Fri, February 01, 2008 - 12:19 PM

MoveOn.org Political Action, the liberal on-line grassroots organization, is endorsing Barack Obama in the Democratic presidential primary.

The announcement came at the close of the group’s virtual election, in which its members favored the Illinois senator 70.4 percent to 29.6 percent. The group claims as many as 3.2 million members nationwide.

Today's announcement of the results does not say how many participated

Obama accepted the endorsement stating:

"In just a few years, the members of MoveOn have once again demonstrated that real change comes not from the top-down, but from the bottom-up. From their principled opposition to the Iraq war - a war I also opposed from the start - to their strong support for a number of progressive causes, MoveOn shows what Americans can achieve when we come together in a grassroots movement for change. I thank them for their support and look forward to working with their members in the weeks and months ahead."

Eli Pariser, MoveOn.org's executive director, said:

"Our members' endorsement of Senator Obama is a clear call for a new America at this critical moment in history. Seven years of the disastrous policies of the Bush Administration have left the country desperate for change. We need a President who will bring to bear the strong leadership and vision required to end the war in Iraq, provide health care to every American, deal with our climate crisis, and restore America's standing in the world. The enormity of the challenges require someone who knows how to inspire millions to get involved to change the direction of our country, and someone who will be willing to change business as usual in Washington. Senator Barack Obama has proved he can and will be that President.

-- Billy House

Thu, January 31, 2008 - 2:09 PM

MoveOn.org, the on-line liberal group that grabbed headlines for those newspaper ads casting Gen. David Petraeus as “General Betray Us?” is asking members to decide by 11 a.m. Friday whether to mobilize for Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama.

“We have a big decision to make,” says an e-mail just sent out to members of the group, which claims 147,080 members in Florida and 3.2.million members nationally.

“Yesterday, John Edwards left the race for president, leaving just two major Democratic candidates,” adds the message. “And next Tuesday, over half of MoveOn's members will go to the polls in the biggest primary day in American history.”

The e-mail notes: “When we surveyed over 200,000 MoveOn members yesterday to see if we should go forward with an endorsement process, a big majority said ‘yes.’

Here’s how MoveOn says its endorsement process will work over the next 24 hours..

-- Everyone who was a MoveOn member as of noon Eastern on Wednesday, and will be at least 18 years old by November 4th, 2008 gets one vote.

-- Voting lasts now through 11:00 a.m. Eastern tomorrow—Friday This will allow MoveOn to make an endorsement in time to make a difference on Super Tuesday.

-- MoveOn will only endorse a candidate if more than two-thirds of its members select that candidate. These are the same rules MoveOn has applied in contested Democratic congressional primaries. If MoveOn endorses a candidate, it will immediately start campaigning for that candidate.

-- If no candidate receives more than two-thirds of the votes cast, MoveOn will encourage members to vote and play an active role in the primary process, but will not endorse at this time.

The e-mail also notes: “We are taking extra security measures to protect the integrity of the vote. A random sampling of voters will get verification phone calls after voting. We've also ensured that each ballot is unique to one MoveOn member—so forwarding links will not allow more people to vote.”

-- Billy House

Wed, January 30, 2008 - 10:11 AM

Barack Obama’s campaign is taking a preemptive strike to set the record straight in Georgia as the state gears up for its Super Tuesday primary.

On Wednesday, they announced the creation of a Georgia truth squad to help put down any unfounded attacks on Obama.

On the squad are some of Georgia’s high-profile Obama supporters: state Sen. David Adelman, U.S. Rep. Sanford D. Bishop Jr., Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin and the Rev. Joseph Lowery.

Adelman said in a conference call this morning the Hillary Clinton camp tried to mislead South Carolina voters on where Obama stands on issues such as healthcare and Social Security reform. Obama won that state’s Democratic primary with 55 percent of the vote.

“We’re hopeful that the Clinton campaign learned a lesson in South Carolina,” Adelman said.

Clinton has her own squad to deploy. Her campaign announced on Monday the launch of Rapid Responders -- truth tellers who respond to inaccurate or misleading attacks directed at both Hillary and Bill Clinton.

They were set up in 22 states that will be hold primaries or caucuses on Feb. 5.

"Facts are stubborn things, and we will insist that Senator Clinton’s opponents be held accountable if they manipulate her statements or her record," said Georgia Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond said in a written statement Monday.

-- Amy Dominello

Tue, January 29, 2008 - 1:37 PM

John McCain, whose presidential campaign has come a long way since being counted for dead last summer, is back out with the ol’ “Help Wanted” sign.

