| 10:52 PM: | The Two Obamas. Republicans keep calling Obama naive. But naive is the last word I'd use to describe Barack Obama. He's the most effectively political creature we've seen in decades. Even Bill Clinton wasn't smart enough to succeed in politics by pretending to renounce politics. David Brooks. | |
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| 10:40 PM: | Biggest Threat Yet to Already-Troubled Public Campaign Financing System. Barack Obama’s decision to opt out of public financing may do more to shatter the system than all of the loopholes it has spawned. NYT. | |
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| 9:38 PM: | Obama Homecoming Sweet for Black Caucus. When 13 lawmakers formed the Congressional Black Caucus in 1971, a black president may have seemed like a distant hope. CQ. | |
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| 9:27 PM: | Judge urged drop Guantanamo charge. A military defense lawyer urged a Guantanamo judge to help restore America's reputation by dropping attempted murder charges against an Afghan prisoner who was subjected to 14 consecutive days of sleep deprivation. Reuters. | |
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| 9:26 PM: | Obama to Talk Economy With Democratic Govs. The presumptive Democratic nominee hosts the group at the Chicago History Museum Friday starting at 10:15 am ET. Mark Halperin. | |
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| 8:30 PM: | How Oil Drilling Galvanizes the Right. Newt Gingrich's Drill Now petition is now at over 1 million signatures. Patrick Ruffini. | |
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| 8:16 PM: | McCain Planned Lincoln-Douglas Debates in 2000. "Before the election year began, McCain and his fellow Vietnam War hero, Democratic War Hero Bob Kerrey, told me in seperate interviews that they had made a private pact..." Political Wire. | |
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| 8:03 PM: | 06-19-2008. Highly recommended. In his new book, Torture Team, international lawyer Philippe Sands argues that the Bush administration's interrogation policy constitutes a war crime. Fresh Air. | |
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| 8:01 PM: | Georgia Presidential Poll. InsiderAdvantage released this poll for the presidential election in Georgia on June 19. It shows McCain 44%, Obama 43%, Barr 6%, other and undecided 7%. For more detail, see here. Thanks to DailyKos. Ballot Access. | |
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| 7:17 PM: | McCain meets with Hispanic leaders. Republican presidential John McCain assured Hispanic leaders he would push through Congress legislation to overhaul federal immigration. USA Today. | |
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| 6:48 PM: | McCain exports free-trade debate. The U.S. campaign has gone global, as Sen. John McCain travels Friday to Canada. USA Today. | |
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| 6:48 PM: | Culver aides: McCain ignored request to cancel Iowa visit. An aide to Gov. Chet Culver said Thursday that Republican presidential candidate John McCain ignored the governor's request to cancel a campaign visit amid a massive flood recovery effort in the state. AP. | #23 |
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| 6:48 PM: | White House threatens veto of foreclosure rescue. A broad bipartisan coalition supporting a massive foreclosure rescue beat back GOP efforts to gut it Thursday, defying a White House veto threat and quashing a bid to make it victim to revelations about two senators' VIP mortgages. AP. | |
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| 6:47 PM: | FISA Followup. One shouldn't say that "the Democrats" caved on this. Enough Democrats did cave for it to pass, but others didn't cave. Yglesias. | |
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| 6:46 PM: | Barack Obama is a Muslim, and other stories. The Democratic nominee's campaign is working overtime to combat rumors -- yet misinformation is still running rampant across the Internet. Salon. | #6 |
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| 5:53 PM: | McCain's Minneapolis visit met by anti-war protesters. Outside the Hilton Hotel in downtown Minneapolis on Thursday afternoon, about 100 people peacefully demonstrated during a fund raising event for John McCain. MPR. | |
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| 5:46 PM: | I Will Deliver Justice. Senator Obama is obviously confused about what the United States Supreme Court decided and what he is calling for. John McCain. | #10 |
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| 4:57 PM: | McCain sets personal record with May finances. Republican Sen. John McCain started June with more than $31 million in the bank after having the best fundraising month of his presidential campaign, according to documents filed Thursday with the Federal Election Commission. USA Today. | #23 |
