Votimus Official Blog

No News Good News For Obama

2008-10-07T21:10:00.000-07:00

In one of the more forgettable debates in recent memory, Barak Obama was the winner if for no other reason than he had no unforced errors and avoided one more potential pitfall on the way to the Presidency. McCain needed to damage Obama somehow, and according to most pundits failed to do so. With less than four weeks to go before the election, McCain is clearly running out of time.

Tonight’s Debate

2008-10-07T05:21:00.000-07:00

With polls showing that Barak Obama may be starting to pull away with the election and the U.S. economy facing more uncertainty than ever, the stakes could not be higher for John McCain in tonight’s debate in Nashville, Tennessee. Pundits disagree whether McCain needs to be tough and aggressive during the debate or act more reserved and Presidential. Either way, McCain needs to go beyond the earmark issue, reassure the American people about the economy and explain his vision for getting things back on track.

Barak Pulling Away?

2008-10-05T21:26:00.000-07:00

The lead article in today's NYT says that the number of Republican states Barak Obama is competitive in is nearly twice as much as the number of Democratic states John McCain is competitive in. Is Barak starting to pull away with this thing?

Jackie Mason Rebuttal To Sara Silverman

2008-10-04T18:59:00.000-07:00

Thought you would be interested in seeing Jackie Mason's rebuttal to Sara Silverman....

http://www.youtube.com/v/qbq7uTyWTCw&hl=en&fs=1

McCain Abandons Michigan

2008-10-04T17:37:00.000-07:00

The biggest loser in John McCain's decision to abandon Michigan is Senator Norm Coleman of Minnesota, who will now need to deal with thousands of volunteers from Michigan pouring into Minnesota. A tight race for Senator Coleman just got more difficult....

Dole in Trouble?

2008-09-26T08:30:00.000-07:00

Check out this new poll in North Carolina:
NORTH CAROLINA (Rasmussen): State Senator Kay Hagan (D) - 48%, US Senator Elizabeth Dole (R) - 45%.

Long Lines, Annoying Waits

2008-09-25T08:52:00.000-07:00

Sounds like election day, or does it?

Read the article

McCain's Remarks on the Economy

2008-09-24T13:11:00.000-07:00

America this week faces an historic crisis in our financial system. We must pass legislation to address this crisis. If we do not, credit will dry up, with devastating consequences for our economy. People will no longer be able to buy homes and their life savings will be at stake. Businesses will not have enough money to pay their employees. If we do not act, ever corner of our country will be impacted. We cannot allow this to happen.

Last Friday, I laid out my proposal and I have since discussed my priorities and concerns with the bill the Administration has put forward. Senator Obama has expressed his priorities and concerns. This morning, I met with a group of economic advisers to talk about the proposal on the table and the steps that we should take going forward. I have also spoken with members of Congress to hear their perspective.

It has become clear that no consensus has developed to support the Administration's proposal. I do not believe that the plan on the table will pass as it currently stands, and we are running out of time.

Tomorrow morning, I will suspend my campaign and return to Washington after speaking at the Clinton Global Initiative. I have spoken to Senator Obama and informed him of my decision and have asked him to join me.

I am calling on the President to convene a meeting with the leadership from both houses of Congress, including Senator Obama and myself. It is time for both parties to come together to solve this problem.

We must meet as Americans, not as Democrats or Republicans, and we must meet until this crisis is resolved. I am directing my campaign to work with the Obama campaign and the commission on presidential debates to delay Friday night's debate until we have taken action to address this crisis.

I am confident that before the markets open on Monday we can achieve consensus on legislation that will stabilize our financial markets, protect taxpayers and homeowners, and earn the confidence of the American people. All we must do to achieve this is temporarily set politics aside, and I am committed to doing so.

Following September 11th, our national leaders came together at a time of crisis. We must show that kind of patriotism now. Americans across our country lament the fact that partisan divisions in Washington have prevented us from addressing our national challenges. Now is our chance to come together to prove that Washington is once again capable of leading this country.

###

H/T to Politics1.com

2008-09-23T08:29:00.001-07:00

I like the daily roundup of polls.. check it out:
FLORIDA (ABC News/Washington Post): McCain - 51%, Obama - 46%.
MICHIGAN (Rasmussen): Obama - 51%, McCain - 44%.
MICHIGAN (Fox News/Rasmussen): Obama - 51%, McCain - 44%.
MINNESOTA (Rasmussen): Obama - 52%, McCain - 44%.
NEVADA (Suffolk Univ.): McCain - 46%, Obama - 45%, Nader - 2%, Barr - 1%.
NEW HAMPSHIRE (Univ. of New Hampshire): McCain - 47%, Obama - 45%, Others - 1%.
NEW MEXICO (PPP-D): Obama - 53%, McCain - 42%.
NORTH CAROLINA (Civitas-R): Obama - 45%, McCain - 45%, Barr - 1%.
NORTH CAROLINA (Rasmussen): McCain - 50%, Obama - 47%.
OHIO (ABC News/Washington Post): McCain - 50%, Obama - 46%.
PENNSYLVANIA (Fox News/Rasmussen): Obama - 48%, McCain - 45%.
PENNSYLVANIA (NBC News/Mason-Dixon): Obama - 46%, McCain - 44%.
VIRGINIA (SurveyUSA): Obama - 51%, McCain - 45%, Others - 2%.
VIRGINIA (Fox News/Rasmussen): McCain - 50%, Obama - 48%.
VIRGINIA (ABC News/Washington Post): Obama - 49%, McCain - 46%, Others - 0%.
VIRGINIA (ARG): McCain - 48%, Obama - 46%, Others - 0%.

October Surprise?

2008-09-19T08:54:00.000-07:00

WHERE'S THE BEEF?

What is Barack Obama waiting for? As all hell breaks loose in the financial markets, presented to the candidates is the perfect opening to make an impact, rise above the noise, tell us what they would do as president in this situation and show us how presidential they are. Of course, both candidates have economic advisors working on plans for the future, plans to prevent crisis, plans to create jobs or lower taxes or grow the middle class or lower taxes again. And so, this is the time. Tell us what you will do!

John McCain released a statement today (Political Wire was kind enough to present the presidential candidate statements from the Wall Street Journal) that outlines a five- or six-point plan (I read it, but the last couple of points kind of blended, so I wasn't sure how to count it). It addresses the financial market crisis, health care costs, and energy policy - all of which adds up to the economy in general. I don't much like his plan, but the guy's got a plan. Excellent. Information on which Americans can base their vote this November. It makes me realize that I'll never vote Republican, but it's not a crazy plan and it is a plan.

So, Barack Obama must have a plan, too? And he has released it today, as well? Not so much. What is he thinking?!!! In Obama's statement, he tell us . . . not much. First he tells us that he is not going to tell us what he would do. Then he tells us the principles on which he will base his plan, the plan that he is not revealing yet. Of course, Obama is trying to be responsible, telling us that this crisis is so serious that there is no room for partisan politics. Obama will wait until the Fed-Treasury proposal is released.

Uh, what?

Senator Obama, take the bull by the horns and use this opportunity, maybe not to address the type of regulatory reform needed or other complex financial market dynamics, but Good G_d! You can address the economy. This is it! This is the perfect opportunity for you to roll out your broad economic plan, the two-prong plan that is straight-forward and simple, yet elegant and effective. The plan that talks about a brand-new, fresh works program centered around green jobs, how this plan will not only build America's infrastructure and fulfill its energy needs, but it will also stem global warming! The plan that has as its second prong your detailed health care reform proposal, which will lower health care costs for America as a whole, which will help the economy as a whole, as well as provide individual Americans both financial relief and actual health care! What are you waiting for???

Maybe he is waiting for October. It's a good month. Any bounce he gets in October, as opposed to September, is more likely to last through November 4. Maybe that's it. He's waiting to produce his own October Surprise. Maybe that's it.

I am (still) very worried.

NOW Goes Against Palin

2008-09-17T14:10:00.000-07:00

Sort of as a double to what I was talking about yesterday, (yes that is right, I didn't put the elephant there again) this came across the ransom today. Looks like NOW (National Organization of Women) has endorsed against the FIRST FEMALE CANDIDATE since 1984 on a Major Ticket.

I think that goes to back up, politics by race or sex has no place in the national discourse.

See the release here.

Its Getting Annoying

2008-09-16T09:53:00.000-07:00

Boy, am I tired of listening to this rhetoric about the advancement for the women's movement because of Palin. How is that? Just solely on the basis of her being a woman. When Joe Lieberman (remember when he ran in 2000, was not this new Joe Lieberman reinvention of himself) ran, I didn't feel it was a step forward solely because he was Jewish. I almost considered that some kind of reverse antisemitism. We should be electing leaders based on who they are, and what they stand for, and of course their qualifications. Bottom line. Period. Don't often agree with things she said, but Gloria Steinem nailed it in this editorial. Click Here.

PS I didnt put the elephant today because this wasn't very elephanty.

Women!

2008-09-14T22:48:00.000-07:00

What Do We Want?

There is a debate raging about who is better for women (see, This Week conversation between McCaskill and Fiorina, for example). And who is better to women. Democrats or Republicans? Are Republicans better because John McCain chose Sarah Palin and Barack Obama rejected Hillary Clinton? Are Democrats better because they support policies that support women around the country?

Does a candidate win if he promotes women's rights and issues important to women by promoting and respecting women? Does he win if he supports a woman's right to choose, assistance to women for child care, and equal-pay-for-equal-work legislation?

Is it in the interest of women to have a president who promotes women and pays them well or to have a president who supports legislation to require everyone else to promote women and pay them well?

The answer is yes. Both. All of the above.

Unfortunately, each campaign only gets 50% of the way there when it comes to women. Maybe not even 50%. Promotion at the top is critical. Public respect of women in senior positions is critical. Fixing our system so that issues key to women at every level is critical. There is much to be done.

And what are women's issues, anyway? They are usually defined to include child support, abortion, women's health, child care, equal pay, etc. This drives me crazy! I am a woman and of the things on which I want to see my party's candidate campaign, these do not make the list. How the Iraq War is waged makes my short list. How we defeat the Taliban and other renegades in Afghanistan makes my list. How we defeat Al Qaeda and other terrorists makes my list. How we deal with Russian positioning and aggression makes my list. Whether Israel and Iran get into it makes my list. The proliferation of small and large nuclear arms makes my list. And did I mention that I am a woman?

Global warming, the development of alternative fuels, the creation of a green jobs program, and poor air quality make my short list. Our broken health care system makes my short list. The shrinking of the middle class and the diminishing returns of the American Dream makes my list. The issues defined as "women's issues" are also important, but they go to the fine tuning of our economy, of our health policy, of the survival of our middle class - they are not the issues on which most voters, including female voters, will be convinced.

Sarah Palin is a good thing for the advancement of women in American society. Not just the fact that she was named, but Gov. Palin herself. (I do have to wonder, however, whether the fact that she is Superwoman is good or bad for women - do we all have to be that incredible, able to work 60+ hours per week while raising our children, returning to work within days of giving birth, managing our offices from our children's sick beds, and so on? Should we have as our example, perhaps, not a superwoman but a mother who receives some help for good child care, whose husband stays at home with the children while she works, who gets paid a bonus even though she leaves work early once in a while to tend to her children? But I digress. . . .)

But if having Gov. Palin on the McCain ticket is good for women, and in many ways I think that it is, having Palin as our Vice President and in a position to influence policy on Roe v. Wade, sex education, and child-care assistance, let alone on Afghanistan, Russia, Iran, global warming, health insurance, and the middle class, would be disastrous for everyone, including the half of the populous who happen to be women.

That's the blessing and curse of women throughout time - more gifts, but with each one comes a price.

Remembering

2008-09-11T21:43:00.000-07:00

Here at Votimus, our thoughts are with all those who lost loved ones and friends and colleagues in the attacks of 9/11. Our thoughts are with our soldiers and with all those who have crossed oceans to risk life and limb to keep us safe and to care for the many victims of war.

And we commend both presidential candidates for suspending their campaign ads and appearances on this somber day.

HOPE is a Bumper Sticker

2008-09-11T11:58:00.000-07:00

Is Obama a Fad or Real Change?
Some Unsolicited Advice for Barack Obama

Driving to work today I spotted one of those ever-present Obama HOPE bumper stickers and I thought . . . that reminds me a lot of my old Duran Duran sticker. Then I thought . . . why does that remind me of my old Duran Duran sticker?

My Duran Duran sticker was a big deal when I was in high school. Duran Duran was hot. They were huge. Then I went to college with my Duran Duran sticker on my Army-Navy surplus store trunk and within the year, maybe the first quarter, it was sooooo passe. I'm afraid that Obama might be like Duran Duran - a fad. A really, really big deal . . . for a while. Part of what defines a fad, of course, is that it is temporary, sometimes even fleeting. Is Obama a fleeting fancy?

You see people swoon over Barack Obama, you hear them extol his virtues (granted, not with much specificity), and watch as they give and give and give to his campaign and turn out for his blockbuster speeches. But what I don't hear, the phrase that is notably absent from politico lips, the phrase that is the ultimate compliment, at least to a Democrat . . . "He's the real deal." That's what was said about Bill Clinton. It's what was said about Jeb Bartlett (oh, woops, that's make believe). If it were the phrase in vogue at the time, it probably would have been said about John F. Kennedy and Franklin D. Roosevelt. I haven't heard it uttered too often about Barack Obama. At all, actually. I certainly wouldn't think to say it about him.

