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Dems Behind Closed Doors Till 1:30 a.m., With Still No Consensus

May 31, 2008 3:08 AM

ABC News' Teddy Davis and Gregory Wallace report: Democrats went behind closed doors until 1:30 a.m. ET on Saturday, but they did not reach their goal of developing a unified proposal regarding Michigan and Florida. 

Twenty-eight of the 30 members of the DNC's Rules and Bylaws Committee were joined by DNC Chairman Howard Dean for the marathon dinner meeting that took place in a hotel ballroom at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C.

"It was a full discussion; we'll see what happens," said Hillary Clinton adviser Harold Ickes. "And I think there was some agreement on some issues and still some disagreement on others."

The key sticking point is how to allocate delegates in Michigan where Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., took his name off of the ballot.

There appears to be more agreement on how to proceed with Florida.

The most likely scenario is for the Sunshine State's entire delegation to be seated -- each member with 1/2 vote.

The exhausted DNC members are scheduled to reconvene publicly at 9:30 a.m. ET. They will hear from the presidential campaigns, state party officials and party members challenging the DNC's decision to strip Florida and Michigan of all delegates.

"There will probably be a little, sort of, tussling. But we're Democrats, you know we sort of do that," said Allan Katz, an Obama supporter and committee member from Florida.

May 31, 2008 in Tancredo, Tom | Permalink | User Comments (315)

Clinton Returns to Puerto Rico … And the Dancing Continues

May 30, 2008 10:25 PM

ABC News' Eloise Harper reports:  Sen. Hillary Clinton arrived two hours late Friday night to her rally in downtown San Juan.  She spoke for nine minutes but didn't leave her event without pulling some dance moves onstage. Renowned Puerto Rican musician Juan Luis Guerra played reggaeton and Latin techno music. Clinton smiled onstage as she danced with supporters.

Clinton spent last weekend dancing through the island. Last Sunday morning, she swayed to the music in an evangelical church, followed by more dancing in Boqueron Beach and then did a little shimmy with a Fox news producer in old San Juan, clutching an El Presidente beer.

Perhaps tradition will hold and Clinton will continue to dance her way through this weekend.

May 30, 2008 in Bush, George W. | Permalink | User Comments (49)

Clinton Camp: Seat All Delegates With Full Votes

May 30, 2008 2:25 PM

ABC News' Eloise Harper reports: Clinton campaign senior advisors held a conference call Friday morning in advance of the much anticipated Democratic National Committee rules and bylaws committee meeting on Saturday at a Washington DC hotel.

Read more about the meeting HERE and HERE.

The ruling of the once-obscure Democratic committee is crucial for the fate of the Clinton campaign because it will determine how many convention delegates will be awarded from Michigan and Florida -- states won by Clinton.

It is also likely the outcome of the meeting will increase the number of delegates a candidate needs to achieve before securing the nomination.

The Clinton campaign has long demanded that all of the disputed pledged delegates from Florida and Michigan be seated in full with full votes at the party's convention in Denver this August.

Clinton strategists were asked repeatedly the question on everybody's mind: What happens if you don't get what you want?

"We anticipate that the committee will seat the delegates from Michigan and Florida," Clinton campaign senior advisor Harold Ickes said to reporters. Ickes, along with Clinton campaign advisor Tina Flournoy, are both longtime members of the 30-member DNC rules and bylaws panel.

Clinton campaign communications director Howard Wolfson, after receiving numerous different variations of the question, said, "You and others can ask this question in many different ways, but the answer is going to be the same.  We are hopeful and expectant that the committee in its wisdom is going to do the right thing.”

Presumably the campaign has a plan in place if their demands are not met, however the campaign has refused to say whether they would support an appeal of the decision. Under party rules, a challenge of the committee's decision Saturday could be taken all the way to the credentials committee at the Democratic party's convention this August.

There has been no official announcements about where Sen. Hillary Clinton will be Tuesday night after the last primary contests in Montana and South Dakota.

Wolfson did comment on the recent comments by  Rev. Michael Pfleger, who mocked Clinton in Sen. Barack Obama's church Sunday, saying, "Sen. Clinton has twin goals going forward one is to secure the nomination the other is to bring the party together, regardless of who the nominee is. She has articulated both those goals now time and time again, and its frankly why we were so disappointed to see the comments of Rev. Pfleger yesterday.

"We are all I believe attempting to bring the party together and when you have that kind of divisive and hateful language it is counterproductive to those efforts and we were disappointed last night when we first heard about about is and we were specifically disappointed that Sen. Obama did not fully reject Rev. Pfleger's despicable comments about Sen. Clinton," Wolfson said.

