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| BLOG ARCHIVE: APRIL 1-15, 2008.
NEW DEM PREZ POLLS; INDIANA GOVERNOR, LOUISIANA US SENATE & IDAHO CONGRESSIONAL UPDATES. P2008
- DEMS. A few new primary polls ... INDIANA. A new SurveyUSA poll shows former Congresswoman Jill Long Thompson leading businessman Jim Schellinger in the Democratic gubernatorial primary by a 46% to 38% vote. The winner of the May 6 primary will face embattled Governor Mitch Daniel (R) in November. LOUISIANA:
The latest Rasmussen Reports poll has US Senator Mary Landrieu
(D) leading State Treasurer John Kennedy (R) by a vote of 55%
to 39%. IDAHO:
Two years ago, Larry Grant (D) nearly scored an upset in the
open CD-1 congressional race against bombastic conservative Bill
Sali (R). Now Grant has stepped aside in favor of wealthy businessman
Walt Minnick, a former Assistant US Budget Director. Minnick far
outraised Grant, prompting Grant to quit the race. Grant, joined
by former Governor Cecil Andrus (D), immediately endorsed Minnick.
Sali, who does not have a warm relationship with state GOP leaders,
faces a May 27 primary challenge from Iraq War veteran and businessman
Matt Salisbury. Race rating: Leans GOP. FREE
SPEECH ZONE. Except for Clinton and Obama taking shots at
each other, and spinning each other's comments -- yup, more of
the same old, same old -- not much happened over the weekend.
Thus, this open thread for Monday. NJ GOP ORCHESTRATES US SEN CANDIDATE SWAP FOR PRIMARY. NEW JERSEY. Businessman Andy Unanue (R) filed paperwork to run for US Senate on Monday just before the primary filing deadline. Even then, rumors were swirling that Unanue, who declined to cut short his stay at his vacation home in Colorado, intended to quit the race within days. On Friday, the buzz proved true as it was announced Unanue had withdrawn and -- in a quirk allowed under New Jersey law -- filed paperwork asking the NJ GOP to designate another Republican to run in his place in the primary. The new candidate: former Congressman Dick Zimmer (R), who has worked as a DC lobbyist since losing a US Senate run by 10-points in 1996. In 2000, Zimmer narrowly lost a comeback race for his old House seat. State Senator Joe Pennacchio -- one of the two other GOP candidates in the US Senate primary -- told the Philadelphia Inquirer he plans to quickly file a lawsuit against "Zimmer or Unanue or whomever it takes to keep Zimmer from running." The lawsuit would essentially raise a fraud issue, challenging whether Unanue actually had the "intent" to run when he filed his paperwork earlier in the week. Pennacchio also issued an amusing statement -- equating Zimmer to a political corpse -- in which he promised to quit the race if the NJ Republican Party "managed to exhume President Theodore Roosevelt, who died in 1919, and get him to run."
VIEW FROM ABROAD: DR. GREGOR GYSI, MdB, PARLIAMENTARY CHAIR OF DIE LINKE (GERMANY). GERMANY:
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if you know someone you'd like featured here. CLINTON SPINS PA PROBLEMS; DIRTY TRICKSTER STONE EXPLAINS HIS HIT ON MARK PENN. P2008
- DEMS. In light of rapidly narrowing polls and Barack Obama's
massive TV ad blitz in Pennsylvania, Hillary Clinton's campaign
is trying to spin significantly lowered expectations. Clinton
lead by as much as 20-points in the state just a month ago. Clinton
spokesman Howard Wolfson on Thursday told the Chicago Tribune
that Obama "is doing everything he can to win in Pennsylvania.
And if he doesn't win, it will be a significant defeat for him."
Most pundits chuckled, as Clinton is still viewed as the favorite
in the start -- in large part because of her backing from powerful
Governor Ed Rendell (D). In other P2008 news, Politics1 had a
chance to catch up with infamous GOP operative Roger Stone to
ask why he exposed former Clinton campaign chief strategist Mark
Penn's dealings with the Colombian government. The exposure of
Penn's meetings to coordinate passage of the free trade deal --
opposed by Clinton -- led to Penn's resignation last weekend.
