Tue, July 01, 2008 - 2:06 PM

Looks like having a fundraiser with President Bush as the special guest paid off with some big bucks for Sen. Roger Wicker.

Austin Barbour, Wicker's campaign manager, said today that the campaign had not done a final count on the amount raised. But, he said, about 500 people paid $1,000 each to attend the fundraiser.

That’s about $500,000 and the final tally is likely to go up.

Update:

The Mississippi Democratic Party offers a statement:

President George W. Bush’s high-dollar fundraiser he headlined today for interim U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker highlights exactly why Wicker is wrong for Mississippi: He endorses and obviously will continue failed Bush policies.

Wicker’s fundraiser proves he backs Bush policies that have led to skyrocketing gasoline prices, a failing national economy and an unending war in Iraq. Electing Wicker to the U.S. Senate and John McCain as president ensures nothing more than a third Bush term.

-- Amy Dominello

More polls out today from Ramussen Reports about political races in the South.

In Alabama, Barack Obama is closing the gap on John McCain. The Republican is still ahead of Obama by 51 percent to 36 percent. But based on previous polling, the gap between the two has been cut in half.

Alabama has voted Republican in the last eight of the nine presidential elections.

McCain is also leading in Florida by 7 percent, according to a Ramussen phone survey. While McCain has lead in the last six polls on the contest done by Ramussen in Florida, Obama has been slowly closing the gap.

And back to Alabama, where Sen. Jeff Sessions is facing Democratic challenger Vivian Davis Figures. A telephone survey shows Sessions enjoying a comfortable lead of 58 percent to 34 percent

All three polls were done by Ramussen in conjunction with Fox Television Stations.

-- Amy Dominello

When Sen. Jim Webb's GI bill was on the verge of passing the Senate last Thursday, he said he would not be excited until President Bush finished signing the bill in a Rose Garden ceremony.

Well, that moment came and went Monday as Bush signed the GI benefits as part of the supplemental war funding bill but gave the moment no fanfare. Present at the signing, which occurred inside the White House, were administration officials only.

Webb, other legislators or veterans groups were not invited for the occasion.

And rather than talking to any reporters to celebrate the day on his own, Webb, D-Va. went on left-leaning Keith Olbermann's MSNBC show to criticize Bush.

Bush had said at the signing, the "bill shows the American people that even in an election year, Republicans and Democrats can come together to stand behind our troops and their families."

Webb scoffed at the remarks.

"There was a great deal of cooperation among Republicans and Democrats, it just didn't include the administration," Webb said, with a hearty laugh at his own material.

"This president missed a real opportunity to show leadership and true respect for the people who served. He should have had Republicans -- such as [Sen.] Chuck Hagel [R-Neb.] -- who he didn't even mention by the way -- Democrats, members of veterans groups around him," Webb said on Countdown with Keith Olbermann (watch video below).

Webb also got a laugh out of who Bush did mention in the brief remarks about the benefits.

Bush singled out "Senators Webb and Warner, Graham, Burr, and McCain" for their work on the GI bill. But Graham, Burr and McCain backed a competing measure which was aimed at retaining soldiers, giving the tuition credits after longer service and focusing around an administration-backed plan to allow service members to transfer their benefits to their spouses and children. The transferability provision was put in Webb's final bill, but current law already permits Pentagon brass to let certain service members transfer their benefits.

"I'm really proud we were able to get it through and the rest of it is just kind of amazing," Webb said. "But, you know, I don't care."

"I think George W. Bush made a real bad mistake today in terms of trying -- our trying -- to show respect for military service. I think he blew it," Webb said.



Is any of this Bush-Webb scuffling surprising? After all, Webb wouldn't stand in a receiving line for the President after his 2006 Senate election.

After being excluded from the signing ceremony for his own bill, Webb said, "I had expected it."

--Neil Simon

Mon, June 30, 2008 - 3:02 PM

President Bush will be in Mississippi tomorrow to raise some big time money for Sen. Roger Wicker.

Wicker, a Republican appointed in January to the Senate seat vacated by Trent Lott, is in a tough battle to keep the seat. The former House member faces Democrat Ronnie Musgrove, a former governor of the state.

Bush will be in Jackson for a luncheon at the home of Jean and Kelley Williams. Tickets are $1,000 each.

Given Bush’s popularity problems, not every Senate candidate would want Bush campaigning for them. But Wicker campaign spokesman Austin Barbour said just the opposite is true in this case.

“Senator Roger Wicker is honored to have President Bush to Mississippi to support his campaign,” Barbour said in a statement. “President Bush has offered America strong leadership in a unique moment of danger in our history.”

Meanwhile, Musgrove’s campaign and Mississippi Democrats are criticizing Wicker for hobnobbing with big-time campaign contributors and not committing to the town hall debates Musgrove has proposed.

While new campaign finance reports are due out shortly, Wicker already is far ahead of Musgrove in fundraising.

