Obama lacking the late-summer numbers for a blowout
Politico Aug 13, 08 1:25 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Despite a persistent surge of enthusiasm from supporters, current polls indicate that Barack Obama's numbers lack the telltale signs of a November landslide, Politico reports. In five out of the six postwar landslides—a victory of 10% or more—the winner was ahead by at least 10% at the end of August. Obama is currently polling ahead by 2% to 5%.
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OPINION
Candidate features wind turbines in ads but again skips vital energy vote
New York Times Aug 13, 08 3:25 AM CDT
(Newser)
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John McCain's tough talk on energy has been undercut by his failure to vote on a vital renewable energy bill, Thomas L. Friedman writes in the New York Times . The bill, which has failed yet again to pass, would have extended tax credits for wind and solar projects, but McCain's absence—for the eighth time—is helping to stall those projects, and holding up thousands of jobs.
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Candidate has taken a hard line, calling for increased isolation
New York Times Aug 12, 08 10:45 AM CDT
(Newser)
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The past several days of intense combat in Georgia have underscored John McCain’s longrunning hardline stance against Vladimir Putin’s Russia, the New York Times reports. In an aspect of the candidate's track record that has received relatively little attention, McCain has called for Russia’s expulsion from the Group of 8, and urged President Bush to skip the group’s 2006 meeting in St. Petersburg.
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Issue becomes focus as huge turnout expected
Wall Street Journal Aug 12, 08 8:47 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Voter registration has become a hot-button election issue in a year that’s seen millions of new voters, the Wall Street Journal reports. In line with party trends, Democrats are working to register as many people as possible and deploying vote-protection legal experts, while Republicans keep a wary eye on potential voter fraud, scanning thousands of new voters’ documents.
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analysis
Seniors see their worldview in McCain
Washington Post Aug 12, 08 6:11 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Barack Obama is facing an unusually pronounced generation gap among voters: though normally apathetic young people are supporting him in droves, those over 65 are leaning heavily toward John McCain—a fact that’s keeping the race tight, the Washington Post reports. And seniors have a loud voice on Election Day, voting at the highest rates and holding strong sway in swing states like Pennsylvania and Florida.
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analysis
Poll surge noticeable but brief: Gallup
Chicago Tribune Aug 11, 08 7:53 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Much ink has been spilled over Barack Obama and John McCain’s upcoming VP selections, but a running mate is not a game-changing choice, the Chicago Tribune reports. History suggests the effect on opinion polls will be noticeable but not huge: Gallup shows recent candidates getting an average 5% bump after announcing their picks.
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Indepedent/Dem mayor expected to endorse Mac today
CNN Aug 11, 08 5:20 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Republican vice presidential hopeful Tom Ridge is campaigning with John McCain in Pennsylvania today, CNN reports. McCain and ex-Pennsylvania governor Ridge started the day meeting with employees at a GE plant. Asked what he would do on first taking office, McCain replied, “Call Tom Ridge to Washington from whatever vacation he is taking and get him to work."
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OPINION
Republican can't win
if debate is about him or Bush: Dionne
Washington Post Aug 11, 08 3:00 PM CDT
(Newser)
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John McCain is doing perhaps the only thing he can to win this race—casting Barack Obama as the incumbent and attacking him, writes E.J. Dionne Jr. in the Washington Post . It makes sense: People are tiring of the heavy coverage of Obama, it seems, and McCain knows that if the race becomes a referendum purely on issues, his links to President Bush and the GOP will hurt him.
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Undecided and independent, actress-activist wants refugee agenda
Wilshire & Washington Aug 11, 08 9:24 AM CDT
(Newser)
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With her star power, humanitarian activism, and status as a UN ambassador, Angelina Jolie represents a celebrity endorsement both John McCain and Barack Obama are actively seeking, reports Wilshire & Washington, Variety's politics blog. "I am waiting to see the commitments they will make on issues like international justice, refugees, and how to address the needs of children in crisis," Jolie said.
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'What was the question?' quips one
St. Petersburg Times (Russia) Aug 11, 08 3:44 AM CDT
(Newser)
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A group of fit Florida seniors have stepped up to the plate to defend candidate John MCain from criticism that he's too old to competently govern the country. "I think he could do the job in his 90s," said a supporter, one of several men born within days of McCain's birthday who were contacted by the St. Petersburg Times.
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OPINION
Candidates shouldn't ignore what 43 got right
Newsweek Aug 10, 08 1:25 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Today's Bush administration isn't pursuing all the disastrous policies it was 5 years ago, writes Fareed Zakaria in Newsweek, and unlike Dubya himself, his successor would do well to pay attention to what he's gotten right. Though both John McCain and Barack Obama keep their distance from the deeply unpopular incumbent, they won't find success in simply reversing all his policies.
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analysis
Neither campaign can take a joke, Andersen grumbles
New York Aug 10, 08 5:33 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Barack Obama and John McCain can both crack a joke, so why can't they take one this election season? From Obama offending McCain with digs about the race card to McCain's laughable anti-Obama ads, serious matters are being laughed off and bad jokes are being taken seriously, Kurt Andersen writes in New York . "Humor is proving to be the election’s consistently problematic X-factor," Andersen notes.
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