In an e-mail to supporters this morning, John McCain’s campaign says it is “looking for full-time volunteers for immediate positions” at their national headquarters in Arlington, Va.

The campaign’s director of volunteers wrote the e-mail pitch asking for resumes and cover letters. Volunteers will “play a significant role in building Senator McCain’s grassroots efforts,” it read.

But if you’re looking for a new job, you might want to look elsewhere. No paid positions were mentioned.

--Neil H. Simon

Megastate California was supposed to hold the keys to the presidential nomination, especially among Democrats. Now, with no clear front-runners, it increasingly appears that the Big Enchilada won't end the drama.

"I don't think California will be as dispositive as we all thought it would be," Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., told reporters this morning. Hoyer, the House majority leader, hasn't endorsed anyone, nor has House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

When California votes Feb. 5, Super Tuesday, it may open the door wider for the so-called "Potomac Primaries" the following week to play a decisive role.

"I think the picture will be clearer after the 12th," said Hoyer. He's holding off on any endorsements until after his state votes.

February 12 is the date for primaries in Virginia, Maryland and District of Columbia.

-- Marsha Mercer

Mon, January 28, 2008 - 7:41 PM

It pays to read the fine print on a new Zogby poll released Monday in the U.S. Senate race in Georgia.

The poll says that incumbent Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., could be facing a tough battle for reelection. It says that only 38 percent of likely voters believe Chambliss deserves another chance in the Capitol.

The poll uses the “blind bio” method of polling by giving potential voters biographical information to describe the candidates but does not name them.

Hmmm. But Chambliss’ bio in the poll all but states that he also takes candy from small children. Democratic candidate Josh Lanier looks like a Georgia peach in comparison.

Why’s that? No surprise here. The poll was commissioned by Friends of Josh Lanier.

-- Amy Dominello

With the Florida Republican primary just one day away, two new polls of likely voters show John McCain and Mitt Romney running neck-and-neck for the lead.

One of the polls also shows Hillary Clinton maintaining her commanding lead in the Democratic race.

A Quinnipiac University Polling Institute survey of likely voters in Tuesday's primary shows McCain at 32 percent, Romney 31, Rudolph Giuliani 14, Huckabee 13 and Ron Paul 3.

Another poll done Political Research Center at Boston’s Suffolk University shows McCain at 30 percent, Romney at 27, Giuliani 13, Huckabee 11, and Ron Paul 4.

The Quinnipiac poll was taken Thursday through Sunday and has a 4.1 percent point margin of error for Republicans, meaning McCain and Romney are in a statistical tie for the lead.

The Suffolk University poll was conducted from Friday to Sunday and has a margin of error of 4.9 percentage points, also putting McCain and Romney in a statistical tie.

“Sen. McCain and Gov. Romney are tight as a tick, although McCain’s supporters appear slightly more committed. With 24 hours to go, the race is up in the air. Whichever candidate finishes strongest will win Florida and all 57 of its reduced delegate count,” said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac polling insititute

Brown added that the major unknown factor in the final hours before primary day in determining the GOP winner is how much weight the endorsements by Gov. Charlie Crist and Sen. Mel Martinez of McCain carry with Florida Republicans.

“The race is very fluid and John McCain just keeps on going. His is fighting businessman Mitt Romney’s attempt to secure Florida as yet another electoral acquisition,” said David Paleologos, Director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center. He also said the McCain’s endorsements by Martinez and Crist may play a role in who wins.

In the Suffolk poll, McCain and Romney ran virtually dead even in all parts of the state except in the Southern part of the state (McCain 37 percent and Romney 25 percent) home to a large Hispanic population where women drove McCain’s margin.

The Quinnipiac poll also had Hillary Clinton maintaining her large lead in the state over Barack Obama and John Edwards. The Dem numbers are Clinton at 50 percent, Obama 30, John Edwards 12, others 1 and undecided 7.

“Even with Sen. Obama’s landslide win in South Carolina, he still trails Sen. Clinton by 20 points and a comeback of that magnitude in the final hours would be virtually unprecedented in recent political history,” said Brown.

“Moreover, the demographics of the Florida Democratic electorate are not nearly as favorable to Obama as was the case in South Carolina, where more than half the voters were African-American," he said.

On the Democratic side, there are no delegates at stake at this point and Obama has emphasized it has no “role” in the primary.

-- Billy House

Sat, January 26, 2008 - 4:40 PM

LAKELAND, Fla. -- It's good to mention oranges when running for political office in Florida. Perhaps even better to pose with them.

Mike Huckabee visited the Lakeland PIg Festival here earlier today. Mitt Romney may have done him one better.