Warning:Stone triangulates, misleads and manipulates more than
just about anyone in politics. But here is what Stone told us:
"We want to resurrect Hillary because we don't want to face
Obama. Republicans fear a generational contrast with McCain, which
we won't face with an old bag like Hillary -- who we already know
how to beat." Stone's former consulting partner and ally,
Charlie Black, is the senior strategist of John McCain's campaign.
THREE NEW PA POLLS; WV GOV HAS BIG $$ LEAD; TIME REPORTS SEN SESSIONS TOOK ILLEGAL CONTRIBUTIONS. P2008
- DEMS. WEST VIRGINIA. If money helps define viability in political campaigns, then Governor Joe Manchin (D) isn't facing any viable opponents. Manchin has over $2.2 million cash-on-hand in his campaign account, according to the AP. By contrast, State Delegate Mel Kessler (D) has raised just $450 and loaned his campaign $10,000 for his primary challenge. On the GOP side, former State Senator Russ Weeks has raised $4,385 and loaned himself an additional $1,000. Race rating: Safe DEM. ALABAMA.
Time is reporting that lobbyists and developer Lanny Young
-- the man who claimed he gave illegal campaign contributions
to former Governor Don Siegelman (D) -- also gave sworn statements
to federal prosecutors that also also have illegal campaign contributions
and gifts to several prominent Alabama Republicans. Young's testimony
formed the basis of half of the 32 felony counts the feds filed
against Siegelman during his failed 2006 campaign to recapture
the Governor's Mansion. According to the magazine, Young testified
that other recipients of his illegal contributions included US
Senator Jeff Sessions (R) and then-Attorney General Bill Pryor
(R), who is now a federal judge. Young's testimony -- now that
it has come to light -- seems to lend credence to Siegelman's
claim that the Bush Administration selectively prosecuted only
him on the charges due to political considerations purportedly
advanced at the time behind the scenes by then-White House political
advisor Karl Rove. Sessions is facing re-election this year, but
is heavily favored over State Senator Vivian Davis Figures (D). LOTS OF NEW PREZ POLLS (PA, NC, OR); STATE RACES IN OR, WA & NC; AND AN EDITORIAL ON THE CHINA OLYMPICS. P2008
- DEMS. Several polls out today: TEXAS. Former congressional aide Pete Olson soundly defeated former interim Congresswoman Shelley Sekula Gibbs in the CD-22 congressional primary run-off on Tuesday. Olson won by a 69% to 31% vote, and will next take on Congressman Nick Lampson (D) in the general election. Race rating: toss-up. CALIFORNIA. Former State Senator Jackie Speier (D) easily won the CD-12 special election Tuesday to replace the late Congressman Tom Lantos (D). Speier captured a whopping 78%, with the remaining 22% fairly evenly divided among her four opponents. OREGON.
A new KATU-TV/SurveyUSA poll shows the DSCC's recruited candidate
-- State House Speaker Jeff Merkley -- is distantly trailing in
the contest for the Democratic nomination for US Senate. The numbers:
progressive attorney Steve Novick - 23%, peace activist Candy
Neville - 12%, Merkley - 11%, mental health counselor David Loera
- 6%, frequent candidate Roger Obrist - 5%, frequent candidate
Pavel Goberman - 3%. The winner will face US Senator Gordon Smith
(R) in November. WASHINGTON. It looks like this year's gubernatorial rematch will be just as close as the 2004 race. The new KING-TV/SurveyUSA poll shows Governor Christine Gregoire (D) leading former State Senator Dino Rossi (R) by a 48% to 47% vote. NORTH CAROLINA. The new WTVD-TV/SurveyUSA poll gives a good snapshot of the open gubernatorial primary races. The Democrats: Lieutenant Governor Bev Perdue - 40%. State Treasurer Richard Moore - 40%, retired USAF officer Dennis Nielsen - 3%. The Republicans: Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory - 38%, State Senator Fred Smith - 19%, former Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr - 10%, conservative attorney Bill Graham - 9%. Governor Mike Easley (D) is term-limited. In the Democratic primary for US Senate, State Senator Kay Hagan - 21%, investment banker Jim Neal - 20%, truck driver Duskin Lassiter - 6%, attorney Marcus Williams - 5%, podiatrist Howard Staley -4%. The winner will face US Senator Elizabeth Dole (R) in the general election. EDITORIAL.
