Worst. Timing. Ever.

In an interview with PBS' Bill Moyers to air today, Barack Obama's ex-pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, "said he was hurt by what he considers unfair use of the sound bites" from his sermons, "but understood why Obama had harsh words about his statements" (Brachear, Chicago Tribune, 4/24).

Wright, on Obama: "He's a politician, I'm a pastor. I do what I do. He does what politicians do. What happened in Philadelphia, where he had to respond to the sound bites, he responded as a politician."

Wright "said he has never heard Obama repeat" any of his controversial remarks "as his own opinion" (Zoll, AP, 4/24). Wright: "I don't talk to him about politics. And so he had a political event, he goes out as a politician and says what he has to say as a politician" (Chicago Tribune, 4/24).

Wright said of the airing of "sound bites" from his sermons, "I felt it was unfair. I felt it was unjust. I felt it was untrue. I felt -- for those who were doing that -- were doing it for some very devious reasons" (AP, 4/24).

Wright: "The persons who have heard the entire sermon understand the communication perfectly. When something is taken like a sound bite for a political purpose and put constantly over and over again, looped in the face of the public, that's not a failure to communicate. Those who are doing that are communicating exactly what they want to do, which is to paint me as some sort of fanatic. ... I think they wanted to communicate that I am unpatriotic, that I am un-American, that I am filled with hate speech, that I have a cult ... And by the way, who goes to his church, hint, hint, hint?" (Chicago Tribune, 4/24).

As its "biggest headache" returned, Obama's camp "declined comment" 4/24 (Saul, New York Daily News, 4/25).

Newsday's Riley: "On balance, his comments don't seem particularly helpful to Obama." Wright "doesn't seem particularly apologetic, or anxious to suggest that the particular remarks were out of character, instead criticizing the motives of those who circulated" them. Wright also gives "just the slightest hint that maybe Obama's big race speech wasn't sincere" ("Spin Cycle," 4/24).

Obama's camp also "can't be thrilled about a series of upcoming public appearances" by Wright (Timiraos, "Washington Wire," Wall Street Journal, 4/24).

Wright keynotes the Detroit Branch NAACP's Fight for Freedom Fund dinner 4/27. Organizers "haven't asked Wright for a copy of his speech, but they anticipate protests, a crush of cameras" and a "near-record crowd that could exceed" 10K. Officials "said tickets have sold at a rate unseen since" Bill Clinton keynoted in '00 (Nichols, Detroit News, 4/25).

The Under-The-Bus Tour

A lot of last night's TV focused on the interview, Wright's first since the controversy. Some of the shows aired sneak previews with the highlights, and among the commentary:

• Ex-WH adviser David Gergen: "This might well have been shown under the segment 'What Was He Thinking?' It is entirely understandable that Reverend Wright would want to defend himself. He does feel he's been unfairly attacked. And this is a free country. But why now? Why break his silence at a very sensitive moment for Barack Obama? ... This is the first time in American history that an African-American has a serious chance of ascending to the presidency, the highest office in the land. And Reverend Wright has just made this climb a lot steeper. Barack Obama needed to get back on message and have the Wright story die and go away. Reverend Wright, choosing to go on television now, by making a speech to the National Press Club tomorrow, is fanning those flames once again, putting his story right back up front. That does Barack Obama no favors" ("AC 360," CNN, 4/24).

• CNN's Borger: "What really struck me about this interview was that he called Obama a politician. And Obama's political pitch, if you will, or his pitch to the voters is ... that he is not a politician. So, in a way, Reverend Wright was throwing his old friend under the bus here, because he said, you know, we speak to different audiences, I'm a pastor, he's a politician. He used the word politician a few times, and that is not the way Barack Obama wants to be portrayed" ("Election Center," 4/24).

• Rev. Joe Watkins: "This is 'Reverend wrong' as far as the Obama campaign is concerned. This interview couldn't come at a worse time. I mean, just a few days after Obama loses to Hillary Clinton by 10 points, after dropping $30 million in Pennsylvania, and now this. ... Reverend Wright, who he didn't throw under the bus, is throwing him under the bus by saying that he's just another politician, he's doing what he has to do as a politician, he's saying what politicians say. Bad stuff, not helpful at all to Barack Obama" ("Verdict," MSNBC, 4/24).

• Ex-Romney nat'l press sec. Kevin Madden: "My good friend Bill Burton over there in the Obama campaign has got to be shaking his head saying, 'Why, why are you doing this to me?' I mean, look, the very fact that they just came out of an election in Pennsylvania where they didn't do very well with rural white voters, a lot of it had to do with these divisive comments in the past couple of months, whether it was Reverend Wright or the bitter gate. Any attempt to change the story or to turn the page has been hurt because here's a new narrative emerging with Reverend Wright trying to explain and relitigate statements that they'd been now explaining for probably close to two months" ("Verdict," MSNBC, 4/24).

• Politico's Allen: "Any minute the Reverend Wright is on television is not good for Senator Obama" ("Hannity & Colmes," FNC, 4/24).

• Karl Rove: "I don't think you want to hear a single word from Reverend Wright anymore, but particularly these kind of comments. ... These were essentially political statements being said from the pulpit. And how he can now say, Well, you know, I'm a preacher and not a politician, when he was making these kind of statements is beyond me. ... I think the troubling thing to me was not calling him a politician, it was to suggest that the kind of statements that he, Reverend Wright, was making, were not political, that they were somehow tied to the Gospel" ("On the Record," FNC, 4/24).

• Washington Post's Milbank: "This story would reignite if and when Obama is the nominee and then John McCain and his surrogates bring it up again. So, probably no harm in just getting that on the record" ("Countdown," MSNBC, 4/24).

• NBC's Mitchell: "I think he wants to make himself heard. ... He feels that he was taken out of context. He's more concerned right now about his own legacy and his own reputation" ("Today," 4/25).

• NPR's Williams: "If he really was a Barack Obama supporter, I think he would pull himself off of the stage. ... Instead, he continues a controversy that really dogs Barack Obama, brings into question ... what was Barack Obama saying in his speech in Philadelphia? Was he simply being politically expedient? Or was he being sincere? If you're with the Barack Obama campaign this morning, you're pulling your hair out" ("GMA," ABC, 4/25).

• MSNBC's Matthews, on Obama: "He's either too street, because he hangs around with Jeremiah Wright, or he's too elite and looks like Dukakis and John Kerry" ("Hardball," 4/24).

That's All Very Interesting, But Wouldn't You Rather Register To Vote?

Obama's camp is "planning to unveil" a "massive" nat'l voter registration drive today, "one that will reach all 50 states and seeks to boost confidence in him as a potential general election candidate."

Obama "apparently slipped up and included a reference to the effort" in an address to the United Food and Commercial Workers Union in Chicago 4/24. That appearance "came on a day when Obama was supposed to be enjoying rare time away from campaigning," but it "afforded him a chance to spread his message" in IN "without evrer setting foot there" (McCormick, Chicago Tribune, 4/25). Obama "thanked 200 members" of the union "for their help on his campaign" (Pallasch, Chicago Sun-Times, 4/25).

Obama will also hold a press avail today in IN to talk about gas prices (release, 4/25).

Even Guam?

Time's Halperin is reporting Obama will launch TV ads "in all remaining primary contests" this week ("The Page," 4/25).

Wu Hoo!

Superdelegate/Rep. David Wu (D-OR) endorsed Obama 4/24, citing Iraq. Wu: "I believe that he is best suited to turn the page on this sorry episode in American history. He and I both had the judgment to oppose the Iraq War from the very beginning" (release, 4/24). Wu "made his final decision after talking with Obama" 4/23 (Mapes, Portland Oregonian blog, 4/24).

According to the camp, Wu is Obama's 240th superdelegate endorsement (release, 4/24).

The camp emailed a memo to superdelegates 4/24, citing polls "to argue that either Obama or Clinton could beat McCain in the big" states where Clinton won primaries. But Obama would "put new states in play" and has polled better than Clinton against McCain in swing states. The memo also notes Clinton "would enter the fall campaign with the highest unfavorable ratings of any nominee in half a century" (Calmes, "Washington Wire," Wall Street Journal, 4/24).

And "one Obama staffer" interviewed "said that there is a misperception in the press that the campaign has a trove of spare superdelegates." The staffer: "The way we have been doing this all along is to try and roll out one or two a day. Rolling them out that way shows consistency" (Horowitz, "The Politicker," New York Observer, 4/24).

The Bad Stuff Always Goes Straight To Video

The "flurry" of GOP attack ads in down ballot races across the country that feature Obama "underscores how Republicans and their allies are sensing opportunity in the increasingly battered image of Obama." The ads "are also playing into the debate" among Dem officials "about Obama's electability" in Nov., and "whether they are on the verge of nominating a candidate who, in addition to asking voters to accept him as the first African American president, could be vulnerable as being cast as too far out of the mainstream."

In LA, for instance, "a TV ad attacking Obama's healthcare agenda as 'radical' proved so threatening that the House candidate it targeted," Don Cazayoux (D), "distanced himself from Obama" 4/24, "issuing a statement" saying he "has not endorsed any national politician" (Wallsten/Nicholas, Los Angeles Times, 4/25).