Then there's his image, his logo, his website, his slogans, his speeches. They are all ethereal. There's the halo-like O that makes up his logos, there's the blue-to-light blue sky colors as background behind the halo-like O on his website. There's HOPE. There's the messiah-like feel to his speeches and the crowds' reponses. There's the constant reminder that he is Christian (probably not his fault given the incessant yet false claims of him not being Christian). The policy details are there, somewhere, but they're buried, left alone on the ground while the rest of the campaign floats somewhere overhead.

But here's the rub. He may be a fad, but if he is going to win this election, he just may have to go with that, make the fad last through November 4, ride the wave. He won the Democratic nomination because of all of this stuff, because of these fad-like qualities. Abandoning them is not going to do the trick. He just doesn't have enough depth, and he certainly is not skilled enough in the art of the political interview or debate, to be able to win any other way. He has to run this race on his terms, not on McCain's - run it his way, not McCain's. He needs to be himself and continue to inspire, rouse, and sway. He needs to continue to give his big speeches, make a big splash.

Honing his interviewing and debating skills would be good, too. Maybe he could take a lesson or two from people like Hillary Clinton and L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. The Mayor was on KPCC radio this morning and was asked about the holes in Los Angeles' homeland security. This is not a question that the leader of a city should EVER answer directly. Mayor Villaraigosa answered brilliantly, explaining what we get funding for, what we need to get more funding for, that resources are going to all critical areas so that we are in good shape, while still explaining that we need additional resources to further bolster our security. That's a home-run answer. It addresses the issue raised in the question, but on the politician's terms. This is something Barack Obama must master.

The biggest problem with Barack Obama's campaign lately, aside from serious foot-in-mouth disease on the part of both the presidential and vice presidential candidates, is that it is on the defensive and fighting in a passive manner. This causes Obama to look weak, arrogant, and childish. Not a winning combination. The campaign needs to go on the offensive. Not necessarily on the attack because that would require continuing to focus on John McCain or, worse, Governor Palin, but on the offensive. This means crafting an assertive (parts will be positive, parts will be negative) message that tells voters what Obama will accomplish as president, how this will make voters' personal world and our collective world better, and that Obama is in command and will keep us secure (in terms of the economy and our safety). Sprinkle that with some hits on McCain (not Bush) and we're good to go.

Polling, I think, bears out what I propose (see recent ABC News/Washington Post poll and related article).

1. Green Jobs and Global Warming Rollback Program

A message about what Obama will do 1) to stop global warming, 2) to encourage us to create, produce, and use alternative energy (which will also keep our energy and gas/car costs down), and 3) to create a new green jobs program. You've got global warming, high gas prices, jobs, the economy, tax breaks (later called tax cuts), and other green issues.

2. Health Care and Insurance Reform

A message about what Obama will do to fix/replace our broken health care system - his health care proposal. Possibly follow Mitt Romney and Hillary Clinton's leads and add the mandatory requirement provision. Be bold and go further in the area of tort reform, supporting mandatory caps or some variation on this - bring this point closer to the forefront using clever wording to make it sound simpler and more interesting than it would otherwise. This goes to health care, but it also goes to economic/financial security for most Americans and corruption/gluttony of the rich insurance companies.

3. Foreign Policy

A message about how Obama will make us feel safe and secure in the midst of the world's craziness. Obama could say . . . I will take the lead in world affairs, I will repair broken relationships, I will act responsibly and be steadfast in policing the world's troublemakers, I will curtail proliferation of nuclear small and large arms, I will help to stabilize the world's shaky and dangerous countries through economic assistance, I will stand by Israel, I will stabilize Iraq so that we are not drawn back in, I will wage war on the Taliban, Al Qaeda, and other belligerent forces in Afghanistan, I will sure up fragmented support in Pakistan, I will work with world leaders to keep Iran from getting nuclear weapons, I will keep an eye on Russia and not let them pull any more punches, I will strengthen our military, I will keep America safe and secure. If Obama exhibits knowledge of geopolitics, makes it clear that he'll be in charge, and names someone as his chief foreign policy advisor (Biden?) . . . if he does this clearly, concisely, consistently, decisively, and in a forward-looking manner, we may start to see him as Commander in Chief.

And finally, one last message for Senator Obama . . . Bush sucked, but we're over it.

Tell us why you will be a fantastic president, how you will keep us safe, how you will keep (or make) the economy healthy, not how you are different than Bush or McCain is the same as Bush. And don't forget to pivot in those interviews and debates!

Rhetoric, Take a Break

2008-09-11T08:11:00.000-07:00

Of course there are lots of going ons, but because its September 11th, I think it is best for it to take a break, and for everyone to remember those who died defending our nation and in the horrible 9/11 attacks.

Ron Paul Endorses...

2008-09-10T07:35:00.001-07:00

Ron Paul is going to endorse someone. Republican? Nope. Democrat? Nope. One of the third party candidates. What does this mean for Paul's future? Will he continue to be a Republican? Or will he also switch parties? He has been pretty strident in his career making sure he always voted close to his principles.

The real question is, What should the Republican Party do with Ron Paul?

Palin's Church, What's Next?

2008-09-09T08:02:00.001-07:00

As a student of Political happenings, and of course Presidential Campaigns, this one is so fascinating. I am sure you all agree. Now, I think it is becoming evident that John McCain did not do the best job in vetting Palin. But, how bad is it really? He has seen a jump in his poll numbers, right? But the question is, will they stay. First it was the baby. Then the bridge to nowhere, and the Ebay plane fiasco. Now it is her religion. It seems as though the McCain Camp is trying to keep her religion under wraps because she is a Pentecostal. Interesting, considering how long was spent talking about a certain other candidates religious leaders (no names, Wright, no names). Palin Story.

So when will it end with Palin? Will there ever be equality in the vetting/reporting? Time will tell.

PIVOT!!!!

2008-09-08T22:24:00.000-07:00

Never Answer the Question Asked!

Calling all political coaches! Calling all political coaches! Barack Obama needs you. Now!!

I don't know how many people saw Stephanopolous' Sunday interview of Barack Obama, but I really hope that the undecided and tepid supporters were not among them. Wow, what a terrible interview. Obama waivered, stalled, stuttered, and made the ultimate political mistake by actually answering the questions asked.

Hasn't anyone told Senator Obama that you NEVER answer the question asked? Senator, please please please learn to PIVOT. If they ask you a pointed question about the success of the Surge, for instance, you don't talk about how it was a success but it wasn't a success and the subtle differences between what might be only a temporary peace versus what could be a long-term peace, or not. Kerry-esque answers will do you no good.

What you do do is hone in on one or two of the words or issues raised and use those as a launching off point to pivot and say whatever you want to say. For instance, in the example given, you say, "The war has gone on for too long, too many lives have been lost, too many soldiers have been wounded, too many families have been devastated to risk electing a president McCain who talks like someone who just might launch us into another war, this time with an almost-nuclear-armed Iran or a nuclear-armed Russia or who knows who." OK, maybe a slightly more nuanced version of this, but you get the idea. It's called pivoting. Please learn how to do it!! BEFORE the debates.

Hypocrisy

2008-09-05T09:18:00.000-07:00

Ok, I hate hypocrisy. Period. On either side of the isle, in anything. Why are the Democrats saying Palin's personal life should be kept off limits? Both parties engage in personal politics, do they not? And should the fact that Palin is campaigning full time with an infant at home be off limits? I don't know, I think when you are electing someone, their choices in their personal lives do reflect their value system, do they not?

Lets Try Something New Today

2008-09-04T10:17:00.000-07:00

I am curious to get some reader input, what should McCain say tonight? What will he say tonight? I think it will be interesting to predict.

Confident, Ernest, Powerful, Effective - A Nightmare

2008-09-03T20:09:00.000-07:00

Palin Brings the House Down

And John McCain's choice is vindicated. Palin is incredible. A phenomenal speech.

The crowd loved Sarah Palin. I can't imagine there are any Republicans who didn't love her. She is a power house. Bright, knowledgeable, and she gives a great speech. She kicked ass. They laughed, they cried, they cheered, they were moved, they were brought to their feet. That's a speech.

Confession: I got chills when she accepted the nomination (the woman thing). And this from a politician with whom I disagree on just about everything! I think that working the woman angle is going to help McCain - it may not get him 10 points, but he may only need one or two to win this election in the end. . . . I hope not.

The GOP is unified. There are no disgruntled Republicans mulling about the hall. They are all for one and it's John McCain. How much you wanna bet that no one is going to talk about Joe Biden or think about Joe Biden for a long, long time? Maybe ever?

Palin's speech was filled with acrimony ("the presidency is not supposed to be a journey of personal discovery" - ouch) and absolutely horrid policy (pro-life, pro-drilling, anti-tax). I think it might work. Very Republican, no doubt and no confusion. She might be a maverick when it comes government ethics, but in no other arena is she a rebel. She is red, through and through. But she is a fighter, very tough, and kind of sexy. Not sure yet how that is going to play. it's been a while since we've had sexy in a politician - not since Jack Kennedy. (Confession #2: I think Bill Clinton is sexy, too.)

Democrats had better step it up, take some risks, and be bold. The Obama campaign had better have something special planned. This going to be a fight. They are going to have to get at the substance, but not in a boring, lecturing, Democratic Party kind of way. We really need the Clintons! Let's hope that Obama's charm and charisma works magic.

One thing, though, is that the McCain campaign just took a sharp and permanent turn to the right. That is the one decision they've made that I don't think is very smart. But times, they are a changin' and its not about getting out of Iraq (Presidents of the U.S. and Iraq have already agreed that U.S. troops will withdraw in a year or so) and its not about incompetence in government anymore (McCain has shown that he can handle an almost crisis with his smooth approach to Hurricane Gustav, plus its been a long time since Katrina and political memories are short). And if its about the economy, well, what does that even mean?

Here's hoping Democrats can pull this off.

I'm very worried.

Giuliani!

2008-09-03T19:26:00.000-07:00

What A Weapon

If the McCain campaign continues to make use of Rudy Giuliani . . . Democrats are in even more trouble than I already think. If it weren't for those pesky issues, I'd be convinced!

Some snippets:

Not so subtly referring to Obama, Giuliani said, "Change is not a destination and hope is not a strategy."

Ouch.

After listing a number of supposed Obama flip flops, Giuliani said, "If I were Joe Biden, I'd want to get that VP think in writing."

Then, referring to the candidates different reactions to the Russian invasion of Georgia, he said that Obama went the route of moral equivalency in the same way he compared the Palestinian Authority and Israel.

Double ouch.

Then he says that Obama had to consult with his "300 foreign policy advisors" on the Georgian conflict and that he recommended that the UN Security Council deal with it - Giuliani then adds that apparently none of Obama's 300 advisors told him that Russia has the veto on the Security Council. Giuliani goes on to recommend to Obama, "Next time . . . call John McCain."

Giuliani gets some attitude and says that he's sorry that Obama seems to think that Palin's hometown, of which she was Mayor, is not cosmopolitan enough. This is said with great derision and visions of arugula dance before the listeners eyes quite effectively.

Then, in introducing Sarah Palin, he says something like, How dare they (Democrats, the media) question whether Palin has enough time to be a mother and a vice president - how dare they! When do they ever ask a man that question?!!

Oh my.

Now Palin . . . let's she what's she got.

I'm very worried.

Fundamentally Incompetent!

2008-09-03T10:11:00.000-07:00

Maryland's Gilchrest Has Harsh Words for GOP

The recently unseated Republican congressman from the first district of Maryland, Wayne Gilchrest, presented a lovely gift to Democratic nominee Frank Kratovil, Jr. and the Democratic Party yesterday. His exact words were, "The Republican Party has strayed from the mainstream and from being fundamentally competent." This was part of his endorsement of Kratovil. Gilchrest, who lost his reelection bid in the primary to Republican State Senator Andy Harris back in February, made this announcement on the second day of the Republican Convention. Pow!

According to CQ Politics, Gilchrest made the argument that the GOP has wandered far from its true purposes and, in its extremism, has contributed to the acrimonious and unproductive atmosphere in Washington. And he wasn't shy about naming a few issues from which he thinks the Republican Party has strayed, including the environment, foreign policy, agriculture, energy, and health care. How lovely!

I have argued and still believe that choosing Palin as McCain's running mate was a stroke of genius. However, this does not mean that she is indestructible or that they cannot be beat. One of the best arguments Democrats and the Obama campaign will be able to use against the presidential candidates is Palin's conservatism. She holds opinions and beliefs not held by a majority of Americans and Americans are pretty sick of being represented by people with extreme views. So, while Palin's right-leaning tendencies might rally the Republican base . . . if used properly, they can also really piss off the rest of us. And now "the rest of us" can be defined to include a Republican or too. Thank you Congressman Gilchrest.

While the Center Was A-Rockin

2008-09-03T09:24:00.000-07:00

While people in Minnesota were listening to Senators, former Senators, and enjoying the promotion of the Republican ticket, Arizona was voting. Thats right, primary day!

AZ 1- Congressman Rick Renzi is retiring due to an investigation that is ongoing. The primaries on both sides were nasty, but Sydney Hay, the person who ran against Renzi in 2002 was victorious on the GOP side, while Ann Kirkpatrick was successful on the Democratic side.

AZ 5- Congressman Harry Mitchell beat former Rep JD Hayworth in one of the closest races in the country. The Republican primary was long and bruising, but David Schweikert was the victor.

Votimus will update the races in the coming weeks and months.