NJ SENATE RACE SET; NIXONITE HIT MAN STONE PLAYED ROLE IN MARK PENN'S DOWNFALL. NEW
JERSEY.
CLINTON CHIEF STRATEGIST FORCES OUT; LA CONGRESSIONAL RUN-OFFS; BARR MAKES LP RUN OFFICIAL. P2008-
DEMS. Clinton LOUISIANA. Primary run-offs on Saturday decided nominees in the CD-1 and CD-6 special elections set for May 3. In CD-1, State Senator Steve Scalise defeated State Representative Tim Burns by a 58% to 42% vote in the GOP primary. Scalise is a safe bet to defeat psychologist Gilda Reed (D) next month. In CD-6, former State Representative Woody Jenkins defeated businesswoman Laurinda Calongne by a 62% to 38% vote. On the Democratic side, State Representative Don Cazayoux defeated State Representative Michael Jackson by a 57% to 43% vote. A poll conducted last week for the NRCC, which leaked to the media, showed Cazayoux narrowly leading frequent federal candidate Jenkins for the open seat. Look for the DCCC to pour resources in the CD-6 contest. LIBERTARIANS.
Former GOP Congressman Bob Barr of Georgia made it official Saturday,
as he announced he would seek the Libertarian Party's Presidential
nomination. Barr also launched his new
campaign site, which has many design/functional similarities
to the recent Ron Paul Presidential campaign site. VIEW FROM ABROAD: WAVEL RAMKALAWAN, LEADER OF THE SEYCHELLES NATIONAL PARTY. SEYCHELLES:
WAVEL RAMKALAWAN,
MNA, Leader of the Seychelles
National Party. Born in 1961, Wavel was ordained as a
priest in 1985. Wavel's work as a priest --
Do
you have a connection to a foreign political leader, elected official
or prominent candidate you'd like to have answer these two questions?
Please email Ron
if you know someone you'd like featured here. TWO MORE PA & IN DEM PREZ POLLS; PLUS FILINGS CLOSE IN ALABAMA AND TENNESSEE. QUICK
TAKES. A new Allentown Morning Call/Muhlenberg College
poll shows Hillary Clinton leading Barack Obama by a 49% to 38%
vote ... A new American Research Group poll in Indiana shows Sen.
Hillary Clinton leading Sen. Barack Obama, 53% to 44% ... Candidate
filings closed this week in Alabama and Tennessee.
Click on the state names to see the full list of filed candidates.
Be sure to check out the filings for the congressional open seats
in Alabama's CD-2 and CD-5. Two freshmen Congressmen in Tennessee
-- David Davis (R) and Steve Cohen (D) -- also face rather competitive
primary contests. CLINTON NARROWLY LEADS IN PA, IN; McCAIN UNGUARDED; BARR TO MAKE LIBERTARIAN RUN. P2008-
DEMS. A new Insider Advantage poll of Pennsylvania Dems shows
Barack Obama has closed to within two-points of Hillary Clinton.
The numbers: Clinton - 45%, Obama - 43%. A Research 2000 poll
of Indiana Dems shows Clinton leading Obama by a 49% to 46% vote.
In other news, The Politico reports Obama raised $40 million
in March and Clinton raised $20 million. The numbers reflect a
decline of about $15 million apiece from the high marks each set
in McCAIN. John McCain is continuing to resist having Secret Service protection as the presumptive GOP Presidential nominee. In fact, according to The Hill, he's not sure he really wants a full Secret Service detail is he's elected President. "McCain has acknowledged that a modern American president must have some sort of protection, but he said he would like to pare down the size of motorcades that he has noted can tie up traffic in a large American city," reported the newspaper. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama both already have full Secret Service protective details. LIBERTARIANS.
