Candidate gets testy with handlers as
blame game builds
Politico Oct 25, 08 7:13 PM CDT
(Newser)
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As Barack Obama holds his lead in the polls and pundits hand Sarah Palin her share of the blame, the VP candidate is getting testy with her handlers, Politico reports. "She's lost confidence in most of the people on the plane," a senior Republican said. "I think she'd like to go more rogue." Palin is accusing former Bush aides of mishandling her as she builds her own support in the campaign and the GOP.
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New York Times Oct 25, 08 4:56 PM CDT
(Newser)
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President Bush once taught a top John McCain adviser how to sell a candidate: by telling a story. The problem for Steve Schmidt, now McCain's main strategist, was finding the right tale to sell "a stubborn patriot" to voters, Robert Draper writes in the New York Times . While Obama has stuck to his "change" narrative, McCain kept switching his, and "the 'true character' of a once-crisply-defined political figure has become increasingly murky."
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OPINION
Weekly Standard Oct 25, 08 12:30 PM CDT
(Newser)
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“With 10 days to go before the election, it's getting pretty dark out there” for John McCain, William Kristol writes in the Weekly Standard . All the more reason for true conservatives to stand behind him "for the sake of the country," says Kristol, who's proud to stay off the "Obama juggernaut." He'd love to see an upset and revel in "the dejection of the mainstream media” and “the incredulity of the leftwing triumphalists.”
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Polls show 44% back Barack, most since Carter
Politico Oct 25, 08 8:55 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Barack Obama has gained more support among whites than any Democrat since Jimmy Carter, Politico reports. Some 44% of non-Hispanic whites back the Illinois senator, Gallup and Pew polls over the last 2 weeks suggest; 47% supported Carter in 1976. In the same period John McCain has pulled between 48% and 50% of the white vote, the lowest for a Republican in a two-candidate election since Barry Goldwater.
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Some Iranians pro-McCain, some pro-Obama, for strange and different reasons
MSNBC Oct 25, 08 6:40 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Though isolated and remote, Iran is understandably interested in the outcome of the US presidential election. Iranian papers are covering every aspect, publishing extensive biographies and transcripts of the debates. Opinions run the gamut, but one consensus seems to be that it doesn't matter who wins because the US has a preordained anti-Iran policy, with Israel to blame. MSNBC hit the streets to take the temperature.
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Bipartisan effort includes industry; goal is universal coverage
Washington Times Oct 24, 08 3:49 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Even as he undergoes cancer treatment, Ted Kennedy is coordinating bipartisan meetings with colleagues and lobbyists in an effort to produce health care legislation that includes universal coverage, the Washington Times reports. The meetings—involving labor unions, insurers, drug companies, and hospitals—“are a testament to how people feel about him,” said a GOP senatorial aide. Kennedy has called universal care "the cause of my life."
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ANALYSIS
Democrat's tax plans amount to 'welfare,' Republican charges
Los Angeles Times Oct 24, 08 3:19 PM CDT
(Newser)
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John McCain criticized Barack Obama’s economic plans yesterday as the Republican focuses on portraying his opponent as a tax-and-spend liberal with a socialist vision for America, the Los Angeles Times reports. McCain had hoped to iconic plumber Joe on his tour of central Florida, but Joe Wurzelbacher refused. Instead, McCain appeared with several small-business types, including a florist and sports-bar owner.
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ANALYSIS
Republicans try to distance themselves from McCain's campaign strategy
Politico Oct 24, 08 2:41 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Republicans inside John McCain’s campaign and out are pointing fingers at one another, striking a surprisingly past-tense tone about their efforts, Politico reports. The recriminations go to the top: senior Bush advisers criticized McCain for a poorly run campaign on the heels of an interview in which the candidate blames the administration for letting the country “get completely out of hand.”
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'(Bleep) you!' Joe McCain replies to operator's query
WJLA Oct 24, 08 1:14 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Power corrupts, especially if you're stuck in traffic. A man believed to be John McCain’s brother called 911 to complain about being caught in gridlock in suburban Washington, WJLA-TV reports. "Sir, are you calling 911 to complain about traffic?" asks the operator on the tape. After a pause, the caller says, "(Expletive) you!" and hangs up.
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updated
McCain volunteer told police that mugger cut one onto her face
KDKA 2 (Pittsburgh) Oct 24, 08 11:40 AM CDT
(Newser)
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The blogosphere smelled a rat, and they were apparently right. The woman who claimed that an Obama-supporting mugger carved a "B" into her cheek has confessed to making up the tale, KDKA-TV (Pittsburgh) reports. The 20-year-old told police that her black mugger got ticked when he saw her McCain bumper sticker. Given that she Twittered before and after the alleged assault and didn't seem all that concerned about getting medical attention, bloggers heaped scorn upon her story from the get-go.
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Watch video preview for Hilton's spoof White House bid
People Oct 24, 08 11:20 AM CDT
(Newser)
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It may look like the presidential race is over, but Paris Hilton wants you to know she's still in the running. The would-be "commander in bikini" has a new music vid, "Paris for President," coming out on SwagHouseMedia.com Sunday. In the meantime, People's web site has a sneak peek, showing the party-girl heiress strutting in a flag-inspired swimsuit surrounded by handsome secret service dudes singing the title verse.
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According to campaign's payroll, $11k per week
New York Times Oct 24, 08 10:50 AM CDT
(Newser)
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While no more Saks and Barney's charges have surfaced, records for the first 2 weeks of October indicate that Sarah Palin's makeup artist was the highest paid individual contributor to the McCain campaign effort, pulling in $23,000. Amy Strozzi easily beat out McCain's foreign policy adviser (just $12,500) and senior communications staffer ($12,000), reports the New York Times .