Entries for January 2007

GOP Sen. John McCain, whose Vietnam War record and support of the president's war in Iraq have made him the target of antiwar activists, plans to make national security a key element of his campaign, a new fundraising memo indicates.

"We live in a dangerous world and in the years ahead our nation will need strong and decisive leadership to set it on the right course," says the memo to donors. "Senator McCain's service to our country has prepared him to deliver the leadership we need, both here at home and in the world."

The letter, sent in an online form, asks donors to take a survey that "will help us refine a national agenda that will give top priority to the most important issues that affect your everyday life, and the lives of all Americans." Typically, fundraising letters touch on the key themes of upcoming campaigns, and McCain's was no different.

In addition to national security, the letter from campaign manager Terry Nelson puts other McCain issues at the front of the Arizona senator's agenda: "limited government, fiscal discipline, and common-sense conservative values."

—Jack Higgins, Chicago Sun-Times

What does it cost to hang with CNN star Wolf Blitzer and act like a cable newsman? How about a cool $1 million? At least that's what Dave Liniger, chair and cofounder of RE/MAX, paid this month for CNN's "Warrior One," the cable's Iraq war Hummer that Blitzer helped auction off at the famous Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Event in Scottsdale, Ariz. Auctioning the Hummer, refurbished by the TV show Overhaulin', was the idea of those who operated it in Iraq. Their goal: helping raise money for the Fisher House Foundation, which builds "comfort homes" for families of hospitalized military personnel. CNN sent the full $1 million to the charity.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee will appear on Meet the Press Sunday to "talk about 2008," he tells Whispers in what is very likely his first foray into the 2008 presidential race.

While the GOP conservative–a dark horse on the list of most political junkies–won't reveal his plans, sources tell our Suzi Parker that he will start the process and signal that during the interview. A clue? He travels to Iowa, the first presidential caucus state, Tuesday and Wednesday. While there, Huckabee is expected to make some waves by naming a high-profile GOP activist his Iowa chairman.

Last year, Huckabee hired Eric Woolson, George W. Bush's chief Iowa spokesman in 1999–2000, to coordinate his legislative, grass-roots, and public-relations efforts in Iowa and a handful of other states for his "Hope for America" PAC. Huckabee also speaks Sunday morning at a forum hosted by National Review. Over the past couple of weeks, Huckabee has been on a book-signing tour to tout his new effort, From Hope to Higher Ground: 12 Stops to Restoring America's Greatness, and the ex-guv seems pleased with the reviews.

"Response has been surprisingly positive with a typical response being that it's a thorough treatment of the major issues but from a common-sense, practical perspective rather than from a rigid, ideological one," Huckabee says. "Those who read the book are somewhat surprised to find a conservative Republican talking about the environment, music and the arts, alternative domestic energy sources, health, and the urgency of addressing the nation's infrastructure."

You've got to give former Rep. Harold Ford Jr. one thing: He's not going to let a nasty GOP attack ad change his public views of women and football.

Ford, introduced today as the new chairman of the moderate Democratic Leadership Council, said this when asked if he was planning to attend the upcoming Super Bowl: "I love Jesus, I love girls, and I absolutely love football." You might recall that near the end of his campaign for the Tennessee Senate seat won by Bob Corker, the GOP aired a widely criticized ad that featured a bare-shouldered blond beckoning in the camera: "Harold. Call me." It was an apparent bid to poke fun at the single Ford, who had attended a Playboy Super Bowl party in Jacksonville, Fla., in 2005. Like a pro, he shrugged it off today with his trademark humor.

"It's over with. We didn't win. We ran a hard campaign. A lot of things happened right there at the end of the race," he said, that cut short his bid. He lost by 50,000 votes of 1.8 million cast. Today he predicted a comeback. "Does it hurt losing? Oh, yeah," he said, but it won't stop him from running for a statewide seat again.

"I know I want to do it again one day. In my state it takes a few times to run, sometimes one or two times to run, before you win," he said.

She may have given up her House seat to run a losing campaign for the Senate, but that doesn't mean former Florida Rep. Katherine Harris actually has to leave the House.

See, as a former representative, she keeps floor rights and she used them to the hilt Tuesday night before President Bush's State of the Union address. Our chief photodog, Charlie Archambault, caught her mingling on the Republican side and even handing out business cards.

GOP insiders say she still has a place in Washington and is penning a book. Recall that she lost her bid to unseat Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson in what was widely perceived as a bumbling campaign. But don't count her out: We've met her a couple of times, and she always seems on her game and mulling her future ventures.

—Paul Combs, Tribune Media Services

Looking at the rapidly filling parking lot of 2008 presidential candidates, it's clear that too few have that new car smell and a handful need a trip to the political version of MTV's Pimp My Ride. Let's call it "Pimp My Candidate" and ask message man Frank Luntz for some words and visuals the pols could use to polish their candidacies. "That's easy," says the author of the new book Words That Work: It's Not What You Say, It's What People Hear.

On the Democratic side, we'll start with new fave Sen. Barack Obama. Luntz says he should talk about "hope" and "opportunity" and simply use his remarkable life story as the visual. "He's a natural," says Luntz, who cautions: "Out with the sound bites and in with the stories." Not surprisingly, Luntz says Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton should use hubby Bill as her visual and mouth words like "mission" and "finally"—as in a woman president.

Across the aisle, Luntz wants Sen. John McCain to talk about his trademark "reform" and "accountability." Olympics exec and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney should highlight "competence" and "good governance" and use the Olympic symbol lots. Luntz pal Rudy Giuliani should talk "success" and "results" and use the cleaned-up Times Square for his backdrop. And every candidate should brag: "I'm a leader in times of crisis." The whole list can be found here.