Palin Fever

2008-09-02T08:00:00.000-07:00

There seems to be a lot of excitement and fever surrounding Sarah Palin. Well that is understandable, but there are a few things that are interesting. First off, it sounds like McCain made this decision without polls or focus groups. That is a very brave move. Second off, it seems like he made the selection without first doing research on her. Now, it comes out that her daughter, 17 years old is pregnant, Palin was a member of the Independent party that wanted to break off from the US, and also supported the "bridge to nowhere". All of this came out during the RNC convention, and only on the first day. Is there more to come, or is this it? Only time will tell..

Gustav! Palin! Bush! Hoorah!!

2008-08-31T11:06:00.000-07:00

Stormy Weather in Minnesota . . .
But for Republicans or Democrats?

Not more than a few hours after the exhilarating Democratic National Convention ended, things have turned around for the GOP. Barack Obama's campaign had better have something special planned for the weeks and months ahead.

Sarah Palin is a brilliant choice. Democrats will hit her on lacking experience and Republicans will come back and hit Obama for lacking experience. Democrats will say that the fact that she is a woman is irrelevant and that Hillary voters wouldn't be so stupid as to vote for someone just because she is a woman. But Republicans will know that not all Hillary voters were Democrats and therefore will be attracted to the idea of a woman vice president (and won't appreciate being called stupid for supporting Sarah Palin).

Sarah Palin is known to have an independent streak (she opposed the bridge to nowhere - showing strength enough to deny her own constituents and stand up to the, until recently, powerful Senator Stevens), which will help to distance the pair from George Bush and Dick Cheney. This will re-emphasize McCain's old maverick side. And the Palin pick has energized the campaign - no small thing.

To top all of this off, disaster may have a silver lining for the GOP. Gustav is bearing down on the Gulf Coast and John McCain is there, meeting with Mississippi's Haley Barbour. Gustav may head for the Republican convention after doing its worst down south - the Republican party is considering raising money through its convention for victims of this next storm. Even better, President Bush won't be able to make it to the convention - talk about a blessing (McCain doesn't have to say he doesn't want the President there, yet the President won't be there)! And, of course, McCain, with the help of Sarah Palin, will show compassion and competence and further distance himself from President Bush.

Now, time will tell how this will all turn out. Sarah Palin's inexperience is a real problem that Republicans will have to address, but because of Obama's inexperience, it is not disqualifying. I believe this will be a race. I believe that choosing Palin makes McCain as competitive as he can be. He has even made himself look younger by choosing someone young and exciting and by making the not obvious choice. We shall see if the Maverick is back, but if he is, Obama is in for a very tough fight. I hope he is up to the challenge and doesn't underestimate his competition. I hope that the country really is ready to elect a Democrat to be our next president.

Post Script

As I watched Bill Clinton's speech at the Pepsi Center in Denver, I got very sad. I became sad because we were watching a great president and his incredible wife and senator leave center stage, at least for now. I was sad because I saw the difference between Bill Clinton and Barack Obama - that Clinton spoke to each of us, one to one, as though he were right there in our living rooms while Obama spoke to us as a group, as though he were addressing a congregation that is supposed to react to him in concert. I miss the brilliance and earnestness of Bill Clinton.

But after leaving that speech, I went to an Obama event that showed me the great power he has over people. The way he can arouse people to care and participate. This is also a very good thing. If used well and if not abused, it can be an incredible thing. Now I just hope he wins.

Lex Luther v. Superman

2008-08-29T13:24:00.001-07:00

Resilience/Periodic Genius v. The Superstar

I had heard from a journalist that Sarah Palin hadn't passed the vetting process because of some kind of questionable financial dealings, but aside from this, I thought that McCain would be a genius to choose her. If not her, maybe Kay Bailey Hutchison. Palin is a woman (and popular among Republicans). Barack Obama did not choose Hillary Clinton. Hillary Clinton is a woman. Lots of not-so- or not-at-all-solid Democratic women were pretty excited about voting for a woman. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this one out. Sarah Palin is a well-liked woman. Really, that's what it all boils down to.

I am worried.

I've been on a bit of a roller coaster ride the last few days.

. . . I am pissed off at Obama for running. I am pissed off at the Obamas and the Obama primary campaign for having run an insidious campaign that managed to label one of the greatest crusaders for the causes of African Americans as a racist. I am annoyed that Obama has not been very helpful to Hillary Clinton since the primary season ended.

. . . I am worried that Obama cannot win the presidency.

. . . I am worried that if Obama wins the presidency he will not be tough enough or decisive enough to keep us safe, especially with regard to Israel, but also with regard to the Middle East and Russia and whatever comes next.

. . . I am happy to think about all the good Obama could do for the African-American community. I am thrilled and gratified to think that we will have our first African-American nominee for President of the United States.

. . . I am afraid that Obama is not the one to navigate the difficult and complex geopolitical waters ahead.

. . . I am pissed that I didn't get the VP text message I signed for.

. . . I cannot believe that Obama chose Biden as his running mate. What was he thinking? Is there something I'm missing, something I don't know? I am underwhelmed and and doubting Obama's cleverness.

. . . I am really excited about the Democratic National Convention. I am having a great time at the Convention. I love Denver!

. . . I am still pissed that Hillary is not the nominee. I am sad but impressed when watching Hillary's speech. I am blown away by Bill Clinton's speech and pissed off that Michelle Obama looks like she hates him the whole time he's talking. I am amazed that the Obamas can be such sore winners.

. . . I still haven't seen her speech - I will watch it tomorrow.

. . . I am amazed at the 20-something crowd energized by Barack Obama - especially amazed about how much they care about the problems and challenges facing this country and how interested they seem to be in helping to solve some of those problems, face some of those challenges. I have turned a corner and I am feeling better about Barack Obama. I am getting some closure and healing a bit.

. . . I am emotional at the significance of Barack Obama accepting the Democratic nomination.

. . . I am still worried that he won't win, but after his speech, I feel a little better about that.

. . . I am worried that John McCain will choose Palin or Hutchison as his running mate and we'll lose.

. . . I am caught up in the excitement and thinking positive thoughts.

. . . I am impressed that McCain did the genius thing and now very, very worried again.

Maybe Obama's strategy of painting McCain as a well-meaning, but doddering and nearly senile old man will work. Maybe not. Maybe the Obama camp has something more up its collective sleeve. Maybe the resilient John McCain (remember his nearly dead campaign earlier in the primary season?) has even more up his sleeve. Maybe Obama will be like Superman and outsmart the genius, overcome the kryptonite, and defeat Lex Luther in the end.

One can only HOPE.

(And work one's tush off to make sure that Barack Obama is the next President of the United States!)

Its Palin

2008-08-29T09:09:00.000-07:00

For those of you who haven't heard, McCain chose Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate. Good news, now he can count on Alaska's three electoral votes!

The Party's On in Denver!

2008-08-28T08:43:00.000-07:00

Thank You Denver!

Colorado has a lot to offer. Boulder is the cutest town ever. The Rocky Mountains speak for themselves. The skiing is incredible. The weather is almost unrivaled. The rivers and streams and wildflowers are wonderful. Even the horses seem healthier here than almost anywhere else. And politically, Colorado is the penultimate swing state this year - it will be close in the presidential due to a growing Latino vote and other changes affecting the nation. And there is an interesting senate race between Mark Udall and Bob Schaffer, which could also be close, though Udall has been keeping up a 7-9 point lead since June.

With all of this, I had never given Colorado's capital city much thought. This is not a city I knew well before coming here for the Democratic Convention. I had driven through and it had seemed nice enough. It's pretty. It's surrounded by magestic beauty. That's what I knew.

Then I met the Mayor of Denver at a function in Washington, DC. He was very nice, pretty down-to-earth and generous with his time. He spent about 45 minutes talking to another mayor's son about colleges.

This week nailed it. I really like Denver. I really love the people of Denver. So, so hospitable! Really, it's sort of unreal. As I type, I am sitting in the law office of an attorney who, just to be nice, offered me and a colleague a ride home late Monday night (and later, use of his office). He spotted us on the street, hopelessly trying to hail a taxi. He drove up, asked us where we were going, and whether we'd like a ride. We said yes, jumped in, and off we went in his Prius (of course he drove a Prius!). In the car, he asked where we were from. We said Los Angeles. He said, "Do you know Nate & Al's?" We said, "Of course we know Nate & Al's!" I said, "My grandmother and my great uncle used to go there all the time, and I love it as well." The kind attorney said, "Al was my uncle." How cool is that?!

A couple of days and many miles later, requiring foot-replacement surgery, I entered a Walgreens to purchase a pair of flip flops, hoping this would get me through the next two days with minimal pain. I found a pair, but while checking out all the stylish options, a Walgreens employee asked me if I needed help. In shock at this gesture, I explained why I was looking at several hideous pairs of flip flops, and she suggested that I try gel-filled shoe liners. She then proceeded to walk me to the product and helped me pick one out. That has NEVER happened to me in ANY drug store I've EVER shopped in. I thought that this level of customer service was reserved to high-end clothing boutiques in Beverly Hills for the rich and famous.

And then I attended the best party I've been to in a long time. Danny Glover was there. Daniel Dae Kim was there. S.F. Mayor Gavin Newsom hosted with Moveon.org and was there. Death Cab for Cutie's Chris Walla and Ben Gibbard, Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley, and Zooey Deschanel performed. And DJ Z-Trip and some amazing woman with a hoola hoop did a spectacular job of making sure that a fun time was had by all. Of course, Shepard Fairey was there, as well and the gallery hosting the party, Manifest Hope Gallery, was showing his art and featuring his Obama pieces. There was dancing and more enthusiasm for Obama than I'd seen the previous several days at the convention!

I've just got to say that I also learned something at this shindig. I got there just as DJ Z-Trip was finishing up the earlier concert. He had the crowd, almost all people in their 20's, so excited about Obama - I hadn't seen this side of the Obama phenomena and it was eye opening. There was a thrill in the air and for the first time, I got into it. I don't think I've ever seen that many 20-somethings, every one tragically hip, interested in, let alone totally enthusiastic about, what happens to the country and who leads it. We'll see if the youth turnout will be what the hype suggests, but from what I saw last night - it's possible.

I love Denver!!

Big Political Day

2008-08-28T08:25:00.000-07:00

Some days there are just too many things, and we need to let everyone know all of the things that are happening.

1. Yesterday we reported that Congressman Don Young's political career was on a bridge to nowhere. Today, that looks like it may have reversed. He is now ahead by 152 votes including provisional ballots. There will be recounts upon recounts. Developing..

2. Obama is speaking tonight.. his cameo last night was actually very exciting and well timed.

3. McCain is set to announce his VP pick in the next 24-48 hours. Any guesses as to who it will be?

Live from the Democratic National Convention: Obama vs. Billary and the Generational Divide

2008-08-27T13:39:00.000-07:00

DENVER, CO-

Sitting in another Starbucks on Day Three of the Democratic National Convention. A bit fried, but ready for another round of politics as game show. The headliners tonight are Bill Clinton and Joe Biden. I'm gonna be interested to see how much attacking is done, how aggressive these guys are in going after the Republicans. I imagine that Biden will come out swinging. Lots of call-and-response. And of course it will be interesting to see how emphatic President Clinton is in his support of Barack.

Much has been made of the contentious relationship between Hillary and Obama, but the one who's really smarting is Bill. You can go back through the primary season and pick your moments, trying to find the many causes of the lingering hard feelings. The attack ads on Hillary. The race card that Bill feels was played against him in South Carolina.

But in the end, the real reason for Bill's disgruntlement would seem to be twofold:

1.) Obama beat his wife in a squeaker.

2.) Obama has assumed leadership of the Democratic party, wresting it away from the Clintons, who have held the title for more than fifteen years. (This may turn out to be temporary.)

There are a good many angry Clintonites here in town, the majority of whom are older Democrats, establishment Dems who have been involved for years. I can verify that. I've seen it. I've talked to it. I've listened to it. Sometimes the anger is overt. More often the anger is subtle.

Understandably, they are disappointed. Their preferred candidate lost an incredibly close race. Gut-wrenching. Historic. And then, to add salt to the wound, she didn't get the nod for V.P. She didn't even get vetted. It seems she was barely considered at all. This offends them, perhaps rightfully so.

The more moderate among Clintonites---which is to say, most of them---are still going to vote for Barack in November. I've heard this repeatedly throughout the week. And after Hillary's speech last night, one would think that the herd would continue to rally around the larger cause.

Yes, we're disappointed. Yes, we would prefer Hillary. But it is what it is, and of course we're going to support Obama.

And then, of course, there is the small minority of Clinton supporters who are truly livid and deeply, irreversibly bitter. They really dislike Obama and wouldn't even think of supporting him in November. These folks are getting a lot of air time, of course, but they are really only a small part of the story. The radical fringe.

I find them fascinating. Most people do, it seems. They have blinders on, these people. Such is their love for their candidate. It's not that they're wrong in all respects---Barack Obama did throw some sharp elbows at the Clintons throughout the primary season, and his campaign staff hasn't done a great job of reaching out to Hillary supporters in the wake of her defeat.

But to my mind, there is nothing that Barack Obama did that hasn't been done a million times over by every presidential candidate in history---including the Clintons, most certainly.

And yet these diehard Clinton people don't see that. Or won't see that.

Rose-colored glasses.

The media was against Hillary.

(A statement that holds more than a grain of truth.)

Obama was against Hillary and played dirty.

(Yes, but Hillary played every bit as dirty, as did Bill.)

To be fair: Plenty of Obama supporters see their candidate through rose-colored glasses and believe that both he and his campaign staff have conducted themselves with absolute integrity.

And naturally this, too, is utter bullshit.

Obama can play ugly just like any of them. One of his great skills is doing so while maintaining a dignified calm.

Ruthlessness would appear to be a fixture (and a necessity?) of presidential politics.