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| 4:43 PM: | Top Adviser Labels McCain 'A Populist' Top McCain adviser Charlie Black labeled the presumptive Republican nominee "a populist" on Thursday while brushing off former Bush adviser Karl Rove's criticism that the Arizona senator is unduly demonizing American companies. ABC. | |
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| 4:42 PM: | JFK speechwriter to Obama: Tap Hagel. A former Kennedy White House speechwriter said Thursday that Nebraska Republican Chuck Hagel would be a good running mate. USA Today. | #11 |
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| 4:40 PM: | Sierra Club to Endorse Obama. The environmental group has been hammering John McCain for his new energy proposals, which include easing restrictions on offshore oil drilling. NYT. | |
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| 4:10 PM: | McCain says he'll take public financing. Republican John McCain told reporters traveling with him today that he will accept public financing for the general election. That means he'll have between $84 million and $85 million to spend. USA Today. | |
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| 4:08 PM: | 'It's All Politics': NPR's Weekly News Roundup. In the latest political podcast, NPR Senior Washington Editor Rob Elving and Political Editor Ken Rudin discuss Obama's refusal of public campaign financing and McCain's possible flip-flopping on offshore drilling. NPR. | |
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| 4:08 PM: | McCain: Pawlenty has 'big place' in GOP plans. Presidential candidate John McCain says Tim Pawlenty has "a very big place" in the Republican Party's future. USA Today. | |
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| 4:06 PM: | Who Is The AP Meeting With? The "Media Bloggers Association," who the AP said they would meet with to establish "standards for online use of AP stories by bloggers," doesn't seem to be on the level. Andrew Sullivan. | |
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| 4:04 PM: | Obama Calls to Apologize to Muslim Women. The Illinois Senator personally apologizes to the two women who were barred from sitting behind him at his Detroit rally because they were wearing traditional Muslim headdresses. Lawyer Hebba Aref, one of the women, tells Politico: "Senator Obama called himself and he apologized to each of us." Mark Halperin. | #14 |
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| 3:22 PM: | Poll: Majority of Americans favor oil drilling in off-limits areas. A new Gallup poll suggests more than half of the country may support a proposal backed by President Bush and Sen. John McCain to allow states to authorize off-shore oil drilling, a practice currently banned by the federal government. CNN. | |
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| 3:21 PM: | AFSCME endorses Obama. The union had backed Hillary Clinton, and its head had previously expressed doubts about Barack Obama's chances for victory. Salon. | |
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| 3:20 PM: | Schneider: Men could be the deciding factor. Move over, soccer moms; men are poised to play a crucial role in choosing the next commander in chief. CNN. | #16 |
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| 3:19 PM: | Facebooking at Work. Both of the major presidential campaigns hit some pretty big milestones on Facebook over the last couple of days. NYT. | #7 |
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| 3:18 PM: | Obama team weighs Nunn, Edwards as running mates. Former presidential candidate John Edwards and former Georgia Sen. Sam Nunn are on a list of potential running mates for Democrat Barack Obama. AP. | #12 |
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| 3:16 PM: | Obama Camp Offers Assistance on McCain Conference Call. The Barack Obama campaign is offering to help out the McCain campaign on a planned conference call Thursday afternoon discussing Obama opting out of public financing. Obama press secretary Bill Burton cc'd reporters on an email to Jill Hazelbaker asking if Obama's legal council could join the call. The Hill. | #16 |
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| 3:14 PM: | What's happening Friday: McCain goes to Canada, Obama talks economics. McCain is giving a speech and raising money in Ottawa, Canada. He'll talk about free trade and counter-terrorism. Democrat Barack Obama holds an economic discussion with Democratic governors in Chicago. USA Today. | |
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| 2:46 PM: | McCain to accept public financing. McCain's campaign has decided that it will accept public financing for the general election. 'We will take public financing,' That will enable McCain to spend $84 million after the GOP convention. MSNBC. | |
