against the “gas-tax holiday” promoted by McCain and Clinton, environmental activist group Friends Of The Earth Action endorsed the Illinois senator late last week. “The two other candidates responded with sham solutions that won’t ease pain at the pump, but Senator Obama refused to play that typical Washington game,” group’s president, Brent Blackwelder, said. “Instead, Obama called for real solutions that would make transportation more affordable and curb global warming. He showed the courage and candor we expect from a president.”

* This speech in North Carolina tomorrow should be interesting: “John McCain’s campaign said Friday that Fred Thompson and Sam Brownback will join the presumptive GOP nominee in North Carolina next week for a major speech on judicial appointments. Both Thompson and Brownback have endorsed the Arizona senator, and both Republicans presented themselves throughout the Republican primary battle as ‘consistent conservatives,’ particularly regarding social issues and judicial appointments.”

* The Clinton campaign has an aggressive new direct-mail piece in Indiana, attacking Obama on gun control. The mailing has drawn some unwelcome interest from firearm enthusiasts: “Sen. Hillary Clinton’s mailing attacking Sen. Barack Obama’s record on guns appears to include a striking visual gaffe: The image of the gun pictured on the face of the mailing is reversed, making it a nonexistent left-handed model of the Mauser 66 rifle. To make matters worse, a prominent gun dealer said, it’s an expensive German gun with customized features that make it clearly European.”

* Rasmussen has Obama leading in Oregon by 12, 51% to 39%. Oregonians will vote two weeks from tomorrow.

* Speaking of May 20, Obama was endorsed by the Louisville Courier-Journal, Kentucky’s largest newspaper.

* And finally, Ron Paul told CNN late last week that he prefers Obama’s approach to foreign policy to McCain’s, but added, “[T]hat doesn’t mean that’s an endorsement.”

From a Bill Clinton press conference on March 30, 2000:

Q. Mr. President, in light of the fact that OPEC has decided to increase production, do you see it as a mistake for the Senate to proceed with a bill that would suspend the gas tax? And if it reached your desk, would you veto it?

A. Well, I don’t expect it to reach my desk because there seems to be bipartisan opposition to it in the House, including among the leadership. But the problem I have with it, apart from what it might do to the Highway Trust Fund and the spending obligations that have already been incurred by the acts of Congress, the budgets, is that I’m not sure that the savings would be passed along to the consumers in addition to that.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E07E0D7143CF933A05750C0A9669C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all

  • Oregonians are voting right now. We have a mail-in voting system. Ballots started arriving in the mail last Friday.

  • That gun ad is another one for the Keystone Kops for Klinton: How to Run a Staggeringly Incompetent Campaign in Every Detail handbook.

  • Speaking of May 20, Obama was endorsed by the Louisville Courier-Journal, Kentucky’s largest newspaper.

    That’s not just relevant for May 20 — across the river in SE Indiana, the LCJ is their main paper.

  • Seriously, it’s hilarious. Not only do they get the gun wrong in its depiction, they pick a $2,200-2,500 European weapon to appeal to the average Indiana sportsman? This is like Hillary slamming shots of Crown Royal to brand her as a regular girl. It’s all straight off The Daily Show. Is there anybody awake on that campaign?

  • Speaking of May 20, Obama was endorsed by the Louisville Courier-Journal, Kentucky’s largest newspaper.

    That’s not just relevant for May 20 — across the river in SE Indiana, the LCJ is their main paper.

    The LCJ is also the most respected paper in the region. Not to place much faith in a newspaper endorsement, but that particular endorsement will be noticed in southern Ohio as well.

  • Reading the words “President McCain” sent an icy chill down my spine. I hope that never happens.

  • Now that Ron paul has said something good about Obama, I hope we don’t get too many pro-Obama comments in all caps.

  • I just returned from a four-day trip to N.C. and the primary is certainly a HUGE issue there.

    Anyway, my unscientific survey based entirely on yard signs indicates an absolute thumping of Hillary Clinton by Barack Obama in North Carolina.

    Western North Carolina.

    As in Asheville and surrounding towns.

    Which is to say, despite Obama’s 20-1 sign advantage in Buncombe County, these results in no way reflect the potential statewide outcome, yet this analysis is every bit as valuable as any poll or the bullshit I saw on Sunday morning.

  • Maybe Hillary likes that gun because that was one of the ones which she narrowly avoided being killed by in Tuzla. Not everyone can claim to have been shot at by a nonexistent weapon!

  • I’m nescient on the subject of guns, but still…I don’t get the controversy. Doesn’t a right-handed gun have another side? I mean, isn’t that all the picture does is appear to show the gun from the left instead of from the right?

    Oh, never mind…

    I’d hate to miss another tempest in a teapot.

  • It has come to my attention that a highly scientific survey supporting a Clinton victory in NC was recently conducted—between bipedal Obama supporters and mange-infested quadrupeds declaring their undying allegiance to She-Unworthy-of-Naming.

    It was conducted by the white rabbit that starred in Monty Python and the Holy Grail….