Increasingly, I am coming to see this election as generational in nature. Generational among Democrats, with the younger half of the party being far more comfortable with Obama than the older, more entrenched half. And generational on the national level, where, say, the Baby Boomers have a hard time "feeling comfortable" with Obama and his "exotic background," while their offspring have no trouble at all.

Speaking generally:

The older half of the American electorate seems overwhelmingly White Male in its orientation. And if not White Male, then White Female (as long as it's Hillary).

The younger half, less so.

Looking ahead to November, it would seem that the election will be determined by young voters and new voters in the under-forty set. College kids casting their first ballot. Minorities feeling compelled to vote for the very first time. Nobody really knows what kind of impact these voters will have. It's a hard thing to measure or predict.

You talk to older voters in both parties, and the sense is that Obama has a steep uphill climb ahead of him. They're not entirely enthused. They're not entirely optimistic.

"Yes, he's a very impressive young man, but I just don't know if he has the experience. I just don't know if America is ready for that."

You talk to younger voters, and the opposite is often true. Not only is the country ready for it, it's in dire need of it.

Time will tell which side wins out.

Running on fumes,
BL

Brad Listi is in Denver all week. You can track him at www.BradListi.com.

Go Scweitzer Go!

2008-08-27T13:19:00.000-07:00

Speeches That Sometimes Lead to Big, Big Things

The big news last night was, of course, Hillary Clinton's speech to fellow Democrats. What was she going to say? Would she be enthusiastic enough about Barack Obama? Would she mean what she said? Would she be persuasive enough?

I say yes. She did the gracious and loyal thing and she did it well.

But I believe something else might have happened last night. A rising star made an impression and you never know where that leads, sometimes to the White House. There was a whole line-up of rising star speakers for last night's convention proceedings. But there was only one who stood out. And my guess is that it wouldn't have been the one you'd expect. I suppose the Democratic Party must have been clued in, as must be the state of Montana, but the rest of us might have supposed that Mark Warner would rock our worlds, or maybe Deval Patrick. It wasn't them.

Brian Schweitzer, Governor of Montana, was the man of the hour. He impressed some CBS News folks I was sharing space with - both for the speech and for the affect he had on the crowd. And they were right - the Hall was snoozing until Schweitzer got going. He was great! Watch out for him in the coming years!

142 and counting

2008-08-27T08:51:00.000-07:00

Is it the end of 18-term Congressman Don Young's career? Thats right, a man that is an icon of Alaska politics, and was elected when Nixon was winning his re-election is loosing the Alaska primary by 142 votes to Lt. Governor Sean Parnell. While 142 votes is pretty close, and look for a re-count, looks like Don Young will be heading to retirement. Maybe they are going to send him out on the bridge to nowhere.

DAY TWO: What Are Democrats Thinking??

2008-08-26T21:34:00.000-07:00

Hillary is Phenomenal

I will vote for Barack Obama. I will vote for Barack Obama because I believe that this country and the world will be far, far, far better off with a Democrat in the White House. I will vote for Barack Obama because Hillary Clinton insists that I do. She said so last night in no uncertain terms. With conviction. And I will do my best to heed her call.

But listening to Clinton last night also made me feel uneasy. It made me sad. Very sad. Sure, I am sad that we won't have the first woman president yet. And sure I am disappointed that my candidate lost. But it also made me sad because I believe that Democrats have taken a huge risk by nominating Barack Obama over Hillary. I believe that John McCain has an excellent chance of winning.

In this year, where everything is going right for Democrats, what is the Party thinking??! What is the complicit media thinking? Sure Barack Obama is exciting, but these are uncertain and difficult times. Our security, including eocnomic, is at stake. Some say that our democracy is at stake with Bush in the White House and that with McCain it will be in an equally precarious situation. Giving good speeches isn't enough - I am sure Obama has more to offer than just good speeches, but his other skills are not yet refined. I am worried he will lose to McCain. Clinton would have cleaned McCain's clock and we would have had a Democrat in the White House. Short of being the presidential candidate, choosing Hillary would have been genius. Together they would have been indestructible. I cannot fathom why he picked Joe Biden over Hillary Clinton. I am very scared - I am afraid we will lose.

Again.

Look, John Kerry would have made an excellent president. He is a fabulous senator. And a very nice man, but he wasn't the right choice back in 2004 because he was not going to win. He did not have the ability to campaign on par with George Bush. It was clear from the beginning, but the Democratic Party decided to back him anyway. I didn't understand that and I don't understand this.

I've been a Democrat my whole life and when the Clintons came into office, they began to fix all the things I thought were wrong with the old Democratic Party. They modernized, and brilliantly. After leaving office, however, the old Democrats and their ways took power again (well, what little they had) and nothing has gone right since. I'm talking strategy and policy. I mean . . . Democrats talking about drilling more oil in MORE U.S. locations. Uh - what?!

Hillary told us last night, there is a reason many people supported her. We must remind ourselves of those reasons, and vote for Obama.

The problem is - this argument infers that those who supported Hillary, supported her because of her policies. But policy is only part of the reason to vote for Hillary. The other reason is that she is immensely capable. She is the smartest person in the room, always, she has excellent judgement, she understands and has experience in military and international politics, and she is sharp, quick, an excellent interview and a great debater.

What worries me is that last night's speech was great for the true blue Democratic Hillary supporters, but what about all those independents and even Republicans? They will go to McCain because they liked Hillary because she made them feel safe. She made them feel that they and America would be protected. And no message Hillary delivers will make those folks feel that about Obama. They will vote for McCain.

Big Primary Day Alaska

2008-08-26T08:28:00.000-07:00

While all eyes seem to be on Denver and the DNC Convention, there are some big primaries going on today.

In Alaska, there are primary challenges for both embattled Congressman Don Young and Senator Ted Stevens. If Stevens and Young are not victorious, look for the races to all of a sudden become swing seats and difficult for Republicans to hold onto. Most local polls show that Stevens will survive his primary challenge, but Young may very well be beaten by Lt. Governor Sean Parnell, who has gotten support from the Club for Growth and Governor Palin.

If Parnell wins, look for an easy victory in November. This will be interesting to watch..

Day One

2008-08-26T00:02:00.000-07:00

Convention Fun: Minnesota and Nebraska

My feet hurt. I don't have a voice left. It hurts to hold my head up. And have a I mentioned HOW MUCH FUN I'm having at the Convention in Denver?! A retired Army nurse practitioner and Dallas AM radio talk show host manning the door at the Nebraska Delegate Luncheon inviting us in because we were wearing similar dresses; Minnesota delegates getting excited about our new website, Votimus, while changing her shoes in the upscale lobby of the Grand Hyatt; salsa dancing with a local, Denver jewelry maker who's really from Texas (everyone's from Texas!); and lots of old friends.

I am too tired to know for sure, but I am pretty positive that people will be weighing in on whether Michelle Obama's speech was good, whether she talked about the things she "should" talk about, how she looked, etc. So I think I'll skip all that and go straight to Minnesota. And Nebraska.

Minnesota did you say? Who cares about Minnesota? And Nebraska? Really?

Well, a whole of people living in Minnesota are pretty excited about a candidate named Ashwin Madia. He came out of nowhere to win the Minnesota primary. I met a delegate at the Democratic Convention today who was really excited about this race and this candidate. She said that he could do great things and that it was really terrific to see him beat a much more well known candidate who had been a state senator. Madia will face Erik Paulsen in the fall - maybe he can turn this red seat to blue.

And in Nebraska, a newcomer named Scott Kleeb is running for the Senate. He beat a Republican-turned Democrat in the primary and garnered a lot of attention and excitement in the process. He raised money like crazy, in small donations. And Kleeb told me today that he is even leading in the polls! Well, he said he's winning in lots of the state's polls, but not yet in the Omaha area. But Kleeb is confident, as every candidate must be, that he will win this area too, and turn the tide. Of course, statewide Rasmussen has Kleeb back 26 points still, but Kleeb has been steadily gaining, growing his share of the polled vote from 28% to 34%. It's unlikely that this will be Democratic turnover, but Kleeb is putting up the good fight - and with a great attitude!

O M G!

2008-08-24T12:01:00.000-07:00

Hard, Hard Hitting McCain Ad

Wow. I mean . . . wow.

This ad! This is an ad. A female voice-over saying that Hillary Clinton won millions of votes, but isn't on his ticket . . . for speaking the truth . . . the truth hurt . . . and Obama didn't like it.

This is one of the most interesting ads I've ever seen. And heard. You don't even really need the visuals - a few carefully placed words and BAM! POW! I am not sure of the effect it will have, but I'm thinking that it won't be good for Barack Obama. It could be really, really bad for him. Back in the summer of 2007 when the McCain campaign looked to be all but dead, I (and I'm sure all those McCain supporters) thought . . . don't write John McCain off yet, he's pretty resilient. I wish I had been wrong.

For those of us who believe that Obama's best chance for success was lost when he chose a vice presidential candidate who is not Hillary, this ads resonates. Deeply. I hope that the Obama campaign has something big, something powerful planned to convince Hillary supporters that we all (myself included) have to get over it and move on. America and the world needs for us to vote for the Democrat. I am worried.

Check it out - it's called "Passed Over" and you can find it on YouTube. It's like those sugar-coated sour candies that make you shrivel up your nose and shake every time you eat them but you still can't get enough.

Alright, But Not A Rock Star

2008-08-23T08:11:00.000-07:00

Obama Picks Biden

OK, I'm going to have to lay it all on the table now. I am not a fan of Barack Obama. I was a Hillary supporter. And I did not receive a text message!!! What's THAT about?? Nada. Not even the text that supposedly went out a couple of hours AFTER the media got wind of it. That's where I'm coming from. . . .

I thought . . . if only Obama would pick a VP candidate who would make me feel like we are taken care of, in good hands, protected, but also politically sexy in that way that gives us the feeling we're in the presence of greatness. Especially with all that build up! Nothing less than greatness was going to make me feel better about voting for Barack Obama.

And so it is . . . . Nothing is going to make me feel good about voting for Barack Obama. I am underwhelmed. Except that John McCain is the alternative.

It's funny, though. It's not like I don't like Joe Biden. He is a very impressive senator and was a respectable presidential candidate. And I love his foreign policy, well the parts of it I know. He was the smartest guy in the country on Iraq for a while. Richard Holbrook respects him.

But here's the kicker. Our next president has to have good foreign policy ideology, policy, and execution. Biden is good on the policy, no doubt. Probably good on the ideology, but I'd have to learn a bit more to know for sure. But execution - well, it won't be up to him. And I don't believe he'll even be a strong enough influence over that. That's the kicker.

The reason I wanted Obama to pick a rock star (at least a foreign policy rock star) is because I believe that Obama will be too soft and indecisive and accommodating and patient when it comes to world politics. I worry that he will try to please all parties involved and will not see real threats for what they are. I believe Obama needs someone who has the gravitas to actually affect presidential decisions. I don't believe Joe Biden will have that kind of influence. I just don't.

HOWEVER, John McCain scares me more. I believe that his shortcomings would be even more detrimental to American and world safety. He overreacts. For the man (yes, man, not person, man) who will have the power to send bombs flying, overreaction is not the characteristic I'd ever choose.

Barack Obama is sharp. If he listens to good advice, if he acts swiftly when that is warranted, we will be in goods hands. And, of course, there is domestic policy - Obama beats McCain in every category. The Supreme Court justices McCain might appoint . . . that alone is enough to make me lose sleep.

Biden is a good man. A respectable man. A smart man. He is Catholic and has a lovely family. He has suffered personal loss. He has a great sense of humor. He has a lot going for him that makes for a good candidate and might attract some of the votes Obama wouldn't attract on his own (read, Catholic and working class white voters - not sure Biden will have any affect over the Catholic Latino vote). I really like Joe Biden. And, if he does have the power to make Obama really listen to him, my worries will be allayed.

If.

Obama has already disappointed all his naive supporters who believed he was some kind of different candidate, would make some kind of different president that would have such a fresh look at this old game of politics that America and the world would be aright again. Maybe naming a moderate, 36-year veteran of Congress won't shock them, then.

Of course, what I really believe is that an Obama-Hillary ticket would have carried the day for Democrats and would have secured the presidency.

So, what will all the Clinton voters do? Especially the women who might not be diehard Democrats? What will they do? Will Hillary and Bill's Convention speeches convince their supporters to support Obama and is that what it will take? Stay tuned. . . .

Obama-Biden 2008, or: Things to Do in Denver When You're Drunk

2008-08-23T03:38:00.000-07:00

So the pick is in. Finally.

Joseph Biden, sixty-five years old. A thirty-five year veteran of the Senate and a Roman Catholic liberal out of Delaware. Loquacious. Lunch bucket. Foreign relations. Comb-over. Scranton roots. Passionate. A Crest Whitestrips smile.

I had predicted Evan Bayh a few weeks ago, thinking that Obama would go with someone slightly younger. Close but no cigar. To me Bayh seemed like the perfect hybrid candidate---young enough yet experienced enough, liberal enough yet moderate enough, strong enough yet sensitive enough, Beltway enough yet Heartland enough. Plus, he was a Hillary guy. Party unity. A team of rivals.

Not to be.

I just looked at the clock. It's 1:40 a.m. on the west coast. I leave for Denver in roughly thirty-six hours.

I still haven't gotten my text message from Barack.

WTF, B.O.?

I woke up yesterday and my phone light was flashing. A political junkie buddy of mine, ringing in from Aspen. There was a voicemail message and a text message. I looked at the text message first.

It read: Hillary!!!

Immediately I turned on my computer to verify. Naturally there was nothing. In fact it was quite the opposite.

I dialed my friend.

"I'm up here in Aspen with some bigwigs," he told me. "Campaign staffers. High level. They say he picked her. It's done. It's a curveball."

"I don't think so," I said. "Drudge is running a lead story about how he didn't even vet her. It's all about what a slap in the face it is."

"I'm just telling you what I heard."

"Hillary?"

"Hillary."

I was stunned. Foggy. Incredulous.

"Who's your source on this?"

"Finance people," my buddy said. "It could be total bullshit. I'm not gonna say that I'm a hundred percent. But these guys sounded pretty convinced."

Finance people.

I had lunch with a couple of friends a few hours later: Kimmi and Jodyne. Kimmi is in town from New York. We were sitting at a sidewalk table in LA. It wasn't long before I gave them the story. Barack picks Hillary in a stunner.

Jodyne squealed, clapped her hands together, smiled. She had supported Hillary in the primaries and is a diehard Clintonista.

"This is the greatest thing ever!" she said.

"Don't quote me on that," I said. "It's totally unsubstantiated. Odds are it isn't even true."

But she wasn't really listening. Already she was lost inside her telephone, pounding out a text message to her sister.

"She's gonna be so excited," she said. "She's totally gonna freak."

"It's not a hundred percent," I said. "Tell her it's probably a joke."

"I'm telling her your name and that you're a thousand percent positive it's true."

"Tell her I'm just repeating what a friend told me. He's out in Aspen at a wedding, and he sounded incoherent. He was probably on something."

Obama-Biden 2008. Their triumphant march West begins ~~tomorrow~~ today.

Monday, it's gavel-open on the Front Range. The party begins. And with it will come the persistent low-grade subplot, ripped from the pages of a mind-numbing soap opera. Obama and Clinton. The Clintons and Obama. Unsubstantiated rumors. Secondhand party gossip. Without question it will be among the favorite drunken parlor games of the conventioneering set. As much as the Obama camp is gonna try to shrug it off and turn the spotlight in another direction, everyone and their mother is gonna be speculating about the Clintons in their spare time.

What will the Clintons do? What have they said to Barack? What has he said to them? Do they hate each other? Will they sit next to each other at the lunch table? Did Hillary leave Barry a voicemail? Did Barry text Bill? Is it true that Bill almost challenged Barry to a fight?

And so on.

It's nice to believe that much of this is bogus, too...that the supposed animosity between the intra-party camps is criminally overblown by a news media desperate for advertising dollars and a Republican party all too happy to fan the flames.

Really though, this one seems to hold more than a grain of truth. Where there's smoke, there's actually fire.

I have no idea what the Clintons are going to do in Denver. Nobody does. That's part of the twisted fun.

Will it be anticlimactic? Probably.

But still the chess match remains. The subtext. The inflections. Word choice. Things left unsaid. Incredible levels of microscopic scrutiny.

Nothing the Clintons ever say or do is an accident. Dick Morris said that. A lot of people say that.

Dick Morris gives me the creeps.

Obama has made his move. Nothing he says or does is an accident, either.

Politics is the art of accident prevention.

And now here comes ~~Mr. Clean~~ Joe Biden.

(Get your crisis team ready, Mr. Axelrod.)

About an hour ago I got another text message from my friend.

Biden, he wrote. What do u think?

I told him I didn't think it was a bad pick. Could be much worse. Biden is fiery...seasoned. He knows how to land a punch. Worst case scenario, he's entertaining.

My buddy essentially agreed.

No word on what the Clintons think.

And no word from those finance guys.

Phenomenally exhausted already,
BL

Brad Listi is the author of the bestselling novel Attention. Deficit. Disorder. and the founder of TheNervousBreakdown.com, an online publication featuring writers from around the world. You can find him online at www.bradlisti.com as soon as his web designers finish working on the new site---which should happen any minute now.

The Question On Everyone's Mind. . . .

2008-08-22T12:53:00.000-07:00

What's Happening in Oklahoma?

OK, so maybe that isn't the question on everyone's minds, but there's actually something mildly interesting happening in the Oklahoma senate race and we have to talk about something while waiting for that special text message from the Obama campaign.

According to the Washington Post's Chris Cillizza, this very red state's Republican incumbent, Senator James Inhofe, is facing what could amount to a real challenge this fall. Oklahoma State Senator Andrew Rice is running on the Democratic ticket and isn't polling half bad. Back in June his pollster had him at a not-very-impressive 33%. But then he hired David Eichenbaum of Struble Eichenbaum Communications to make him a couple of ads. Now he's polling at 41% to Inhofe's 50%. Not bad work by Mr. Rice and Mr. Eichenbaum.

The question is, are Mr. Eichenbaum's ads so good and is there such a need for change throughout the country that Republican Sooners will vote for this Christian missionary whose brother was killed in the 9/11 attacks? Can any ad be THAT good? Of course not. And does a need for change mean that the senate freshman class next year will include 35 freshmen? I really don't think so and neither does anyone else. My guess, even though Inhofe doesn't usually win with much more than 55%, the senior senator from Oklahoma will be back and the GOP can rest easy in Oklahoma . . . but you never know.

Thoughts on My Impending Trip to Denver for the Democratic National Convention

2008-08-21T14:54:00.000-07:00

I'm gonna be there all week, reporting on the madness. Apparently it's gonna be a love-fest. Or a love-hate fest. Lots of backbiting. Lots of back room backstabbing. Lots of lines. Lots of political largess. Lots of speculation. Lots of sycophants. Lots of rumors. Lots of Rumer Willis.

Lots of lobbyists. Lots of policy discussions. Lots of celebrities with causes. Lots of angry protesters. Lots of hippies. Lots of cameras. Lots of cell phone cameras. Lots of cell phones.

Lots of port-o-lets. Lots of Pink Ladies. Lots of bad food. Lots of Springsteen. Lots of smoke-filled rooms. Lots of Al Sharpton. Lots of plastic smiles. Lots of Grecian formula. Lots of Hunter Thompson impersonators. Lots of cops. Lots of guest lists. Lots of wonks. Lots of wonkettes.

Lots of messianic fervor. Lots of fainting. Lots of dehydration. Lots of drunken polemics. Lots of finger food. Lots of "Yes We Can." Lots of Chris Matthews. Lots of personal space infractions. Lots of hand-painted signs on street corners. Lots of traffic. Lots of strippers. Lots of blaming it on the altitude.

Maybe lots of tear gas. Who knows?

Actually, I'm not sure if Rumer Willis is gonna be there. I just made that one up. And besides, her father is a Republican. Even so, it wouldn't surprise me in the least to see her wandering around on the convention floor in a frantic search for Ryan Seacrest.

Denver is gonna be Hollywood and Washington, D.C. for a week---which should make for a pretty terrifying spectacle. I'm in Los Angeles right now and already there is the sense that much of the town is about to pack up and head for the hills. The concentration of cameras and film equipment on the front range is simply irresistible; it is exhibiting a sort of planetary gravitational pull on the various members of the Hollywood Talent Brigade. Now is a moment to capitalize.

I join this twisted migration out of a deep sense of patriotism and a terminal case of morbid curiosity. Also, I'm completely shameless and blessed with an impeccable instinct for grim hypocrisy. And naturally I will be arriving in the Mile High City with my own set of camera equipment and various other technological devices, so that I might record what I see for posterity.

A laptop. An aircard. A digital voice recorder. A video camera. A camera. A Blackberry.

It's going to be sort of ridiculous. I understand that. I embrace that.

Last time Denver hosted a national political convention was a century ago, in 1908. An earlier, sleepier era. The Democrats nominated William Jennings Bryan of Nebraska for president; his running mate was John W. Kern, of Indiana. The party took place at the Denver Auditorium, a state of the art venue built especially for the occasion.

Jennings and Kern went on to be trounced by the rotund William Howard Taft in the general election.

The average cost of a hotel room in Denver in 1908 was one dollar; today it's about $150.

The Denver Auditorium was built for $700,000; the Pepsi Center, which will host the first three nights of this year's convention, cost $180 million.

In 100 years' time, we've gone from the age of the Denver Auditorium all the way to the Pepsi Center.

In some ways, that pretty much says it all.

More to come. Stay tuned.

-BL

Brad Listi is the author of the bestselling novel Attention. Deficit. Disorder. and the founder of TheNervousBreakdown.com, an online publication featuring writers from around the world. You can find him online at www.bradlisti.com as soon as his web designers finish working on the new site---which should happen any minute now.

Home is where the heart, ummm...

2008-08-21T09:12:00.000-07:00

How many houses do you own?

With the current financial state of the US economy, and the amount of foreclosures, many would say ZERO. Well, that is unless you are running for President, and are John McCain. When he was asked how many houses he owns, he wasn't even sure of the answer. When asked about it, he said,
"It's condominiums where — I'll have them get to you."

His spokesman said that it is at least 4, including Virginia, California and Arizona, while Newsweek estimates it may be as high as 7.

McCain would do well at Monopoly, don't you think? Well no one has asked how many hotels.

Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones Dies at the Age of 58

2008-08-20T19:22:00.000-07:00

The Democratic Party was shocked today by the news of Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones' passing. Congresswoman Tubbs Jones was driving in her car last night when she suffered an aneurysm. She was taken to the hospital and, less than 24 hours later, was pronounced dead. Her death is a great loss to Congress and to the Democratic Party.

Congresswoman Tubbs Jones was well-liked and respected. She represented the 11th District of Ohio for almost 10 years and was the first black woman to represent Ohio in the House of Representatives. She also held a seat on the powerful Ways and Means Committee (the first black woman to hold a seat on that esteemed committee) where she was an outspoken critic of President Bush's tax cuts. She was also a powerful advocate against the War in Iraq and consistently voted against supporting it.

As an enthusiastic supporter of Hillary Clinton in her presidential bid, Tubb Jones gained national recognition. After Clinton bowed out of the race, Tubbs Jones endorsed Barack Obama. She also made it known that she believed Hillary Rodham Clinton would make a fine vice presidential pick.

What happens now in the 11th District race? According to Ohio state election law, the Democratic Party has about 2 months to find another candidate to take Tubbs Jones' place on the November ballot. Despite the desire to grieve, the Party will have to wait and instead immediately search for a viable candidate who will be able to hold on to this strongly Democratic Ohio seat. They may just have a good chance of doing this, though, because the Republican candidate is an unknown who has almost no presence at all on the internet and has filed no campaign-finance reports (which, giving him the benefit of the doubt, means he hasn't raised any cash). You can't even find a photograph of him anywhere on the Internet, let alone his profession or stance on the issues. In fact, if you, gentle reader, can find a photo or anything else about Mr. Thomas Pekarek, please let us know at feedback@votimus.com!

Lieberman, for Republican VP?

2008-08-20T09:23:00.000-07:00

The rumors are getting stronger and stronger. John McCain, the ultimate Maverick, would select former VP Nominee and now Independent (former Democrat, until he lost the primary to Ned Lamont) Senator Lieberman (CT) as his running mate.

How would Republicans react to this? Well, if Rush Limbaugh is any indication, there could be a mass exodus. Rush and some other leading conservative bloggers said that they will not support McCain for President if Lieberman is on the ticket. Who would they support? Could Bob Barr be a dark horse? Only time will tell.

VEEP! VEEP!

2008-08-19T09:19:00.000-07:00

Announcements Imminent . . . Almost

It is now rumored that Barack Obama will announce his VP pick this week, maybe even as early as today. He's going to send me a text message so that I am "the first to know." Um. I mean, me and about a million other people, including the news media. But I still feel special. According to Politico, John McCain is going to announce his pick after the Dem. Convention, possibly at a birthday rally he's holding in Dayton, Ohio on August 29th.

And the New York Times has told us that Barack's list has been narrowed to three: Evan Bayh, Tim Kaine, and Joe Biden. Bloggers on the left were hoping for someone more like Al Gore or Wesley Clarke - Clarke was probably never in the running, but took himself out involuntarily with some controversial words about what McCain does and does not know about foreign policy. As for Al Gore . . . been there, done that. And don't forget about Hillary Clinton. No one believes that she will be named VP, but no one can keep her out of the discussion either.

Jonas Brothers Show Up at the White House

2008-08-19T07:36:00.000-07:00

How awesome? How cool? The Jonas brothers stopped by the White House to say hello to the Press Corps. They were in town to unveil wax figures of themselves. Many journalists had no clue who the Jonas brothers were, but Vice President Cheney was "hip" to the teen trio, bringing his grandchildren by to meet them. They also had a briefing on diabetes, as one of the boys is affected with the disease.

The brothers also got to sign one of the walls in the White House, which included signatures from Bono and other celebrities. Now that is what I call a lasting impression!

Coleman v. Franken

2008-08-18T08:39:00.000-07:00

Norm Coleman Lead Over Al Franken Shrinks a Bit

The latest polls of the Minnesota senate race show, for the most part, Coleman still in the lead, but by a smaller margin than a month ago. His lead in one poll shows him up by 7 over Franken, while still another, a Rasmussen poll, even shows Franken with a slight lead over Coleman. Note that the Rasmussen polls have shown a closer race for a little while and they are polling about 500 people, whereas the Quinnipiac/WSJ/WP.com polls have been using a larger sample of over 1,200 and had, up until late July, been showing a much wider margin of about 15 points in Coleman's favor. And, of course, there are all those other candidates (10 Independents, Libertarians, and Greens right now) who will chip away at Coleman and Franken's final tallies.