According to campaign finance records, Wicker has taken in nearly $3.1 million and had $2.8 million available to spend as of the end of March. Musgrove had raised $447,000 with $337,000 available to spend.

-- Amy Dominello

Rep. Virgil Goode -- the one time Virginia Democrat, now conservative Republican -- is one of 13 House Republicans now being targeted with a new radio ad by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. The ad, using a fake President Bush voice, accuses Goode of being an ally of the oil industry.

Goode's campaign spokesman Tucker Watkins called the ad "canned opposition stuff" and made no bones about the fact Goode favors expanding the domestic oil supply to help reduce gas prices. "We ought to be drilling," Watkins said.

Click the play button below to hear the ad or click here to see a generic version and list of candidates being targeted like Goode.


Goode faces Democratic challenger Tom Perriello in the November election.

--Neil Simon

Despite speculation that Georgia could go for Barack Obama, the latest poll shows John McCain still has a double-digit lead in the state.

The poll, from Ramussen Reports, shows McCain up 53 percent to 43 percent. One percent of voters would support Libertarian candidate Bob Barr, while 3 percent are undecided.

Barr has some potential to be a spoiler in the state. Six percent of those surveyed said they would consider voting for Barr. Although unlikely, if all 6 percent voted for the Georgia congressman, the race could become competitive.

In four polls done in the state this year, McCain has lead by double digits. Georgia has voted for Republican presidential candidates since 1996.

-- Amy Dominello

Thu, June 26, 2008 - 2:40 PM

Rep. Eric Cantor, R-Va., may be busy counting heads as the House Republicans’ Chief Deputy Whip and preparing for his reelection, but the four-term rep is also being touted as a potential vice president for John McCain. Yes, there’s even a Web site.

Cantor, 45, would bring youth to the Republican ticket and may help win swing state Virginia’s 13 electoral votes. But there may be a more practical next step for the Richmond-area lawmaker. If House Republicans suffer such devastating losses this November, as some pundits predict, the heads of top Republican leadership could roll, leaving Cantor poised to become the Republican leader. That’s one potential scenario anyway.

--Neil Simon

She was against oil drilling before she was for it.

North Carolinians could see that line in a campaign ad later this year, after Sen. Elizabeth Dole, R-N.C., on Thursday dropped her longstanding opposition to oil drilling off the state's coast.

Dole faces a tough re-election bid this year. Rising gas prices have become one of the biggest issue in national campaigns this year.

Dole’s Democratic opponent in the race, Kay Hagan, opposes lifting a federal moratorium on offshore drilling. In shifting her position, Dole seems to be calculating that the move will bring her more goodwill from voters’ concerned about high energy prices than it will hurt her with voters who care about environmental issues or those who will see her as a flip-flopper.

"Now, more than ever, responsible and practical steps are needed to increase our energy independence and strengthen economic and national security," Dole said of the switch, according to a statement to the Associated Press.

Fellow North Carolina Republican, Rep. Virginia Foxx, a supporter of drilling far off the state’s coastline, said she understood the move.

“I can understand people changing positions right now. We’re in a very different situation than we’ve been in historically. The price of gasoline is doing great damage to hardworking Americans. She’s responding to changing conditions,” Foxx said in an interview.

Wed, June 25, 2008 - 3:28 PM

Barack Obama's campaign unveiled a presentation today that labels Virginia a swing state -- which would be of no suprise, but it contrasts with a similar John McCain campaign memo that put Virginia in the "solid Republican" column earlier this month.

The Obama presentation given to reporters in Washington includes a June 16 poll showing Obama with a two-point lead over McCain in Virginia. That's well within the +/- 3.3 point margin of error.

On a slide titled "Expanding the Map: Turning Red States Blue," Obama's campaign lists Virginia with five other states -- including Ohio -- that Bush won in 2004.

--Neil Simon

Tue, June 24, 2008 - 10:17 AM

Hillary Clinton has given up her run for the White House, but House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said today that Clinton's impact may be felt on future generations of women politicians.

Pelosi, speaking to reporters at a breakfast sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor, said all women face sexism ,but it’s still unclear whether sexism played a role in this contest.

Click the play button below to hear her full comments on the topic.



Pelosi also touched on her focus this election season: electing more Democrats to the House and Barack Obama to the White House.

She’s already telling her Democratic colleagues in the House to be prepared to work if Obama is elected president.

Pelosi also said the low approval ratings for Congress are due to what hasn’t happened in Washington.

“I think the reason it’s so low is that we did not end the war and deal with these issues related to energy,” she said.

-- Amy Dominello

Mon, June 23, 2008 - 3:39 PM

John McCain said today that the government should pay a $300 million prize to a person or company that develops an auto battery that makes plug-in cars viable for drivers.

