- Thu. Aug 21, 2008
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WHAT'S NEWS
•A new Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll of nat'l RVs, conducted 6/19-23, shows Barack Obama leading John McCain 49-37% (release). Obama led the previous poll, conducted 5/1-8, 46-40%.
•On a conference call with his nat'l finance team yesterday, Obama asked his top contributors to help Hillary Clinton retire her more than $10M in debt ("Political Punch").
•Bill Clinton "will not be attending the rally" in Unity, NH, as he "is in Europe this week to celebrate Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday" (New York Daily News).
•Obama raised nearly $5M yesterday "at a celebrity-packed fundraiser," where actor Dennis Quaid pronounced him "the Superman for everyone" (AP).
•Obama supporters will host more than 3K house meetings "in all 50 states" on 6/28 -- reaching out to GOPers, indies, and Dems "who supported other candidates" (Wake-Up Call! sources).
•In "an unusual move," Obama's camp will "devote some resources to states it's unlikely to win, with the goal of influencing specific local contests" in places like TX and WY (Politico).
•Change to Win, which supports Obama, has called on McCain to fire Charlie Black for his "beyond inexcusable" comments about the effects of another terrorist attack (release).
•The DNC pre-butted McCain's visit to NV today, arguing: "Senator McCain's plan for Nevada can by summed up in four words: fewer jobs, more waste" (release).
•McCain pledged yesterday to make the federal gov't "more environmentally friendly," by "buying fuel-efficient vehicles for its civilian fleet" and "retrofitting federal office space" (Washington Post).
•In an interview with the Rocky Mountain News this week, Ralph Nader accused Obama of trying to "talk white" and appealing to "white guilt."
•After Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR) launched a new TV ad yesterday touting his ties to Obama (Portland Oregonian), Obama's camp noted that although he "has a long record of bipartisan accomplishment," he supports Smith's Dem opponent (release).
•In yesterday's UT-03 GOP primary, ex-Huntsman CoS Jason Chaffetz rode a "groundbreaking grassroots" org., along with a "growing storm" of GOP "discontent," to defeat Rep. Chris Cannon 60-40% (Deseret News).
•For more headlines, see today's Earlybird: Top News; Campaigns; Pundits & Editorials; Network News; TV Guests; Today In Washington.
PLAY OF THE DAY
It's Hell's Angels on Play of the Day!
HAIR OF THE DOG
After learning that "WTF" is a "common acronym" for a "vulgar phrase," NC officials offered to replace license plates with the letter combination "at no charge" -- only to learn that "WTF-5505" is shown on the state's DMV website "as a sample" (Nashua Telegraph).
GOSSIP BUFFET
•Tony Danza is hoping to play ex-WH CoS H.R. Haldeman in the movie version of James Rosen's new book on Watergate -- and he has a "new buzz cut" to complete the look (New York Post).
•At last night's BET awards, Sean "Diddy" Combs led the crowd in chanting "Obama or Die" -- "a declarative remix" of his '04 original "Vote or Die" (AP).
•Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-CA) "holds a special place in her heart for grocery stores," and "even knows her Washington Safeway's nickname" -- the "Social Safeway" (The Hill).
•KY AG Jack Conway, who just this month "announced a special unit on cybercrime," found himself "the victim of identity theft" recently when he "tried to buy some music on iTunes" (AP).
•During the 3rd inning of last night's Nationals game, "Fox News Sunday" host Chris Wallace was captured on the "Kiss Cam," smooching his wife (Wake-Up Call! sources).
•House Min. Leader John Boehner and Rep. Gresham Barrett (R-SC) recently "assisted the band" at Cantina Marina in singing "How Sweet It Is (to Be Loved by You)" and doing "a Rockette-style kickline" (Roll Call).
•Obama's reading list is "a little dark" -- as he names "the tragedies of William Shakespeare" among the books that have "most inspired him" ("The Caucus").
•Roberta McCain, 96, received "her umpteenth speeding ticket" a few weeks ago -- this one a $40 citation in Chevy Chase, MD ("The Sleuth").
•George Lucas told the House Cmte on Energy and Commerce Telecommunications yesterday it is "reasonably obvious" that Obama is best characterized as a Jedi ("Yeas & Nays").
•According to a witness, MSNBC's Keith Olbermann "went apoplectic" right before Tim Russert's memorial service "because there were no ketchup packets at the Kennedy Center" (New York Post).
•Rep. Bob Inglis (R-SC) signs "about 100" autographs each year, "including pictures and all" (The Hill).
•Jon Stewart, on MoveOn.org's new anti-McCain ad that features a baby: "Moveon.org: Ten years of making even people who agree with you cringe" ("Daily Show").
ROOSTER'S CROW
•Celebrate the cultures of TX and Bhutan (Nat'l Mall, beginning at 11 am).
•Reporter Michael Dobbs talks about his new book (Nat'l Archives, noon).
•FRESHFARM Market (Foggy Bottom, 2:30 pm).
•Burt's Bees, Haagen Dazs, and 21 members of Congress hold a presser to discuss "the problems facing the bee" (3:15 pm).
•Country swing band Jody Nix and the Texas Cowboys (Kennedy Center, 6 pm).
•Dana Carvey on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" (NBC, 11:35 pm).
BREAKFAST FLAKE
"It was emotional in terms of, it's great to see her again. Did we cry? No. Did our hearts palpitate? I can't comment -- I don't know. Did mine? Somewhat" -- Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), not getting carried away by HRC's return to the Senate (Newsday).
Nora McAlvanah, Editor
Maura O'Brien, Associate Editor
About Wake-Up Call!
- A morning news briefing on politicians and the press.