Monday’s campaign round-up

January 28, 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:

* Florida’s Republican presidential primary, which is tomorrow, is going down to the wire and John McCain and Mitt Romney are battling it out for first place. McCain may have gained a slight edge in recent days, though, with endorsements from Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R) and Sen. Mel Martinez (R).

* On a related note, there have been rumors that Crist could be a possible McCain running mate. Asked about this over the weekend, Crist responded, “It’s not something I’m thinking about.” Pressed if he would rule out accepting the vice presidency, Crist again dodged: “I’m not even focused on it.”

* Barack Obama has been picking up a few big endorsements lately, but this is one to keep an eye on: Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.), the highest-ranking Latino lawmaker in Washington, endorsed the Illinois senator over the weekend. Given the importance of California’s primary, and Obama’s tepid support in the Latino community, this was certainly welcome at campaign HQ.

* It may not be quite as significant, but this endorsement is bound to get more media attention: “Barack Obama is picking up the endorsement of author Toni Morrison, who won the Nobel Prize in literature for her writings on African-American life. The endorsement is special due to some famous words that Morrison wrote about Bill Clinton in 1998: ‘White skin notwithstanding, this is our first black president. Blacker than any actual person who could ever be elected in our children’s lifetime.'”

* There were some rumors yesterday that Ted Kennedy decided to endorse Obama after hearing Bill Clinton’s odd remarks connecting Obama to Jesse Jackson. That’s apparently not the case — Kennedy told the Clintons about his decision last Thursday.

* And speaking of the Jesse Jackson comments, Obama was asked about it yesterday, and brushed it off.

* There was some talk yesterday that Hillary Clinton would violate her pledge and make a campaign appearance in Florida. That’s not quite right — she’s traveling to Florida on Tuesday night, after the primary, where she’ll presumably try to draw attention to the state’s primary results, despite the fact that none of the Dem candidates have campaigned in the state.

* Bill Clinton caused a little trouble for John McCain over the weekend, saying that HRC and McCain are “very close.” “They always laugh that if they wound up being the nominees of their party, it would be the most civilized election in American history, and they’re afraid they’d put the voters to sleep because they like and respect each other.” For the Republican Party, that didn’t help improve McCain’s cred.

* John Kerry has been stepping up and challenging the Clintons, specifically the former president, more forcefully than expected.

* And the battle for Thompson backers is definitely underway. Former Senate Majority Leader Howard Baker has made the switch to McCain, while Liz Cheney, the VP’s daughter who joined Thompson’s camp early on, has switched to Romney.

Being BFF with John “bomb bomb bomb Iran” McCrazy ought to be worth another 10% drop in Hillary’s Dem polls.

Good job, Bill!

Does anyone care what Cheney’s daughter thinks? Really?

  • Charlie Christ might be an interesting choice for VP. Below is a summation of a “problem” Christ would have to address, if nominated. From NNDB:

    “[1] Bob Norman, “Crist Denies Trysts II”, Broward Palm Beach New Times, 10 November 2006: “Last week, I reported that 21-year-old GOP staffer Jason Wetherington had claimed to credible sources that he had a sexual relationship with the 50-year-old Crist and had identified the frontrunner’s ‘long-term partner’ as Bruce Carlton Jordan, who remains on state probation after serving a 30-day jail sentence for a conviction on grand theft and forgery charges… Crist has repeatedly denied that he is gay.”

  • Barack Obama has been picking up a few big endorsements lately, but this is one to keep an eye on: Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.), the highest-ranking Latino lawmaker in Washington, endorsed the Illinois senator over the weekend. Given the importance of California’s primary, and Obama tepid support in the Latino community, this was certainly welcome at campaign HQ.

    This is even bigger than those of you outside California understand. The Latino elected officials here do have clout with their public, and not only is Becerra big in Washington, he’s big in Southern California, which is where it counts. No Democrat can win in California without winning Southern California. Not to denigrate the Bay Area (too much) but they aren’t where the voters are. And I hear Obama’s already ahead in Silicon Valley for his “hopeless optimism” since the place is built on that.

    The endorsement is special due to some famous words that Morrison wrote about Bill Clinton in 1998: ‘White skin notwithstanding, this is our first black president. Blacker than any actual person who could ever be elected in our children’s lifetime.’”

    I think Bill lost his membership in the black community this past weekend.

    There was some talk yesterday that Hillary Clinton would violate her pledge and make a campaign appearance in Florida. That’s not quite right — she’s traveling to Florida on Tuesday night, after the primary, where she’ll presumably try to draw attention to the state’s primary results, despite the fact that none of the Dem candidates have campaigned in the state.

    Once again, “it depends on what the definition of ‘is’ is.”

    David Geffen said it right: the one thing you can always depend on with the Clintons is what consummate liars they are.

  • McCain want to bomb Iran and stay in Iraq for 100 years. McCain want to get interest rate to zero and lead to our economic collaps. McCain want all the illeagal immigrants to stay in this country and leagal immigrants who can vote do not support it. How secure could our country be with him in power???

  • The endorsement is special due to some famous words that Morrison wrote about Bill Clinton in 1998: ‘White skin notwithstanding, this is our first black president. Blacker than any actual person who could ever be elected in our children’s lifetime.’”