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| 2:45 PM: | Clyburn: Some House Democrats might not endorse Obama. House Majority Whip James Clyburn said Thursday he expects some Democratic legislators to hold back from endorsing Barack Obama because it could prove politically unwise in their congressional districts. CNN. | #14 |
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| 2:11 PM: | Bush tours flooded Iowa cities, promises help. Carrying the painful lessons of Hurricane Katrina, President Bush said on a tour of Midwest flooding on Thursday that he is listening to small-town concerns and understands the exhaustion of rescuers. AP. | |
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| 2:10 PM: | Former Clinton-backing union endorses Obama. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees -- a 1.4 million-member union that backed Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary -- Thursday endorsed Barack Obama for president. CNN. | |
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| 1:51 PM: | POLL: Rasmussen Colorado. Rasmussen Reports Colorado Obama 43, McCain 41. Sen: Udall (D) 49, Shaffer (R) 40 Pollster.com. | |
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| 1:50 PM: | Brian Williams to moderate MTP this Sunday. Brian Williams hosts Meet the Press on Sunday. Politico. | |
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| 1:41 PM: | JFK speechwriter to Obama: Tap Hagel. A former Kennedy White House speechwriter says Nebraska Republican Chuck Hagel would be a good running mate for Obama. USA Today. | #7 |
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| 1:40 PM: | McCain: I Will Deliver Justice. John McCain issued the following statement this afternoon, pressing Obama over the issue of terrorism: Senator Obama is obviously confused about what the United States Supreme Court decided and what he is calling for. Time. | #12 |
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| 1:31 PM: | Fort Wayne, Indiana Newspaper Condemns Indiana Ballot Access Law. This editorial from the Fort Wayne, Indiana, News-Sentinel, is a remarkably well-informed attack on Indiana's ballot access laws. One point the editorial could have made, and didn't, is that no one has successfully completed a statewide independent or minor petition in Indiana since 2000. Ballot Access. | |
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| 1:26 PM: | Some GOP women are defecting from McCain. The candidate's abysmal record on reproductive rights is one reason. Salon. | #22 |
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| 12:40 PM: | Libertarian Candidate Barr Blasts McCain. Bob Barr, the Libertarian Party presidential nominee, offered a scathing critique of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) today and predicted he would garner substantial conservative Republican support in a handful of battleground states critical to McCain. Washington Post. | #4 |
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| 12:21 PM: | Oil policy may spell trouble for McCain this fall. As he tries to woo independent voters, Sen. John McCain is relying on his image as a maverick, making it clear he's no President Bush. CNN. | #18 |
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| 12:21 PM: | McCain: Obama decision 'disturbing' Responding to Obama's financing choice, McCain says, "He said he would stick to his agreement. He didn't." Politico. | #10 |
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| 12:14 PM: | Ross Perot issues stern warning on national debt. Ross Perot is jumping back into the political fray -- this time with a stern warning that the country better start paying attention to the national debt. CNN. | |
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| 12:13 PM: | Congress Reaches Deal on Wiretapping Bill. The deal would expand the government’s powers and give telephone companies some legal immunity. NYT. | |
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| 12:13 PM: | Rasmussen: McCain Has Lead in Florida, Virtually Tied in Ohio. New Rasmussen surveys have John McCain slightly ahead of Barack Obama in the key swing state of Florida. The two are tied in Ohio. The Hill. | |
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| 12:12 PM: | Feingold criticizes Obama. Russ Feingold, the Democratic half of John McCain's campaign finance reform efforts, criticizes Obama's choice to opt out of public financing: Ben Smith. | #13 |
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| 12:11 PM: | How McCain Can Reach Black Voters. Despite overwhelming support for Barack Obama among African-Americans, the McCain campaign isn't giving up on that voter bloc. NPR. | |