Several auto companies have tried to develop plug-in electric cars. But most cannot drive more than 10 to 30 miles on one charge. Unless there’s a major development in battery technology, McCain said, the cars are not likely to take off with consumers.

--Sean Mussenden

Barack Obama’s campaign to attract Jewish voters got a key boost in Florida over the weekend from New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. It was no endorsement, but certainly a helpful defense in front of a Jewish audience that is still learning about the presumed Democratic presidential nominee.

While Obama was in Jacksonville and Miami, Bloomberg was in heavily Jewish Boca Raton telling the audience it was time to shut down the online rumors that Obama is a closet Muslim.

"This is wedge politics at its worst, and we've got to reject it — loudly, clearly and unequivocally,” he said, calling the whispering campaign “fear mongering.”

Billionaire Bloomberg, once a Democrat, then a Republican and now an independent, has been considered a potential vice president for Obama or John McCain.

--Neil Simon

Fri, June 20, 2008 - 2:21 PM

WASHINGTON – An early sample of the national media scrutiny on Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and his personal life if he is tapped as John McCain’s vice presidential running mate will be offered in this Sunday’s New York Times Magazine.

Greg Mitchell, of Editor & Publisher, writes today in the newspaper industry magazine that “all those old rumors that the longtime bachelor may be gay have gained new currency -- along with reports about Crist dating several women.”

Mitchell specifically points to this Sunday's New York Times Magazine, in which he says writer Deborah Solomon “coyly sort of raises that issue at the very end.”

As depicted by Mitchell, the magazine has Solomon kicking off an interview with Crist by stating: "Your personal life is not that of a typical Republican candidate. For starters, I hear you're"-- wait for it -- "not a property owner."

Crist replies, "It is true. I do not own property."

Solomon then moves on to, "You were married nearly 30 years ago, but the marriage lasted less than a year. Do you prefer"-- wait for it -- "living alone?"

Crist is quoted as saying, "I got married and divorced because it didn't work out. I haven't found the right one since."

“Of course, the use of the word "one" may be parsed for days,” suggests Mitchell.

Finally, he reports that Solomon asks Crist: "You can't find one woman in all of Florida?"

"Maybe I have. Stay tuned,” Crist is reported to have told Solomon.

Mitchell goes on to report that earlier in the article, Crist claims he is a "common-sense Republican.”

When told people say he will be remembered as much for his tan as for his accomplishments, Crist reportedly says, "that's very flattering," hastening to add that he does not use self-tanning lotion, 'it's the sun" -- and his Greek heritage.

-- Billy House

WASHINGTON – President Bush says Democrats who control Congress will have some explaining to do over their Fourth of July break if they don’t take some action on allowing more offshore drilling for oil.

In an already-recorded radio address for Saturday, Bush says: "If congressional leaders leave for the 4th of July recess without taking action they will need to explain why $4-a-gallon gasoline is not enough incentive for them to act."

During a briefing with reporters today, White House spokesman Tony Fratto said he believes that as members of Congress go home and hear from constituents, they will rethink their opposition to lifting the ban in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and along the Outer Continental Shelf, along with a block on oil shale leasing and expand US refining capacity.
“Americans are increasingly concerned,” he said.

“I think if you'd asked Americans two, three or four years ago what their views were on drilling in certain areas, it probably wasn't as popular then either,” he added.

“It is now, because I think most Americans understand the common sense that if prices are rising rapidly and supply is short, and we are finding ourselves dependent on foreign and maybe unreliable sources of energy, then what we ought to be doing is trying to increase that output here at home -- especially if we know there are sources of oil and other forms of energy here,” said Fratto.

-- Billy House

Thu, June 19, 2008 - 12:38 PM

If you were in Congress today, or even watching C-Span, and wondered why everyone was dressed like a country Southern lawyer from the turn of the century, here’s your answer:

It was Seersucker Thursday.

Every year, members of Congress put on the lightweight, summer-friendly fabric for one day, usually the second or third Thursday in June. Before air conditioning, it was commonplace to see such suits in the Capitol, according to the Senate Historian’s office.

From their Web site:

In the late 1990s, Mississippi Senator Trent Lott decided the time had come to revive a long-forgotten Senate sartorial tradition. He selected a “nice and warm” day in the second or third week of June to be designated Seersucker Thursday. His goal was to show that “the Senate isn’t just a bunch of dour folks wearing dark suits and—in the case of men—red or blue ties.” On the day before each year’s event, senators are alerted to the impending “wearing of the seersucker.” In 2004, California Senator Dianne Feinstein decided to encourage participation by the growing cadre of the Senate’s women members. “I would watch the men preening in the Senate,” she said, “and I figured we should give them a little bit of a horse race.” The following year, 11 of the 14 women senators appeared on Seersucker Thursday in outfits received as gifts from Senator Feinstein. Today, senators voluntarily make this annual fashion statement in a spirit of good-humored harmony to remind their colleagues of what earlier Senates considered mandatory summer attire.