With the news that Colin Powell has left the door open to supporting Barack Obama this fall, this edition of Pros and Cons comes straight out of the what if category. Although it is doubtful, we’ll evaluate the potential of an Obama/Powell ticket.
Today at the Apostolic Church of God, Barack Obama spoke about fatherhood. “But if we are honest with ourselves, we’ll admit that what too many fathers also are is missing – missing from too many lives and too many homes. They have abandoned their responsibilities, acting like boys instead of men.
At Virginia’s State Democratic Convention Saturday night, former VA Governor and current Senate candidate put an end to chatter about a third political position he may hold–Vice President on Barack Obama’s ticket.
Barack Obama said of today’s Supreme Court ruling that the detainees at GITMO have the right to challenge their detention in civilian court, “The Court’s decision is a rejection of the Bush Administration’s attempt to create a legal black hole at Guantanamo – yet another failed policy supported by John McCain.”
Barack Obama launched his two week tour of swing states in Raleigh, NC today where he talked about talked about his own short term economic proposals and John McCain.
The Republican National Committee released a statement today that claimed because of Jim Johnson’s loans from Countywide, the Obama campaign is full lobbyists and corporate insiders. “Barack Obama routinely rails against lobbyists and corporate insiders, yet his campaign is stocked with both.”
After appearing at an event with Barack Obama last week, current Senate candidate, and former Virginia Governor Mark Warner has picked up a lot of buzz as a potential running mate for Obama. In this edition of Pros and Cons, we’ll take a look at a potential Obama/ Warner ticket.
After her endorsement of him today, Barack Obama put out a glowing statement about Hillary Clinton. He mentioned her as a groundbreaker, “Obviously, I am thrilled and honored to have Senator Clinton’s support. But more than that, I honor her today for the valiant and historic campaign she has run.
Today, by a vote of 48-36, Senate Republicans successfully blocked a climate change bill that would have put a cap on carbon dioxide emissions across the economy.
While speaking in Bristol, VA today, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama discussed his healthcare proposal, and how it contrasts with that of his Republican opponent John McCain.
Washington Superdelegate and DNC member David McDonald became the sixth superdelegate of the day to endorse Barack Obama. In an email statement to the Associated Press McDonald said, “This was not an easy choice.
Barack Obama has now picked up five superdelegate endorsements today after adding Michigan superdelegates Brenda Lawrence and Lu Battaglieri along with Florida superdelegate Janee Murphy to a total that already included superdelegates from Virginia and Connecticut. Obama is now 42.5 delegates short of becoming the Democratic nominee.
Barack Obama picked up two more superdelegates this morning as Connecticut Democratic State Party Chairwoman Nancy DiNardo and Democratic National Committee Member Jerome Wiley Segovia both endorsed him for president. It seems that no matter how Clinton figures the math, Obama’s march to the nomination continues.
Both the Obama and McCain camps are involved in heated exchange over whether or not John McCain intentionally distorted, or just didn’t know the troop levels in Iraq. The McCain camp’s defense seems to be to blame Obama, and say that he knew what McCain meant.
Here is the video of what McCain originally said:
Today Barack Obama continued to try to link George W. Bush and John McCain together on the issues of the economy and the foreclosure crisis. First Obama blamed Bush for inaction on the foreclosure crisis, “For President Bush, the answer was to do nothing until the pain out on Main Street trickled up to Wall Street.
Today at a campaign stop in North Las Vegas, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama laid into John McCain for closing the doors to the public of a fundraiser he is holding with George W. Bush tonight. “Today, John McCain is having a different kind of meeting. He’s holding a fundraiser with George Bush behind closed doors in Arizona. No cameras. No reporters.
On the 20th consecutive day when gas prices reached a record high, John McCain gave a speech about nuclear proliferation. Can this campaign be any more out of touch with the issues that matter to American voters?
Citing Barack Obama’s advocacy for unions and veterans’ issues, Wyoming Democratic Party Vice Chair Nancy Drummond endorsed Obama today. “His position on education, his work with senior citizens and his advocacy for union members and veterans make me proud to support Senator Obama,” Drummond said.
It may not have been the first time that she said it on the campaign trail, but Hillary Clinton’s remark about staying in the race because Barack Obama could be assassinated like Robert F. Kennedy was in 1968 was wrong on many different levels.
It all started today with a disagreement over the 21st Century GI Bill. Now Barack Obama and John McCain have spent the day exchanging insults. This evening the Obama campaign released a statement from their candidate saying that McCain’s endless diatribes and schoolyard taunts do nothing to advance the debate.
While speaking in Tampa, FL today, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama launched his most pointed attack at John McCain yet for having lobbyists run his presidential campaign.
