NBC17 Political Coverage

Gubernatorial Candidates Talk About Education Plans

Jennifer Wig — Thu, 15 May 2008 23:38:17 +0000

Monday House and Senate Calendars

Jennifer Wig — Thu, 15 May 2008 21:14:21 +0000

The House and Senate convene again at 7 p.m. Monday.

Here are their agendas:

Senate

House

McCain Outlines First Term Plan

Jennifer Wig — Thu, 15 May 2008 17:17:33 +0000

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The 2013 crystal ball in John McCain’s hands says Iraq still may be suffering from decades of sectarian tension, but it will be “a functioning democracy.” He says there may be “spasmodic” violence there and in Afghanistan but it will be considerably reduced. He also predicts that Osama bin Laden will either be dead or captured.

That’s all according to the Associated Press, who is reporting that McCain outlined what “voters can expect by the end of his first term if they elect him president.”

His promises included curbing government spending. He also said he will need help and that the ”mindless, paralyzing rancor” of politics on both sides of the aisle must stop so that problems can be solved.

His plan also includes weekly news conferences and British-style question periods in joint meetings of Congress, the AP said.

Edwards’ Delegates Follow Him To Obama

Jennifer Wig — Thu, 15 May 2008 16:39:01 +0000

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Barack Obama’s nod from John Edwards Wednesday is paying off — big time.

According to the Associated Press, Obama has picked up four of Edwards’ delegates and the approval of the United Steelworkers Union, which has 600,000 active members.

All that means Obama’s delegate total is only 134 short of those needed to get the nomination. Edwards has 19 delegates in three states. The AP says those delegates can choose whomever they want, “but several have said Edwards’ endorsement is important to their decision.”

RNC Statement About the Edwards Endorsement

Jennifer Wig — Wed, 14 May 2008 22:46:13 +0000

As worded in a press release to the media:

WASHINGTON – Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Robert M. “Mike” Duncan released the following statement today:

“Barack Obama and John Edwards share an out-of-touch agenda that would raise taxes on families while cutting funding for our troops. The only question is why didn’t Edwards endorse sooner? Edwards’ endorsement of a candidate he previously blasted as inexperienced, hypocritical, and lacking substance will not help Obama with voters looking for real change.” (more…)

Edwards Endorses Obama

Jennifer Wig — Wed, 14 May 2008 21:13:07 +0000

DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) - Democrat John Edwards has given his long-awaited endorsement to Barack Obama.

It’s a major boost from a former presidential rival as Obama tries to shrug off Hillary Rodham Clinton, who is determined to press ahead.

Edwards was to appear with Obama in Grand Rapids, Mich., as Obama campaigns in a critical general election battleground.

The endorsement comes the day after Clinton defeated Obama by more than 2-to-1 in West Virginia. The loss highlighted Obama’s work to win over the “Hillary Democrats” - white, working-class voters who also supported Edwards in large numbers before he exited the race.

Edwards, a former North Carolina senator and the 2004 vice presidential nominee, dropped out of the race in late January.

Dems Raise Money Together

Jennifer Wig — Wed, 14 May 2008 20:34:27 +0000

WASHINGTON - (AP) Democratic presidential rivals Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton can agree on one thing - they want their party to have more money, no matter who is the nominee.

The Democratic National Committee announced Wednesday that it had signed agreements with both campaigns to begin raising money together.

As part of the agreement, donors can contribute up to $33,100 to the newly created Democratic White House Victory Fund. Most of the money will benefit whichever candidate becomes the nominee.

Officials at the DNC said Chairman Howard Dean has been working with both campaigns on the idea since February.

At the end of March, the DNC had $5.3 million in the bank, compared to $31 million for the Republican National Committee.

Kentucky Appears To Favor Clinton

Jennifer Wig — Wed, 14 May 2008 17:30:14 +0000

FRANKFORT, Ky. - Kentucky isn’t much different from West Virginia, at least, demographically.

Both states are overwhelmingly white, largely rural and have a greater share of residents below the poverty line and without college degrees than the nation as whole, the Associated Press reports.

And that’s why Hillary Clinton may end up with a sizable victory in Kentucky’s May 20 Democratic primary. She handily won West Virginia earlier this week.

Meanwhile, Obama has his sights set on Oregon, which also has a May 20 primary. (more…)

Obama Appeals to Working Class Voters in Michigan

Jennifer Wig — Wed, 14 May 2008 16:55:44 +0000

STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. - In Michigan Wednesday, Barack Obama catered to working people and promised to set up an “advanced manufacturing fund” to generate lost factory jobs.

Political experts say Obama needs to take the state if he is nominated by the Democrats.

The Associated Press reports Obama also criticized John McCain during his speech to union workers and their families.

According to the AP, Obama said McCain is right about many jobs not coming back, but said he is wrong “in suggesting there’s nothing we can do to replace those jobs or create new ones.”

Obama’s plan calls for adding $90 million to a program designed to help manufacturing growth, an amount that would double the fund.
He wants another $100 million for grants to reward companies that research ways to develop and expand products.

Obama Takes On Florida Boycott

Jennifer Wig — Wed, 14 May 2008 16:48:38 +0000

BY MEDIA GENERAL NEWS SERVICE
TAMPA - Moving into his new role as the likely Democratic presidential nominee, Barack Obama will seek to mend fences next week with his first visit in months to Florida.

Obama plans to begin a three-day tour of Florida by visiting Tampa on May 21 - the first campaign day after the Kentucky and Oregon primaries, which his campaign believes will, in effect, seal the nomination.

It’s significant that he plans to spend that day in Florida, particularly in the Tampa Bay area, Florida’s biggest media market.

“It’s consistent with what he’s been doing the last couple of days, which is pivoting to the general election,” said veteran Democratic political consultant Derek Newton of Miami, who has been neutral in the race between Obama and Hillary Clinton. (more…)