2008 Presidential Campaign Blog

Tim Pawlenty Releases First TV Ad Of 2006 Minnesota Governor Race

Pawlenty Releases First Major Commercial of Governor¹s Race.

"Moving Forward" will air across Minnesota starting on Monday, August 28.

(St. Paul) The Pawlenty for Governor campaign today released its first television commercial of the 2006 campaign. The 30-second commercial entitled ³Moving Forward² highlights the accomplishments of Governor Pawlenty¹s first term, as well as some of the ways in which Minnesota is on the right track.

Script:

Governor Pawlenty:

"Minnesota is moving forward. So what¹s that mean? Well, our job growth is red hot. We balanced the budget. We¹re cracking down on dangerous criminals. And we¹re funding our schools at record levels, but also holding them accountable and demanding better results. All while keeping a lid on taxes.Minnesota¹s on the right track. Let¹s keep moving forward."

"Moving Forward" Tim Pawlenty TV Ad

"1969" Al Gore 2000 TV Ad

Historical Presidential Campaign TV Ad from 2000 and accompaning press release and transcript.

Gore/Lieberman Airs New Ad
Focuses on Al Gore's Life as a Principled Fighter

Nashville, TN - August 23 - The Gore/Lieberman campaign today began airing a new television advertisement. The 60-second spot focuses on Al Gore's life story and his career as a principled fighter.

The script of the ad follows:

America in turmoil.
Al Gore graduates college. His father a U.S. Senator opposes the Vietnam War. Al Gore has his doubts, but enlists in the Army.

When he comes home from Vietnam, the last thing he thinks he'll ever do is enter politics. He starts a family with Tipper, becomes an investigative reporter.

Then Al Gore decided that to change what was wrong in America, he had to fight for what was right.

He ran for Congress. Held some of the first hearings on cleaning up toxic waste... made the environment his cause...broke with his own party to support the Gulf War.

Fought to reform welfare with work requirements and time limits. His fight now is to ensure that prosperity enriches all our families, not just the few.

Strengthen social security; take on big drug companies to guarantee prescription drugs for seniors; hold schools accountable for results; tax cuts for working families and the middle class.

Al Gore - married 30 years...father of four...fighting for us.

Al Gore 2000 Convention

Remarks as prepared for delivery by Al Gore at the Democratic National Convention on Thursday, August 17, 2000 in Los Angeles, California.

"I speak tonight of gratitude, achievement, and high hopes for our country.

Tonight, I think first of those who helped get me here - starting with the people of Tennessee. Then, those who braved the first snows of Iowa and New Hampshire -- and all of you here, from all over this country, who have come with me into the warm sunlight of this great city.

While I can't thank each of you individually in words, I do so in my heart.

And I know you won't mind if I single out someone who has just spoken so eloquently, someone I've loved with my whole heart since the night of my high school senior prom -- my wife, Tipper. We've been lucky enough to find each other all over again at each new stage of our lives - and we just celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary.

I want to acknowledge with great pride our four children: Kristin, Sarah, and Albert;

Our oldest daughter Karenna and her husband Drew;

And the youngest member of our family, who a little over a year ago was born on the Fourth of July -- our grandson Wyatt.

I'm honored tonight by the support of a leader of high ideals and fundamental decency, who will be an important part of our country's future -- Senator Bill Bradley.

There's someone else who will shape that future -- a leader of character and courage. A defender of the environment, and working families --

The next Vice President of the United States, Joe Lieberman.

I picked him for one simple reason: he's the best person for the job.

For almost eight years now, I've been the partner of a leader who moved us out of the valley of recession and into the longest period of prosperity in American history. I say to you tonight: millions of Americans will live better lives for a long time to come because of the job that's been done by President Bill Clinton.

So to the young people watching tonight, I say: this is your time to make new the life of our world. We need your help to rekindle the spirit of America.

