The Republicans have suspended most of the convention activities scheduled for Monday, in light of both Hurricane Gustav and Tropical Storm Hanna. The only activity that will occur is "essential business," including adopting the party platforms and electing officers.
At today's 4:00 p.m. briefing on the state of the Republican National Convention, Sen. John McCain said that "The time for action is now." He used the briefing to also call upon fellow Republicans to dial back political attacks, while "we are facing a great national challenge and the possibility of a great national natural disaster." McCain expressed concern about the ability of emergency responders to communicate with each other, but said that, "I'm happy to report to you that the coordination and the work that seems to be happening at all levels looks excellent."
"I want to thank my fellow Republicans as we take off our Republican hats and put on our American hats" -- John McCain, on the need to focus on the potential disaster from Gustav and Hanna.
Campaign manager Rick Davis added to McCain's comments, saying that the convention would meet the minimal required functions to nominate the candidate. Davis said that the speculation that McCain wouldn't be there for the nomination was just that.
Davis said that all speakers are still expected to still speak at some point. Presumably, that statement doesn't extend to Pres. Bush, VP Cheney and Gulf Coast governors.
-- Michael Olson
4:14 PM ET | 08-31-2008 | permalink
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The Democrats are also changing their plans (and tone) with the onslaught of Hurricane Gustav. The DNC sent an email announcing the cancellation of its "media welcome reception" in St. Paul "in light of the situation along the Gulf Coast."
The tone of the cancellation note differs greatly from yesterday's snarky release that urged journalists to stop by the DNC "war room" called the "More of the Same Media Center." The Republicans also ran their own war room from Denver, as NPR's Jeff Brady reported last week, calling it the "DNC Rapid Response Headquarters" and staffing it with recognizable party figures such as former Mass. Gov. Mitt Rommey and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
-- Nancy Cook
3:53 PM ET | 08-31-2008 | permalink
We're diverting to assist with Gustav coverage and will update Take Me To Your Leader as events warrant.
-- Thomas Pierce & David Greene
3:38 PM ET | 08-31-2008 | permalink
NPR's Scott Horsley, who's traveling with McCain, passed along this pool report:
McCain said there would be dramatic changes to the convention, turning it from celebratory event to call for action. Standing with Haley Barbour. Palin did not speak. "We must redirect our efforts from the really celebratory event of the nomination of president and vice president of our party to acting as all Americans. We'll change our program and I'll be announcing details of it in the next few hours. But there's very little doubt that we have to go from a party event to a call to the nation for action, action to help our fellow citizens in this time of tragedy and disaster, action in the form of volunteering, donations, reaching out our hands and our hearts and our wallets to the people who are under such great threat from this great natural disaster. I pledge that tomorrow night, and if necessary, throughout our convention if necessary, to act as Americans not Republians, because America needs us now no matter whether we are Republican or Democrat.''
"We must redirect our efforts from the really celebratory event of the nomination of president and vice president of our party to acting as all Americans. We'll change our program and I'll be announcing details of it in the next few hours. But there's very little doubt that we have to go from a party event to a call to the nation for action, action to help our fellow citizens in this time of tragedy and disaster, action in the form of volunteering, donations, reaching out our hands and our hearts and our wallets to the people who are under such great threat from this great natural disaster. I pledge that tomorrow night, and if necessary, throughout our convention if necessary, to act as Americans not Republians, because America needs us now no matter whether we are Republican or Democrat.''
MORE AFTER THE JUMP
Continue reading "McCain on Gustav" »
1:54 PM ET | 08-31-2008 | permalink
It's official: both President Bush and Vice President Cheney will skip the Republican Convention here in St. Paul and instead turn their attention to Hurricane Gustav. In a press conference, Bush said he will travel to Texas tomorrow and then on to Louisiana, conditions permitting. Convention organizers and McCain aides are meeting in St. Paul as I write to figure out if the convention schedule will be altered. At this point, it's a go. But clearly the pressure to recognize and respond to Gustav's presence is mounting.