At al appearance Saturday afternoon at Florida Citrus Mutual Headquarters, Romney drew an overflow crowd of about 300 people that left many of them standing outside the building, apparently content to listen to his speech on speakers.

Romney at one point held up a bag of oranges for a throng of photographers. He also would cradle twin babies, and be swarmed by people seeking handshakes, autographs, or just wanting to say “Hi!”

During his short speech, Romney returned to his central campaign themes that Washington was broken and that he is the candidate with the broad background to turn around the economy, based on his experience in the business private sector, heading the Olympics, and as a former governor of Massachusetts.

“It is what I know. It is what I do,” said Romney.

Though he did not speak directly about the Iraq war, Romney also touched briefly on the military. He said he would at least 100,000 more troops to U.S. forces, get better military equipment, and better health care for veterans.

“Florida has been really good to me. And I hope it is going to be really good to me in a couple of days,” Romney said at one point..

But he added of Tuesday’s voting, “This is going to be close one.”

Attending the event was state Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson, who has endorsed Romney. He said he believed Romney’s economic emphasis is resonating with many Republicans who will vote in the primary.

“People are going to vote on this issue,” said Bronson.

“I just think he is the one person you can talk to about business issues, and you know he’s been there,” said Bronson.

As Romney left the building after his speech to waiting crowd outside, he asked: “Did you hear my speech?”

“Yeah!” shouted back many in the crowd.

“I’m sorry about that,” Romney quipped with a smile, prompting laughter.

-- Billy House

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Huckabee this morning dropped by the Lakeland Pig Festival, east of the Tampa Bay area.

Admirers and the curious alike surrounded him as he worked the event, walking back and forth along lanes of barbecue stands, shaking hands, signing autographs, posing for photos -- and, well, eating..

At one point, the former Arkansas governor spotted a man wearing pig mask and exclaimed: “There’s a razorback!”

Another man asked the exercise and weight-conscious candidate if he planned to run today, and he said, "I need to, now."

But while energetic in greeting the festival goers, Huckabee did not make himself available for questions by the media, including about his strategy to pull back on resources in Florida, where the victor in Tuesday's winner-take-all GOP primary will come away with 57 delegates.

Aides had said he would hold a news conference at the pork event; but he instead was rushed away from the festival after about 40 minutes.

As Huckabee climbed into his van, he did answer a question about who would win Tuesday.

“Me!” he quipped.

But the polls in Florida suggest otherwise, with Huckabee lagging significantly behind co-front-runners Mitt Romney and John. McCain.

The reality is that Huckabee has limited his public appearances in the area, and had dotted much of his schedule over the next two days with appearances in other states – such as Alabama and Tennessee, which hold their contests on Feb. 5.

His campaign also announced it has launched a national TV ad today.

On hand for Huckabee’s pig festival visit was City of Lakeland Mayor Ralph L. “Buddy” Fletcher.

But when asked if he was a Huckabee supporter, Fletcher said he hasn’t endorsed anyone in the Republican primary. He said he would have shown up to accompany any of the candidates there.

“I don’t commit myself,” said Fletcher. “I just vote.”

-- Billy House

Thu, January 24, 2008 - 5:11 PM

When Fabiola Rodriguez-Ciampoli joined Hillary Clinton’s campaign for president last year, she had no idea she would be back where she started.

Clinton’s director of Hispanic communications emigrated from Mexico more than six years ago and went through the visa process at what was then an office of the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement in Arlington, Va.

“We sat waiting in the waiting room watching ‘Lord of the Rings’ one and a half times waiting for my interview,” said Rodriguez-Ciampoli. She now goes to the same building to work 15-hour days to get Clinton’s campaign message to Spanish-speaking media outlets.

The office is the growing national headquarters for Clinton’s presidential campaign, but a lot of people still don’t realize that, despite the fact Clinton campaign signs dot the windows.

Nothing marks the building as an immigration office any longer, but many immigrants were coming here to start their immigration process, Rodriguez-Ciampoli said. So the campaign printed fliers in English and Spanish to guide immigrants to the right place.

--Neil H. Simon

In Washington to receive an award for his environmental work, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg certainly didn’t focus on that kind of green.

In a speech before the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Bloomberg focused almost exclusively on the economy. (Read the speech here.)

In fact, the mayor spoke briefly about the environment, focusing the bulk of his remarks on the markets, manufacturing, and jobs.

His speech clearly played into the week’s dominating news – the economy.

On the stimulus plan for tax rebates, he said, “If and when Americans get rebate checks an awful lot of them are going to be asking, ‘why is this the first real raise I’ve gotten in years?’ Too many Americans are working hard just to stand still – even after a long period of economic growth. We can do better.”

