VEEPSTAKES: One Last Clinton Scenario

August 20, 2008

This column has been pondering and predicting an Obama-Biden ticket for some time now. That's still the best bet, and now that the announcement is finally imminent, everyone is talking about it.

So, what the heck, let's run the Hillary Clinton scenario one more time:

Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton like one another. Obama had Clinton's cell number on speed dial, and vice versa. They maintained stable, even good, personal relations during the primary campaign. When things got ugly, Obama stepped up several times to defend Clinton, and the senator from New York got what might have been the loudest and most sincere round of the campaign when she seemed to suggest at the close of a contentious primary-season debate that she would be willing to join an Obama-led "dream ticket."

VEEPSTAKES: Obama Sets What Looks Like a Saturday VP Event

August 19, 2008

Barack Obama launched his campaign for the presidency a year and a half ago at the Old State Capitol in Springfield, Illinois.

He will return to the same location Saturday at noon, barely 48 hours before the convention that will nominate him for president is set to open.

This sounds like the right place for the formal introduction of a running mate.

VEEPSTAKES: Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps

August 18, 2008

The New York Times reports that: "Senator Barack Obama has all but settled on his choice for a running mate and set an elaborate rollout plan for his decision, beginning with an early morning alert to supporters, perhaps as soon as Wednesday morning, aides said."

The key words here are "all but" and "perhaps."

Perhaps Wednesday.

ABORTION RIGHTS: McCain v. Obama

August 16, 2008

Issue divides do not get much more stark than the one that Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama outlined when both presidential candidates took the stage Saturday at pastor Rick Warren's Saddleback Civil Forum in Lakeside, California.

The high-profile "values forum" was a must appearance for both contenders.

And the right to choose was the must "ask."

"Baracky" is Back...on YouTube

August 16, 2008

Remember the "Baracky" video that thrilled primary voters? The general election sequel just hit YouTube, and it's even better. Barack is boxing, Hillary is jogging, and Bill even takes a dip in the pool.

The irreverent video also launches tougher attacks on McCain than any of the ads coming out of Chicago -- the sell-out formerly known as maverick is depicted as a dirty fighter and angry sexist. He's probably hoping this film doesn't go viral.

VEEPSTAKES: The Biden Surrogacy

August 16, 2008

The endorsement of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) is a political plum, as the union works harder to put out political fires for its candidate harder than any other.

Firefighters are constant companions when a candidate is endorsed, showing up at events and providing cover from the some of the most well-regarded of all public employees. Bill Clinton, Al Gore and John Kerry relied heavily on IAFF members, especially in red states, where the union is well organized.

This year, the 290,000-member IAFF had no great taste for Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama as candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination this year -- thee union endorsed Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd early on, while giving a warm nod to Delaware Senator Joe Biden.

Georgia's First Mistake: Taking McCain Seriously

August 14, 2008

What was Mikheil Saakashvili thinking when he started poking at Russia in a manner that Mikhail Gorbachev correctly observes has "turned out to be a time bomb for Georgia's territorial integrity."?

That question is easily answered.

The Georgian president whose ties to the U.S. run through John McCain's campaign headquarters was thinking that McCain was a man of stature in the U.S. foreign policy heirachy, a "player" whose words could be counted on as having at least a measure of meaning.

Hannity Freaks on McCain-Edwards Sex Link

August 13, 2008

Sean Hannity lost control of himself and his show on Tuesday night, after co-host Alan Colmes compared John Edwards' infidelity to John McCain's affair. Usually, the two hosts of "Hannity & Colmes" take turns questioning guests and carefully avoid debating each other, but Hannity made a rare departure to repeatedly yell that McCain's affair was somehow acceptable because it occurred after he was tortured for five and a half years in Vietnam. This clip does not take off until about 2:55, but then it gets feisty and weird in a hurry:

Colin Powell for Obama?

August 13, 2008

It is a measure of former Secretary of State Colin Powell's symbolic, if not actual, significance that the quadrennial coming of convention season always sparks discussion about which party's gathering will be graced by the general's presence.

And the buzz this week is that the Democrats will have him.

Powell, a sort-of Republican who remains officially undecided in the presidential contest between Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain, has been unofficially advising Obama for the better part of a year. And the former Bush administration pitchman whose pronouncements about Iraqi threats carried no great weight with Obama in 2002 and 2003 has had lots of nice things to say about the presumptive Democratic nominee.

The Backlash to Bayh

August 13, 2008

Every four years, it seems, Evan Bayh's name is floated as a possible vice presidential prospect. We're reminded of his good looks, adorable twins, resume as Governor and Senator from Indiana (where his chief accomplishment was getting re-elected), centrist record and overall "seriousness."

But a backlash is brewing against Bayh among grassroots Obama supporters, who want their candidate to pick a running mate who didn't enthusiastically support the war in Iraq, hasn't positioned himself as a leading hawk on Iran and wasn't chairman of the pro-corporate Democratic Leadership Council.

Reports my colleague Ari Melber over at the Washington Independent: