From The Hotline Latest Edition for Wednesday, April 30,2008

CLINTON

CSI: Ad Spots

Wed. Apr. 30, 2008


Hillary Clinton is up with a new ad, "Trouble," in IN and NC, criticizing Barack Obama for saying "no" to both a freeze on foreclosures and a proposed gas tax holiday (Hotline sources). In "a direct appeal to voters' pocketbooks," the ad tries to cast Obama "as a foot-dragger on the economy." For their part, the Obama camp accused Clinton's camp of more misleading "Washington-style attack ads" (Helman, "Political Intelligence," 4/29).

Clinton's camp also launched a new TV ad in IN, "Dreams," which "highlights Hillary's upbringing" (release, 4/29).

Clinton is airing her 60-second ad, "Maya," in NC. In the ad, Maya Angelou talks about why she is supporting Hillary, saying: "Hillary Clinton is a prayer of every American who really longs for fair play" (release, 4/30).


Overturns A Lot Of Conventions In Our Recent Super-Hero Stories

"After months on the sidelines," superdelegate/Rep. Ike Skelton (D-MO) endorsed Clinton 4/29, saying, "he decided to back Clinton because of her support for 'rural America, her commitment to National Security, and her dedication to our men and women in uniform'" (Shesgreen, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 4/29).

Clinton's presidential campaign reports that superdelegate PA AFL-CIO pres. Bill George "has endorsed her candidacy" (release, 4/29).

Chelsea Clinton, campaigning today in San Juan, Puerto Rico, "just bagged a delegate for her mother." A few moments ago, at the Universidad del Sagrado Corazon, unpledged superdelegate Luisette Cabanas, "announced her support for Clinton, giving the campaign the majority of automatic delegates on the Island" (Ambinder, "Atlantic Online," 4/30).


Where Do You See Yourself In Five Months?

In an interview yesterday with the Indianapolis Star ed board, Clinton said it would be "the height of political foolishness" for Dems to back a GOPer, or not vote at all, if they're disappointed by the outcome of the Dem primary. More:

• Clinton: "Anyone, anyone, who voted for either of us should be absolutely committed to voting for the other. I'm going to shout that from the mountaintops and the valleys and everywhere I can, no matter what the outcome of the nominating process is."

• Clinton also said that she thinks the primaries have been "energizing" rather than divisive, "resulting in many new voters being brought into the electoral process."

• She "said there are key differences between her and Obama -- including the gasoline tax holiday, which he has rejected as a 'gimmick' that would not necessarily lower pump prices."

• Clinton wouldn't address whether she'll stay in the race if she doesn't win IN, "but said her upbringing near Chicago and her message of turning this from the 'rust belt' to the 'opportunity belt' helps her connect with Hoosier voters."

• "I'm going to try to do as well as I can in Indiana. I never make predictions because who knows," she said" (Schneider, 4/29).


Gas, Brake, Honk, Wave!

Wall Street Journal's Aeppel writes, "By focusing on voter fears about globalization and job losses in troubled industries," Clinton "has cultivated support among factory workers and others worried about U.S. competitiveness that has given her an edge" over Obama in several key races, including PA and OH (4/30).

In Indianapolis on 4/29, Clinton "again urged a suspension of the federal gas tax because of high prices at the pump. She toured the Miller Veneers wood manufacturing company and said a lot of people in IN would benefit from a gas tax holiday (AP, 4/9).

And as she continues the focus on this plan Clinton plans a PR stunt today, "where she will actually commute to work with a Indiana voter, stopping for gas along the way, of course." Speaking later at the Deluxe Sheet Metal factory, Clinton said she'd take on oil companies, just as Teddy Roosevelt did. Clinton: "We need a president who will take on the oil companies again, and I will do that. I will take away their tax subsidies. They don't need them to make these outrageous profits" (Memoli, National Journal/NBC, 4/30).

CNN's Toobin: "I actually think Hillary Clinton deserves a lot of credit. She came out with a bold proposal. And I don't think, you know, we should mock the idea. She said cut the gasoline tax and add to the oil companies' taxes. I don't know if it's a good idea or not, but it's an issue. It's a real idea. It's not somebody's minister. It's not Bosnia and, you know, film on tape. I mean it is an idea that's worth debating. ... Obama's against that idea. Well, let's hear them talk about that" ("Situation Room," 4/29).


Divine Intervention

In South Bend, IN, today Clinton did her best to avoid commenting on the Jeremiah Wright issue. Asked by a reporter about the matter, Clinton interputted: "You know what? I wanted to call on somebody from Indiana. I was looking for a hand from Indiana. Yes" (Memoli, National Journal/NBC, 4/29).

While they've said little publicly, "Clinton aides have spent the past couple of days privately gleeful about Obama's plight." Clinton aide: "It's the gift that keeps on giving" (Bacon, Washington Post, 4/30).

Roll Call's Heil, on whether the Obama/Wright controversy is the "super issue" the Clinton camp hoped it would be: "Well, I think that Senator Clinton had certainly hoped that the Wright controversy would really bury Senator Obama. So to the extent that it really hasn't, it's not living up to their wildest dreams" ("Countdown," MSNBC, 4/29).