Bloomberg, who changed his party registration from Republican to Independent last year, also got in a dig at establishment Washington politicians.

“It’s time we start spending on the infrastructure Americans need, not the pork barrel projects that politicians want,” he said.

The billionaire media mogul even trumpeted his own business experience, saying his credo has a lesson for those in Congress.

“There’s a saying: In God We Trust. Everyone else bring data. Washington should be no exception,” he said.

--Neil H. Simon

Republican Roger Wicker was just sworn in as Mississippi’s newest senator this week.

Wicker, who was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1994, was appointed by Republican Gov. Haley Barbour and hopes to win a special election for the seat.

But it looks like the race to permanently keep the Senate seat vacated by Trent Lott is heating up.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee launched a new Web site Wednesday focusing on Democratic candidate and former Mississippi Governor Ronnie Musgrove.

The site says Musgrove is wrong for Mississippi.

The new site is an indication that Republicans are worried about losing the seat, said Matthew Miller, a spokesman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

“I think it’s a sign that the Republicans are nervous,” he said.

Former Democratic congressman Ronnie Shows also plans to run for the seat.

A special election has been set for Nov. 4, but a lawsuit seeking to hold the election sooner is pending. A decision is expected as soon as Friday.

-- Amy Dominello

First, Chuck Norris endorsed Mike Huckabee. But now “Rocky” is endorsing John McCain.

No, not that squirrel who hangs around with Bullwinkle.

Rather, actor Sylvester Stallone, also known as "Rambo." He has told Fox News, “I like McCain a lot.”

But then again, Stallone went on to qualify that as short of a full-fledged endorsement, saying, "And you know, things may change along the way …"

Still, Stallone did also say …

“But there’s something about matching the character with the script. And right now, the script that’s being written and reality is pretty brutal and pretty hard-edged like a rough action film, and you need somebody who’s been in that to deal with it.”

Huh?

McCain translated that as something positive for his campaign, which is battling it out with Republican rivals in Florida this week headed to the state’s Tuesday primary.

"I'm going to Philadelphia and running up the steps,” said McCain to Fox News.

-- Billy House

Wed, January 23, 2008 - 4:30 PM

While the national campaigns may still be intra-party fighting, in Virginia's 5th congressional district, the general election campaign already seems well under way.

Within minutes of House Democrats' failure to override President George W. Bush's veto of a $35 billion expansion of children's health care, opponents of six-term Republican Rep. Virgil Goode pounced on him for his "no" vote.

First, Goode's likely opponent, Democratic attorney Tom Perriello said in a statement, "Providing health care to low-income children is not just a question of good economics and good public health, it's a question of right and wrong and what we stand for as a society."

Goode said he opposed the bill based on its cost and what he saw as lax citizenship requirements. "If my opponent wants illegal aliens to get health care paid for by hard working Americans, I'm opposed to that position," he said. "I opposed it before he was in the race."

Then the Democrats' national campaign committee, aimed at expanding their majority in Congress, piled on Goode, saying he values loyalty to President Bush over providing health care for America's children.

The release served as further proof to Goode that House leaders will keep bringing up the health care vote in hopes of making political hay, even though last December Congress passed a children's health bill that covers families earning less than $41,000 a year.

"It's a national issue. That's the only reason they keep bringing it up. They're using it as a wedge issue," Goode said.

--Neil H. Simon

Rudy Giuliani, who has staked his presidential bid on a huge Florida primary win next week, may be watching it all slip away. Or it may be that the polls are wrong. He, of course, sees the silver lining, not clouds over the Sunshine State..

Today in Estero, the former mayor of New York filled a ballroom with supporters waving "Florida is Rudy Country" posters. He promised the "biggest tax reform and biggest tax reduction in American history," held up a one-page form he said people could use to file their tax returns and touted his support of a national catastrophic insurance plan.

He also put his spin why polls suggest he has slipped behind John McCain. Giuiliani told reporters it's still a statistical dead heat in Florida, and, "I think we're going to to win here."

He said, "The reality is we are gaining support."

Various polls show a positive trend for John McCain. The latest RealClearPolitics.com average of Florida polls put McCain at 22 percent, slightly ahead of Mitt Romney with 21 and Giuliani at 20. Mike Huckabee was lagging in fourth with 14 percent.

We'll know Tuesday. For now, we have the polls and the parking lot at the Three Oaks Convention Center as signs. The polls are discouraging, and the young campaign staffers holding stacks of Giuliani campaign bumper strips in the parking lot had a tough time giving them away.
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-- Marsha Mercer