2008 Presidential Campaign Blog

Jonathan Martin Of The Politico Talks About What Obama And Bayh Have In Common

Jonathan Martin Of The Politico Talks About What Obama And Bayh Have In Common

First Chris Cillizza and now Jonathan Martin weighs in on Barack Obama and Evan Bayh in the veepstakes.

Bayh notes he has much in common with Obama

"A lot of Democrats have ruled out the veep slot, but in an interview with Tammy Haddad for National Journal, Evan Bayh acknowledges that he and Obama are actually a pretty good match on everything from sports to wives."

And now add the slogan "Yes, we can" to what they have in common.

This 1976 brochure from Evan Bayh's father, Birch Bayh, features the slogan "Yes, we can." Used by the elder Bayh in his 1976 campaign for president. You will also find this phrase used by Barack Obama, who will make his choice for vice president known soon.

Obama’s Campaign for Change to Launch Statewide Minnesota Canvass, Open Seven New Offices Saturday

Obama’s Campaign for Change to Launch Statewide Canvass, Open Seven New Offices

ST. PAUL – U.S. Sen. Barack Obama’s Minnesota Campaign for Change will launch a statewide canvass and open seven new offices across Minnesota tomorrow morning. A variety of Minnesota leaders will attend the office openings, including U.S. Congressman Keith Ellison, Minnesota House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, Minnesota Assistant Senate Majority Leader Tarryl Clark, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, state Rep. Larry Haws, state Sen. Kathy Sheran and state Sen. Keith Langseth. This will be the first wave of office openings for Obama’s Campaign for Change.

Obama’s Campaign for Change staff and volunteers will use the offices to build an unprecedented grassroots organization to bring Obama’s message of change to Minnesotans in their communities. The offices will serve as the frame upon which Obama’s neighbor-to-neighbor, grassroots campaign will be built.

After the office openings on Saturday, Obama volunteers will head out into their communities to knock on doors and talk to their neighbors about Obama’s ideas to strengthen the economy and get America back on track.

These events are free and open to the public.

At each office, the doors will open at 10:00 AM.

See office address information below.

Obama’s Campaign for Change – Wayzata Headquarters
15700 Wayzata Blvd
Wayzata, MN

Obama’s Campaign for Change – Duluth Headquarters
302 Superior Street
Duluth, MN

Obama’s Campaign for Change – St. Cloud Headquarters
904 W. Saint Germain Street
St. Cloud, MN

Obama’s Campaign for Change – Minneapolis Headquarters
514 Hennepin Avenue E
Minneapolis, MN

Obama’s Campaign for Change – Northfield Headquarters
102 3rd Street E
Northfield, MN

Obama’s Campaign for Change – Mankato Headquarters
Midtown Square
220 E Main Street, Suite 1
Mankato, MN

Obama’s Campaign for Change – Moorhead Headquarters
817 Center Avenue
Moorhead, MN

John McCain 2008 Launches New TV Ad: "Troop Funding"

JOHN MCCAIN 2008 LAUNCHES NEW TV AD: "TROOP FUNDING"

ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain's presidential campaign today released its newest television ad entitled "Troop Funding." The ad highlights Barack Obama's record of failing to call a single oversight hearing on NATO's mission in Afghanistan, failing to visit our troops on the ground in Iraq for over 900 days and failing to support our troops when he voted against critical funding in 2007. The ad will air on national cable and in key states.

Script For "Troop Funding" (TV :30)

ANNCR: Barack Obama never held a single Senate hearing on Afghanistan.

He hasn't been to Iraq in years.

He voted against funding our troops.

Positions that helped him win his nomination. Now Obama is changing to help himself become president.

John McCain has always supported our troops and the surge that's working.

McCain. Country first.

JOHN MCCAIN: I'm John McCain and I approve this message.

AD FACTS: Script For "Troop Funding" (TV :30)

ANNCR: Barack Obama never held a single Senate hearing on Afghanistan.

· Barack Obama: "I became Chairman of this committee at the beginning of this campaign, at the beginning of 2007. So it is true that we haven't had oversight hearings on Afghanistan." (MSNBC Democratic Presidential Debate, 2/26/08)

ANNCR: He hasn't been to Iraq in years.