Clinton supporter/Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), asked if Clinton is right in not discussing Wright: "I think she made the judgment that Democrats want to focus on winning and focus not on something that is distracting. And she was right. ... She knows that what he's going through is very difficult. And she also knows that the voters are looking to how you take charge, how you lead, how you make decisions and bring about results" ("LKL," CNN, 4/29).

MSNBC's Scarborough: "What Hillary Clinton does between now and the end of the campaign is irrelevant if Barack Obama proves to the superdelegates that he can stand-up and fight and be tough and separate himself from Reverend Wright and the San Francisco comments. When he does that, little else matters. The only way the Clintons win is by proving that he is unelectable. They can't get the delegates. They probably can't get the popular vote. So what Hillary Clinton does moving forward, between now and Denver, is irrelevant if Barack Obama rights himself and leans forward like he did today" ("Race for the WH," 4/29).


Fort Bragging Rights?

In a front page article, Fayetteville Observer's Ramsey reports that Clinton "is calling for a congressional hearing into reports of poor living conditions at Fort Bragg." In a phone interview 4/29 with the Observer, Clinton said she asked Armed Services Cmte chair/Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI) "to hold a hearing on Fort Bragg's barracks and the broader issue of the conditions troops are returning to on installations across the country."

Clinton: "Something went terribly wrong here. We've asked these young soldiers to risk their lives and bear brutal living conditions... and when they return home, the least we can do is offer them decent, clean living conditions." With the NC primary less than a week away, Clinton "said this issue shouldn't become a political one. She said soldiers need to be assured that 'we're not going to allow this to happen again'" (4/30).


Looking For An Appalachian Sized Upset

In NC 4/29, Bill Clinton argued that "most of what people have said in this campaign is wrong, including who's been more positive and who's been more negative." Clinton "also made a point to talk about the gas tax today, a topic he often mentions, but rarely dives into." Clinton: "It would make a huge difference, particularly to people who have to drive a long way to work."

Speaking on the campus of Appalachian State Univ, B. Clinton said; "Folks, I'm a sports nut, and I'm glad to be here at the home of the greatest football upset in modern history, so I think it will have special meaning here if I begin with a line I always say today. Whenever somebody tells you you can't win, it's because they're afraid you will" (Amos, "Political Radar," 4/29).


Introducing The Man Who Had To Follow Ed Rendell

NC Gov. Mike Easley's endorsement of Clinton could help HRC "in her quest for more traditional rural and small-town blue-collar" Dems.

• Easley said he intends to campaign at Clinton's side when she returns to the state 5/2 for a three-day campaign swing.

• Easley "said he had been leaning toward Clinton for months and had had periodic talks with Clinton and her husband."

• Easley called Clinton's chances here "a long shot" but said "I think when people hear her and see her, it's just very clear that she has the ability to deliver and deliver right away."

• "He said he had no interest in a Cabinet post, suggesting that he is ready to re-enter private life when his term ends" 1/08.

• Easley: "When it comes to politics. I'm like the rat. I've had enough cheese. I just want to get out of the trap" (Christensen, Raleigh News & Observer, 4/30).

• Roll Call's Heil, on Easley using the word "pansy" in his Clinton endorsement: "Words do matter and certainly, everyone knows that everyone is going to be parsing every word that comes out on the campaign trail. But I think that there is a limit to that and how sensitive you can be. You know, clearly, some people are very upset by this and it is a loaded word. I don't think it's universally accepted as a sexual slur. And then, maybe, it just was meant in the common parlance of denoting weakness. So, I don't know necessarily that even on a slow news day, when you didn't have a campaign, a candidate making a major policy announcement and the Reverend Wright controversy bubbling over, I don't think that those things so much put it in perspective or drown it out as they do put it in perspective. I don't think it's going to be a big fuss on the campaign" ("Countdown," MSNBC, 4/29).

• Ex-WH spokesperson Dee Dee Myers: "She is running substantially behind, and she has to be careful of keeping expectations in check. This is an important endorsement for her, but not one that is likely to put her over the top" ("Situation Room," CNN, 4/29).

• Time's Carney: "For Hillary Clinton, you can't really have a bigger deal. This is a state where if she's able to narrow the gap between herself and Senator Obama, she can then count on stories coming out. If she wins Indiana on the same day, then she sort of won the day. And she lives to fight another day and the storyline goes back to what's wrong with Obama, why can't he close the deal? If she's blown out in North Carolina as earlier polls suggested she might be, it's a big state and I think that would allow Obama to regain his footing somewhat after his pretty horrendous previous six weeks" ("Race for the WH," MSNBC, 4/29).


God Help Us All

On last night's "O'Reilly Factor," FNC's O'Reilly asked Karl Rove what he should ask Clinton in his upcoming interview with her. The interview is set to air tonight and 5/1.

Rove: "I'd first ask her ... when you went to the United States Senate, you made a deliberate effort to reach out across party lines and work with Republicans on issues, particularly in the Armed Services Committee where you served. Why did you let Senator Obama begin his campaign and make a central element of it, his desire for bipartisanship and remain silent about your efforts at bipartisanship?"

O'Reilly: "That question is way too smart for me. ... I have really stupid questions, but they're fun" (4/29).