May 30, 2008 in Bush, George W., Tancredo, Tom | Permalink | User Comments (290)

Clinton: 'You Can't Tell How Far a Frog Will Jump Until You Punch Him'

May 29, 2008 4:53 PM

ABC News' Eloise Harper Reports: Facing an increasingly improbable candidacy for the White House, Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., showed no signs of stopping on the trail in South Dakota and cited an old Arkansas, saying in an off-handed reference to her campaign: "you can't tell how far a frog will jump until you punch him."

Clinton continues to make the case that she has done better in primary contests since February 20 than Democratic frontrunner Barack Obama, winning more votes, states and delegates despite having faced many blows along the way, including the departure of both her campaign manager and chief strategist. She has also had to regain ground several times.

Another blow Clinton has had to face is one that concerns her finances. Clinton, whose campaign is approximately $20 million in debt, said in Huron, S.D. that she is the most fiscally responsible candidate.

"If you will vote for me next Tuesday, you are voting for the most fiscally responsible candidate on either side of the aisle," said Clinton.

Clinton, who has been fighting financial woes in her campaign since February, has argued that she knows more about financial issues than her opponents. When asked previously to explain why that is, Clinton sited her experience from her work as Senator from New York.

Clinton continued to express her exasperation with the press.

"I am tired," said Clinton with exasperation. "I am tired of politicians and people in the press saying we cant do things. We are the can do nation."

Clinton was asked Wednesday night if she really wanted reporters to be more vigorous and aggressive – she said that she does, but on the "right things."

"I really do," insisted Clinton. "I really do. On the right things.  On things that are important to the future of our country. On things that really matter. I would love that."

May 29, 2008 in Bush, George W., Kucinich, Dennis, Tancredo, Tom | Permalink | User Comments (259)

Democratic Leaders Pushing to Avoid Convention Fight

May 29, 2008 2:37 PM

ABC's Z. Byron Wolf reports: The Democratic Party's rules and bylaws committee doesn't meet until this weekend to decide the fate of the Michigan and Florida delegations and the final Democratic primaries don't conclude until next week, but Democratic heavyweights are already talking about how to push the undeclared superdelegates who will pick the Democratic nominee into someone's corner.

Uncommitted superdelegate and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., visiting San Francisco, told KGO Radio today that he spoke this morning with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and last night to DNC Chairman Howard Dean.  "We agree there won’t be a fight at the convention," he said, later adding that "simple math indicates" Barack Obama is likely to become the Democratic nominee.

In April, Reid had suggested that he, Pelosi and Dean would convene after the last Democratic primary and decide on a course of action to make superdelegates take sides long before the convention. Today, he told KGO Radio's Ronn Owens of the superdelegates, "They've already made their decision. That's why we're going to make a decision next week. It’s the same group of people. No one else is going to be involved. So they either make the decision now or they make it in August. I believe they should make it now rather than in August."

In an interview with KGO after his radio appearance, Reid said, "The time has come to make a decision. I think we need a general election that’s 5 months. I don’t think August is enough time."

He suggested the Democratic primary "will be ended a couple days after June 3rd."

"This is down now to the superdelegates. And probably, simple math indicates that, next Tuesday, after we get the results from Puerto Rico on Sunday and South Dakota and Montana on Tuesday, Obama will probably have the necessary number at that time anyway," he said.

May 29, 2008 in Bush, George W., Kucinich, Dennis, Tancredo, Tom, Veepstakes | Permalink | User Comments (458)

Clinton Issues Post-Primary Schedule (Yes, Post-Primary Schedule)

May 29, 2008 2:04 PM

ABC News' Eloise Harper Reports: The press traveling with Sen. Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign received an email Thursday afternoon informing reporters they could sign up for travel through June 6 on the campaign website.

Given the speculation surrounding plausible outcomes from this Saturday's DNC Meeting and the final Democratic primaries on June 3, many confused looks passed between reporters on the back of the press bus.

When asked for comment, Clinton spokesman Jay Carson looked past Tuesday's primaries to the general election. 

"There are a lot of places for us to go between June 4 and November," Carson said.

May 29, 2008 in Bush, George W. | Permalink | User Comments (331)

Obama Doc: Candidate in 'Excellent' Health

May 29, 2008 12:39 PM

ABC News' Dr. Tim Johnson, Susan Wagner, and Sunlen Miller Report: Democratic frontrunner Senator Barack Obama, D-Ill., has been given a clean bill of health to run for president.

According to a memo released to reporters from his primary care physician, Obama's health has been "excellent" and overall in "good physical and mental health needed to maintain the resiliency required in the Office of President."

