By: Suzanne Rosenberg In today's edition of news from newspaper campaign blogs: Fear mongering on the trail, Barack ?Hussein? Obama, and Dobson is back with an endorsement-not, and more. Links at bottom. For more such coverage go to our new blog, www.eandppub.com
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The Caucus
The New York Times
By Michael Luo
There is no doubt that the October 16 Obama fundraiser in NYC which will feature Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel will raise a huge amount of money for the presidential candidate. Michae Luo of the Caucus reports that on Monday the ticket reseller, Ticketnetwork.com was selling a pair of tickets in Section 105, Row K for $4,455 each and another in section 203, Row K, for $3,555 each and balcony seats for $1679 each. Even more amazing, an ad on Craigslist listed two tickets for $25,000 each. The official Obama campaign tickets are still available at $10,000 for lounge seats and balcony seats for $500.
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A not so apathetic audience
By Katherine Q. Seelye
The Town Hall style meet up between Barack Obama and John McCain tonight which is to be hosted by Tom Brokaw has solicited questions from the internet from the public. It appears that once the public was asked what it is they would like to ask the candidates, they received over six million questions. Mr. Brokaw is sifting through those millions of questions to find the six or seven which he might pose according to Katherine Seelye of the Caucus. At most there may be 15 or 20 questions asked in the 90.
Playing with fear
The Swamp
Chicago Tribune
By Frank James
The reporter who wrote the first biography of Barack Obama, Dave Mendell, has written recently about the McCain?s campaign of fear mongering. Frank James of the Swamp talks about Mendell?s experiences ?fielding countless questions about Obama that have been based in ugly racial or religious distortion.... Mendell continues to say that the effort to turn Obama into something he is not, to frighten Americans about a Manchurian candidacy has been in place for some time. Fear after all, the most basic of human emotions and political operatives have long used the power of fear to win elections, often with great success?? Finally, Mendell warns that these fear tactics could easily backfire and that ?any effort to de-Christianize or de Americanize Obama eventually will backfire?Americans want to cast their votes not on fear, but on knowledge.?
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Barack ?who? Obama?
By James Oliphant
Sarah Palin?s handler?s ?Husseined? her opponent as she was introduced at a GOP gathering in Estero, Fla. by a Florida county sheriff. The Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott made sure the crowd knew Senator Obama?s middle name when he said, ?On Nov. 4, let?s leave Barack Hussein Obama wondering what happened.? There is some confusion as to whether or not Gov. Palin was in attendance as Sheriff Scott made his remarks. John McCain rejected the use of Barack Obama?s middle name after an Ohio radio host used it derisively during a McCain warm-up act last February. The campaign did try to distance itself from the use of what McCain spokesperson, Tracey Schmitt, called ?inappropriate rhetoric,? according to James Oliphant of the Swamp.
James Dobson is back, and signals support for McCain
Top of the Ticket
Los Angeles Times
By Don Frederick
Perhaps with the return of James Dobson, the founder and chairman of Focus on the Family, and other evangelicals, Senator McCain can put some last-minute holy steam back into his campaign. Dobson announced on his radio broadcast yesterday to hundreds of stations that, ?America?s future seems to hang in the balance.? While reading from his October newsletter, he said he would not endorse a candidate for president. He then proceeded to endorse a candidate. ?While I will not endorse either candidate this year, I can say that I am now supportive of Senator John McCain and his bid for the presidency.? As the Top of the Ticket pointed out, this ?distinction without a difference? for a Republican ticket that wishes to see an energized family values base, seems to be determined to make the evangelical vote count this year.
Hilliary Clinton gives ?absolutely positive? support to Obama
Political Intelligence
The Boston Globe
By Foon Rhee
After much hand wringing by pundits and Hillary supporters, that her endorsement for the democratic ticket has been less than enthusiastic, Hillary Clinton gave a forceful and impassioned endorsement of her primary opponent Barack Obama yesterday at the 8th Annual Roosevelt Legacy Committee Luncheon in New York City. She stated, ?I come today with a very clear, unequivocal message. We are facing extremely difficult times in New York and America?? According to Foon Rhee of the Political Intelligence, she compared Obama to McCain on issues such as abortion, equal pay, family leave, and healthcare and came out clearly on the Obama end. She went on to say, ?We?re in hot water. But we will with the right leadership show strength and resolve... We need a fresh start, and the Obama-Biden Administration will provide that??
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Poll workers needed
By Foon Rhee
Foon Rhee of the Political Intelligence also reported that given an anticipated record turnout for November 4th, the League of Women Voters has put out a call for poll workers to keep the voting process running smoothly. They urged voters to go to their website to sign up to be poll workers in order to, among other things, help new voters navigate the process and ensure that all votes are counted fairly and accurately, making democracy work, according to Mary G. Wilson the League of Women Voter?s President.
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Job security for SNL characters
By Foon Rhee
When Sarah Palin spoke to voters in Clearwater, Fla, she used some self-effacing humor to respond to the dead-on parodies of her in successive SNL episodes. ?She was just trying to give Tina Fey more material? for Saturday Night Live and ?job security for SNL characters,? according to Palin. Someone should remind Gov. Palin that Tina Fey has her own award winning show on NBC and that SNL has been on the air for over 30 years.
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Trail Mix's Featured Blogs:Chicago Tribune:
The SwampLos Angeles Times:
Top of the TicketThe Boston Globe:
Political IntelligenceThe Denver Post:
Politics WestThe New York Times:
The CaucusThe Wall Street Journal:
The Washington WireThe Washington Post:
The Trail and
The FixUSA Today:
On Politics
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