Washington Whispers
On Sale Now: the Wal-Mart Vote
It used to be "soccer moms" who held the key to elections. Then it was the opinion of NASCAR dads that gave the best indicator of who would get elected, followed by the "investor class." Now there's a new electoral predictor: the retail giant you prefer. According to pollster John Zogby, who discovered the trend, Democrats prefer Bloomingdale's and Neiman Marcus. Republicans trek to J.C. Penney, Sears, and Target. And then there's Wal-Mart. More than any store in the nation, its GOP-leaning customers can accurately predict which candidate will sell. "It was the No. 1 indicator in 2004," says Zogby, who now polls weekly Wal-Mart shoppers.
Zogby is a Wal-Mart devotee, though he once swore he'd never go in one, buying into the hype that it was killing Main Street. That all changed years ago when he needed an air conditioner and found one at Wal-Mart for 25 percent off. "That comes under the category of 'Duh,'" jokes Zogby, who'll expand on the Wal-Mart effect in a new Random House book on the American consumer out next year. Wal-Mart shoppers matter, he says, because they represent small-town America. And right now they don't like President Bush, giving him a low 35 percent approval rating. That's bad, because to win, says Zogby, "Republicans have got to get three quarters of Wal-Mart voters." But it's not deadly, he adds, because the Democrats aren't ready to answer the call for a mop on Aisle 3.
'Strategery' From the Primary Source
To the list of those penning books about the prez add the most authoritative source of all: President Bush. Insiders say that he's been working on the project for a year. "He's doing a memoir," one insider says. "He's keenly interested in it." But here's the odd part: Bush hasn't actually written a word yet. Instead, he and his aides have been packaging the stuff he wants to reference so that he'll be ready to write when the project moves into that stage. And that probably won't happen until after he leaves office.
On Immigration, It's House Rules
Don't look for the House to cave in to President Bush on immigration reform. Allies of Speaker Dennis Hastert say he won't give an inch to Bush and others who want to water down the chamber's plan, which is heavy on enforcement and border security. "No negotiations. No talking," is how one insider sized up Hastert's approach. And with good reason: The White House is bending to Hastert. Meantime, look for a new series of border hearings next month to back the get-tough measure.
Will Hillary Start Dating an Iowan?
A political marriage seems to be in the making between Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack. Or so Vilsack fans hope. The guv, who leaves office in January, is testing the presidential waters at "meet and greets," where supporters shop him to potential donors and backers. One supporter, Washington media and political consultant Morris Reid, says Vilsack would be a good president or veep and Hillary teammate. "He's a complement to her," he tells us. "He reminds me of the old Bill Clinton."
The New Treasury Gets the Full Condi
It's been a while since the Treasury Department counted in Washington. But that's expected to change with this week's swearing-in of Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson. Insiders say that President Bush has issued orders to make the agency the star it used to be. He's led by example, telling Congress that Paulson, the former Goldman Sachs boss, is his economic point man. Also significant: The White House named Jim Wilkinson the chief of staff. He's largely responsible for rebuilding State's influence under Condi Rice. "Rice is the shining star of the administration," says a Bush adviser, "so it's symbolic that they've tapped Jimmy to run Paulson's shop." What's more, he has strong ties to congressional conservatives and Bush, complementing Paulson's links to Wall Street and world financial capitals. Cheers an insider: "Treasury's back, man."
One Race, and Cheney Is Hooked
He's been to only one NASCAR race--the July 1 Pepsi 400 at Daytona--but already we hear that Vice President Dick Cheney is digging the noise and grime. So did it make him a fan? "He is now," says spokeswoman Lea Anne McBride. Before helping start the race, Cheney visited with the teams sponsored by the Army, National Guard, and Air Force. But the veep hasn't slapped a driver's number on his limo yet. "It may take a few more races before he has a favorite," says McBride. He left the race early but caught Tony Stewart's win on Air Force 2's TV.
Iron Chef Versus the Nation's Chef
Eyes in the most exclusive kitchen in the world--the White House's--will be on the popular Food Network show Iron Chef next week as former presidential chef Walter Scheib takes on Iron Chef Cat Cora. And even though East Wingers pushed Scheib out after he had served the Bushes and Clintons for years, they will be checking him out, too. Scheib wouldn't dish on the outcome of the prerecorded show, airing first on July 16, but called it a nail-biter.
A Barclay Man, and Healthy, Too
Smoking just shy of two packs of Barclay cigarettes a day hasn't meant much for House Majority Leader John Boehner's health.Boehner passed his latest physical, and his doc deemed him in excellent condition. When he got the news, the Ohio lawmaker, who thinks golf is exercise, bragged to skeptical staffers: "The doctor said he was amazed. He was wondering just what kind of genes I have." Despite all those secondhand-smoke warnings, GOP members say they like to be around Boehner when he's puffing. "You always try to catch him with a cigarette," says a lawmaker pal of Boehner's who prefers to smoke on the "Boehner bench" in the Speaker's Lobby just off the House floor. "That's when he's happiest," adds the lawmaker. Better yet: Reporters view the smoke as a signal to stay away.
This story appears in the July 17, 2006 print edition of U.S. News & World Report.