Dr. David L. Scheiner, MD on staff at the University of Chicago Hospital and Rush University Medical Center has been Obama's primary care physician since March of 1987 and completed a review of Obama's records for the last 21 years.

Scheiner says that Obama has been seen regularly for checkups, his last being in January of 2007, and treated for minor problems like upper respiratory infections, skin rashes and minor injuries.

"A complete review of systems was unremarkable," Scheiner writes, "his build was lean and muscular with no excess body fat. His physical examination was complete normal."

Obama's cholesterol levels are excellent, both for good cholesterol HDL and bad cholesterol LDL.

"Laboratory studies included triglycerides of 44(normal under 150), cholesterol 173 (normal under 200), HDL 68 (normal over 40), and LDL 96 (normal under 130)," Scheiner's note cites.

Obama, 46, is known for his morning workouts and healthy diet and most recently was ranked among the "Men's Fitness 25 Most Fittest Men in America."

But Obama is also a well documented smoker – only recently giving up the addiction to run for president. The report does not mention any medications Obama is taking except for Nicorette gum.

"His own history included intermittent cigarette smoking," Scheiner says, "He has quit this practice on several occasions and is currently using Nicorette gum with success."

Obama has admitted that during the course of the campaign he’s snuck a few cigarettes, "I fell off the wagon a couple times during the course of it, and then was able to get back on," he told Chris Matthews,  "But it is a struggle like everything else."

Obama regularly chews Nicorette gum while not at public events, and Scheiner’s report makes note that this remedy has worked with "success."

The report mentions Obama's history of cancer in his family: his grandfather died of prostate cancer, and his mother died of ovarian cancer. Obama's screening for prostate cancer was very low according to the report.

The release of Senator Obama's medical records today follows the release of the presumptive nominee, Senator John McCain's last week.

May 29, 2008 in Kucinich, Dennis | Permalink | User Comments (35)

Ron Paul Moneybombs Give Way to Fire Sale

May 29, 2008 11:05 AM

ABC News' Z. Byron Wolf reports: If there was one overriding principle of the presidential campaign of Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, it might be this: markets work.

But if you are going to trust the government, healthcare, and everything else to markets -- do the same principles of supply and demand apply to presidential campaigns?

What then to make of the first email by Ron Paul's campaign to supporters in a month -- not announcing a rally of seeking campaign fundraising, but advertising a fire sale of "Ron Paul '08" merchandise.

For a mere $25, Ron Paulians can order a grab bag of magnets, buttons, stickers, mouse pads, key chains, hats, wrist bands "and more!." The package will also include a single t-shirt. And if that's not enough to sway you, the $25 includes shipping.

Paul's spokesman, Jesse Benton, said not to infer anything from the sale.

"We're just trying to clear some stuff out because we're getting a little low on storage space," Benton said, pointing out there is less need for yard signs that say Ron Paul Iowa now that the Iowa primary is over.

Benton said the Paul campaign still gets anywhere from 20 to 50 orders per day for t-shirts and other items in the Ron Paul online store, although he admits there were "many times that" number of orders earlier in the campaign.

While Paul is trying to get rid of merchandise, other campaigns that may or may not be on their last legs are trying to jazz up their base with t-shirt contests.

To be fair, the market is also giving Paul mixed messages. He may have a glut of mouse pads and magnets, but the book he released last month, "The Revolution: A Manifesto," is still in the top 20 as far as sales on Amazon.com, the best selling book by a presidential candidate at the moment.

Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., is next, at just outside the top 50, with "The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream."

Paul made a career in the House of opposing the more paternalist nature of Washington and he made a splash early on in the Republican presidential campaign when his small-government, market-based, anti-interventionist, laissez-faire principles led to millions raised in an Internet groundswell.

Read more about that HERE and HERE.

But now that Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz, is the presumptive Republican nominee, it is a fine line that Paul is walking. He says he is winding down his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination (in large part because he is mathematically unable to win it).

He does not want to follow many of his most ardent supporters to the Libertarian party. He ran for President as a Libertarian once before, in 1988, and now says the American political system is too weighted against third parties. Former Republican Congressman Bob Barr of Georgia won the Libertarian nomination this week.

But while he realizes he can't win, Paul is still encouraging people to vote for him. His plan is to take delegates to the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis in September and demonstrate that the libertarian wing of the Republican party is not going away.

Benton said Paul is holding out hope for an invitation from the national party to speak in Minneapolis, but "we aren't holding our breath."

If snubbed, Paul's supporters and however many delegates he has amassed by then (the current ABC News scorecard gives Paul 14 delegates to McCain's 1267), Benton said, will make themselves seen in Minneapolis and Paul will speak at his own shadow events there in Minneapolis.