NPR's David Welna just got off the phone with Melissa Subbotin, spokeswoman for the RNC here in St. Paul. Here's what Welna writes, based on his conversation with Subbotin:
The McCain campaign has chartered a DC-9 in the Twin Cities to take those delegates here from the Gulf Coast who want to return to their homestates. The plane is going to Jackson, MS, where McCain and Palin met today with MS Governor Haley Barbour. It's not clear when the plane would fly down to Jackson. Subbotin says "details will follow." Subbotin also refused to confirm any changes in the RNC schedule or lineup. She went only as far as saying "no official changes have been sent out. " A statement on the state of play for the convention is promised for this afternoon, on paper.
Subbotin also refused to confirm any changes in the RNC schedule or lineup. She went only as far as saying "no official changes have been sent out. " A statement on the state of play for the convention is promised for this afternoon, on paper.
-- Sean Bowditch
12:02 PM ET | 08-31-2008 | permalink
4:28 AM ET | 08-31-2008 | permalink
One part hot chocolate and four parts stale coffee, the gas station mocha is a morning staple when you're on the road -- or even when you're at the laundromat. Tastiness: 3. Resourcefulness: 10.
6:35 PM ET | 08-30-2008 | permalink
John McCain has told Fox News that he is considering postponing the Republican National Convention. Via Politico's Mike Allen:
"It just wouldn't be appropriate to have a festive occasion while a near-tragedy or a terrible challenge is presented in the form of a natural disaster," McCain told Chris Wallace of "Fox News Sunday," in an interview taped for tomorrow. "So we're monitoring it from day to day and I'm saying a few prayers, too."
After the beating the Bush Administration took for its mishandling (or non-handling) of hurricane Katrina in 2005, the behavior of the GOP (and its nominee) will be under heavy scrutiny as Gustav makes landfall. And as our own Michael Olson noted the other day, having the country watch the Republicans fiddle while New Orleans floods could be election suicide.
But with all the facilities booked, the confetti cannons loaded, and delegate plane tickets purchased -- and with the party so reliant on the money they'll raise during the next five days of hobnobbing -- they can't really afford to cancel either.
One possible scenario: the show goes on in some kind of subdued form, with President Bush beamed in by satellite from the White House rather than speaking live from the podium. Downside: the GOP will suffer from divided news coverage, which will sting after last week's DNC media tour-de-force. Upside: McCain -- and Bush -- get credit for prioritizing the looming disaster over politics.
-- Evie Stone
4:26 PM ET | 08-30-2008 | permalink
-- Thomas Pierce
3:38 AM ET | 08-30-2008 | permalink
Glenn Morrison says good strong leadership has never been as important as right now, but he's not sure who he'll vote for this November.
Glenn Morrison comes from an old Arkansas music family. His twin cousins were well-known performers, and his father, Willie Morrison, sang at the 1963 music festival that put his town of Mountain View on the map. And so when we got to town to talk about music and leadership, everyone said we should go see Glenn.
Martin Darrell -- a fiddler in Mountain View who's trying to preserve traditional music of the Ozarks -- volunteered to take us.
Martin Darrell works to collect and transcribe old fiddle tunes -- some of which predate the Revolutionary War. He doesn't own a TV and doesn't care about watching the conventions.
Martin led the way over twelve miles of windy, dirt roads to Glenn's home, where we were invited in to chat about music and politics -- but mostly music. He even unpacked his fiddle and played us a song called Eighth of January.
We did manage to talk a little about the elections. Glenn is a lifelong Democrat, but this year he's not sure which way he'll vote. When asked about Obama, he said he doesn't know enough about him. Glenn says he hears a lot about what Obama's going to do and not so much about what he's done. And not knowing enough about Obama is "the only thing that causes [him] doubt."
At the same time, he's not a huge fan of McCain either. He doesn't like to hear McCain talk about Washington being broken because after twenty-plus years there, McCain "may have helped break it, if it is [broken]."
When looking for a leader, Glenn says people want someone they can trust -- no matter what level of office. And for him, trust begins with knowing and being comfortable with your candidate.