Former GOP Congressman Bob Barr of Georgia has apparently decided
to seek the Libertarian Party's Presidential nomination. Despite
reports to the contrary that Barr plans to run as an Independent,
he will announce his plans this weekend in a keynote address at
a regional Libertarian Party convention. "I am planning to
address the delegates and I will say I am not planning on wasting
their time. I am planning to have something fairly significant
to say," Barr told CNN. "Sure, it will hurt [McCain].
We’ll just have to see how much," South Carolina GOP
Chair Katon Dawson told the Washington Times. Michigan
GOP Chair Saul Anuzis said he expects Barr will do well in conservative
states like Texas, where he said McCain should win by a comfortable
margin despite his presence on the ballot. "But how he will
do in Florida, Ohio, Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania, the
five key swing states -- that’s the question," said
Anuzis. OBAMA TAKES LEAD IN PENN (MAYBE); DNC CLOSE TO DEAL TO SEAT FLA DELEGATES; CLINTON SUPERDELEGATE SAYS HE'LL BACK OBAMA AT CONVO; LAUTENBERG GETS PRIMARIED. P2008-
DEMS. A new Public Policy Polling survey of Pennsylvania Dems
now shows Barack Obama leading Hillary Clinton by a vote of 45%
to 43%. While recent polls shows Obama narrowing NEW
JERSEY. US Senator Frank Lautenberg (D) suddenly finds himself
facing a potentially competitive primary. Congressman Rob Andrews
(D) -- a longtime Lautenberg rival within the NJ Dems -- put out
the word Wednesday that is seeking the US Senate seat. Both men
come from rival geographical factions within the party. A DSCC
poll shows Lautenberg leading Andrews by a lopsided margin of
57% to 22%. As of now, a majority of NJ Dems are unfamiliar with
Andrews. In 1997 and 2001, Andrews lost primary contests for Governor.
PA & IN DEM PREZ POLLS; VENTURA PONDERS MN COMEBACK; GOP RECRUIT QUITS IN ALA; MS CONGRESSIONAL RUN-OFF RESULTS.
P2008- DEMS. A new MINNESOTA. The AP reports former pro wrestler and former Governor Jesse Ventura (Independent) claims he has no future plans of returning to politics but -- then again -- he admits he's giving some thought to the race against US Senator Norm Coleman (R). "I've learned after 56 years you never say never. I have no intention at this point in time [of running], but who knows, that could change ... [I'm watching the Senate race with interest, and] I'm not very pleased with either [Coleman or challenger Al Franken(D)] ... I would think we certainly could do a whole lot better in the state of Minnesota," said Ventura to the AP. He also has a new political book coming out. ALABAMA. "Do-overs!" What a difference a week makes. After Congressman Bud Cramer (D) announced his retirement, Governor Bob Riley (R) scored a major coup last week when he convinced conservative State Senator Tom Butler (D) to announce he would switch to the GOP and run for Cramer's open seat. Well, after a few days reflection, Butler has changed his mind about ... everything. First he said he reconsidered and decided he would not run for Congress. And he decided to remain a Democrat, at least until the end of the current legislative session. "At this time being with my family and finishing the job I stated in the State Senate is my priority," said Butler. State Senator Parker Griffith (D), attorney Ray McKee (R) and insurance agent/'94-'96 nominee Wayne Parker (R) are already announced candidates for the CD-5 seat. Qualifying closes Friday, and the GOP now look unlikely to recruit a first-tier candidate. MISSISSIPPI.