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| 11:19 AM: | Republicans Making Obama Own His Pledge. McCain chronology of Obama's statements and Republican roundup of media and interest group tut-tutting intended to make Obama pay a price for opting out. Mark Halperin. | #2 |
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| 11:18 AM: | Cindy McCain: Families are not fair game. Cindy McCain, wife of John McCain, said Thursday the spouses of the presidential candidates should be allowed to have some privacy. CNN. | #8 |
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| 10:49 AM: | Obama backs a conservative Dem. Greg Sargent gets a copy of a radio ad Obama cut for Georgia Rep. John Barrow, a pro-war Democrat who is facing a primary challenger. Ben Smith. | |
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| 10:48 AM: | The Impact of Obama Opting Out. As expected, Sen. Barack Obama opted out of public financing for the general election. So, what does this mean? Political Insider. | #2 |
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| 10:46 AM: | What's The Right Age For A President? About half of voters said the best age for a president was the 50s, writes Kathy Frankovic. 20 percent said the 40s (Obama's decade) was ideal. And only 2 percent thought McCain"s decade (70s) was best. CBS. | |
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| 10:30 AM: | Quote of the day. Barack Obama's response to Republicans' using 9/11 as a political weapon against him? Bring it on. Salon. | #2 |
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| 10:28 AM: | Bush's Oily Embrace. President Bush jumped into the 2008 presidential race with gusto yesterday, blessing John McCain as a worthy heir to his war presidency and joining McCain's call for offshore oil drilling. Washington Post. | |
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| 10:27 AM: | Obama releases first general election ad. Responsibility and Obama's bootstrap story are the central themes of the biographical TV ad. Politico. | |
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| 9:57 AM: | Obama's first 'general election' ad is about the 'Country I Love' "If I have the honor of taking the oath of office as president, it will be with a deep and abiding faith in the country I love," Democrat Barack Obama says in the first "general election" TV ad of his... USA Today. | |
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| 9:56 AM: | Dem governors unite behind Obama. In an Ideas piece, governors say they'll come together in Chicago today to show their support. Politico. | |
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| 9:56 AM: | McCain Then And Now. Ramesh Ponnuru considers the McCain 2000 and Obama 2008 parallels. Andrew Sullivan. | |
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| 9:56 AM: | How does public financing work? With the news of Obama opting out of public funding, here's a primer on how it all would work. MSNBC. | |
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| 9:55 AM: | McCain's Secret Service Code Name. is, according to a source who knows, "Phoenix." It was McCain's choice. Marc Ambinder. | #16 |
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| 9:55 AM: | Obama camp keeps the press back. Obama camp keeping the press out. Politico. | |
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| 9:54 AM: | Dispute Over Once-Potential Deal between McCain & Obama. ABC News's Jake Tapper has chronicled the back-and-forth between the Obama and McCain campaign over whether or not the Obama camp attempted to push negotiations on a public financing pledge that Obama had introduced last year. Time. | |
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| 9:53 AM: | Obama softens NAFTA rhetoric. Before the Ohio primary in March, the battle between Democratic candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton morphed into a fierce debate over free trade -- a clash that seemed to hinge on which candidate could appear more anti-NAFTA. CNN. | |
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| 9:52 AM: | Obama Up With First TV Ad. Barack Obama has released his first TV ad of the general election, which will be aired in 18 states. The ad attempts to introduce Obama to general election voters, and emphasizes family values and his Kansas roots. Time. | |
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| 9:51 AM: | MSNBC Repeatedly Failed to Identify Guests' Ties to Energy Lobby During Discussions of Energy Policy. On two separate occasions over the past 10 days, current and former energy industry lobbyists were hosted for on-air discussions of energy policy without noting their ties to the industry. Media Matters. | |
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| 6:42 AM: | POLL: Rasmussen Ohio, Florida. Rasmussen Reports Ohio McCain 44, Obama 43. Florida McCain 47, Obama 39. Pollster.com. | |