    In which she was referring to Bill’s persecution by the Republicans not his ability to play jazz trombone.

    The interesting thing though is that in 1998 she was saying in effect that no black person would be president in her children’s lifetimes and yet 10 years later it’s a distinct possiblity that we will have a black president or at least a half-black president.

  • Most of the speculation was not that Kennedy endorsed Obama specifically because of the Jesse Jackson comment but because of the long string of similar comments before Saturday. The linked article goes along with Kennedy endorsing Obama as a consequence of the Clinton tactics.

  • In which she was referring to Bill’s persecution by the Republicans not his ability to play jazz trombone.

    Actually, in the next sentence of the full quote I believe she does mention his saxaphone playing. (In a list of “racial tropes”)

  • RacerX @ 1: I think the Liz Cheney endorsement is interesting. She’s known in the State Dept as the “democracy czar” for her efforts to “bring democracy to Iran.” I hope you’re bilingual. I put the Republican language in quotes. I guess Florida Reps.will now have a real choice between war with Iran or 1000 more years in Iraq.

  • Actually, in the next sentence of the full quote I believe she does mention his saxaphone playing. (In a list of “racial tropes”)

    Oops. You’re right.

    I guess he wasn’t “black enough” though, since she’s endorsing Obama. 🙂

    Shall we add a new racial trope: Harvard Law Review editor?

    “Blessed be the children for they shall inherit the national debt.” Herbert Hoover.

  • CB: “There was some talk yesterday that Hillary Clinton would violate her pledge and make a campaign appearance in Florida. That’s not quite right — she’s traveling to Florida on Tuesday night, after the primary, where she’ll presumably try to draw attention to the state’s primary results, despite the fact that none of the Dem candidates have campaigned in the state.”

    Actually, as has been reported with other posts, Hillary went to Florida yesterday for “private” fundraising. While there, she spoke to the press about her intention to fight to have Florida delegates seated at the convention. She’ll also be there on Tuesday to declare victory in a race where her opponents, complying with both the letter and spirit of the pledge, are not competing.

    Of course, her actions now directly contradict her expressed support of the national party’s decision to exclude Florida and Michigan delegates from the Democratic convention because their state parties sought to dilute the influence of minority voters in both Nevada and South Carolina.

    Further evidence that Hillary Clinton has little or no integrity.

  • Is Becerra more important than Clinton’s endorsement by the United Farm Workers (which got no press by the way)?

    I find it disgusting that people forget all the things the Clintons have done for African Americans the minute an African American candidate seems viable, regardless of the fact that he has nowhere near the same accomplishments, especially for families. People keep claiming that African Americans are voting the issues, but if that were true they would still be behind Clinton.

    I doubt Obama will win more primaries, despite Kennedy’s belated endorsement (waiting to see how things turn out before committing?). If Clinton represents “old politics” then Kennedy represents them moreso. In sharp contrast, Barney Frank has said that he thinks Obama is “not ready”. Frank is more respected in Boston than Ted Kennedy. Again, that statement got no attention in the press. Gotta love that anti-Clinton bias.

  • Gov. Charlie Crist is quite the political opportunist. 10 years ago he was largely branded as a political lightweight and called “Chaingang Charlie” because of his hairbrain scheme as a state representative to bring back roadside cleaning crews of inmates wearing black and white scrubs and, yes, chainballs. Since then he’s become more pragmatic, more moderate and has risen in the ranks, but he is as slick as always.

    Giuliani is wicked-pissed that Crist gave the nod to McCain, and has now leaked this to the St. Petersburg Times: “It’s no secret Crist and his team see the governor as vice presidential material, and the Giuliani campaign tells me Crist’s people wanted a promise that Crist be on Giuliani’s short list for running mate.”

  • “People keep claiming that African Americans are voting the issues, but if that were true they would still be behind Clinton.”

    They would huh? This according to white woman supporting Hillary Clinton. Nice.

  • Mary said:

    Is Becerra more important than Clinton’s endorsement by the United Farm Workers (which got no press by the way)?

    That reminds me: Can we eat grapes yet?

  • Becerra happens to be my Congressman and I’ve been very impressed with how little he does. He’s not a highlight in Obama’s trajectory. Still I’m surprised Becerra expended the effort to endorse anyone.

  • ” And the battle for Thompson backers is definitely underway.”

    shouldn’t that read, “and the battle for thompson’s backer is definitely underway”?

  • Tom (# 3),

    In 2001, Xavier Becerra ran for mayor of Los Angeles. He finished in fifth place.

  • Since I support Hil so little, I like to chime in on the rare occasion when I CAN say something nice.

    If she flies to Florida to thank them for their support, I would find that to be simple courtesy and unworthy of condemnation. It doesn’t count as campaigning after the fact.

    They did the right thing by her for the wrong reason. It would be borderline rude to say nothing.
    We certainly want Florida with us in November so the winner should drop in for a wave and a photo.

    Mary@11,
    What DID the Clintons do for the A.A. community?
    I’m not saying “nothing”, but no one seems to bother to list them and my memory could use the refresher.
    The controversial bankruptcy bill is seen by some as especially rough on less affluent communities (many A.A.) and she supported it in 2001 and would have in 2005 if alimony/child support had priority over credit card companies. What’s the counterweight.

    • Comments are closed.