Meanwhile, showing an opposite trent, Minnesotans, by a comfortable margin, had been telling pollsters they were likely to vote for Obama, but lately Obama's lead has been a bit smaller, sometimes as little as a couple of points. Either there is no correlation between the presidential and senate races because the candidates are so different and local politics is not presidential politics . . . . or . . . Minnesotans are slowly moving to the middle, from the left and from the right, making both races a bit tighter.

Russia, Georgia, Poland, Nukes, and Presidential Politics

2008-08-17T11:54:00.000-07:00

The presidential candidates have spent some time this week responding to the crisis in Georgia and learning all about a place called South Ossetia. The proverbial 3am call came, not to Barack Obama or John McCain, but to President George Bush. But the candidates let Americans know what they would do or say if they had been sleeping in the White House when that call came. McCain's campaign says that Obama responded too softly, not taking seriously enough Russia's aggression and threats. Obama's campaign says that McCain's response was overblown, lacking the finesse required for the world of geopolitics.

Of course, it is George Bush who is president and who had to act, which he did swiftly and with more force than Barack Obama's reaction indicated but with less bluster than John McCain's reaction suggested. In fact, there has been relatively little criticism so far of the way the President and Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice have handled Russia's movement into Georgia . . . could that mean that both candidates actually agree with how the United States is handling this situation so far? Could it be that Americans all agree that what is going on has great geopolitical importance and that what's happening to the people in South Ossetia and Abkhazia and Georgia is not a good thing and that all of this rises above campaign politics? A girl can dream.

Oil pipelines that pass through Georgia and do not pass through Russia or Iran are at issue here. Preservation of former-USSR democracies are at issue here. A resurgence of the old USSR is at issue here. Ethnic cleansing is at issue here. Poland and the US missle shield are at issue here. Iran's nuclear capabilities are at issue here. Israel's survival is even at issue here. Russia has made clear that it matters again. How would a President Obama handle this? How would a President McCain handle this?

Last night CNN will rebroadcast the season's first presidential forum involving only Obama and McCain. They appeared at Rick Warren's Saddleback Church on Saturday and answered interesting questions about character and leadership (surprisingly few about religion or even typically evangelical issues) that reveal a bit about how each would handle US foreign policy and international crises. The candidates appeared in the same 2-hour period, but they took questions from Warren separately.

Not So Rocky News

2008-08-15T09:02:00.000-07:00

Colorado Primaries

Colorado primaries involved some notable characters, but the results are not too surprising. Republican Congressman and former presidential candidate Tom Tancredo, who is known nationally for his strong words on immigration issues, is retiring and most likely to take his seat is Mike Coffman, the current Colorado Secretary of State. Coffman beat his main opponent in the primary, Wil Armstrong by a comfortable 9 point margin. This 6th congressional district seat is a pretty safe Republican seat, and so Democrat Hank Eng will have a tough time in the general election, even if fellow Republicans aren't too happy about their Secretary of State giving up a rare Republican seat in statewide government.

In the 5th district, Colorado Springs saw a contest among three serious candidates in the Republican primary. Jeff Crank and Bently Rayburn made Congressman Doug Lamborn work a little to retain his seat in the House. In the end, Lamborn pulled it out with a clear win, beating his two main contenders 46% to Crank's 29% and Rayburn's 25%.

And in the 2nd congressional district, there was a real race in the Democratic primary for Congressman Mark Udall's seat. Udall is giving up his congressional seat to run for US Senate. Jared Polis beat the ex-state senate president, Joan Fitz-Gerald, and conservationist Will Shafroth 42% to 38% to 20%. Although this race was mostly a matchup between Polis and Fitz-Gerald, Shafroth put in a good showing, getting the Rocky Mountain News and Denver Post endorsements by media who were not liking the intensity of the race between Polis and Fitz-Gerald. It is likely that Polis will be the next congressman to represent Boulder, Colorado as this is a safe Democratic seat. He will not be the first millionaire to join Congress (he gave himself $5 million to win this race), but he will be one of only a few who is openly gay.

Powell to Vote For Obama

2008-08-14T07:37:00.000-07:00

Sources close to the former Joint Chiefs of Staff and military hero Colin Powell are confirming that he may in fact endorse and vote for Senator Obama this November. Though he has a close relationship with Senator McCain, and they are both Military Veterans, a source close to Powell says of him and McCain;

" likes him and is looking for a reason to vote for him. He hasn't found it yet."

With Obama in the White House, can we expect a return of Powell? Only time will tell.

Republican Senator Refuses to Endorse Anyone

2008-08-13T10:01:00.000-07:00

Senator Chuck Hagel, Republican Maverick from Nebraska, made a huge decision yesterday. Hagel, says he refuses to endorse any candidate for President. Considering that he serves with both Senator Obama and Senator McCain, this is pretty shocking.

Hagel, who has been a critic of the Iraq War, has been parting ways with the President in recent months. Some had speculated that he was going to be a running mate of Obama's, which could have offset McCain's possible choice of Senator Lieberman. As they say in the news business, developing...

The VP is... LOL

2008-08-12T09:33:00.000-07:00

In news from the Obama for President Campaign, they are proving that they are the candidate who can use technology to further their campaign. Obama has announced that he will announce his VP Contender via text message. Now the question is who that VP will be. Rumor is that it will be Evan Bayh, but who knows? They did spend 30 hours together this past weekend. Don't expect the McCain Campaign to do the same. McCain has said that he doesn't even know how to use a computer.

Tennessee, Tennessee, There Ain't No Place I'd Rather Be

2008-08-11T09:32:00.000-07:00

Excitement in Johnson City and Memphis

Davis v. Roe

In eastern Tennessee, it looks like Republican Congressmember David Davis will not be making it to the general election or back to Congress next year. His challenger, Dr. Phil Roe, has bested him in the primary, beating him by a slim but definite margin. Roe was mayor of Johnson City before declaring his run for Congress. He is favored to win in the general election where he will face off against Democrat Rob Russell. This district has been Republican for a century and was once held by President Jackson.

Cohen v. Tinker

Meanwhile, on the other side of the state in Memphis, Democrats were battling it out in a race that turned pretty nasty. Challenger Nikki Tinker ran some ads suggesting that her opponent, incumbent Congressman Steve Cohen, was racist. Cohen is famous for having expressed interest in joining the Congressional Black Caucus. He represents a largely African American district. EMILY's List, which had endorsed Tinker, criticized the ads, as did presidential candidate Barack Obama. The ads were so nasty that they may have backfired as Cohen originally comfortable lead turned into a rout. Congressman Cohen will go on to the general election and will likely be returning to Congress in January.

Edwards

2008-08-08T14:20:00.000-07:00

Yes on Affair . . . But No on Love Child?

The National Enquirer has been saying for months that former Senator and presidential candidate John Edwards had an affair with Rielle Hunter and fathered a child with her. I would never have guessed the Enquirer would have the real scoop on this, but it turns out they were right. Today, Edwards told ABC News' Bob Woodruff (in an interview to air tonight on Nightline) that he did have the affair, but that Rielle's daughter is not his.

In fact, he apparently goes farther and proclaims that he did not love Ms. Hunter. He emphasizes that he had this affair when his wife Elizabeth's cancer was in remission and that he told Elizabeth about the affair back in 2006.

According to ABC News, the name of the father is not listed on the child's birth certificate and Ms. Hunter has been living in North Carolina and Santa Barbara under assumed names. Edwards says the affair was over long ago. However, he does admit that he was visiting Ms. Hunter at the Beverly Hill Hilton a few weeks ago.

So . . . what does this mean? For Edwards, he probably won't be invited onto the presidential ticket or into a Democratic presidential cabinet. For Democrats, the DNC has to decide whether Edwards will have a role at the Democratic Convention - I'd say, odds are against, but we'll see that Nightline interview tonight and how this all flushes out. For Republicans, this isn't bad news, but I'm not sure it gets them much either . . . although, I'm thinking this must be a happy day for the Grand Old Party now that Spitzer has some company and it isn't Larry Craig making the headlines.

In my own opinion, I don't really care who the nation's politicians are or are not sleeping with, but ever since Election Number One when George Washington ran for his second term as president of the very new United States of America, Americans have loved their political dirt.

Upset in Kansas

2008-08-07T23:54:00.000-07:00

Jenkins, Not Ryun, to Face Boyda in the Fall

In an upset, Lynne Jenkins, Treasurer of Kansas, has bested Tim Ryun in the 2nd District congressional Republican primary. Not only was Ryun leading in the polls leading up to the primary election, but he is also the former congressman from that district who was squeezed out in 2006 by now-Congresswoman Nancy Boyda. Ryun came very close to being able to try to reclaim his old seat, but Jenkins didn't give him the chance, beating him 51% - 49%.

And on to the main event . . . Jenkins appeared with her former rival, Ryun, to show Republican party unity and focus on unseating first-term Democrat Congresswoman Boyda. For Boyda's part, she has taken a step away from fellow Democrats (and the more liberal Speaker Nancy Pelosi) by rejecting DCCC money. She says that she wants to run an independent campaign. Kansas' 2nd District is sometimes Democratic, sometimes Republican . . . you just never know what those eastern Kansans will do.

That's Hot

2008-08-07T07:51:00.000-07:00

Last Week, Senator John McCain launched a TV Ad saying that Barak Obama is unready to lead the nation. He compared Barak Obama's experience to Pop Singer Britney Spears and celebrity socialite Paris Hilton, of the Hilton Hotel fame. After Paris Hilton's Grandfather responded negatively to the advertisement, Paris Hilton took it into her own hands to respond to McCain. The ad is hilarious and worth a view. Click here to see it.

Stevens and McCain - Recent Alaska Polling

2008-08-06T18:17:00.000-07:00

Alaska Senate Race - The Polling Angle

Since Senator Stevens was indicted and plead not guilty in connection with the federal case of forbidden quid pro quo, several polling firms have taken the pulse of Alaskans thinking about voting in the senate and presidential elections. Things are not looking good for the long-time senator. In June, Stevens was up by 2 in a Rasmussen poll. By July 17, Mark Begich gained 10 points over Stevens for an 8-point lead, and by July 30, that lead widened to 13 points (37-50).

This is obviously good news for senate Democrats, but how is it affecting the national GOP mood? What does this mean for McCain? Well . . . you might think that McCain's lead would shrink a bit with all this bad news about the Republican senator, but instead, McCain's lead is growing. Go figure! (OK, so not totally crazy, can you say oil prices, oil drilling, and most recently, tire pressure gauges?) McCain was up by only 4 points in this traditionally red state back in June. By July 17, as Stevens fell farther behind, McCain's lead over Obama didn't shrink at all. It grew. And by July 30, with Stevens really suffering, McCain widened his lead to 6 points. So, bad news for the NRSC and good news for the RNC.

Howard Stern- Never to Vote Democrat Again

2008-08-06T09:10:00.000-07:00

Thats right, former New York State Governor Candidate and Radio Host Howard Stern declared that he would never vote for a Democrat again. He was a supporter of Hillary Clinton and John Kerry. He is pretty angry over the merger between XM and Sirius Radio. To listen to the full audio of this, click here.

Not Everyone Will Be In Minnesota

2008-08-05T10:34:00.000-07:00

Today, the news came that Vice President Dick Cheney isn't coming to the RNC Convention in Minnesota. Why is that? Is McCain trying to distance himself from Bush/Cheney? Is Cheney just not feeling very close to McCain?

Read the full story here.

Staten Island Congressional Race

2008-08-04T13:44:00.000-07:00

Fossella Not Running, But Beautiful

Straniere or Wyne (R) v. McMahon or Harrison

There is much ado about the congressional race in Staten Island this summer. First, Vito Fossella announced he was not going to seek reelection because of a scandal involving drunk dirving, which led the media to discover that he had had affair and child. Then, Republicans named Frank Powers to take his place. Sadly and unexpectedly, Powers suffered a heart attack and died in his sleep on June 22.

To fill this gap, the Republican Party has named Robert Streniere, a former Staten Island Assemblymember. Although Streniere is not a favorite of fellow-Staten Island Republicans because of all the time he spend in Manhattan, he is thought to have the best chance of winning. This seat is the only one in NYC held by Republicans. Also running on the Republican ticket is a cardiologist named Jamshad Wyne.

On the Democratic side, Michael McMahon has been endorsed by Democrats to try to take the seat from Republican hands. The Party and Senator/DSCC Chair Chuck Schumer are backing McMahon. Also running is Stephen Harrison who claims that he has come close to winning this race before and will do it this time.

And an Libertarian candidate named Susan Overeem is also running for Fossella's seat.

The primary is set to take place on September 9, 2008. Meanwhile, back in DC, The Hill has named Vito Fossella one of this year's "50 Most Beautiful People" citing his shiny hair. Gotta love Washington!

Virginia Senate Race

2008-08-04T09:45:00.000-07:00

Mark Warner v. Jim Gilmore

Today at Votimus we are featuring the Virgina senate race. Virginia has been considered a Republican state for a long time, especially in terms of presidential votes, but in recent years, there has been movement toward the Democratic column - partly because that has been the national trend and partly because of demographic shifts, especially in Northern Virigina where many northeasterners and others from around the country have settled.

Tim Kaine, the current governor, who also happens to be on the vice presidential candidate shortlist, is a democrat, and his predecessor, Mark Warner is also a democrat. Mark Warner was once considered a possible presidential candidate, but he decided to run for U.S. Senate instead. He is a rising star and has a very good chance of winning his race against another former governor of Virginia, Republican Jim Gilmore, III.