  • Why is it that nobody mentions the obvious irony about the gas tax situation

    Well, considering that Obama himself has said that he ‘learned his lesson’ from that experience and cites it as a reason for his opposition to a national tax holiday, what would be the point?

    That unlike Hillary he can learn from his mistakes and not make them again?

    Come to think of it, we should mention it because it makes a good point. Thanks for bringing that up!

  • Actually, Greg, I am a resident in the state of Illinois and Senator Obama HAS stated that he voted for the gas tax holiday and now is against it because he knows for a fact it doesn’t make a big impact BECAUSE we repealed it here. Sometimes “flip flopping” is also known as “learning from experience.”

    Isn’t that what we are all supposed to do – learn from our mistakes? I give kudos to Obama for learning from them; not many politicians do.

  • Hey Greg,

    Obama later voted not to extend the gas tax because it clearly didn’t benefit consumers enough and directed more profits to the oil companies.

    Did you read the article?

    The impact of the tax holiday was never clear.

    A government study could not determine how much of the savings was actually passed along to motorists. Many lawmakers said their constituents didn’t seem to have benefited. They also worried the tax break was pushing the state budget out of balance.

    At the end of Illinois’ tax holiday, there was a failed push to eliminate the sales tax permanently. Obama was among those voting against eliminating the tax.

    Obama’s presidential campaign says the lessons of that Illinois tax holiday influenced his decision to oppose a national tax holiday. The lack of clear results then make him dubious about suspending the national tax now.

    Funny how most economists agree with him…

  • Why is it that nobody mentions the obvious irony about the gas tax situation, that is that Obama voted for a gas tax holiday 3 times as a state senator. -Greg

    That has been mentioned. On this site, as well as by the Senator himself.

    He cites it’s failure and aftermath as the reason he won’t support another one. It’s called experience.

  • “Sen. Hillary Clinton’s mailing attacking Sen. Barack Obama’s record on guns appears to include a striking visual gaffe: The image of the gun pictured on the face of the mailing is reversed, making it a nonexistent left-handed model of the Mauser 66 rifle. To make matters worse, a prominent gun dealer said, it’s an expensive German gun with customized features that make it clearly European.”

    Elitist! All Barry is packing is a Saturday NIght Special.

    When Hillary shows up at their Lincoln-Douglas debate (in her Lincoln Towncar) she’ll take out her handgun and put it on the podium just to set the tone.

  • In other words Doubtful, he was for the gas tax relief before he was against it.

    Waffle anyone?

  • Yes, indeedy, Greg. And Clinton was for the Democratic party before she was against it.

  • Yes NB, I read the article. His statewide gas tax holiday amounted to 5 cents on the gallon.

    The current federal gas tax on unleaded is 18.4 cents, and 24.4 cents for diesel. His tax holiday was not relevant, but that does not give him a right to slam Clinton for using this as an opportunity to go after big oil.

    Economists fail to see how political this issue is, they only crunch numbers. Clinton is using this opportunity to put the spotlight on the energy traders and OPEC for price gouging, so don’t pretend that his failings to bring meaningful legislation to his constituents means that Hillary is also doomed to failure, you have to look at the big picture, and perhaps listen to what she is saying instead of rushing to judgment.

  • be President this summer, how will they be able to Implement a Gas-Tax Holiday into FACT.. they can’t! It is a gimmick that they cannot produce on… That is so sad, and another example of Politicians trying to fool people for a vote on an idea or Gift they can’t deliver on or produce. It’s basically dishonest and a lie! Barack will not make a Phony Promise to the American people! We have been “sniper-fired” before!

    Media is also disingenuous and complicit in this gas-tax holiday lie and myth! First because they know a President would have to sign off on this and, second because they fail to enquire of Hillary or John, just how they plan to sign this into Law when they in fact will not be President this summer! So,once again the Republican-controlled media fail the people by NOT pointing out the obvious! Failed us as they did with Iraq.

    As for the obliteration of Iran remark, we should recall what Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill wrote in position 8 after World War II in The Atlantic Charter, both who knew and were familiar with the horrors of war….

    Position “Eighth, they believe that all of the nations of the world, for realistic as well as spiritual reasons must come to the abandonment of the use of force. Since no future peace can be maintained if land, sea or air armaments continue to be employed by nations which threaten, or may threaten, aggression outside of their frontiers, they believe, pending the establishment of a wider and permanent system of general security, that the disarmament of such nations is essential. They will likewise aid and encourage all other practicable measures which will lighten for peace-loving peoples the crushing burden of armaments.”

    Frankllin D. Roosevelt
    Winston S. Churchill

    Less we forget!

  • In other words Doubtful [sic], he was for the gas tax relief before he was against it. -Greg

    Please tell me what’s wrong with trying a policy, seeing that it doesn’t work, and saying so?

    That’s not waffling. That’s learning. You should try it.

  • Yes NB, I read the article. His statewide gas tax holiday amounted to 5 cents on the gallon.

    The current federal gas tax on unleaded is 18.4 cents, and 24.4 cents for diesel. His tax holiday was not relevant, but that does not give him a right to slam Clinton for using this as an opportunity to go after big oil.