Voters decided three congressional primary run-off contests on
Tuesday. In the open CD-1 race, the GOP contest between former
Tupelo Mayor Glenn McCullough and Southaven Mayor Greg Davis was
the closest race of the day. With nearly all votes counted, Davis
appears to have won by a 51% to 49% vote. On the Dem side, Prentiss
County Clerk Travis Childers defeated State Representative Steve
Holland by a 56% to 44% vote. Rate Rating: Safe GOP. In the CD-3
contest, attorney Gregg Harper defeated State Senator Charlie
Ross in the GOP run-off by a 57% to 43% vote. Harper will face
Pickens Town Alderman Joel Gill (D) in November. Race Rating:
Safe GOP. BREAKING:
WIRE SERVICE REPORTS CLINTON MEETING IN DC WITH SENIOR STAFF TO
"RE-EVALUATE" CAMPAIGN, MAY SUSPEND CAMPAIGN IN 5 PM "MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT"
... CLICK HERE FOR AP WIRE STORY... VIEW FROM ABROAD: JACK LAYTON, LEADER OF THE NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF CANADA. CANADA:
JACK LAYTON,
MP, Leader of the New
Democratic Party. Born in 1950 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada,
Do
you have a connection to a foreign political leader, elected official
or prominent candidate you'd like to have answer these two questions?
Please email Ron
if you know someone you'd like featured here. MORE SUPER-DELEGATES FOR OBAMA; HUD SEC'Y RESIGNS AMID CORRUPTION PROBE; KY US SEN POLL; MS RUN-OFF DAY.
P2008- DEMS. US Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) endorsed Barack
Obama on Monday. Also, the Wall Street Journal reported
the enitre North Carolina Democratic congressional delegation
is planning an en masse endorsement of Obama before the
NC primary on May 6. A new Public Policy Polling survey of North
Carolina CABINET. Bush Administration Housing Secretary Alphonzo Jackson abruptly resigned on Monday, when it was revealed he was the target of a federal corruption probe related to the awarding of contracts at HUD. As is now routine, the "spend-more-time-with-family" cliché was the official reason given for the departure. "There comes a time when one must attend more diligently to personal and family matters. Now is such a time for me," said Jackson. He served as US Housing Secretary since 2004. KENTUCKY. A WHAS-TV/SurveyUSA survey of the Democratic primary for US Senate shows wealthy businessman and former State Commerce Secretary Bruce Lunsford on track to score a lopsided victory. The results: Lunsford - 42%, frequent candidate David Williams - 11%, businessman Greg Fischer - 6%, and all others at 5% or less apiece. The winner will face US Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R) in November. MISSISSIPPI.
Voters go to the polls to decide three congressional primary run-off
contests on Tuesday. In the open CD-1 race, the key contest is
the GOP race between former Tupelo Mayor Glenn McCullough and
Southaven Mayor Greg Davis. While Davis had initially been viewed
as the pre-primary favorite, McCullough placed first in the primary
and appears to be the favorite for the run-off. On the Dem side,
Prentiss County Clerk Travis Childers and State Representative
Steve Holland are competing. Rate Rating: Safe GOP. In the CD-3
contest, State Senator Charlie Ross and attorney Gregg Harper
are competing for the GOP nomination. The winner will face Pickens
Town Alderman Joel Gill (D) in November. Race Rating: Safe GOP. |
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Clinton
- 57%, Obama - 37%. 
Tiananmen
Square massacre of 1989. The ever-present suppression of journalists,
free speech, Falun Gong, and Buddhism in China. The decades-old
ruthless crackdown on Tibet independence. A nation of prison gulags
and sweatshops. I could go on and on. Clearly, the list of offensive
conduct by the totalitarian Chinese dictatorship is lengthy. I
strongly disagreed with the IOC decision to hold the 2008 summer
Olympics in Beijing, China. But what's done is done. Further,
I don't want to punish the athletes of the world who work hard
to pursue their dreams. But US government officials shouldn't
participate by attending any Olympic opening and closing ceremonies.
Ceremonies that, in historical context, will be certainly viewed
alongside the 1936 Nazi Olympics in Berlin. Let the US athletes
attend and participate. But President Bush -- and all other US
governmental representatives -- must stay home in an act of silent
condemnation of the blood-stained Chinese government's suppression
of human rights. Finally, I proudly express my solidarity with
those human rights activists who -- around the globe -- are risking
arrest by actively disrupting the Olympic Torch relay. 