Democrats are feeling so good about Virginia these days that they have decided to also invest in House races this year. In fact, the DCCC just announced that they are going to invest in Judy Feder, who is running against Congressman Frank Wolf in Northern Virginia, and Tom Perriello, who is runninng against Congressman Virgil Goode in the southern Virginia. Apparently, Feder and Perriello exceeded fundraising goals and so are making those races more of a fight. Goode is a very conservative represenatative and Wolf is known for having brought funding to Northern Virginia to fight its gang problem.

More on the VEEP Watch

2008-08-01T09:23:00.000-07:00

News organizations have been reporting that McCain is poised to name his VP pick any moment now. At the beginning of the week, the rumor was that the announcement would come this week, but its Friday and not surprisingly . . . no official word yet. Of course, these are just Washington rumors and nothing has happened quite yet.

Tim Pawlenty is a favorite still, as is Carly Fiorina (former CEO of Hewlett Packard) who is favored because she is a Washington outsider and, of course, a woman. Can you imagine if McCain upstaged Obama by choosing a woman, especially with all the Hillary supporters out there wishing she were the choice on the Democratic side? Evangenlicals would probably prefer Mike Huckabee. They would not prefer Mitt Romney, but Romney remains the favorite. John Thune and Charlie Crist are still in the mix, as well. And so is Sarah Palin, but as governor of Alaska, a state where Republicans may not want too much attention (scandal with the Senate and House candidates), there is some question whether she'd be the wisest choice, despite her strong credentials and appeal.

On the Democratic side, there have been all kinds of rumors in Washington that Obama will pick his friend and law school buddy, Virginia Governor Tim Kaine. (Kaine himself may have helped sparked these rumors, so take it all with a grain of salt.) Kaine is slightly more conservative than Obama, taking a more pro-life stance on abortion, for instance, and having been a Lieberman for president fan back in 2004. He does not have that much political experience, so it's not the most obvious choice, but then he represents Virginia, a key swing state this year (although I thing that the fact that they know each other personally would be a powerful factor, were Kaine actually chosen).

As Obama's lead tightens in swing states, pundits start to focus more on VP picks who could bring Obama one of those key states. Another of those states is Indiana and so Evan Bayh is a favorite choice in recent weeks. Rumors of Bayh as the choice were fueled this week when it was reported that putting "ObamaBayh08" into your web browser would bring you to the Democratic National Committee website (it really does, though I'm not sure that actually means anything). Joe Biden also remains in the mix, not because he represents Delaware, though and there are no internet search tricks here.

But, as I've said before . . . maybe they'll both surprise us!

Obama has been leading in national polls by between 2 and 7 points (although one poll has McCain in the lead by 4). Most of this is within the margin of error and so the race, as it stands today, is tight. On the other hand, Obama's lead in a number of key states is slipping a bit. He's mostly up in Ohio, but only by a couple of points. Same with Michigan.

It's super close in Virginia, Indiana and Florida where Obama has McCain by a couple of points in most polls, but there are one or two polls showing McCain ahead. But, of course, what really matters is the electoral vote count - so keep your eyes on the swing state polls! (See Hotline's Battle for the Electoral College.) The race is on.

Young Voters Targeted in New Ads

2008-07-31T08:40:00.000-07:00

The San Francisco Chronicle has a great article today on how young voters are being targeted for political advertising this Presidential season. Ads for both Presidential contenders are now appearing on MTV and Comedy Central. Interestingly enough, the average viewer on MTV is 22 and on Comedy Central is 29. The question arises as to how many actual voters these ads will be hitting. Some estimates say that more then a third of viewers may not be voters who are registered or eligible to vote. Will these ads get more people to register to vote? Increase turnout? Only time will tell.

Click here to read the full story.

Facebook-A Vehicle for Political Hits?

2008-07-30T08:20:00.000-07:00

College kids use it to talk to their friends and see when the parties are. Obama used it to help organize his armies of volunteers. Now the Republican National Committee has decided to use it as a hit on Obama's quest for the Presidency. When asked about the new means of advertising, RNC Communications said;

“This is an interactive way to learn more about Obama’s poor judgment,” RNC spokesman Alex Conant said in a statement Tuesday. “Obama’s judgment is an issue in this election, and this site will help us highlight some of Obama’s noteworthy ‘friends.’”

By friends, they are speaking of Tony Rezko, who has been met with scrutiny because of some development deals that he was convicted of and William Ayers who was a part of the controversial Weather Underground.

Check out the website at www.barackbook.com

Scandal in Alaska! House and Senate Races

2008-07-29T16:57:00.000-07:00

Senator Ted Stevens (R) v. Mayor Mark Begich (D)

The senate seat long held by Senator Ted Stevens is not one Republicans would have thought they'd have to pay much attention to this year, that is until Senator Stevens got himself into some trouble. Senator Stevens has been under investigation by federal authorities in connection with a bribery case involving VECO, an oil field and pipeline services company that was looking to win a contract to construct an oil and natural gas pipeline. Company executives have plead guilty to, among other things, making payments to Senator Stevens' son and for some renovations to the Senator's home.

Today, the FBI has indicted Senator Stevens under seven felony counts of lying to the FBI - quite a penalty to pay for a wrap-around porch and a Viking gas range. Something similar to this landed former San Diego Congressman Randy "Duke"Cunningham in jail not too long ago.

So, Senator Stevens has been put to work for the first time in many years to defend his formerly secure seat and today's news is not helping things. The 84-year old Senator has been quite popular in Alaska for bringing home federal funds (remember that "bridge to nowhere?"). Opposing him, if he survives the primary, which is looking less likely today, is a Democratic favorite and rising star, Mayor Mark Begich. Mark Begich is mayor of Anchorage and a moderate Democrat.

Begich is putting up quite a challenge to Senator Stevens; polling has them within two to five points of one another with Begich leading in most recent polls by as much as eight points and Stevens up in one or more from a week or so ago. The fact that Republicans have to spend money here to help Stevens defend the seat he has held for 40 years is not helping the Republican cause, although pundits have rated this seat as leaning Republican. As the race progresses we will see if the political pundits start to consider it a toss up or even leaning D.

Congressman Don Young (R) or Sean Parnell (R) v. Ethan Berkowitz (D)

Very much like the Senate seat in Alaska, the single House seat in Alaska is also worth watching this year. Tied up in the same VECO scandal as Senator Ted Stevens is long-time congressman Don Young. According to federal authorities, Congressman Young is being investigated in connection with the oil field and pipeline company's misdeeds. Congressman Don Young is popular in Alaska because of all the funding he has brought back to the state, including Monday for the infamous "Bridge to Nowhere."

Young is being challenged by a state legislator named Ethan Berkowitz and is in for a real fight. In fact, Congressman Young is trailing Berkowitz by double digits in the polls. And all this is just assuming Young wins the Republican primary, which is not a certainty. His Republican challenger in the primary is Lt. Governor Sean Parnell, and Parnell is currently holding a small lead. While Berkowitz is running ahead of Young, he is trailing Parnell in the polls.

Wisconsin House Race, 8th Congressional District

2008-07-28T09:14:00.000-07:00

Congressman Steve Kagan (D) v. Former Assembly Speaker John Gard (R)

The race for congress in the 8th District of Wisconsin is a rematch of the 2006 race. In 2006, Steve Kagen, a wealthy doctor from the Green Bay area and the Democratic candidate, beat the less well-funded John Gard, former Speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly. Congressman Kagen is now defending his seat against Gard. Congressman Kagen appeared in the press briefly because of comments he made about an argument with Karl Rove. Even though the seat has historically been Republican, it very well may remain Democratic in November as Kagen is now an incumbent and still has a lot of money to spend on the race. The average of political ratings from Stuart Rothenberg, Roll Call, Congressional Quarterly, the Cook Political Report, and Robert Novak indicate that this race leans Democratic. A poll by Public Opinion Strategies has Kagen up, but only by 4 points and within the margin of error.

Win Ben Stein's Money and the Presidential Race

2008-07-28T08:17:00.000-07:00

In an interview this weekend, former Presidential Speech Writer (to Nixon and Ford, wow, I didn't think he looked old enough to work for Nixon) Ben Stein (yes that Ben Stein of Bueller, Bueller) in an interview this weekend says that McCain needs Karl Rove to jump start his campaign.

Would having Rove on the campaign help or hinder McCain? Would it hurt him with the Independents, where the memory of Rove will bring Bush back up? Only time will tell.

Read the full article here.

California House Race, 4th Congressional District

2008-07-25T11:48:00.000-07:00

State Senator Tom McClintock (R) v. Ret. Lt. Col. Charlie Brown (D)

Meanwhile, out in California. . . . California’s 4th District is historically Republican country, but in 2006, Democrat Charlie Brown came pretty close to putting a Democrat in that seat. Lt. Col. Charlie Brown is trying again this year. It’s far from a sure thing, but he has a chance. The current occupier of the seat, Republican Congressman John Doolittle, got himself into a bit of trouble. Back in April 2007, it became public that this 18-year veteran of Congress was involved in the Jack Abramoff scandal (the lobbyist who pleaded guilty to charges of public corruption) after FBI agents raided his home in Virginia. Taking one for the team, Doolittle decided back in January to yield to the wishes of his fellow Republicans and not seek reelection. Back in 2006, he had defeated Charlie Brown by only 3 points – and that was before scandal hit. This year, Charlie Brown got an early start and has done well raising funds, but taking Doolittle’s place is conservative California State Senator Tom McClintock. McClintock is known throughout the state because he ran for governor in the 2003 recall election and has been something of a thorn in the side of both Republican Governor Schwarzenegger and the Democrat-controlled Legislature, fighting for his causes which include balanced budgets and low taxes. As for Charlie Brown, he is a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel, a career officer who has served from Vietnam to Desert Storm and a bit beyond. He is a strong candidate – a moderate Democrat who has always lived in rural areas and is particularly strong on national security – but though he has raised over a million dollars, McClintock has raised about $1.5 million. The seat is still rated to be leaning Republican.

Stretching in the House Chamber?

2008-07-24T08:28:00.001-07:00

On the day after Congressman Chris Van Hollen, announced that out of 75 competitive seats up for grabs in 2008, 50 of them are currently filled with Republicans, he got even more good news. A fitness guru is considering running for the House of Representatives. Arnold? Nope. Richard Simmons.

Thats right. The King of Thin needs to talk to his dogs, and if they agree well, he may run. Click here to see the full article.

Veep Stakes: Minus One?

2008-07-23T08:16:00.000-07:00

Looks like former VP Candidate John Edwards may be out of the running. According to some insider blogs, and the National Enquirer (ok, I know, it is a tabloid, but it is causing ripples out there in the political gossip world), it looks like the affair that Edwards had previously denied may in fact be real. Click here to see the full article.

The real question is what Obama's take on this is. Was he even considering Edwards? How much veracity is there to this story? As they like to say in the news business, developing...

QUICK UPDATE on Minnesota Senate Race

2008-07-21T10:09:00.000-07:00

I wrote in an earlier entry about the Minnesota Senate Race that Jesse Ventura, former Navy SEAL, professional wrestler, and governor of Minnesota, might enter the Minnesota senate race. Just last week he announced on Larry King Live that he is not going to join the fray. He cited family reasons. He also let on that his interest in politics is not dead, so we may hear from him yet, just not sure when. His entry into the race probably would have hurt Al Franken more than Senator Norm Coleman, but now we will never know for sure. The Minnesota primary is September 9 and there are several other candidates running, including two Green Party candidates, Michael Cavlan and Thomas Harens.

Plugging Away

2008-07-18T11:23:00.000-07:00

Work continues on making the Votimus site more user-friendly and introducing new features. We have received a lot of valuable feedback from test users which will help ensure that once we do launch the site it will be intuitive and easy for visitors to use.

There are many great changes on the horizon, so I encourage you to come back regularly to see our progress. And, as always, please us know if you have any comments or suggestions!

Thanks,

Scott

VEEP Watch

2008-07-17T18:52:00.000-07:00

Part Two: Democrats

As I mentioned yesterday, the sheer number of names being floated as possible vice presidential picks for each candidate is staggering. MSNBC did a whole March Madness thing, narrowing down 64 names to a final four and then finally one. Some names seem to be mentioned more often or more enthusiastically than others, but it is entirely possible that the candidates will surprise us with someone completely different.

Some top names on Obama’s list may include Hillary Clinton, Kathleen Sebelius, Sam Nunn, Evan Bayh, Ted Strickland, Bill Richardson, Joe Biden, Wesley Clark, John Edwards, Bob Kerrey, Ken Salazar, Chris Dodd, Tom Vilsack, Tom Daschle, Brian Schweitzer, Janet Napolitano, and even Al Gore (not that he’d want the job . . . again). On McCain’s list, top names may include Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Bobby Jindal, Mark Sanford, Tom Ridge, Mike Huckabee, Rudy Giuliani, Sarah Palin, and Joe Lieberman.

I looked at the Republicans yesterday. Today, I’ll focus on the Democrats. . . .

Democrats: Question number one, at least among some Hillary supporters, is, “Will there be a Dream Ticket?” The answer is unknown, but conventional wisdom says, “No.” Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius is mentioned as an Obama favorite, and Obama himself, generally quite secretive about vice presidential options, has betrayed an interest in her publically. Presidential candidate and Senator Joe Biden is a favorite of many, although there is a contingency of folks who think he would be even better as secretary of state because of his clarity and vision on foreign policy.