The president of the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) Cecil E. Roberts announced today that his organization is endorsing Barack Obama for president. “He understands and will fight for the needs our members have today and the hopes our members have for a secure future for themselves and their families,” Roberts said.
Democratic frontrunner Barack Obama may have gotten blown out in Kentucky, but he is cruising to big win in Oregon tonight, and earlier this evening at a rally in Des Moines, Iowa, Obama promised that change is coming to America.
Hillary Clinton delivered a rather odd victory speech in Louisville, KY tonight after her primary win in the state. Part of her speech vowed to fight on, while the other part called for party unity.
In a bit of ho-hum breaking news, Hillary Clinton has won the Kentucky Democratic primary. Clinton was powered to victory by the same two demographics that have carried her to victory in similar states. White voters and voters who did not graduate from college went strongly for Hillary Clinton.
Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton both released statements this afternoon about the news that Sen. Ted Kennedy has been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor.
This morning the soon to be Democratic nominee Barack Obama picked up two more superdelelgates. Iowa Democratic Chairman Scott Brennan and Guam Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo both endorsed him. “Senator Obama offers us the leadership needed to address the challenges Guam and our nation will face in the coming years,” Bordallo said.
Late this afternoon Barack Obama picked up his 303.5 and 304.5 superdelegates as Cindy Spanyers and Blake Johnson endorsed Barack Obama. Spanyers and Johnson stressed Obama’s commitment to Alaska issues, “Senator Obama is committed to Alaskans and establishing important ties to the state.
Maryland superdelegate Greg Pecoraro endorsed Barack Obama for president today. His endorsement leaves Obama only 119.5 delegates short of clinching the Democratic nomination.
The editorial board of the Lexington Herald-Leader endorsed Barack Obama today, just days short of Kentucky’s Democratic primary. “The opportunity for national renewal will be even greater if, as appears almost certain, Sen. Barack Obama is the nominee,” the paper said in its endorsement.
This morning Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA) announced his endorsement of Barack Obama. He pointed out that Obama delivers a message that transcends politics.
Earlier this week, Barack Obama told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer that it’s “offensive” for John McCain to say that Hamas supports Obama’s candidacy. Obama said that McCain was “losing his bearings,” which McCain’s campaign denounced as an unfair attack on their candidate’s age.
Hillary Clinton had hoped that her big win last night among white working class voters in West Virginia would give the superdelegates pause about endorsing Obama, but if this morning is any indication, the superdelegates keep flowing towards Obama.
So far today, Obama has added two more
New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin endorsed Barack Obama this morning. In his statement, he made it clear that his top priority is rebuilding his city, “In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Senator Obama worked to help address the needs of our Gulf Coast communities. As the Gulf Coast continues to rebuild, other cities have faced tragic disasters across this country.”
While speaking today in Charleston, WV Barack Obama addressed veterans’ issues and specifically criticized John McCain for not supporting the 21st Century GI Bill.
Barack Obama needs only 150 delegates to ensure the Democratic nomination after he picked up the endorsements of Sen. Daniel Akaka of Hawaii, Idaho superdelegate Keith Roark, and Hawaii superdelegate Dolly Strazar.
Democratic front runner Barack Obama is now only 154 delegates short of wrapping up his Party’s nomination after Maine Rep., and 2008 Senate candidate, Tom Allen endorsed him this morning.
Today superdelegate Crystal Strait who is board member for the Young Democrats of America endorsed Barack Obama. “Barack Obama has shown a real commitment to young voters in his campaign and in response young people have overwhelmingly voted and caucused for Obama in these primary contests.”
An interview Wolf Blitzer did with Democratic frontrunner Barack Obama aired on CNN’s Late Edition program today. During the interview Obama was asked about Mitt Romney’s remark that Obama had never done anything with his life and has no experience.
Hillary Clinton’s last lead in the Democratic primary race was shattered today by two superdelgates from the Virgin Islands. With the endorsements from Carole Burke and Kevin Rodriquez, Obama now needs only 157 delegates to clinch the Democratic nomination.
Today Obama picked up a whopping nine superdelegates, and is now only 160 delegates short of clinching the Democratic nomination. Here are some quotes from, and links to today’s endorsements.
Today in Bearverton, OR Democratic frontrunner Barack Obama gave a speech on the economy, but Hillary Clinton was not mentioned once. Instead, Obama fired the first salvo of the general election campaign by contrasting himself with John McCain.
Democratic frontrunner Barack Obama has picked up three more superdelegates today, now leaving him only 164 short of clinching his party’s nomination. Rep. Peter DeFazio of Oregon is expected to endorse Obama later today at an event in the state.
Today, Barack Obama’s superdelegate march to the Democratic nomination continued with the endorsement of Rep. Brad Miller (D-NC).
Barack Obama campaign manager David Plouffe sent a new memo out to superdelegates today urging them to make their decision now, and support Barack Obama.
