By: Suzanne Rosenberg In today's edition of news from newspaper campaign blogs: Democrats smash records for their primary turnout, McCain "eye contact" issue continues beyond the debate, UK conservatives to rethink their "special relationship" with the US and about those Georgetown republican elitists?Links at the bottom.
Democrats smash all records for primary turnout
Political Intelligence
Boston Globe
By Foon Rhee
The American University Center for the Study of the American Electorate new study reveals that turnout in the primaries reached nearly 57.4 million or 30.3 percent of the eligible electorate only slightly lower than an all time high of 30.9 percent recorded in 1972. Foon Rhee in reporting on the study's results in Political Intelligence, points out that Democratic turnout exceeded Republican turnout by 16.1 million (36.7-20.6 million), with McCain winning the GOP primary three months before Barack Obama. Democratic turnout averaged 19.4 percent of eligible voters. Democrats set turnout records in 26 states this year and Republicans in only 11.
It's the "eye contact" issue again for McCain & Obama
The Caucus
New York Times
By Jeff Zeleny and Michael Cooper
For the second time in less than a week, the presidential candidates crossed paths in Washington over the economic "relief" "rescue" and "bailout" package. Both candidates turned up this afternoon on Capitol Hill to vote on the latest version of the economic package and Zeleny and Cooper of the Caucus reported that just before the vote, Senator Obama walked over to the Republican side of the chamber to extend a greeting to Senator John McCain. According to those present, he got a chilly response from Senator McCain who "barely pivoted his body as he took Mr. Obama's hand for a handshake that lasted just a moment. The eye contact was just as brief." Next opportunity for eye contact will be next Tuesday at their second presidential debate.
The "other" races
The Fix
The Washington Post
Chris Cillizza
With all the focus on the presidential candidates -- and, this year, the veeps -- other races are overlooked. Cillizza does his best to rectify that on the governors' side with his five top races and much more.
Washington Wire
Wall Street Journal
By Alistair MacDonald
Even conservative UK leaders are rethinking the "special relationship" with the U.S. that began with Churchill and has continued through the administration of Tony Blair. Liam Fox the conservative party's defense spokesman, said at their party gathering in Birmingham this week, that in order to be a successful partnership that works, there has to be benefits to both sides. The Conservative party enjoys what appears to be a resurgence in popularity at home leading to speculation that they could win a domestic election. There appears to be little interest in deeper relations with America. In a not too subtle reference to the "poodle" relationship between George Bush and Tony Blair, William Hague foreign secretary of the party said that relations with the US in the future, "will be solid and not slavish."
More about those G-town "cocktail parties?."
The Trail
Washington Post
By Libby Copeland
After Sen McCain's sarcastic remarks to the Des Moines Register about "Georgetown cocktail parties" in which he suggested that guests criticizing his running mate, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, those in the know are weighing in on the true nature of those gatherings, reports Libby Copeland of the Trail. Carol Joynt, who runs the weekly Q&A Caf? television show at her Georgetown restaurant, Nathans, said "If they think we're all standing around with cigarette holders and bouffant hairdos talking down to the middle class, that era went away in the last century?" Frida Burling a 93- year-old Georgetown fixture reminisced, "back in the old days they were very elegant had better food, service and style, although they used to drink too much." On NPR yesterday morning McCain mentioned that past candidates have been underestimated by out of touch elitists. Clearly this time he is referring to his fellow conservatives, viz., National Review editor, Rich Lawry, MSNBC's Joe Scarborough, David Frum and Kathleen Parker, all visible conservatives, who called on Palin to be dropped from the ticket. Among these Parker says she has yet to receive even an invitation to a Georgetown cocktail party. Finally, Sally Quinn said that McCain himself hasn't been a stranger on the circuit and said she has sat next to him many times at dinner parties in Georgetown, "and he is an absolutely delightful dinner partner."
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