Filing
closed for the June 3 primary, with a few notable developments.
Congressman Rob Andrews filed -- as he announced last week --
to challenge 84-year-old US Senator Frank Lautenberg in the primary.
Lautenberg is slightly more liberal than Andrews, but is certain
to hammer Andrews for having supported President Bush's Iraq War
resolution in 2002. Andrews, in turn, will hit the incumbent for
his advanced age and argue a younger person could bring more energy
to the job. Morristown Mayor Donald Cresitello, who lost to Lautenberg
in the 1982 primary, is also back for a quixotic rematch. The
GOP candidates are all second-tier quality: State Senator Joe
Pennacchio, businessman Andy Unanue and college professor Murrary
Sabrin. In an interesting -- and related -- move, Rob Andrews'
wife Camille filed for her husband's open CD-1 seat. She was backed
in the move by all the leading Democratic leaders in the district.
However, Camille said she is unsure if she intends to remain the
candidate or merely be a placeholder so that party leaders can
substitute a replacement candidate after the primary. Congressman
Andrews vowed that he will not be a candidate for the House again
this year under any circumstances. However, Lautenberg's campaign
notes Andrews had also previously pledged the support Lautenberg's
re-election. "This doesn't pass the smell test at all,"
said Lautenberg's campaign manager to PolitickerNJ.com. 
P2008
- DEMS. Infamous Republican hit man Roger Stone was directly
involved in the downfall of Clinton campaign chief strategist
Mark Penn. Information printed by conservative columnist Robert
Novak last Saturday that Penn's company -- Burson Marsteller --
was kiting $3 million worth of polling bills in possible violation
of the federal campaign finance laws, was supplied by Stone. Stone
was formerly a partner in the Black, Manafort Stone and Kelley
consulting firm, which was ironically acquired by Burson Martsteller
in 1998. The late Lee Atwater was also a partner in Stone's firm.
Stone was also the person who leaked word of Penn's contract last
week with the Colombian government to help strategize for a free
trade agreement (note: which Hillary Clinton opposes). While Penn
stepped down from the post of chief strategist over the weekend,
he clearly remains involved in Clinton's inner circle. Last month
Stone was credited by national media sources as the person who
tipped off the feds to now-resigned NY Governor Eliot Spitzer's
involvement with a high-priced prostitution ring..
campaign
chief strategist Mark Penn resigned Sunday in his lead responsibilities
after it was revealed Friday he held a behind-the-scenes meetings
with Colombian government officials last week to plan strategy
for a new free trade agreement. His firm will remain Clinton's
pollster. Clinton (and Obama) both oppose the proposed free trade
deal. Penn described the meeting as "an error in judgment”
and subsequently offered to step down. An angry Clinton was reportedly
among those who wanted Penn out, as she believed he had previously
pledged to her he would not engage in conduct that would cause
conflicts with her campaign. The Hill reported Sunday that
the Colombian government fired Penn's lobbying firm in response
to Penn's "error in judgment" comments. Geoff Garin
and Howard Wolfson will now share the role of chief strategist.
In other news, a new Rasmussen Reports poll in North Carolina
shows Obama leading Clinton by a vote of 56% to 33%.
encountering
those who were harassed, imprisoned and victimized for their opposition
to one-party rule in Seychelles -- drew him into politics. Wavel
gained wide attention for his courageous 1990 national radio address
in which he questioned one-party rule and demanded protection
of human rights and political freedoms. That forceful speech led
to the creation of an underground movement in 1991, which later
evolved into the Seychelles National Party. The clandestine and
illegal movement published a newsletter which was surreptitiously
circulated and avidly read by the population. It called for an
end to the abuses of President Albert Rene's one-party era. When
Rene was pressured to proclaim the legal return to multi-party
politics in 1991, Wavel became official Leader of Parti Seselwa
(as it was then named) -- the first new party to register under
the new legislation. A coalition of Parti Seselwa and other new
parties contested subsequent 1993 elections against Rene under
the banner "United Opposition" and, despite government
intimidation, won 9% of the vote. This resulted in Wavel becoming
the first and only opposition member of the National Assembly.