    Wow, that’s an interesting way of looking at things. 5 cents, not relevant. 18.4 cents, relevant. Of course, when he was in Illinois, prices were lower, eh? Go ahead, factor in another non sequitor, I dare you!

    “a right to slam?”? Dear me, here we are talking about an ISSUE and he’s disagreeing, so it’s slamming? What has her campaign been then? (slam x 100) + damage to the party she professes loyalty = what word exactly?

    Suck it up. Has a Clinton supporter ever, EVER admitted that she might make a false step? It’s not fatal, you know, admitting you’re not perfect.

  • Ha, I got so involved there I forgot to laugh heartily at her “taking on big oil.” Ahahahahahahahahaha. You mean with the plan that she could only find an oil guy to support? Ooh, stop, you’re killing me here.

  • greg,

    In other words Doubtful [SIC], he was for the gas tax relief before he was against it.i>

    What are Senator Clinton’s views on NAFTA again? And what were they in the 1990s?

  • D’oh! typo on the html tag closing…

    # 27 should read:

    In other words Doubtful [SIC], he was for the gas tax relief before he was against it.

    What are Senator Clinton’s views on NAFTA again? And what were they in the 1990s?

  • “Bloomberg: More Than 200 Economists Denounce Clinton, McCain Gas-Tax Plans

    May 5 (Bloomberg) — More than 200 economists, including four Nobel prize winners, signed a petition rejecting proposals by presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and John McCain to offer a gas-tax holiday.”

    Of course, 200 elitist economists don’t know a danged thang ’bout runnin’ no economy.

    Jes’ like all those elitist superdelegates don’t know a danged thang ’bout electin’ a pres’dent neither.

    Hillary makes no sense.

    And she’s ready for day one?

  • The gas tax holiday isn’t the biggest issue anyhow, it’s just getting more attention due to BO & HRC’s dissent.

    Nobody wants to take on the 2nd thing I wrote about Obama contradicting his campaign regarding his promise to the teamsters?

    This reminds me of the Canadian government meeting about NAFTA, what he or his campaign says behind closed doors does not match what he says publicly.

  • This reminds me of the Canadian government meeting about NAFTA, what he or his campaign says behind closed doors does not match what he says publicly.

    Which turned out to be bullshit.

    Which then turned out to be what Hillary’s campaign did.

    Better trolls please.

  • HILLARY CLINTON CAN BEST WIN IN NOVEMBER:

    It’s time for everyone to face the truth. Barack Obama has no real chance of winning the national election in November at this time. His crushing defeat in Pennsylvania makes that fact crystal clear. His best, and only real chance of winning in November is on a ticket with Hillary Clinton as her VP.

    Hillary Clinton seemed almost somber at her Pennsylvania victory speech. As if part of her was hoping Obama could have proved he had some chance of winning against the republican attack machine, and their unlimited money, and resources.

    But it is absolutely essential that the democrats take back the Whitehouse in November. America, and the American people are in a very desperate condition now. And the whole World has been doing all that they can to help keep us propped up.

    Hillary Clinton say’s that the heat, and decisions in the Whitehouse are much tougher than the ones on the campaign trail. But I think Mr. Obama faces a test of whether he has what it takes to be a commander and chief by facing the difficult facts, and the truth before him. And by doing what is best for the American people by dropping out of the race, and offering his whole hearted assistance to Hillary Clinton to help her take back the Whitehouse for the American people, and the World.

    Mr. Obama is a great speaker. And I am confident he can explain to the American people the need, and wisdom of such a personal sacrifice for them. It should be clear to everyone by now that Hillary Clinton is fighting her heart out for the American people. She has known for a long time that Mr. Obama can not win this November. You have to remember that the Clinton’s have won the Whitehouse twice before. They know what it takes.

    If Mr. Obama fails his test of commander and chief we can only hope that Hillary Clinton can continue her heroic fight for the American people. And that she prevails. She will need all the continual support and help we can give her. She may fight like a superhuman. But she is only human.

    Sen. Hillary Clinton: “You know, more people have now voted for me than have voted for my opponent. In fact, I now have more votes than anybody has ever had in a primary contest for a nomination. And it’s also clear that we’ve got nine more important contests to go.”

    Sincerely

    Jacksmith… Working Class 🙂

  • OK, so Obama was for the gas tax before he was against it…why does that work for Obama when it didn’t work for Kerry?

  • why does that work for Obama when it didn’t work for Kerry?

    Why will it work for Clinton to be against the Iraq war and NAFTA when she used to be for them? It might, it might not. But she’ll have a better chance if she, like Obama, flatly admits her errors and says she’s learned something.

    Sadly, she’s constitutionally unable to do that–just like you, our muy loca chica.

  • An expensive German import?

    Dang, Hil, weapons are one of the few things America still MAKES!

    Tell me again how you’re planning to create jobs?

    And an expensive import….
    Isn’t that a little elitist for the straw-chewing girl-next-door incarnation you’re running up the flagpole this week?

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