Undecided superdelegate/Rep. Mike Doyle (D-PA) said Obama needs to "demonstrate he can connect with blue-collar, working-class people. Up to this point, I don't think he's shown that yet. That causes me some concern." Doyle says Obama needs to "go out there amongst the people," not just rely on TV ads (Brown/Zito, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, 4/25).

The Fox And The Hounding

"Five weeks after" Chris Wallace introduced "Obama Watch" on "Fox News Sunday," Obama has "committed to an interview." Obama had "agreed to an interview" in March '06 but "had not followed through." FNC announced 4/24 that Obama would tape an appearance 4/26 to air 4/27 (Stetler, "The Caucus," New York Times, 4/24).

Wallace: "We got him. ... After 772 days after Barack Obama originally promised to me face-to-face that he would come on 'Fox News Sunday,' you can't say he doesn't keep his promise. 772 days later, yes, he's going to appear. ... Timing is everything because obviously his campaign has hit something of a speed bump ... so there's plenty to talk to him about this Sunday."

More: "But the remarkable thing to me is not that we've got him, but that it took us two years to get him. The fact is, they come on Fox -- not to toot our own horn -- for the same reason Willie Sutton robs banks. That's where the money is. This is where the voters are" ("Fox & Friends," 4/25).

We'll Get There Fast And Then We'll Take It Slow

Obama campaigns in IN 4/25 and 4/26, then heads to NC 4/28 for a "One-Stop Early Vote Rally" in Chapel Hill (release, 4/25). After his town hall meeting tonight in Kokomo, Obama will play 3-on-3 basketball with the winners of his camp's contest, and WNBA star Alison Bales ("The Page," Time.com, 4/25). Michelle Obama is also in IN today, campaigning in Ft. Wayne (release, 4/25).

Politico's Harris/Kuhn write, an IN win "is critical to Obama gaining at least some of the political and psychic momentum that ordinarily flows to a nomination winner. .. When Obama finishes the primary season ahead in elected delegates," it's "hard to conceive" of Dem superdelegates denying "an African-American politician with overwhelming support from the party's most loyal constituency. But it's also hard for party leaders or political analysts to avert their gaze from Obama's poor performance" in PA. "If Obama really is the new RFK, Indiana would be a fitting place to prove it" (4/25).

Meanwhile, 43 NC "mayors, mayors pro tem and former mayors" endorsed Obama 4/24. "As part of their endorsements," about a dozen mayors "voted at One-Stop early voting sites around the state" (Durham Herald-Sun, 4/25).

Not Trigger Happy

Obama sat down for an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times 4/24, and said "he has been following with great concern the gun violence that has plagued the city in recent weeks." Obama "said elected officials can help by restoring federal funding to put more police on the street and passing more gun-control legislation." But, Obama "said he has never supported a blanket ban on handguns." Obama also said laws alone can't change things, saying children "have to be taught right and wrong" and "kept off the streets at night." Obama didn't comment on the DC gun ban, saying, "I don't like taking a stand on pending cases" (Pallasch, Chicago Sun-Times, 4/25).

There Goes My Hero, Watch Him As He Goes

Commentary in the press today centered on recent events raising questions about Obama's character and judgment:

• Washington Post's Krauthammer writes, "Obama understands that the real threat to his candidacy is less Hillary Clinton and John McCain than his own character and cultural attitudes." So he dismisses questions about "his associations and attitudes as 'distractions.'" and then counts on "his acolytes in the media to wage jihad against those who have the temerity to raise these questions. As if the character and beliefs of a man who would be president are less important than the 'issues' ... As people begin to learn about this just-arrived pretender, the magic dissipates," as evidenced by PA (4/25).

• National Review's Byron York writes in The Hill, among some PA voters, Obama's "biggest problem" wasn't "elitism, or condescension. It was trust" (4/24).

• National Journal's Taylor writes, "Many who have been disposed to admire Obama, including me, see these matters as raising troublesome questions about his judgment and character. Many of us have come to wonder whether the purportedly post-ideological Obama is so close to his party's" left wing "as to skew his judgment on matters ranging from the capital-gains tax to Iraq" (4/26 issue).

• National Review's Rich Lowry writes in the New York Post, "Obama's candidacy depends on a kind of make-believe that can't be sustained." But "the alternative" is Clinton, so Dems "are left to hope against hope that Obama can again become the miraculously unifying figure" he once seemed to be (4/25).

• Newsday's Klurfeld writes, "There are myriad reasons why Obama hasn't put the nomination away, but they all revolve around the issue of familiarity, and, especially, a lack of national experience." Obama "has to deal with the question" in a "more effective way" (4/25).

