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Palin Could Help McCain Attract Hillary Supporters if She Can Address Troopergate
Tweet Share on Facebook August 29, 2008 Comment (95)If you're looking for answers as to why Senator McCain may have chosen a running mate who's involved in a messy state investigation, think "women's votes" and then think "former Clinton supporters." But she may well try to explain away the allegations of abusing her power by characterizing the investigation as payback for tangling with the state's GOP hierarchy.
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Sarah Palin: The Big Come Hither
Tweet Share on Facebook August 29, 2008 Comment (47)Sen. John McCain's pick of Gov. Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate is a big "come hither" signal to former Clinton supporters to defect to the Republicans. Yes, Sen. Clinton is strongly pro-choice (although she talks more these days about dampening the need for abortion) and Gov. Palin is avidly pro-life, but both are successful female politicians.
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Convention Bounce in Evidence for Obama
Tweet Share on Facebook August 28, 2008 Comment (6)The convention bounce has finally appeared. It appeared with a vengeance in today's daily presidential tracking poll by the Gallup organization:
"PRINCETON, NJ — Democratic candidate Barack Obama has gained ground in the latest Gallup Poll Daily tracking average from Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, and now leads Republican John McCain among registered voters by a 48% to 42% margin."
The Rasmussen poll shows a much more modest bounce:
"The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Thursday shows hints of a modest convention bounce building for Barack Obama. The Democrat gained a point from yesterday and now attracts 45% of the vote nationwide while John McCain earns 44%. When "leaners" are included, it's Obama 47% and McCain 47%.
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Liberals Remain Blind to Obama's Weaknesses—and Dangers
Tweet Share on Facebook August 28, 2008 Comment (31)DENVER—This is another tale of two conventions. I posted earlier from Denver on how Democratfest felt to me just like the 1976 Republican Convention in Kansas City where Gerald Ford narrowly squeaked by Ronald Reagan to win the nomination. No, in Denver there is no contested nomination as there was in Kansas City. But Sen. Hillary Clinton's presence weighed mightily and at times it felt like there were two Democratic candidates at the convention.
Uber-libs and party regulars seem completely blind to this and in fact seem to be trying to bury it down to the earth's core. Witness this post from left-leaning Salon.com's Rebecca Traister on a PUMA (or Party Unity My A**) protest:
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A Good Roman Emperor
Tweet Share on Facebook August 28, 2008 Comment (6)Notice to all ancient history buffs! The head of a once 15-foot-tall statue of Marcus Aurelius, one of the earlier Roman emperors, has been discovered in Turkey.
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The Democratic Convention Disconnect—Obama and Middle America
Tweet Share on Facebook August 27, 2008 Comment (21)DENVER—Democrats are certainly energized by Sen. Hillary Clinton's home run speech and the energy level at the Democratic convention is clearly kinetic. But the national polls are showing something completely at odds with Democrats' spirits.
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A Split Convention and a Backwards Bounce
Tweet Share on Facebook August 26, 2008 Comment (22)As I wrote below, this still feels at times like a contested convention. The media are looking to Sen. Hillary Clinton's speech tonight to the convention to bring all her supporters around. So is Barack Obama's campaign, whether fairly or unfairly (why should it be Clinton's job to unite the party, after all). But I don't see her speech doing that. Two new daily tracking polls (Rasmussen and Gallup) show Sen. Obama slipping in public support. Yes, he's getting a convention bounce, but a bounce in the wrong direction.
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Sometimes It Feels Like Clinton is Still Running Against Obama
Tweet Share on Facebook August 26, 2008 Comment (8)DENVER—At times it feels like there are still 2 candidates running for the Democratic nomination here in Denver. This is despite Sen. Hillary Clinton's best efforts to unite her supporters behind Sen. Barack Obama. I just left the DNC's Women's Caucus event where die-hard Hillary fans were to be found in great number, talking to media and sporting Hillary paraphernalia. Last night I ran into a lifelong Democratic activist and fundraiser trying to promote a story about "Obama camps" where young Obama fans were trained to disrupt and take over caucuses in the states. Then there's the "get over it" crowd. But the diehards I'm encountering aren't getting over anything.
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Code Pink Protesters Shout Down Pelosi
Tweet Share on Facebook August 25, 2008 Comment (4)DENVER—Big disturbance at the "Unconventional Women" event as about 25 Code Pink protesters shouted down House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
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A New Push for Women Politicians
Tweet Share on Facebook August 25, 2008 CommentDENVER—At today's "Unconventional Women" event at the Democratic National Convention, Women's Campaign Forum President Ilana Goldman launched her "She Should Run" campaign to get 1,500 new women to run for office. Goldman said that "we were pissed" not enough women are in Congress or statehouses. She pointed out that women make up 14 percent of members of Congress, 15 percent of governors, and 25 percent of members of state legislatures.