8:26 PM ET | 08-29-2008 | permalink
Nielsen Media Research reports that Obama's acceptance speech reached almost 40M people making it the most watched convention since Nielsen started counting in 1960. In 'o4 Kerry's acceptance speech drew 24.4M viewers, that same year Bush drew 27.5M (NYT). Michele Obama's Monday speech reached roughly half as many people as her husband's closer (Boston Herald). -- Michael Olson
5:08 PM ET | 08-29-2008 | permalink
Hillary Clinton released the following statement on McCain's selection of Palin:
"We should all be proud of Governor Sarah Palin's historic nomination, and I congratulate her and Senator McCain. While their policies would take America in the wrong direction, Governor Palin will add an important new voice to the debate."
4:51 PM ET | 08-29-2008 | permalink
All the planning, the fretting over the Clintons and move to a 2nd venue may have paid off. It is too early to know for sure, but the very initial post convention polling looks like a bounce could be in the making.
Not that you should place much stock in daily tracking polls, but the Gallup Daily has Obama up 8.
4:34 PM ET | 08-29-2008 | permalink
We made a late night convenience store run for a reliably delicious ice cream treat: the drumstick. Tastiness: 7.
2:31 PM ET | 08-29-2008 | permalink
McCain introduced his running mate Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) in Dayton, Ohio. The duo focused on bolstering each other as mavericks. Palin was joined by her husband and four of her five children.
Palin: "It was rightly noted in Denver this week that Hillary left 18 million cracks in the highest, hardest glass ceiling in America. But it turns out the women of America aren't finished yet and we can shatter that glass ceiling once and for all."
Continue reading "McCain-Palin Dayton Event: A Meeting Of Mavericks " »
1:30 PM ET | 08-29-2008 | permalink
Gustav is picking up power and could become a hurricane today before reaching western Cuba.
People along the Gulf Coast are preparing for the storm. Gov. Bobbie Jindal (R-LA) has put the state on alert for possible evacuations. Govs. Charlie Crist (R-FL), Rick Perry (R-TX) and Haley Barbour (R-MS) have also made emergency declarations. Republican leaders are considering a delay to the convention.
The Republican convention may go on without the Gulf Coast Govs, but the stage will be colder without the star power of Jindal and Crist. The governors would join a list of Republican candidates that are avoiding the convention at a time when the party's brand is hurting. It is unclear if the storm will keep President Bush away. At yesterday's daily news briefing WH press sec. Dana Perino said it was too soon to make scheduling changes. Bush's presence at the convention three years after Katrina while a hurricane looms off the coast can't be something GOP strategists are excited about.
UPDATE: Gustav becomes a hurricane (NWS).
12:16 PM ET | 08-29-2008 | permalink
In a response statement, Obama spokesman Bill Burton hits Palin on inexperience and echoes some of the talking points we heard at this week's Democratic Convention:
Today, John McCain put the former mayor of a town of 9,000 with zero foreign policy experience a heartbeat away from the presidency. Governor Palin shares John McCain's commitment to overturning Roe v. Wade, the agenda of Big Oil and continuing George Bush's failed economic policies -- that's not the change we need, it's just more of the same.
UPDATE: Obama and Biden have issued a more positive statement than spokesman Bill Burton's initial response to the Palin pick. It's a similar tactic to the juxtaposition of yesterday's congratulatory McCain ad and McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds's dismissive response to Obama's speech, allowing the candidates themselves to appear magnanimous as the campaign gets in a few oppo hits.
"We send our congratulations to Governor Sarah Palin and her family on her designation as the republican nominee for Vice President. It is yet another encouraging sign that old barriers are falling in our politics. While we obviously have differences over how best to lead this country forward Governor Palin is an admirable person and will add a compelling new voice to this campaign," said Senator Barack Obama and Senator Joe Biden.
11:53 AM ET | 08-29-2008 | permalink
After this week's historic nomination of Barack Obama to lead the Democratic ticket, GOP candidate John McCain made a little history of his own by picking Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running-mate.
Palin is the first woman to be on a Republican ticket (the Dems have only had one as well -- Walter Mondale's running-mate Geraldine Ferraro in 1984). Her choice is a potential lure to the disaffected Hillary Clinton voters that McCain has been endeavoring to win over.