We Only Like Some Kinds Of Change

Politico's Smith writes, Obama "casts himself as the candidate of change," but his campaign strategy going forward is "more of the same." Obama aides "said, on and off the record, that Obama would keep doing what he's been doing: campaigning with the aim of running up big margins on friendly turf and limiting his losses where Clinton is strong." Aides "said to expect no tweaks to his campaign style of speeches full of hope and attacks on Washington's status quo, expensive field and television campaigns, and direct mail attacks on Clinton's trustworthiness and policies" (4/25).

Behind The Curtain

Over the next few weeks, CBS' "Evening News" plans to go behind the scenes of all three WH '08ers' camps. Last night, they looked at "the back room warriors at the center of" Obama. Some highlights:

Strategist David Axelrod, asked to describe his usual day: "You know, life is a cascade of phone calls ... e-mails, meetings."

Scheduler Alyssa Mastromonaco: "I think the most challenging part is making sure that Barack gets home to see his family."

Speechwriter Jon Favreau: "His voice is always in my head when I'm writing, just to make sure that it jives with what he wants to say."

Nat'l finance dir. Julianna Smoot, giving the average donation: "Ninety-six dollars. ... On the Internet it's a little bit less than that.

Axelrod: "I worked on Senator Clinton's campaign for the Senate in 2000. She's been very supportive of a cause that's close to me, which is epilepsy research, and my daughter has very severe epilepsy, and it's been sort of the defining struggle in our lives. So this was difficult. And I had decided not to participate in the presidential race this year, but I told everyone the one thing that would change that would be if Barack Obama decided to run for president. ... That's why I hate primary elections because they are sort of family fights, and you end up having to work against people who you care about."

Axelrod, on lessons learned: "I think we did too much of the kind of iconic rally-type campaigning. We've spent a lot more time in diners ... and, famously, bowling alleys" (CBS, 4/24).

A Real Crowd Teaser

"Donors, activists and members of Congress who backed" John Edwards "are flocking" to Obama. Since Edwards dropped out, 1,089 of his ex-donors have given at least $200 to Obama, vs. 393 who have given to Clinton. "This and the fact that Obama is likely to win" in NC "prompts Obama's allies to hope for an endorsement." Obama supporter/Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-NC): "John Edwards understands the need to change the direction of this country; I hope that he would make an endorsement to bring closure to this nominating process." Butterfield notes Edwards also "has enormous appeal to working-class, white voters," and "would be a tremendous benefit to the Obama campaign."

Ex-Edwards nat'l general chair Ed Turlington, who endorsed Obama earlier this week with 48 other ex-Edwards backers, "said he spoke to Edwards about teh race several days ago and told him he would support Obama." Turlington said Edwards "admires and respects Obama," but "he does not know if Edwards will pick a side" (Bolton, The Hill, 4/24).

Don't Know Much About History

National Journal's Victor writes, "still more questions are being raised about whether he could effectively deal with the fierce lines of attack that he would face" in the general, "a barrage unlike anything he has endured in his political career." Two "very different narratives come up in discussions about Obama's stunningly fast rise to the top," the first suggesting he "benefitted from so much good fortune" that he may not be "sufficiently battle-tested"; the second, that "anybody who can prevail in the hothouse of Chicago politics" and "then take on the Clinton machine is ready for whatever" GOPers have in store. Still, Dems' "nervousness about Obama's candidacy is evident" (4/26 issue).

And AP's Wills writes, as Obama "made his first run for public office" in '96, he "faced a choice: launch a political battle against a highly respected woman with more seniority or step aside and hope for another chance later. He chose to fight." His "willingness to knock his opponent off the ballot" in the IL state Senate race "was an early demonstration of the tenacity that has helped him" against Clinton "thus far" (4/25).

Hot For Teacher?

Chicago Tribune's McCormick writes, Obama's "ability to explain and inspire would certainly be a major asset. But his professorial tendencies could also be used against him in a general election, especially if the liberal elitist branding takes hold." Obama has asked people attending his events to turn off their phones, "take something out her mouth before asking him a question," and when his audiences were small pre-IA, "you could almost see the professor's glare when voters stood up to leave the classroom before he was finished" (4/25).

Now You Know, And Hopefully Now You Can Sleep At Night

The "Abercrombie boys" standing behind Obama during his election night speech from IN were on "American Morning" this a.m.

"Abercrombie boy #1," on why they were there: "We were trying to decide which candidate we wanted to vote for."

"Abercrombie boy #2": "People thought we weren't interested in the speech. We actually couldn't hear the speech" (CNN, 4/25).

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