- Sun. Nov 22, 2009
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WHAT'S NEWS
•Barack Obama claimed the WH Dem nod last night, capping "a grueling but ultimately successful quest to be the first African-American candidate to lead a major party's bid" (Chicago Tribune).
•"In fitting fashion," Obama and Hillary Clinton "split the last contests," with Obama winning MT 56-41% and HRC taking SD 55-44% (Los Angeles Times). As the polls closed last night, 26.5 superdelegates endorsed Obama (release).
•While HRC "talked of a need to unite the party, she did not concede, and indeed did not acknowledge" that Obama "had passed the threshold" (New York Times). In a speech that was "part thank-you, part peace offering and part ultimatum," she said: "I want the nearly 18 million Americans who voted for me to be respected" (New York Daily News).
•Facing "a sizable job of uniting his party," Obama "offered praise" to HRC during his victory speech in MN, calling her "a leader who inspires millions" (Washington Post). He also "wasted little time" in "aggressively attacking" John McCain's positions on the economy, Iraq, and foreign policy (Boston Globe).
•McCain, meanwhile, opened the general election campaign in LA last night "with a blistering attack" on Obama, suggesting he is too weak to be commander-in-chief (New York Post). McCain also "wasted no time courting" HRC's supporters, saying she deserved "a lot more appreciation" than she received (Los Angeles Times).
•Obama and HRC talked on the phone early this a.m., and he renewed his offer to "sit down when it makes sense" for her -- but there are no plans to meet today (New York Times).
•Ex-Bill Clinton special counsel Lanny Davis has launched a petition drive to make HRC VP (NBC/National Journal). And BET founder Bob Johnson sent a letter to House Maj. Whip Jim Clyburn today "to lobby the Congressional Black Caucus to endorse" HRC as VP ("Political Ticker").
•However, Obama strategist David Axelrod said last night that Obama doesn't have a VP list yet, and "it's way too early to talk about that" (FoxNews.com).
•In what some interpreted as a sign that "he would not actively campaign for Obama in the fall," the Clinton Foundation announced that B. Clinton "will return to his day job" today (NBC/National Journal).
•The RNC released "two attack videos" on its website yesterday that question Obama's experience and "use his fellow Democrats' words against him" ("The Trail").
•Rev. Michael Pfleger "was removed from his duties" yesterday, after Cardinal Francis George asked him to "take leave for a couple of weeks from his pastoral duties" (Chicago Sun-Times). Meanwhile, Rev. Jeremiah Wright has canceled his appearance today at the Int'l Detroit Black Expo (Detroit News).
•Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D) won the NJ SEN primary "with surprising ease" last night, defeating the "experienced" and "polished" Rep. Rob Andrews (D) 61-34% with 91% of the vote in. Lautenberg will now face ex-Rep. Dick Zimmer (R) in Nov. (Newark Star-Ledger).
•Rep. Steve Pearce (R), who "ran as a right-wing conservative," defeated "moderate" Rep. Heather Wilson (R) in the NM SEN primary, with "roughly" 51% of the vote (AP).
•In the "bruising primary" to replace retiring Rep. John Doolittle (R-CA 04), state Sen. Tom McClintock (R) won a "decisive" 54-39% victory against ex-Rep. Doug Ose (R) (Sacramento Bee).
•For more headlines, see today's Earlybird: Top News; Campaigns; Pundits & Editorials; Network News; TV Guests; Today In Washington.
PLAY OF THE DAY
Terry McAuliffe just won't give up the fight on Play of the Day!
HAIR OF THE DOG
The House approved a resolution yesterday "recognizing National Arbor Day 2008" -- except "the tree-planting holiday" was actually on 4/25 (Omaha World-Herald).
GOSSIP BUFFET
•Joe Biden was caught "browsing around the more 'G-rated' section" of the Union Station Victoria's Secret recently, eventually settling "on a pair of gray sweatpants" (Roll Call). Hot.
•Because he can't be separated from NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg (I) for that long, NYC dep. mayor Kevin Sheekey "has turned down an offer to manage" the nat'l GOP convo (New York Post).
•"My skinny jeans are at the cleaners and my gladiator sandals are being resoled" -- Council of Fashion Designers of America honoree Bloomberg, on why he went for the purple bow tie ("Daily Intelligencer").
•"Showgirls" star Gina Gershon is going after Vanity Fair for "insinuating" that she and B. Clinton are having "a torrid love affair" -- insisting that their meetings "always took place in the presence of at least a dozen chaperones" (New York Daily News).
•Singer/songwriter Chet Lott, the son of ex-Sen. Trent Lott (R-MS), "has created a unique musical style all his own" -- it's "fresh and edgy, emotional and pure" ("Shenanigans").
•UT native Emily Pomeroy, an intern to Rep. Chris Cannon (R-UT), "is the third generation in her family not to be in a polygamist relationship" (The Hill).
•Sens. Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Sam Brownback (R-KS) arrived at the WH in style yesterday -- in Roberts' "convertible Chrysler Crossfire" ("Yeas & Nays").
•Ex-Bush sister-in-law Sharon Bush recently bought family members "six copies" of Dr. Robert Schwalbe's new book, "Sixty, Sexy, and Successful," which deals with "men's midlife and late-life crises" (New York Post).
•Ex-NY Gov. Eliot Spitzer (D) has a new day job -- working for his dad, Bernie, at his "real estate empire" (Observer.com).
•OK state House candidate/IHOP waiter Dustin McGowen (R), 21, said yesterday that he's running because "there's never been a better time for young people" -- or IHOP waiters -- "to get involved" (Oklahoma City Daily Oklahoman).
•Conan O'Brien, on Obama clinching the Dem nod: "As a result, Hillary Clinton will concede sometime in the next 30 years" ("Late Night").
ROOSTER'S CROW
•Obama addresses AIPAC (DC Convo Center, 8:45 am), followed by HRC (10:30 am).
•Jim Carrey and Jenny McCarthy lead a march to the Capitol to promote the "Green Our Vaccines" campaign (Washington Monument, this a.m.).
•A tour of the 18th and 19th century French Collection (Nat'l Gallery of Art, 2:30 pm).
•U.S. Air Force Singing Sergeants and the U.S. Army Chorus (Kennedy Center, 6 pm).
•Singer/songwriter Rachael Sage performs vaudevillian piano pop (DC9, 7:30 pm).
•Houston Dynamo vs. DC United (RFK, 7:30 pm).
BREAKFAST FLAKE
"Topless biker group likes what it sees in Sarah Steelman for governor" -- Kansas City Star. And we like what we hear.
Nora McAlvanah, Editor
Maura O'Brien, Associate Editor
About Wake-Up Call!
- A morning news briefing on politicians and the press.