She's also the only Alaskan candidate ever to grace a major-party ticket.
Palin doesn't bring much of an electoral boost (Alaska has 3 EVs), but she's got solid conservative credentials that should bolster McCain's standing with a group that's been wary about him so far. American Conservative Union chairman David Keene released a statement this morning calling her "a perfect choice for Vice President."
Expect the Obama campaign to exploit Palin's relative inexperience, especially since McCain's line on Obama has been that after only 4 years in the US Senate he's "not ready to lead". Palin has held statewide office for two years, and prior to that she was the mayor of the small town (well, medium-sized by Alaskan standards) of Wasilla.
11:37 AM ET | 08-29-2008 | permalink
Sarah Palin made history in November '06 when she was elected governor of Alaska. Palin was the first woman to win that office, and, elected at the age of 42 (she's now 44), she is the youngest governor in the state's history.
When Palin was first elected, reporter Elizabeth Arnold described her on NPR as "a moose-burger-eating, snow-mobile-riding maverick who's not afraid to take on fellow Republicans she disagrees with."
UPDATE: The McCain campaign's press release on Palin is after the jump.
Continue reading "McCain Picks Palin as VEEP" »
10:41 AM ET | 08-29-2008 | permalink
Before Barack Obama finished delivering his nomination acceptance speech, McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds was circulating this cutting response to reporters:
Tonight, Americans witnessed a misleading speech that was so fundamentally at odds with the meager record of Barack Obama. When the temple comes down, the fireworks end, and the words are over, the facts remain: Senator Obama still has no record of bipartisanship, still opposes offshore drilling, still voted to raise taxes on those making just $42,000 per year, and still voted against funds for American troops in harm's way. The fact remains: Barack Obama is still not ready to be President.
Leaving aside for now the allegations in the release, didn't McCain's earnest congratulatory ad say that he and Obama would be "back at it" tomorrow? So much for acceptance-speech goodwill...
4:02 AM ET | 08-29-2008 | permalink
UPDATE: MPR says Pawlenty won't likely be the VEEP, nor will he be at the Dayton event.
Folks over at RedState are picking up on the cues that Pawlenty is it. We're keeping tabs on developments and want to know who you think is the best pick for McCain. Share your take in the comment section.
2:27 AM ET | 08-29-2008 | permalink
Barack Obama accepted the Democratic Presidential nomination at Denver's Invesco Mile High Stadium in front of a screaming, flag-waving, standing-ovation giving crowd that his campaign estimated at 84,000. His big theme was individual and mutual responsibility, with a heavy dose of patriotism. The candidate, who has been painted by his opponents as an exotic and unpatriotic figure, mentioned America/American/Americans 52 times (by the count of our hardworking editor) in his remarks.
The first two-thirds or so of the speech focused on domestic issues, with a heavy emphasis on the economy -- a historically strong area for Democrats in presidential election years, and a particular weakness for John McCain, who has admitted that he's not an economic expert. This was essentially Obama's thesis statement, appealing to blue-collar voters and blaming the Bush administration for their current woes:
Tonight, more Americans are out of work and more are working harder for less. More of you have lost your homes and even more are watching your home values plummet. More of you have cars you can't afford to drive, credit card bills you can't afford to pay, and tuition that's beyond your reach. These challenges are not all of government's making. But the failure to respond is a direct result of a broken politics in Washington and the failed policies of George W. Bush. America, we are better than these last eight years. We are a better country than this.
These challenges are not all of government's making. But the failure to respond is a direct result of a broken politics in Washington and the failed policies of George W. Bush.
America, we are better than these last eight years. We are a better country than this.
Obama made wide-ranging classic-Dem policy promises, calling for stronger public education, affordable health care, middle class tax cuts, and (his most specific goal) an end to America's reliance on Middle East oil in 10 years. But after defining clear policy goals on those issues, he also mentioned a few more divisive subjects -- guns, abortion, and immigration -- and called on Americans to put aside their dug-in conflicts and find some respectful common ground.
