- Fri. Jul 4, 2008
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WHAT'S NEWS
• Final Zogby tracking polls of Dem LVs show Barack Obama leading Hillary Clinton 51-37% in NC with 8% undecided, and 45-43% in IN with 7% undecided. Both polls were taken 5/4-5 and have margin of error +/- 4% (release).
• A new Ipsos poll of Dem RVs, taken 4/30-5/4, shows HRC leading Obama 47-40%, up from her 3% deficit on 4/27. In general election match-ups, Ipsos shows HRC leading John McCain 47-42% and Obama leading McCain 46-42% among RVs.
• Long lines are being reported this a.m. at some polling places across NC, where observers say that 1.5M voters may turn out (Charlotte Observer). Over in IN, a "busy day of voting started with few reported issues and only two polling places that failed to open on time this morning in Indianapolis" (Indianapolis Star).
• Heading into today's primaries, HRC "has been effective in setting the bar low" (The Hill). For his part, Obama "predicted a close outcome" in IN (Chicago Tribune).
• "In a long, impassioned speech last night," Michelle Obama tried to "combat the idea that she and her husband were elitists," excoriating HRC for her gas tax holiday proposal (New York Observer). .
• A group of more than 230 economists, including four Nobel laureates, signed a letter yesterday opposing HRC and McCain's proposals for a gas tax holiday ("The Trail").
• The Obama camp yesterday criticized a series of IN robocalls by Nat'l Right to Life, calling their attacks on Obama "a ploy" (release).
• Teamsters officials said yesterday that HRC "suggested that she might also support ending the union's consent decree" with the federal gov't, and "vigorously denied" endorsing Obama because of his similar comments (New York Times).
• In an interview with People, John and Elizabeth Edwards confirmed that they will not endorse either remaining candidate, "saving their political capital for their own causes."
• Senate Maj. Leader Harry Reid said that after 6/3, HRC and Obama will have "days, not weeks" to make their case to superdelegates who will cast the deciding votes (USA Today).
• In a speech today at Wake Forest, McCain will offer "an olive branch to the Christian right" about the kind of judges he would nominate, while "castigating" Obama for voting against CJ John Roberts (AP).
• After Arianna Huffington reported yesterday that the McCains told her in '00 that they did not vote for Pres. Bush, McCain spokesperson Tucker Bounds responded: "It's not true" ("Huffington Post").
• For more headlines, see today's Earlybird: Top News; Campaigns; Pundits & Editorials; Network News; TV Guests; Today In Washington.
PLAY OF THE DAY
HRC counts down the best of American life on Play of the Day!
HAIR OF THE DOG
Rep. Mike Doyle (D-PA) "spent this past weekend visiting" Rep. Zach Wamp (R-TN) in TN, "but Doyle won't say what he was doing there" (The Hill).
GOSSIP BUFFET
• Bill Richardson left NM "to attend the Kentucky Derby" this weekend "without telling the lieutenant governor, who takes over in his absence from the state, that he was leaving" (AP).
• Tucker Carlson "never locks his car even though a woman once stalked him" and he once found a sleeping man "wrapped in newspaper in the back seat of his Volvo station wagon" (The Hill).
• According to a Logan Tavern waiter who was working the night of his DWI arrest, Rep. Vito Fossella's (R-NY) drinking buddy, Brian, "passed out at the bar" and "belly-flopped onto a table" (New York Daily News).
• At a coffee shop in downtown Durham, NC, yesterday, Obama "bought 15 slices of cake" -- "six of vanilla pound cake, seven of lemon pound cake and two red velvet" -- for $26.95 (AP).
• "He was clinching it, like the old days with Bobo Olson and Gene Fullmer" -- Chris Matthews, trying to win the Obscure Boxing References award ("Hardball").
• Ex-NY SEN candidate Jeanine Pirro (R), "rebounding from her recent personal and political problems," is becoming a judge on a new CW show that plans to make use of her "considerable 'life experience'" (AP).
• The Senate Rules Cmte "has closed two smoking rooms in the Senate office buildings, effectively prohibiting smoking in all of the Senate's public buildings" ("Yeas & Nays").
• "It wasn't what he said about energy independence, or education, or workers rights. ... It was the way he talked about them" -- Jane Fleming-Kleeb, the wife of NE SEN candidate Scott Kleeb (D), on how she fell in love with her husband (Roll Call).
• Laura Bush said yesterday that building a "giant" limestone cross at the site of the altar for Jenna's wedding "was the president's idea" ("Beltway Confidential"). Because we never would have guessed.
• Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) has decided that this Sunday is not only Mothers' Day, but also "the National Prayer Day for Jailed Border Agents and All Law Enforcement" ("Shenanigans").
• After being "seen on foot in the area," NH police officers "with search lights and dogs" searched for convicted felon/ex-missing/missing again NH 01 candidate Gary Dodds last night, "who was wanted on an unspecified warrant" (Portsmouth Herald).
• Jon Stewart, on Obama winning the Guam primary by seven votes: "The margin with have been even closer, but the Fergusons' canoe got hit by a sea turtle" ("Daily Show").
ROOSTER'S CROW
• Washington Capitals owner Ted Leonsis receives a ceremonial resolution declaring this week "Capitals Week" (DC Council, today).
• Madeleine Albright and her new book (Library of Congress, noon).
• The Hotline watches tonight's primary coverage, so you don't have to ("On Call," 7 pm).
• Indie soul singer Liv Warfield (Blues Alley, 8 pm and 10 pm).
• Sea World animals on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" (NBC, 11:35 pm).
• Galactic on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" (NBC, 12:35 am).
BREAKFAST FLAKE
"Senator Claire McCaskill called me during my last exam. That was fun" -- superdelegate/College Dems pres. Lauren Wolfe (FamousDC).
Nora McAlvanah, Editor Maura O'Brien, Associate Editor
About Wake-Up Call
- A morning news briefing on politicians and the press.