· Barack Obama Has Not Been To Iraq Since January 2006. "The fact that Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama hasn't visited Iraq since January 2006 well before the troop surge has become a spirited campaign issue. On the home page of the Republican National Committee a live streamer lists the days, hours, minutes and seconds since Obama's only trip to Iraq. His lack of a recent firsthand view means he "has no credibility discussing the future of Iraq," says Republican National Committee Chairman Mike Duncan." (Philip Dine, "Obama Takes Heat On Lack Of Iraq Trips," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 6/15/08)

· Barack Obama Has Been To Iraq Once -- In January 2006. "Obama, the nation's only black senator, met with U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad and Iraqi President Jalal Talabani on Saturday. He said before his two-day trip to Iraq that he wanted to ask U.S. Commanders for a realistic time frame on bringing troops home." (Jason Straziuso, "U.S. Senate's Only Black Member Says Minorities Must Be More Involved In Iraq's Government," The Associated Press, 1/7/06)

ANNCR: He voted against funding our troops.

· Barack Obama Voted Against Providing $94.4 Billion In Critical Funding For The Troops In Iraq And Afghanistan. (H.R. 2206, CQ Vote #181: Passed 80-14: R 42-3; D 37-10; I 1-1, 5/24/07, Obama Voted Nay)

ANNCR: Positions that helped him win his nomination. Now Obama is changing to help himself become president. John McCain has always supported our troops and the surge that's working. McCain. Country first.

JOHN MCCAIN: I'm John McCain and I approve this message.

Maybe This Is Why Chris Cillizza Of "The Fix" Ranks Evan Bayh As #1 In His VP Rankings

Maybe This Is Why Chris Cillizza Of "The Fix" Ranks Evan Bayh As #1 In His VP Rankings

This 1976 brochure from Evan Bayh's father, Birch Bayh, features the slogan "Yes, we can." Used by the elder Bayh in his 1976 campaign for president, you will also find this phrase used by Barack Obama, who will make his choice for vice president known soon.

Friday Veepstakes Line: Stark Choices

"As Barack Obama and John McCain enter the final stretch in selecting their respective running mates, each man is faced with a stark choice...

"1. Evan Bayh: The Indiana Senator sits atop of the Line this week because he represents the best combination of traits that Obama is looking for in a vice president. Bayh has rich experience both domestically and internationally, having served as two term governor in Indiana and now as a senator from the Hoosier State. But, picking Bayh also allows Obama to re-affirm the generational change argument; Bayh, at 52, would make the ticket look a lot like Clinton-Gore back in 1992. (Previous ranking: 2)"

Hat tip to Mike Swickey for sending the image of the brochure.

Minneapolis Saint Paul 2008 Host Committee Names Woody Johnson As National Finance Chair

Minneapolis Saint Paul 2008 Host Committee Names Woody Johnson As National Finance Chair

MINNEAPOLIS SAINT PAUL, MINN. (July 18, 2008) – The Minneapolis Saint Paul 2008 Host Committee has named Robert Wood (Woody) Johnson IV to serve as National Finance Chair.  As the National Finance Chair, he will lead the effort to help raise money from across the country to put on a world-class convention.

Johnson, who has deep roots in Minnesota, is chairman and CEO of The Johnson Company, Inc. and chairman and CEO of the New York Jets.  His mother still has a family home in White Bear Lake.

“We are very pleased to have someone of Woody’s caliber to lead our national fundraising effort as we approach the goal line of the 2008 Republican National Convention,” said Doug Leatherdale, Chairman of the Board of the Minneapolis Saint Paul 2008 Host Committee. “Money raised by the Host Committee relieves the burden that would otherwise fall on government and taxpayers.  Woody’s leadership in the coming weeks will be extremely valuable as we prepare for this historic event.”

The Host Committee recently reached its goal of raising up to $39 million by July 15, as stipulated in its contract with the Committee on Arrangements for the Republican National Convention. The Host Committee will continue to raise funds to cover costs associated with the Convention such as rental of the Xcel Energy Center and RiverCenter; the costs of producing CivicFest; insurance, parking relocation and transportation; planning and implementing hospitality and events for media and delegates; and additional preparations to ensure delegates and visitors have a positive experience during their visit to Minneapolis Saint Paul.