A beloved elder statesman of the Democratic Party has told Hillary Clinton that it time to drop out, and has switched his support to Barack Obama.
Hillary Clinton pulled out a dramatic late night squeaker of a win in Indiana 51%-49%, but Clinton won’t be appearing on the morning news shows as scheduled, and she only has kept a fundraiser on her schedule for tomorrow. This is looking like the behavior of a candidate that isn’t long for this race.
During his victory speech in Raleigh, NC Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama made the first overtures towards reuniting the Democratic Party.
There used to be a Whig Party in the United States. William Henry Harrison and Zachary Taylor were elected President as Whigs. In practice, the U.S. Constitution only allows for two dominant parties to exist at any given time for reasons involving the make-up of the U.S. Congress and the Electoral College system.
Kalyn Free, a superdelegate and at large member of the DNC, has endorsed Barack Obama today. Free is the founder and President of INDN’s List, an organization dedicated to training and recruiting Native American political candidates.
As the Democrat primary race between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton continues to the bitter end, both candidates and their supporters are doing whatever they have to do to squeeze every last vote out of the electorate.
Barack Obama picked up another superdelegate today as New Mexico Democratic Party Chairman Brian Colon endorsed him.
While Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton get all the MSM attention, GOP nominee-in-waiting John McCain continues his straight talk tour under the radar, holding fundraisers, making “town hall” appearances, giving speeches, etc. The Democrats can’t afford to let McCain go unchallenged altogether while their two candidates are roughing each other up.
During a speech in Indianapolis, IN today, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama called Hillary Clinton’s federal gas tax holiday a phony idea.
One of lessons Barack Obama appears to have learned from his defeat in Pennsylvania is that blue collar Democrats think that political change would be nice, but economic change would be better. Obama and his wife have made the economy their central theme while campaigning in Indiana and North Carolina.
On the same week John McCain was going around the country touting his health care plan and the choice it offered, he refused to meet with activists for the disabled and co-sponsor a bill that would give those with disabilities the right to choose where they live and work.
Even worse, his Senate staff stood by and let 20 disabled activists be arrested outside his office.
Former DNC Chairman and Massachusetts superdelegate Paul G. Kirk Jr. announced his endorsement of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama this morning.
Today is the fifth anniversary of President George W. Bush’s “Mission Accomplished” speech aboard the deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln. Both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama released statements about ending the Iraq war.
Today Texas Superdelegate, and DNC member, John Patrick endorsed Barack Obama.
According to the AP, Joe Andrew who was Chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 1999-2001, will announce today that he is switching his support from Hillary Clinton to Barack Obama.
Today has been a busy day for endorsements of both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Here is a brief recap of who endorsed whom. Hillary Clinton picked up two superdelegates today one from Pennsylvania, Bill George, and the other was Democratic vice Chair Luisette Cabañas.
Barack Obama supporter, and former Clinton Energy Secretary, Federico Peña released a statement today about what he called Hillary Clinton’s gas tax holiday, “gimmick.”
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Rep. Baron Hill, another superdelegate, has announced his support of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama today.
Congressman Ben Chandler announced his endorsement of Barack Obama today.
Obama picked up another superdelegate, this time in a critical swing state. Today Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) announced his endorsement of Barack Obama.
Fox News Sunday’s “Obama Watch” came to an end this week, when the frontrunner for the Democrat presidential nomination granted an interview to Chris Wallace. The 35-minute interview took up three segments, and covered everything from Rev. Wright to Gen. Petraeus.
While speaking at a gas station in Indianapolis, IN today, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama laid the blame for the nation’s energy woes on the special interests and Washington, D.C. politicians desire to cater to them. Obama also talked about his energy plan.
The presidential campaign of Barack Obama released a memo today that they sent to superdelegates laying out their case that Obama is the best candidate to take on John McCain this fall.
At the end of the Texas/Ohio campaign last month, Hillary Clinton unleashed her now-infamous “3 A.M.” television ad, challenging Barack Obama’s foreign policy inexperience. Earlier this week, facing another must-win primary in Pennsylvania, Clinton used some brief footage of Osama bin Laden in another television ad.
Today, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers’ (IFPTE), executive council endorsed Barack Obama for president. The union’s membership is composed of engineers, scientists and technicians at the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy, NASA and Boeing.
The latest unbelievable argument from the Clinton campaign is that she actually leads in the popular vote if the unrecognized elections in Michigan and Florida are included. Here is what the Clinton campaign put out today via press release.
A tired sounding Barack Obama delivered a forward looking speech in Evansville, IN last night after his Pennsylvania loss to Hillary Clinton.
Obama spoke about the record number of voters registered in PA, and the purpose of his campaign.
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama talked about global warming and Earth Day as a grassroots movement today.