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| 6:41 AM: | Obama Opts Out: What Happens Now. Does John McCain try to turn Obama's decision into a cri de coeur? The media will not help him; instead of focusing on Obama's circumstance-based decision to go back on his implied promise, they'll probably take Obama's side. Marc Ambinder. | |
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| 6:28 AM: | McCain vs. Obama: The energy debate. 'Whether $4-a-gallon gasoline is producing more support for domestic drilling is hard to discern." MSNBC. | |
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| 6:26 AM: | Obama opts out of campaign finance system. Democrat Barack Obama says he's opting out of the public campaign finance system. USA Today. | |
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| 6:17 AM: | Challenges Await Next President On Day 1. Whoever wins in November will be the first newly elected president to take over in wartime since Richard Nixon came to power during the Vietnam War, reports U.S. News & World Report. CBS. | |
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| 6:16 AM: | Obama might keep Defense Secretary Gates. Rove scolds McCain for pandering and Rahm advises POTUS. Politico. | |
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| 6:14 AM: | McCain Camp Keeps Terrorism Issue Alive. For the third consecutive day, the Arizonan's camp pushes back against his rival's remarks to ABC News approving of the criminal trial for 1993's World Trade Center bombers. Mark Halperin. | |
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| 5:57 AM: | The Early Word: Obama Opts Out of Public Financing. The presumptive Democratic nominee says he will fuel his campaign on a large number of small contributions. NYT. | |
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| 5:46 AM: | America at its best. The primaries have left the United States with a decent choice; now it needs a proper debate about policies. The Economist. | |
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| 5:44 AM: | Obama: U.S. should avoid making bin Laden a martyr. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama says if Osama bin Laden is captured alive, the United States should bring him to justice but in a way that avoids turning the al Qaeda leader into a martyr. Reuters. | |
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| 5:43 AM: | Global Obamania may not win votes. Matt Frei, presenter of BBC World News America, says the global love affair with Barack Obama may not win him votes in the US. BBC. | |
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| 5:42 AM: | Cindy McCain visits Vietnam. Cindy McCain ranged far afield from the presidential campaign trail Thursday to showcase her charity work helping Vietnamese kids born with facial deformities. USA Today. | |
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| 5:01 AM: | Dissecting McCain's Vulnerabilities in the Fall Vote. John McCain faces two challenges in the general election: concerns about his age and general dissatisfaction with the GOP. Still, polls show him in a tight race with Barack Obama. McCain has also improved his standing with independent and swing state voters. NPR. | |
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| 4:52 AM: | Yahoo's Yang Visits Capitol Hill Leaders. Yahoo Inc. Chief Executive Jerry Yang visited congressional leaders Wednesday to discuss his company's new search advertising pact with rival Google Inc., hoping to head off any regulatory concerns. WSJ. | |
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| 4:45 AM: | Western Oil Giants Prepare for Move Back to Iraq. Four Western oil companies are in the final stages of negotiations on contracts that will return them to Iraq to service the country's largest oil fields. The deals, expected to be announced June 30, could "open a new and potentially lucrative country for their operations." Mark Halperin. | |
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| 4:43 AM: | AFL-CIO to endorse Obama soon. The AFL-CIO will endorse Sen. Barack Obama within weeks, union leaders said after a private meeting Wednesday with the presumptive nominee. USA Today. | |
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| 4:42 AM: | Bush rallies GOP support for McCain at annual dinner fundraiser. Seeking to energize party loyalists, President Bush on Wednesday gave his most extended public support to Sen. John McCain. USA Today. | |
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| 4:39 AM: | Political Perceptions: John McCain, Man of Action. Sen. John McCain speaks during a campaign event at Missouri State University in Springfield , Mo. Wednesday. Howard Fineman, writing for MSNBC, finds Sen. John McCain’s week-long promotion of his ideas for generating more energy in America a sign that he wants to be seen as the candidate of action, not words. WSJ. | |
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