“I’m honored to have been asked to serve as the National Finance Chair for the Host Committee,”  Johnson said.  “Ensuring the presidential nominating convention has the funds it needs to put on the best convention in history is critical to Minneapolis Saint Paul.  People will be pleasantly surprised by what the cities have to offer.  The Xcel Energy Center is a tremendous site for nominating a candidate to be the next President of the United States.”

The money raised and spent by the Host Committee will be fully detailed following the Convention in a report to the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) and the IRS, as required by law. In addition, Host Committees for Minneapolis Saint Paul and Denver will be audited by the FEC, which also is required by law.

JOHN MCCAIN'S PLAN TO SUPPORT INNOVATION IN THE AUTOMOBILE SECTOR

JOHN MCCAIN'S PLAN TO SUPPORT INNOVATION IN THE AUTOMOBILE SECTOR

"The visit highlights the ingenuity of America's workers and John McCain's innovative approach to solving our energy needs that his energy plan, the Lexington Project, will encourage." -- Taylor Griffin, McCain spokesman

Today, John McCain Addresses His Plan For Creating Jobs And Ensuring America's Energy Independence. At the General Motors Technical Center in Warren, Michigan, where GM is developing the Chevy Volt -- the next generation of electric vehicle -- John McCain highlighted how his Lexington Project will encourage ingenuity in America's automobile industry.

John McCain Has Outlined A Clean Car Challenge That Will Increase Access To Zero Emission Cars. John McCain will issue a Clean Car Challenge to the automakers of America, in the form of a single and substantial tax credit for the consumer based on the reduction of carbon emissions. He will commit a $5,000 tax credit for each and every customer who buys a zero carbon emission car, encouraging automakers to be first on the market with these cars in order to capitalize on the consumer incentives. For other vehicles, a graduated tax credit will apply so that the lower the carbon emissions, the higher the tax credit.

John McCain Has Proposed A $300 Million Prize To Improve Battery Technology For Full Commercial Development Of Plug-In Hybrid And Fully Electric Automobiles. A $300 million prize should be awarded for the development of a battery package that has the size, capacity, cost and power to leapfrog the commercially available plug-in hybrids or electric cars. That battery should deliver a power source at 30 percent of the current costs. At $300 million, the prize is one dollar for every man, woman and child in this country -- and a small price to pay for breaking our dependence on oil.

John McCain Supports Flex-Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) And Believes They Should Play A Greater Role In Our Transportation Sector. In just three years, Brazil went from new cars sales that were about 5 percent FFVs to over 70 percent of new vehicles that were FFVs. American automakers have committed to make 50 percent of their cars FFVs by 2012. John McCain calls on automakers to make a more rapid and complete switch to FFVs.

John McCain Believes Alcohol-Based Fuels Hold Great Promise As Both An Alternative To Gasoline And As A Means of Expanding Consumers' Choices. Some choices such as ethanol are on the market right now. The second generation of alcohol-based fuels like cellulosic ethanol, which won't compete with food crops, are showing great potential.

Obama Minnesota State Headquarters Grand Opening

Obama State Headquarters Grand Opening
Coleman, Rybak and Other Minnesota Leaders to Headline Obama State Headquarters Grand Opening

ST. PAUL - St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and other Minnesota leaders will headline the grand opening of U.S. Sen. Barack Obama's state headquarters tomorrow evening in St. Paul. Coleman supported Sen. Hillary Clinton in Minnesota's caucuses in February.

Obama Campaign for Change staff and volunteers will use the headquarters and several other offices across the state to build an unprecedented grassroots organization to bring Obama's message of change to Minnesotans in their communities.

This event is free and open to the public. See details below.

Obama's Campaign for Change
State Headquarters
777 Raymond Ave
St. Paul, MN

Doors Open: 4:00 PM

Program Begins: 5:45 PM

Ronald Reagan 1980 Convention Speech Anniversary

Ronald Reagan Nomination Acceptance Speech at the Republican National Convention in Detroit, Michigan on July 17, 1980.

"With a deep awareness of the responsibility conferred by your trust, I accept your nomination for the presidency of the United States. I do so with deep gratitude, and I think also I might interject on behalf of all of us, our thanks to Detroit and the people of Michigan and to this city for the warm hospitality they have shown. And I thank you for your wholehearted response to my recommendation in regard to George Bush as a candidate for vice president.