Continue reading "Obama Accepts Dem Nomination with Wide-Ranging Speech" »
1:29 AM ET | 08-29-2008 | permalink
DNC chair Nancy Pelosi has gaveled the DNC to a close.
11:13 PM ET | 08-28-2008 | permalink
No balloon drop in the open-air stadium...but confetti cannons and a fireworks display make up for it.
11:04 PM ET | 08-28-2008 | permalink
Biggest cheer yet: "this election has never been about me. It's about you."
10:53 PM ET | 08-28-2008 | permalink
Emergency officials are preparing for the possibility that Tropical Storm Gustav could regain hurricane strength and hit the Gulf Coast early next week.
In part out of fear that politicking and partying while a potential Katrina 2.0 is underway, Republican officials tell the Washington Post they "are considering delaying the start of the GOP convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul."
10:40 PM ET | 08-28-2008 | permalink
Obama says if he's elected the US will end its dependence on Mid-East oil in 10 years.
10:35 PM ET | 08-28-2008 | permalink
Obama portrays his opponent as not exactly malicious...just out of touch: "it's not because John McCain doesn't care. It's because John McCain doesn't get it."
10:27 PM ET | 08-28-2008 | permalink
Obama: "America, we are better than these last eight years. We're a better country than this."
"We love this country too much to let the next four years look like the last eight."
10:22 PM ET | 08-28-2008 | permalink
Lengthy standing ovation as Obama walks onstage. Placards with the slogan "CHANGE" have been passed out to all levels of seating, and now intermingle with the American flags in the crowd.
Crowd chants "O-BA-MA" then switches to "Yes we can!"
Crowd is still standing as speech gets under way.
10:15 PM ET | 08-28-2008 | permalink
Obama's prepared remarks mention Hillary Clinton almost immediately after he officially accepts the nomination -- before he says the names of Joe Biden, Ted Kennedy, or his wife Michelle.
It's another example of the care being paid here to demonstrate that the rancorous days of the Democratic battle for the nomination are over.
--Evie Stone
10:05 PM ET | 08-28-2008 | permalink
MCCAIN POOL REPORT #2a 8/29/08
According to the pool tape, McCain can be heard to say "Wilfred Brimley" in response to veep shouts.
--Scott Horsley
9:55 PM ET | 08-28-2008 | permalink
Al Gore took the stage to a riotous welcome from the flag-waving crowd.
The former Vice President invoked his narrow defeat in the contested 2000 election with a cautionary tale. He told of voters who stayed home or chose third-party candidates that year, saying "eight years ago some said there was not much difference between the nominees of the two major parties, and it didn't matter who became President."
Gore pointed out that, back then, the country was at peace. But in 2008, he said, "hardly anyone would argue that election didn't matter." Gore then ticked off a list of issues that a Gore administration would have handled differently, beginning with the war in Iraq -- a war he said he would not have waged.
Gore told the crowd that the choice today is the same as in 2000, but "more obvious." Saying McCain would be a continuation of Bush/Cheney policies, Gore offered a snappy environmental one-liner: "I believe in recycling, but that's ridiculous."
He talked at length about his pet issues of energy and environmental policy, calling for "an end to carbon-based fuels."
And in looking ahead to the next administration, he also spoke in greater detail about the Supreme Court than we've heard yet from the podium here in Denver.
Gore's 2000 campaign rhetoric focused heavily on the potential threat to Roe vs. Wade from Bush-appointed conservative justices (slogan: It's the Supreme Court, stupid). During Bush's two terms, two seats have opened up on the Court, resulting in a net gain of one vote for what the GOP calls "strict constructionists." But, Gore pointed out tonight, as many as three Roe-supporting Justices could retire in the next President's first term.
8:50 PM ET | 08-28-2008 | permalink
Huge cheers and foot-stomping for popular western Gov Bill Richardson. (He still has the beard.)
Keeps up the assault on McCain's position changes.