In 1998, the United Opposition captured 26% and won additional
Assembly seats. When direct Presidential elections were finally
held for the first time in 2001, Wavel captured 45% versus 54%
for the 26-year-incumbent. By this time, the SNP emerged as the
main opposition party in the Seychelles to the ruling SPPF. In
2005, Wavel formally took a sabbatical from the priesthood to
focus full-time on his political career. In the 2006 Presidential
election, Wavel again won 45%. The SNP also won 44% of the popular
vote in 2006 National Assembly races, capturing 11 out of the
34 seats (election laws still favor the ruling party). The SNP
is regarded as a left-of-centre, liberal party and belongs to
the 
February.
Clinton's
double-digit lead, only time will tell if this is an anomaly or
a reflection of Obama's momentum in the Keystone State. In other
P2008 news, Obama picked up the support of two more super-delegates
on Wednesday: Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal and former US
Senator John Melcher of Montana. Since March 4, Obama has scored
12 super-delegates versus just one for Clinton. Finally, I had
an opportunity to chat this week with a Clinton super-delegate
from Florida. He spoke to Politics1 on the condition of anonymity.
He said he was longtime and solid Clinton backer "but Obama
will be our nominee ... I won't be part of any effort at the convention
to split the party and take the nomination away from Obama. When
the time is right, I presume after the final primaries are over,
I will have a quiet and private conversation with the Clintons.
They need to understand that many of us want a unified party heading
into the convention and coming out of the convention so that we
can elect Obama in November. Don't get me wrong, as I'd really
prefer Clinton to be our nominee. But the reality is Obama will
win the nomination, and I'm very comfortable supporting him in
November. The super-delegates will not do anything to destroy
our party. Trust me on this: we'll have a completely unified party
well before the convention." In related news, DNC Chair Howard
Dean, the Obama and Clinton campaigns, and the Florida congressional
delegation say they are nearing a compromise that will result
in all of Florida's delegates being seated at the convention.
The deal: the 26 superdelegates will get a full vote apiece, and
the 185 elected delegates will be awarded a half-vote each. "It
is our intention to do everything we can and we believe we will
absolutely seat the [Florida] delegation at the convention in
Denver. It is in everyone’s absolute interest to see that
happen," said Dean. If the two campaigns approve the plan
-- which will give Clinton a 19 vote advantage from the state
-- the DNC is expected to quickly ratify it.
has
impressed me about this race so far is the excitement it has
generated among Canadians. We’re seeing our neighbors
to the south go through a major shift in the way they see their
political leaders. I think Americans have felt alienated from
their leadership for a long time, and with this race they are
seeing an opportunity to choose a different kind of leader,
one who understands the issues that affect hardworking people
in their daily lives. It’s actually quite exciting to
see ordinary Americans speaking out, making it clear that the
next president they elect will be the person who is able to
really listen to what the people are saying and who is committed
to running the country in the way they want, rather than just
acting in the interest of corporations and lobbyists. Canadians
are paying attention to what is going on next door and they’re
being inspired to make similar changes on our side of the border.
U.S.
is at a critical juncture right now and Americans are facing
many challenges. I hope that the next president will be someone
who can take a long, hard look at the way things have been done
in the States and come up with a plan to change direction in
a number of key areas. Canadians would like to see an end to
the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and more and more Americans
agree with that point of view. Working people south of the border
are also looking for economic measures to protect their jobs,
through a re-negotiation of NAFTA, for example, or through changes
in the way America treats foreign workers. I hope that the next
president will be someone with the political will to follow
through on all the changes that have been promised throughout
the campaigns for the nominations. And I hope he or she will
govern without ever forgetting that they owe their success to
regular people who volunteered or voted for them. 
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