One-week presidential candidate and Indiana Senator Even Bayh is also a favorite of many – he is a moderate Democrat and well liked. Also a favorite is the Governor of Ohio, Ted Strickland – representing this infamous, swing state will carry some weight. Fiery first-term Virginia Senator Jim Webb was also a favorite because of his strong foreign policy and military experience and know-how, not to mention his incredible campaign including a tight win and his son’s Iraq combat boots that he wore throughout. But Webb recently took himself out of the running. Another Virginian, Governor Tim Kaine has also been mentioned, but he does not have the same high profile as Senator Webb, nor does he have the same, strong military and foreign policy background. And speaking of international affairs . . . foreign policy powerhouse Sam Nunn, former Senator from Georgia, has long been admired for his intelligence on matters of foreign affairs and is a favorite of Democrats.

Interestingly, Nebraska Republican (but vocal critic of President Bush) Senator Chuck Hagel has been floated as a potential vice presidential candidate for Barack Obama. And in case one republican wasn’t sexy enough, former Republican Secretary of State and retired General Colin Powell, has been friendly with and publicly supportive of Obama. His military and foreign policy experience and acumen (not to mention his differences with Bush’s policy on the Iraq War and diplomacy generally) make him an interesting pick. Some have mentioned the Republican General’s name as a possible pick for John McCain as well, but, believe it or not, this is the less-likely option.

The Governors: Obama fellow-Kansan Governor Kathleen Sebelius, presidential candidate Governor Bill Richardson, Former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack, Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, Virginia Senator Tim Kaine, Florida Senator Bill Nelson, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland, Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano, Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer, and Governor Phil Bredesen of Tennessee. Of course, dreamers in the bunch name another Tennessean as a possible V.P. pick, but Al Gore as V.P. to a “President Obama” is probably more about dreams than analysis.

The Senators (serving and retired): Presidential candidate and New York Senator Hillary Clinton; Indiana Senator Evan Bayh; Delaware Senator Joe Biden; former Maine Senator George Mitchell; close advisor to Obama and Missouri first-term Senator Claire McCaskill; well-respected and repeat visitor to Iraq Rhode Island Senator Jack Reed; former Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle; Colorado Senator Ken Salazar; master-negotiator (from Ireland to the Middle East) former senator from Maine, George Mitchell; former Georgia Senator Max Cleland (this triplegic, Vietnam Veteran lost his senate reelection bid to now-Senator Saxby Chambliss after being targeted in ads as unpatriotic); Virginia Senator Jim Webb (although he has taken his name off the short list); presidential candidate and Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd; and Republican Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska.

The Generals: Former Commander of the Allied Forces in the Kosovo War and NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, retired General Wesley Clark; Former Secretary of State and retired General Colin Powell; former Chief of the Army, retired General Eric Shinseki who is well-known for being chastised for publicly stating that we would need to put a few hundred thousand troops into the Iraq post-war effort; and Commander-in-Chief of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), retired General Anthony Zinni who has also lead diplomatic missions to Israel and Palestine.

And there are more! Democrat from Texas Congressman Chet Edwards; former Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin; Lee Hamilton, the honorable co-chair of the 9/11 Commission have also been mentioned as possible VP picks; and billionaire and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Women, Democrats and Republicans: And in case you like to keep track of these kinds of things, there are 10 women in consideration, 6 Republicans and only 4 Democrats. They are: Condoleezza Rice (R), Hillary Clinton (D), Kay Bailey Hutchison (R), Kathleen Sebelius (D), Claire McCaskill (D), Sarah Palin (R), Janet Napolitano (D), Christine Todd Whitman (R), Meg Whitman (R), and Carly Fiorina (R).

VEEP Watch

2008-07-16T11:15:00.000-07:00

Part One: Republicans

The sheer number of names being floated as possible vice presidential picks for each candidate is staggering. MSNBC did a whole March Madness thing, narrowing down 64 names to a final four and then finally one for each candidate. Some names seem to be mentioned more often or more enthusiastically than others, but it is also entirely possible that the candidates will surprise us with someone completely different.

Some top names on McCain’s list may include Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Bobby Jindal, Mark Sanford, Tom Ridge, Mike Huckabee, Rudy Giuliani, Sarah Palin, and Joe Lieberman. On Obama’s list, top names may include Hillary Clinton, Kathleen Sebelius, Sam Nunn, Evan Bayh, Ted Strickland, Bill Richardson, Joe Biden, Wesley Clark, John Edwards, Bob Kerrey, Ken Salazar, Chris Dodd, Tom Vilsack, Tom Daschle, Brian Schweitzer, Janet Napolitano, and even Al Gore (not that he’d want the job . . . again).

Today, I’ll do the Republicans. Look out for the Democrats tomorrow!

Republicans: Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty is a favorite, as is the very young and respected Bobby Jindal, the Governor of Louisiana who is known for his strong ethics and integrity. Former Massachusetts Governor and presidential candidate Mitt Romney is, of course, a popular pick as well, although if McCain does choose his vice presidential candidate from a pool of people with whom he gets along, as some say he is wont to do, Romney might not make the cut. Also mentioned seriously is Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison – she is very well-respected on the Hill and, though one of her great strengths (and what must be a key factor in considering her for the VP campaign) is that she is consistently conservative, she is also thought to be someone who works well with Democrats. Governor Mark Sanford of South Carolina and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin may also be on the short list.

Former presidential candidate, Baptist minister, and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee and former presidential candidate and Mayor of New York City Rudy Giuliani are, of course, contenders. So are, South Dakota Senator John Thune; Congressman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin; football Orange Bowl champion and CNN political contributor, former Congressman J.C. Watts of Oklahoma; Former Hewlett-Packard CEO and McCain advisor Carly Fiorina; former Mayor of New York and former presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani; law-enforcement politician, former Presidential candidate and actor, former Senator Fred Thompson; and Secretary of State and close-advisor-and-confidante-to-the-President Condoleezza Rice. Former Ohio Congressman Rob Portman’s former position as U.S. Trade Representative probably wouldn’t have ruffled too many Republican feathers, however fiscal conservatives and deficit hawks may not have appreciated his other White House position . . . former Director of the White House Budget Office under President Bush. Recently, Portman has said he is not interested in the position.

The governors: Former Governor Mitt Romney; Governor Bobby Jindal; Gov. Tim Pawlenty; Governor Mark Sanford; former Governor Mike Huckabee; former and first-ever Secretary of Homeland Security and former Governor of Wisconsin Tom Ridge; Texas Governor Rick Perry; Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr.; Governor Sarah Palin; former Republican Party Chair and Governor of Mississippi Haley Barbour. Former EPA Administrator and former New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman’s name has been floated, but her positions on the environment may be too liberal. The current and past governors of Florida are also mentioned in conversations about potential VP picks, but they both may have disqualifying factors. Governor Charlie Crist of Florida has recently gotten engaged, but Republicans are questioning his motives, and although former Governor and brother-to-the-President Jeb Bush is popular and well liked, his last name may keep him off the ticket this time around.

The senators: Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison; Senator John Thune; former Senator Fred Thompson; Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina; Tennessee Senator Lamar Alexander; and finally, Independent-but-Caucusing-as-a-Democrat and 2004 vice presidential candidate Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman would be an interesting choice and possible because of his strong support of the War in Iraq and of Israel.

The businessmen and women: Carly Fiorina; Rob Portman; Former California congressman, SEC Chairman Chris Cox; former E-Bay CEO Meg Whitman; and Dell Founder and CEO Michael Dell.

2008 Statewide Election Information

2008-07-11T09:01:00.000-07:00

We took several big steps towards our initial launch this week. If you check out our map, you will now see entries for all of the statewide elections taking place in 2008. In addition, as you click around the map you’ll now start to see candidates for office rather than only the current office holder. We still need to update some of the information, but having the basic information uploaded and on our site is a big milestone for us. Go check it out for yourself and let us know what you think!

We are working on several changes to improve the usability and look of the site. Very soon the map will be more intuitive, look better and have better instructions. We have a lot of great things in the pipeline, so I hope that you come back to visit frequently to see our progress and, once again, give us suggestions through the feedback tool.

Minnesota Senate Race

2008-07-09T15:10:00.000-07:00

Norm Coleman (R) v. Al Franken (D)

Minnesota has always had interesting politicians. Governor Jesse Ventura was a professional wrestler before he became the state governor. Now, Minnesotans will decide whether to vote into the Senate a professional satirist and comedian. Saturday Night Live to Air America isn’t the most likely path to the Hill, but Al Franken is taking that path.

Franken is probably as progressive as former Senator Paul Wellstone was, and in this only-sometimes-liberal state, he has a tough campaign ahead of him. His frank talk and outspoken manner, especially from his Al Franken Show days and his blog on the Huffington Post, give Republicans a lot to work with. The campaign’s focus has fluctuated between the issues and Franken’s colorful comedy, giving Norm Coleman the second star-studded race of his career (in 1998, Coleman ran against and lost to Jesse Ventura in the three-way gubernatorial race . . . and the former Governor may do it to Coleman again if he decides to enter this race . . . Ventura has been toying with the idea of entering the senate race, in case it wasn’t already interesting enough!)

First-term Senator Norm Coleman, the Republican and former mayor of St. Paul, came to the senate by beating former Vice President Walter Mondale after Senator Paul Wellstone was killed in a plane crash only days before the 2002 election. Minnesota has voted Democratic in the last two presidential elections and the state is trending Democratic, but that won’t stop Minnesotans from seriously considering giving Republican Coleman a second term. Coleman has been leading Franken in the polls throughout this very expensive (over $25 million so far) race, although his lead has fluctuated a lot, usually within a 10-point spread and sometimes within the margin of error. This seat is rated a toss up.

Virginia Senate Race

2008-07-07T15:23:00.000-07:00

Mark Warner (D) v. Jim Gilmore (R)

Politicos have had their eyes on the Virginia US Senate Race for a few years now. Mark Warner has been considered a rising star in politics for years, ever since he first ran for Governor of Virginia. After defeating a Republican to win that seat, he won great praise and was known as a Democrat who could work well with Republicans.

Virginia has also become a state to watch because of changing demographics – the state used to be considered a Republican state, but Democrats have been doing better there of late with the growing population of Northern Virginia right outside of Washington, DC and the beginnings of a shift to the left that the whole country is experiencing. Mark Warner is running against another former governor of Virginia, Republican Jim Gilmore. They are vying for Senator John Warner's seat as he has decided to retire from the Senate this year. John Warner, a solid Republican, has been critical of the Bush administration's foreign policy in recent years. Mark Warner, the Democratic candidate, is leading Gilmore in the polls by a very comfortable margin and the average political rating has this seat a likely turnover for Democrats.

New Hampshire Senate Race

2008-07-04T21:38:00.000-07:00

John Sununu (R) v. Jeanne Shaheen (D)

The New Hampshire US Senate Race is one to watch - Republican incumbent Senator John Sununu is facing a tough challenger in a tough year for Republicans. Democrat Jeanne Shaheen, former Governor of New Hampshire and current President of Harvard’s Kennedy School’s Institute of Politics, will face Sununu in November – a rematch of the 2002 Senate race.

Partially because New Hampshire has become a Democratic state,
and partially because Shaheen is a strong candidate, Sununu is currently trailing in the latest polls by 14 points. In addition, New Hampshire has the distinction of having voted against President Bush in 2004 after having voted for him in 2000 and is none too happy with the War in Iraq. This is one to watch for a possible Democratic gain in the Senate this year. The average rating (from Stuart Rothenberg, Roll Call, Congressional Quarterly, the Cook Political Report, and Robert Novak) for this race has it leaning Democratic.

Welcome to the Votimus Alpha Launch!

2008-07-04T10:39:00.000-07:00

Thanks for joining us for the pre-launch of Votimus!

For years I’ve been frustrated by how difficult it is to find even basic information about, much less get involved in, the elections, candidates and issues across the country that I care about. After spending far too many hours in front of my computer searching through a seemingly endless maze of national news sites, local news sites, political sites, candidate sites and blogs, I thought to myself that there needs to be a better way of doing things.

I wanted a website where anyone could quickly get information about federal, state and local elections taking place anywhere around the country. The best way to do this, I thought, would be through an easy-to-use interactive map of the United States with a simple toolbar next to the map controlling the level of government. With a few clicks, a person would be able to find an election, research the candidates running, see what the relevant issues were and read the most current news for any election in the country.

And not only would people be able to learn about elections, they’d actually be able to participate in them – make a campaign contribution, sign up to volunteer, indicate which candidate they supported, tell their friends, etc. In other words, they’d be able to get involved.

On top of that, the site would attract and be supported by a great politically-oriented community of people. People would be able to share with others (if they wanted to) the elections they were following, the candidates they were supporting, the issues they cared about and the organizations they were involved with. Or, if they wanted, the site would be a place where they could meet new people.

So, I created Votimus. Or, to be more precise, with your help our team is in the process of creating Votimus. We are still in our very early stages, so we will be adding additional content and functionality over the coming weeks. Still, even with our basic version you can:

Get information on thousands of elections taking place this November;

Become a member and join the Votimus community;

Track the elections you most interested in through our
“MyElections” feature;

Show others the candidates and organizations you support;

Make your voice heard by commenting on elections and candidates
around the country;

Search our database of thousands of candidates;

Send your friends links to our election pages;

And many other things.

Again, we will be adding a lot to the site in the near future, including additional social networking features, the ability to add user generated content and more local election and candidate information. However, we hope you find even this basic version of the site informative and engaging.

Please explore the site and let us know what you like and don’t like about it. We are eager to get your feedback so that we can continuously improve the site and make it better and better. Whether you have a comment regarding the site’s graphics, usability, content, etc., we want to know what you think!

Thank you in advance for your help, and we’ll let you know as we roll out more complete versions of the site.

Best regards, and happy 4th of July!

Scott Gluck
Founder/CEO
Votimus