"John McCain paid 500 dollars for his shoes. But we're the ones that will pay for his flip-flops"
Big cheers for promises that Obama will uphold U.S. Constitution, respect Bill of Rights, supports right to choose and will close Gitmo.
8:46 PM ET | 08-28-2008 | permalink
Stevie Wonder has the crowd on their feet and leads a call and response: "yes we can."
Then announces: I'm gonna do this song for the future president of the US and his wife -- it's Signed, Sealed, Delivered -- Obama often exits the stage to this tune at events.
The crowd is singing along, dancing, still waving those flags..
8:44 PM ET | 08-28-2008 | permalink
UPDATE(9:50 EST): Obama CO state director Ray Rivera: 30k txt signups in last hour.
Seats are quickly filling with more than 2 hrs to go. ... will.i.am and John Legend did a live performance of their song that went viral "Yes We Can" ...complete with video samples of Obama speeches. The crowd waved little American flags. As the song wound down a staffer came out to encourage the audience to text the campaign to sign up and volunteer. A massive graphic display conveyed which area codes were sending in the most texts.
7:46 PM ET | 08-28-2008 | permalink
Drudge headlines that all the McCain veepstakes finalists will gather onstage at the candidate's noon event in Dayton, Ohio tomorrow. The event, which coincides with McCain's 72nd birthday, is expected to be his running-mate rollout.
Sounds...awkward for the unchosen, no?
7:20 PM ET | 08-28-2008 | permalink
Baskin-Robbins is introducing two new flavors of ice cream in honor of the presidential election: "Straight Talk Crunch" and "Whirl of Change."
Reporters traveling with John McCain got to sample the former today: a tasty blend of white chocolate, caramel, crunchy nuts, and a bit of red hot peppermint.
(No Whirl of Change was served on McCain's campaign plane, so I can't offer an informed opinion of which is better. )
Baskin Robbins is partly owned by Mitt Romney's old firm, Bain Capital, but that may not be a signal of McCain's upcoming VP announcement.
-- Scott Horsley
7:11 PM ET | 08-28-2008 | permalink
A clever move by the Obama campaign and the DNCC...knowing tonight's audience (both in the stadium and in teeveeland) would be filled with non-insiders they've peppered the schedule with civilian-friendly acts to break up the political speeches and keep the crowd engaged.
Bluegrass jam band Yonder Mountain String Band opened the proceedings, Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson led the Pledge, and Dreamgirl Jennifer Hudson sang the national anthem.
Other acts tonight include live performances by Sheryl Crow, will.i.am (with John Legend), and Stevie Wonder. Al Gore is also scheduled to speak. Does he count as a politician or a rockstar?
Full podium schedule after the jump.
Continue reading "Star-Studded Cast" »
6:30 PM ET | 08-28-2008 | permalink
CNN Grill in Denver.
The undertaking included a gigantic CNN = Politics sign painted on two sides of the red brick historic building, beer tap handles replaced with white and red "CNN Brew: Red Ale" labels and a huge blue star sign constructed above the front door (with the CNN lettering, of course.)
FOX HQ in Denver.
5:35 PM ET | 08-28-2008 | permalink
McCain communications director Jill Hazelbaker promised this ad would be "historic." I don't know if I'd go that far, but it's definitely a departure from the McCain camp's recent negative efforts -- including rare DNC-week contrast spots. In it, McCain, talking directly into the camera, congratulates Obama and adds, "how perfect that your nomination would come on this historic day" (i.e. the 45th anniversary of "I Have A Dream"). McCain doesn't overtly mention race, but he's clearly talking about the ground Obama is breaking as he becomes the first major-party black nominee.
So...genuine gesture of goodwill or gambit to grab a little airtime on Obama's big night and revive a fraying reputation for high-mindedness? (Or, well, both? The two don't have to be mutually exclusive, do they?)
5:28 PM ET | 08-28-2008 | permalink
The chairwoman of the Snohomish County, WA Republican Party issued an apology yesterday after a party volunteer sold "$3 bills" at a state fair showing Obama wearing an Arab head covering. At the top of the bill, it reads: "Obamanation Note... The Concerned States of America... The Prince of Platitudes." It also shows a picture of a camel. Chairwoman Geri Modrell, who ordered the bills removed, told the Seattle Times: "I don't think it's funny. They were offensive. The volunteers are being told very clearly they must not do these sorts of things."