I am very proud of our party tonight. This convention has shown to all America a party united, with positive programs for solving the nation's problems; a party ready to build a new consensus with all those across the land who share a community of values embodied in these words: family, work, neighborhood, peace and freedom.

More than anything else, I want my candidacy to unify our country; to renew the American spirit and sense of purpose. I want to carry our message to every American, regardless of party affiliation, who is a member of this community of shared values.

The time is now to say that while we shall seek new friendships and expand and improve others, we shall not do so by breaking our word or casting aside old friends and allies.

Yes, isn't now the time that we, the people, carried out these unkempt promises? Let us pledge to each other and to all America on this July day 48 years later, we intend to do just that.

I have thought of something that is not part of my speech and I'm worried over whether I should do it.

Can we doubt that only a Divine Providence placed this land, this island of freedom, here as a refuge for all those people in the world who yearn to breathe freely: Jews and Christians enduring persecution behind the Iron Curtain, the boat people of Southeast Asia, of Cuba and Haiti, the victims of drought and famine in Africa, the freedom fighters of Afghanistan and our own countrymen held in savage captivity.

I'll confess that I've been a little afraid to suggest what I'm going to suggest--I'm more afraid not to--that we begin our crusade joined together in a moment of silent prayer. God bless America."

Full Speech Text

Obama Campaign Releases National TV Ad On New Leadership For A Changing World

Obama Campaign Releases National TV Ad on New Leadership for a Changing World
30-Second Spot Underscores Barack Obama's Understanding of National Security in a New Century

CHICAGO – As Barack Obama meets with non-proliferation, biological and cyber terrorism experts today, the Obama campaign unveiled a new ad, one that illustrates why Barack Obama is the candidate prepared to confront the 21st century threats to American security.  Changing World highlights Senator Obama's record of working across party lines to secure loose nukes as well as his commitment to destroying terrorist networks, rebuilding America's alliances, and stopping the flow of oil money to hostile regimes.

Changing World will air on national cable beginning Thursday. 

Today Senator Obama is holding a summit on emerging threats to national security at Purdue University.  He will moderate a discussion with Senator Evan Bayh, former Senator and Chairman of the Armed Services Committee, Sam Nunn, along with other terrorism and non-proliferation experts.

Changing World Transcript

Announcer: 40 years ago it was missile silos and the Cold War.

Today, it's cyber attacks…loose nukes…oil money funding terrorism.

Barack Obama understands our changing world.

On the Foreign Relations Committee, he co-sponsored a law to lock down loose nuclear weapons. 

As president, he'll rebuild our alliances to take out terrorist networks...

And fast-track alternatives so we stop spending billions on oil from hostile nations.

New leadership for a changing world.

Obama VO: I'm Barack Obama and I approve this message.

Bill Clinton 1992 Convention Speech Anniversary

Acceptance Speech to the Democratic National Convention by Governor Bill Clinton from Arkansas in New York, NY on July 16, 1992.

"My fellow delegates and my fellow Americans, I am so proud of Al Gore. (Applause)

He said he came here tonight because he always wanted to do the warm-up for Elvis. Well, I ran for President this year for one reason and one reason only: I wanted to come back to this convention and finish that speech I started four years ago. (Applause)

I salute the good men who were my companions on the campaign trial: Tom Harkin (Applause), Bob Kerrey (Applause), Doug Wilder (Applause), Jerry Brown (Applause), and Paul Tsongas (Applause).

And so, in the name of all those who do the work and pay the taxes, raise the kids, and play by the rules, in the name of the hardworking Americans who make up our forgotten middle class, I proudly accept your nomination for President of the United States.

Somewhere at this very moment a child is being born in America. Let it be our cause to give that child a happy home, a healthy family and a hopeful future. Let it be our cause to see that that child has a chance to live to the fullest of her God-given capacities. (Applause)

Let it be our cause to see that child grow up strong and secure, braced by her challenges but never struggling alone, with family and friends and a faith that in America, no one is left out; no one is left behind. (Applause)

Let it be our cause that when this child is able, she gives something back to her children, her community and her country. Let it be our cause that we give this child a country that is coming together, not coming apart, a country of boundless hopes and endless dreams, a country once again lifts its people and inspires the world. Let that be our cause our commitment and our New Covenant. (Applause)

My fellow Americans, I end tonight where it all began for me- I still believe in a place called Hope. God bless you, and God Bless America."

Full Speech Text