And moving on, Paul still plans to turn his vocal support into a permanent campaign to reclaim the Republican party for his small government ethos. And as Republicans find themselves with less power in Washington, DC, you can admittedly see the rank and file of the party start to adopt some of those very ideals as they oppose spending bills proposed by the Democrats who have run Congress since 2006.

May 29, 2008 in McCain, John, Thompson, Fred | Permalink | User Comments (59)

Obama Says General Election Starts After Tuesday's Results

May 28, 2008 10:56 PM

ABC News' Sunlen Miller reports: Sen. Barack Obama has high hopes for the results of the last primary contests on Tuesday: He believes that will likely mark the start of the general election.

Asked aboard his plane returning to Chicago from Colorado if the general election will begin after Tuesday’s voting in South Dakota and Montana, Obama answered in one word: "Yes."

Obama said he believes at that point he will be the nominee. But with three primary contests left -- Puerto Rico on Sunday and Montana and South Dakota on Tuesday -- Obama is still couching his prognosis ever so slightly.

"You know, it’s technically not over until we have the number of delegates needed to secure the nomination," Obama said of the 2026 delegates needed. "Once we have that number, we will focus on the general election."

The Obama campaign has no doubt been running a general election campaign for the last few weeks: campaigning in general election states and singling out the presumptive Republican nominee Sen. John McCain more than his Democratic rival, Sen. Hillary Clinton -– a strategy that caused some to question the patience of a candidate that is still involved in a battle for the democratic nomination.

"We are only a few days away," Obama told reporters. "We have waited this long. We can wait a while longer."

May 28, 2008 in Kucinich, Dennis | Permalink | User Comments (359)

Obama Camp: Trip Overseas Is 'Under Consideration'

May 28, 2008 10:42 PM

ABC News' Sunlen Miller reports: Sen. Barack Obama brushed off Sen. John McCain’s recent criticisms of him as more of the same "diversions" that are "standard fare" for the Republicans, but his campaign spokeswoman said he is considering a trip abroad.

McCain has been criticizing Obama for not having been to Iraq since 2006, his only trip to the war zone. The Arizona Republican says Obama can't really know the situation in Iraq if he has not seen it first-hand.

On the plane ride from Colorado to Chicago, Obama told reporters that McCain and the Republicans don’t have much ground to stand as they try to make an issue out of the frequency of his visits to Iraq.

"The Republicans don’t have a strong position to argue when it comes to substance," he said. "Their foreign policy has been a failure over the last eight years. The war in Iraq was a huge strategic blunder, our standing in the world is diminished, we’ve spent hundreds of billions of dollars and lost thousands of lives, Afghanistan is in worse shape than anytime since 2001 and we have [al Qaeda leader Osama] bin Laden sending out audio tapes, so not surprisingly they’re not going to want to argue the substance of what’s happened in their foreign policy, they’re going to come up with diversions."

McCain extended Obama an invitation to go to Iraq with him. According to Obama campaign spokeswoman Jen Psaki a trip to Iraq is not out of the question, but a trip with McCain is.

"A trip abroad is under consideration but there are no plans at this point," Psaki said. "But Iraq is a place to consider."

McCain said today in Reno, "Sen. Obama has been to Iraq once a little over two years ago, he went and he has never seized the opportunity except in a hearing to meet with General Petraeus [the commander of U.S. forces in Iraq]."

Today Obama responded to a question about McCain's remarks with a laugh.

"That’s just a typical sarcastic comment that doesn’t haven’t anything to do with the substance and is patently untrue, since I just saw General Petraeus when he was testifying in Washington," he said.

Obama was challenged further, asking why he had not had meeting with Petraeus that was outside of a hearing.

"This is just a flip comment, it’s not designed to actually talk about substance," Obama responded curtly not answering why he had not held meeting with Petraeus. "It’s a political comment that doesn’t get anywhere."

Obama in his campaign trip to general election states this week has been solely focused on McCain, and he says he’s not surprised the Republicans and McCain have been focused so aggressively on him.

"So far this is pretty standard Republican fare," he said of the back-and-forth with McCain recently. "He’s adapted George Bush policies and he’s going to adopt George Bush's tactics. I don’t know why anybody would be surprised by that."

Obama will take a break from campaigning Thursday, spending the day with his family in Chicago. Then he’ll return to the campaign trail, hitting the last two primary states of Montana and South Dakota heading into the weekend.

May 28, 2008 in Hunter, Duncan, Kucinich, Dennis | Permalink | User Comments (55)