1:37 PM ET | 08-28-2008 | permalink
Always a good question in an election year, and over at the Secret Money Project, our colleague Will Evans traces the couldn't-make-it-up origins of one such ad: the Coalition Against Anti-Christian Rhetoric's spot from last June.
With its suggestions that Obama was a closet Muslim, it was the first truly inflammatory ad of the '08 campaign.
But it wasn't cooked up by high-priced DC consultants. The ad went on the air -- and into the blogosphere -- thanks to a hypnotherapist, a wedding videographer, a felonious fugitive... and an inattentive employee at a TV station.
Will uncovers it all, from missing money to disappearing devil horns. His tale of Weird Politics is here.
-- Peter Overby
12:26 PM ET | 08-28-2008 | permalink
NPR's Don Gonyea passed along this exchange between Obama's chief strategist David Axelrod and reporters. It took place on the flight to Denver. The transcript was written up by the campaign...
[Q] Is the speech written?
[DA] The speech is substantially written but as with all Obama speeches he'll be refining it, and buffing it up and working on it I'm sure right until the very end. So, I mean he's been thinking about it for a long time, he's been working on it for a long time so.
[Q] How long has he been thinking about it?
[DA] I think he started thinking about it before he left on vacation, and you know he's been working on it intermittently ever since with his speechwriters and...
THE REST OF THE INTERVIEW IS AFTER THE JUMP...
Continue reading "Axelrod Previews Obama's Acceptance Speech" »
11:28 AM ET | 08-28-2008 | permalink
From the pool report, c/o NPR's Don Gonyea:
Denver Athletic Club. Downtown. Obama in dark athletic pants. Brown t-shirt. Baseball cap.
Walks from SUV to club entrance and disappears inside. Pool kept far away on sidewalk. He did not say anything to pool.
Leaving the club:
Obama waves to crowd. No interaction or comment. Motorcade rolling.
11:10 AM ET | 08-28-2008 | permalink
Part of what makes any cross-country road trip so enjoyable is watching one landscape slide into the next -- the long stretches of farmland, the collections of fast food restaurants and gas stations off the highways, the Main streets with coffee shops and laundromats, the foothills that grow steeper and steeper until suddenly, you're in the mountains.
I think our fellow traveler, David Gilkey, has captured that amazingly with his photographs of what goes by outside the car window. He's taken so many that we've decided to start sharing them in a series of posts called Rearview Mirror. These are some the sights that we witnessed yesterday driving from Mountain View, Arkansas to Springfield, Missouri:
10:25 AM ET | 08-28-2008 | permalink
McCain is having a little fun with Obama's Veepstakes. Hillary Clinton's dramatic entrance -- prancing down the back stairs -- is a nice touch. But what's up with the woman tending to the stove in the background?
9:18 AM ET | 08-28-2008 | permalink
Politico's Jonathan Martin reports that Karl Rove may be trying to influence McCain's VP selection process. Citing three sources, Martin writes that Rove called Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT) last week, asking him to withdraw his name from consideration. Lieberman apparently dimissed the request. Rove plays no formal role in McCain's campaign, but is viewed by many as a wily GOP strategist.
This comes on the heels of reports that McCain has now settled on a VP candidate and will make the announcement at a rally in Ohio tomorrow.
Others thought to be on McCain's list of possible picks: MN Governor Tim Pawlenty, former MA Governor Mitt Romney, former PA Governor Tom Ridge, and FL Governor Charlie Crist.
8:42 AM ET | 08-28-2008 | permalink
Newly-minted VP nominee Joe Biden addressed the DNC delegates tonight after an emotional introduction from his son Beau. Sen. Biden spent a good portion of his speech talking about family. His mother was in the convention hall, and the cameras showed her (to the delegates' delight) on the huge in-house monitors as Biden talked about the lessons she taught him:
Failure at some point in your life is inevitable, but giving up is unforgivable. As a child I stuttered, and she lovingly would look at me and told me: "Joey, it's because you're so bright you can't get the thoughts out quickly enough." When I was not as well dressed as the other kids, she told me: "Joey, you're so handsome honey, you're so handsome." And when I got knocked down by guys bigger than me, and this is the God's truth, she sent me back out the street and told me: "bloody their nose so you can walk down the street the next day." And that's what I did.
