Category: Uncategorized
Campaign Panel – Live blog
Kondracke gives the two schools of thought within the Clinton campaign. 1) fight to the end; 2) go out gracefully.
Points to polls showing she’s stronger against McCain. Cites Karl Rove’s analysis of all polls that suggest she’s ahead in states representing 251 electoral votes. With Obama, McCain gets 240.
Paul asks Mickey what he thinks. “It’s up to Hillary Clinton.” He says it takes 96 hours to really absorb a situation like Clinton is in. Watch the weekend.
Campaign Panel – Live blog
Paul asks for a show of hands voting for the most effective of the three ads. No votes for McCain, four or five for Clinton, overwhelming majority for Obama.
Campaign Panel – Live blog
Talent agrees generally with Sandlin. “Let’s talk about what we know.”
American people are dissatisfied. Identify Republicans with the problems, but don’t necessarily like Democrats. Double digit gap of people who say they would rather have Democrats win. Republicans are not doing the “blocking and tackling” necessary to diminish their disadvantages.
Republicans will be on defense, protecting incumbents.
Campaign Panel – Live blog
The panel begins. Introductions all around. Sandlin and Talent set the stage on the campaign, focusing on congressional races.
Kantor corrects Paul’s introduction of him as “vice chair” of the Clinton campaign. “At my age, they don’t give you a title. They’re worried that, if you die, they’ll have to come to the funeral.”
Sandlin starts off. Predicts higher margins in both the House and Senate for Democrats. Points to the Democrats winning special elections for Republican Speaker Hastert’s seat in Illinois and Rep. Baker’s seat in Louisiana. Forcasts a pickup for Democrats of about 18 seats in the House. Also, predicts more Dems in the Senate, but not enough to get to the magic number of 60 seats that would allow Dems to block fillibusters.
Also says there will be great uncertainty and “more government.”
Campaign Panel
I’m sitting right now next to Mickey Kantor. He’s a bundle of energy. Talk about a multi-tasker. He’s got someone on hold on his cell phone, while he’s emailing off his blackberry, while he’s carrying on a conversation with Jim Talent. A whirling dervish.
The panel begins with campaign commercials from each of the campaigns. All positive stuff. Hillary starts off “I will stand for you every day in the White House.”
McCain, emotional ad with background video of the POW scenes. “John McCain, the American president Americans are waiting for.”
Obama, clips from his speech to the Democratic convention. “America, our moment is now!”
Campaign Panel – In the Green Room
Fascinating discussion in the green room. Mickey Kantor and Jim Margolis deep in mumbled conversation, presumably negotiating the terms of the end of the Democratic primary.
Lots of war stories about past campaigns. It’s interesting to listen to the conversation with hardcore politicos get together. It’s very convivial, despite profound philosophical difference, there is enormous mutual respect and even affection. It’s real community.
Live Blogging a Panel on Campaign 2008
Today, I will be live blogging a panel on Campaign 2008 being held at the Council on Foriegn Relations in New York. Paul Johnson, Vice Chairman of Fleishman Hillard will be moderating the event whose participants will include, Mickey Kantor, Vice Chair of the Clinton Campaign, Jim Margolis of GMMB, a chief strategist for the Obama campaign and Kieran Mahoney, principle of Mercury Public Affairs which consults for the McCain Campaign. Also on the panel will be former Senator Jim Talent (R-MO) and former Representative Max Sandlin (D-TX).
The panel will commence sometime afternoon, so be sure to check back then to get real-time posts.
It promises to be a lively event.
My Son’s Basketball Game
A little video clip of my son’s tournament basketball game last night. Danny’s number is 24. He get’s his temper from his old man.