Today, both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama issued statements marking the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Equal Pay Act.
The Eugene Register-Guard of Eugene, OR today published a ringing endorsement of Barack Obama.
Today on Meet the Press top Obama strategist David Axelrod, and top Clinton strategist Geoff Gavin continued the argument between the two campaigns, but closed with some interesting words about unifying the Democratic Party.
Unpacking the unusual story of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) is no easy task. There are a slew of discomforting allegations involving teenage girls being forced to marry much older men who already have multiple wives. Despite the fantastic accusations, there isn’t any credible evidence of serious wrong doing.
It has to feel like the walls are starting to close in for Hillary Clinton, as today the man who was the Secretary of Labor under her husband’s administration, Robert Reich, endorsed Barack Obama.
Much has been made about ABC’s failure to ask policy-related questions during the crucial Pennsylvania debate Wednesday. Moderators George Stephanopoulos and Charles Gibson have come in for particularly stiff criticism from the Obama-supporting web. Regardless, ABC did the proper thing by ignoring the “real” issues.
If there is one thing that most Democrats love more than fighting with Republicans, it is fighting with each other, but there is mounting evidence that the Clinton/Obama war is starting to tear apart the Democratic Party.
Today, Oklahoma superdelegate Reggie Whitten endorsed Barack Obama, “Some say there is no particular need to endorse at the present time. However, I believe this is a defining moment, not only for our Party, but also more importantly for our country.”
Note: This was written in real time during the debate.
Moderator Charles Gibson started by asking Clinton and Obama why they wouldn’t team up and run together in the fall, and they both dodged the question.
This morning presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain issued statements marking the one year anniversary of the Virginia Tech shootings.
Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama had some very strong things to say to the Building Trades National Legislative Conference today.
Imagine attending an event to celebrate Martin Luther King Day 2008 in a major U.S. city, during which the keynote speaker makes blatantly anti-Semitic remarks.
On Friday night in Terre Haute, IN, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama used a town hall meeting to speak about voter frustration and anger at the politics as usual campaigns of Hillary Clinton and John McCain. “And for 25, 30 years Democrats and Republicans have come before them and said we’re going to make your community better.
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama spoke today in Indianapolis, IN where he called for passage of a bill he proposed in the Senate that would require a non-binding shareholder vote on executive pay packages. “We all believe in that fundamental, American value that if you do good work, if you’re successful, you should be rewarded.
As if it wasn’t enough that China insisted that it’s parliamentary police lay its corrupt and oppressive feet on the soils of London and Paris, beating down protesters along the way; they apparently think they are in charge over in the United States as well.
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama issued a statement today, in reaction to President Bush’s Iraq speech today. Obama said, “President Bush gave no answer to the most important question about the way forward in Iraq: how will we end this war that is not making us safer?
Today from Fort Wayne, Indiana, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama marked the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King. “There’s been a lot of discussion this week about how Dr. King’s life and legacy speak to us today. It’s taking place in our schools and churches, on television and around the dinner table.
If Obama can Learn from Bocephus, He has a Good Chance at Being the Next President. If Not, the Rural Poor May Vote Republican in 08.
The Labor Department announced on Thursday that new jobless claims had reached their highest point since the Gulf Coast hurricanes in September 2005. For the week ending on March 29, jobless claims jumped by 38,000 to 407,000. Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama each released statements about the new numbers.
Hillary Clinton seems to be in a lot of trouble. Her campaign may be running out of steam. And eventually, money, as she simply cannot compete with Barack Obama in fundraising numbers. And almost day by day, it seems someone else is calling for her to get out of the race.
Hillary Clinton seems to be in a lot of trouble. Her campaign may be running out of steam. And eventually, money, as she simply cannot compete with Barack Obama in fundraising numbers. And almost day by day, it seems someone else is calling for her to get out of the race.
Since neither Democratic presidential candidate will win enough delegates to secure the party’s nomination, party leaders like DNC chair Howard Dean and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi are turning are turning up the heat on the 300 or so undecided super delegates to make up their minds well before the Democratic convention in late August.
This week the Senate will move to reconsider the Foreclosure Prevention Act, which is a bill that would allow families who are facing foreclosure, due to increases in their adjustable rate mortgages, to stay in their homes. Today Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) held a press conference to discuss the bill.
Well, we are now down to three. Three candidates who have a chance at being President come this November. One Republican and two Democrats. History will be made regardless of who wins. We will see the first black President, the first female to be elected to the Oval Office or the oldest Commander-in-Chief.
The Barack Obama campaign has jumped on the opening created by Hillary Clinton’s absurd Bosnia exaggeration to add a few of their own choices to Clinton’s list.
In separate statements today, Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama commented on the 4,000th U.S. casualty in Iraq.