At one point Biden appeared to confuse the Republican nominee with the sitting President. Was it really a mistake?
You know, folks, that's the America that George Bush has left us, and that's the America we'll continue to get if George--excuse me if John McCain is elected president of the United States of America. Freudian slip! Freudian slip!
Continue reading "Biden Accepts Nomination, Dings McCain " »
1:02 AM ET | 08-28-2008 | permalink
Bill Clinton wrap, a few hours late...
After all the media speculation about how badly the bitter primary campaign damaged Bill Clinton's legacy, his reception from the crowd tonight showed no signs of residual tension.
Clinton acknowledged the hard-fought primary right off the bat:
What a year we Democrats have had. The primary began with an all-star lineup and came down to two remarkable Americans locked in a hard-fought contest to the very end. The campaign generated so much heat it increased global warming. In the end, my candidate didn't win. But I'm very proud of the campaign she ran: She never quit on the people she stood up for, on the changes she pushed for, on the future she wants for all our children. And I'm grateful for the chance Chelsea and I had to tell Americans about the person we know and love.
In the end, my candidate didn't win. But I'm very proud of the campaign she ran: She never quit on the people she stood up for, on the changes she pushed for, on the future she wants for all our children. And I'm grateful for the chance Chelsea and I had to tell Americans about the person we know and love.
But he quickly added this:
Hillary told us in no uncertain terms that she'll do everything she can to elect Barack Obama. That makes two of us. Actually that makes 18 million of us - because, like Hillary, I want all of you who supported her to vote for Barack Obama in November.
That makes two of us. Actually that makes 18 million of us - because, like Hillary, I want all of you who supported her to vote for Barack Obama in November.
Continue reading "DNC Crowd Loves Bill Clinton" »
12:58 AM ET | 08-28-2008 | permalink
Beef jerky, cheese, and Andy Williams collide in Branson, Missouri. Tastiness: 3. After-taste: -2.
12:33 AM ET | 08-28-2008 | permalink
Joe Biden's wife Jill introduced the nominee as "a very special surprise guest."
The crowd responded as you'd expect...leaping to their feet with a loud cheer as they have many times tonight.
Obama acknowledged the whole Biden clan and said he was "proud" to have the Delaware Senator on board. He also praised the speeches given so far by his wife and both Clintons, saying of his onetime primary rival's performance, "if I'm not mistaken, Hillary Clinton rocked the house last night."
Obama then explained tomorrow's change of venue from the Pepsi Center to Invesco Mile High stadium. He said the campaign is premised on the idea that "change in America doesn't start from the top down, it starts from the bottom up" and said they wanted "make sure that everybody who wants to come can join in the party and join in the effort to take America back."
("Everybody" is a bit of an overstatement; according to DemConWatch the Obama campaign burned through the 60,000 tickets allotted to ordinary Coloradans in less than 24 hours. So it's more of a metaphorical everybody. But it's a grand gesture nonetheless.)
10:55 PM ET | 08-27-2008 | permalink
NPR's Don Gonyea says Obama will make a surprise appearance on stage at the end of Biden's speech.
10:36 PM ET | 08-27-2008 | permalink
Joe Biden's son Beau, the Attorney General of Delaware and a soon-to-deploy National Guard Captain, introduced his dad tonight. Beau gave a moving first-person version of the story we've heard so many times since last weekend, about Joe's dedicated single fatherhood after his first wife and baby daughter died in a car crash that left his two sons badly injured. Senator Biden, who had been elected but not yet sworn in at the time of the accident, took his oath of office in Beau's hospital room and commuted home to Delaware by train every night after finishing his work in the Senate.
10:32 PM ET | 08-27-2008 |
