- Sat. Jul 4, 2009
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WHAT'S NEWS
•A new Detroit News/WXYZ-TV/EPIC-MRA poll of MI LVs, conducted 7/13-16, shows Barack Obama leading John McCain 43-41%. McCain led the previous poll, conducted 5/19-22, 44-40% (release).
•After meeting with Iraqi PM Nouri al-Maliki and Pres. Jalal Talabani, the Iraqis declared they like Obama's "plan to pull U.S. forces from the country by 2010" (New York Daily News), providing Obama "with a potentially powerful political boost" (New York Times).
•While Iraqi leaders "received Obama graciously" (Detroit Free Press), Obama's visit was "noted" by regular Iraqis but was "not the No. 1 thing" on their minds (Los Angeles Times).
•The New York Times "defended its decision not to publish" McCain's op-ed as written, but argued it takes his views "very seriously" (AP). Meanwhile, the New York Post published the op-ed today.
•Sources in McCain's camp "confirm" that there have been "recent discussions high in the campaign" about possibly naming a VP this week ("Political Ticker"). Asked "outright" last night if he would announce his VP pick in NH today, McCain "responded with a mischievous grin and silently backed away" ("Washington Wire").
•Meanwhile, McCain is expected to be in New Orleans tomorrow night "amid reports that he'll sit down with" LA Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) (New Orleans Times-Picayune).
•Top donors to independent groups that sought to influence the last WH race "are giving less than one-fifth of what they shelled out" in '04, according to a USA Today analysis.
•An analysis comparing Obama's full FEC filing for June with a list of 311 "Hillraisers," found only eight names in common between the two lists ("Huffington Post").
•Hillary Clinton touted Obama at a letter carriers' event in Boston and HRC "aides said her calendar is quickly filling with other events" on Obama's behalf (Boston Globe).
•GOP Senate leaders -- "terrified by the prospect of losing five or more seats" in Nov. -- "have freed their members to vote however they need to vote to get reelected" (Politico).
•Ralph Nader's camp said it has "collected enough signatures to get on the ballots of 15 states," and set new goals of 30 states by 8/8, 40 by 9/1 and 45 by 9/15 ("Political Intelligence").
•Attys with the AL ACLU filed a lawsuit yesterday against the state that "challenges several issues dealing with the right of felons to vote" (Montgomery Advertiser).
•For more headlines, see today's Earlybird: Top News; Campaigns; Pundits & Editorials; Network News; TV Guests; Today In Washington.
PLAY OF THE DAY
Absence makes the heart grow fonder on Play of the Day!
HAIR OF THE DOG
GA Gov. Sonny Perdue (R) "issued a proclamation congratulating Valdosta on being designated one of ESPN's top 20 sports communities in the nation" (WALB.com)
GOSSIP BUFFET
•"There was just one reporter and one photographer waiting for McCain" as his plane landed in Manchester, NH, last night (New Hampshire Union Leader).
•"It feels like I'm in New Jersey most of the time" -- NJ Gov. Jon Corzine (D), on being in Israel (Herald News).
•When Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) recently commented in Spanish on the injured Rep. Solomon Ortiz's (D-TX) "new medical boot," Ortiz suggested Rangel "use the word pie for foot instead of pata, which is more colloquial and can also refer to the paw of an animal" (The Hill).
•Ron Paul is apparently writing a sequel to "The Revolution: A Manifesto," with his new book tentatively titled, "The Revolution: A Memoir" ("Media Mob").
•Rep. David Davis (R-TN) has joined up with Reps. Bart Gordon (D-TN) and Heath Shuler (D-NC) "to draft a measure that would create a National Carriage Driving Month, honoring the contributions that animal-drawn vehicles have made to American culture" (Roll Call).
•As part of his "Kerry On Your Corner" tour, John Kerry yesterday visited a Dunkin' Donuts, a pizza parlor, an Asian grocery store and a Brazilian restaurant (Waltham Daily News Tribune).
•SC state Sen. Kevin Bryant (R) is being "criticized for a post on his blog" that shows photos of Obama and Osama bin Laden "wearing similar clothing," along with a line that says the difference between them is "a little B.S." (AP).
•There's a Segway "tethered to an electrical outlet near the dock" at the Bush family compound in Kennebunkport, but ex-Pres. Bush "said he can't ride it now because he needs back surgery and has been having trouble keeping his balance" (Portland Press Herald).
•Arguing that "bare survival is not the proper standard," attys for ex-NJ First Lady Dina Matos McGreevey want ex-Gov. Jim McGreevey (D) to hand over as much as $1M "to win a divorce" (Newark Star-Ledger).
•Though she's beaten her prescription drug addiction, the "ethereally slender" Cindy McCain "has continued to drink wine, according to eyewitnesses" (Washington Post).
•"A quick perusal of photos over the last few years suggests" that the number of ties NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg (I) owns "has to be in the hundreds, if not the thousands" ("Cityfile").
•"More than a few" of MN Gov. Tim Pawlenty's (R) opponents like to call him "a Boy Scout with a switchblade" (Minnesota Monthly).
•Jon Stewart, on Obama leaving for his trip abroad: "When you woke up this morning, did you feel a little colder, the country was a little sadder, a little lonelier, a little less hopeful?" ("Daily Show").
ROOSTER'S CROW
•Obama to hold a news conference today in Amman (MSNBC or NBC, 10 am).
•Group of 700 "Disability Rights Advocates" march past the DoJ, to the Capitol Reflecting Pool (11:30 am).
•The authors of "After Bush: The Case for Continuity in Foreign Policy" discuss their book (Hudson Institute, noon).
•"Skinny Bitch" co-author Rory Freedman (Rayburn, 12:30 pm).
•Young Professionals Group of The Wellness Community D.C. happy hour (Penn Quarter Sports Tavern, 6 pm).
BREAKFAST FLAKE
"I may never publish another op-ed in the New York Times after this" -- ex-UN Amb. John Bolton, threatening to make us all pay ("Hannity & Colmes," FNC, 7/21).
Nora McAlvanah, Editor
Maura O'Brien, Associate Editor
About Wake-Up Call!
- A morning news briefing on politicians and the press.