And I ask all of you, my fellow citizens: from this city that marked both the end of America's journey westward and the beginning of the New Frontier, let us set out on a new journey to the best America.

A new journey on which we advance not by the turning of wheels, but by the turning of our minds; the reach of our vision; the daring grace of the human spirit.

Yes, we have our problems. But the United States of America is the best country ever created -- and still, as ever, the hope of humankind.

Yes, we're all imperfect. But as Americans we all share in the privilege and challenge of building a more perfect union.

I know my own imperfections. I know that sometimes people say I'm too serious, that I talk too much substance and policy. Maybe I've done that tonight.

But the Presidency is more than a popularity contest. It's a day-by-day fight for people. Sometimes, you have to choose to do what's difficult or unpopular. Sometimes, you have to be willing to spend your popularity in order to pick the hard right over the easy wrong.

There are big choices ahead, and our whole future is at stake. And I do have strong beliefs about it.

If you entrust me with the Presidency, I know I won't always be the most exciting politician.

But I pledge to you tonight: I will work for you every day and I will never let you down.

If we allow ourselves to believe, without reservation, that we can do what's right and be the better for it -- then the best America will become our America.

In this City of Angels, we can summon the better angels of our nature.

Do not rest where we are, or retreat. Do all we can to make America all it can become.

Thank you - God bless you - and God bless America "

Full Speech Text

Ken Mehlman Addresses The RNC Summer Meeting In Minnesota

Ken Mehlman addresses the RNC Summer Meeting and talks about the 2006 election.

"It is our job to spend every single one of the next 95 days doing everything we can.

We cannot rest now.

We cannot coast.

We must spread the word through every possible medium.

We will use old media, like newspapers and television.

We must spread the word through email and talk radio … blogs and podcasts.

We must make sure every campaign has the tools it needs, from advice to volunteers to understand how using Voter Vault, microtargeting and youtube.com can help.

We must make sure we are reaching out to new faces and new voices … to people who might be Republicans but just don’t know it yet."

Senator Bill Frist Launches MedicalMatters Website

Senator Bill Frist M.D. issued this statement about his new health care website.

"I wanted to update you on a new Volpac website we are launching today, MedicalMatters.org.

We built this website to provide an interactive forum for the discussion of the medical challenges facing America in the twenty-first century. We hope you use this forum to discuss and debate solutions to these moral, ethical, political and scientific issues.

I started blogging in October of last year because blogging provides a unique way to reach out to Americans and solicit their feedback.

The mainstream media (MSM) can only devote so much attention and print space to a particular issue. Reading a newspaper, you rarely get the chance to challenge editorials or biased news. And, if you're watching television, the only feedback you can provide is through your remote control.

Of course, the MSM now provides its news online. But, in my case, it never seems to satisfy.

Bloggers, however, can devote a considerable amount of time to a particular issue that they're passionate about. They can reexamine topics with ease and issue corrections and clarifications with the click of a mouse. And many blogs involve readers by encouraging feedback. In fact, my blog at www.volpac.org has had over one hundred thousand visitors and generated over 24,000 comments. Blogs help connect people to the news and blogs give them a chance to speak out in ways MSM cannot.

MedicalMatters.org is a blog about health care and the politics of health care. In the coming days and weeks we will discuss stem cells, avian flu, electronic medical records, Health Savings Accounts, and much more. We will take a long term look at some of the health care challenges facing the country and start an online discussion encouraging different points of view. I will blog regularly as will 10-12 regular bloggers from a variety of health care-related fields. We will also encourage high profile, guest bloggers to join the discussion.

Obviously, health care is an important issue for me, and it is issue that I feel needs a meaningful and comprehensive debate. It is also an issue where the Republican view of health care often differs greatly from the Democrats. This blog will also highlight and discuss these differences.

My hope is that the MedicalMatters.org blog will help sustain a focus on health care challenges and health care solutions in ways that the occasional news story in your Sunday paper or on the evening TV newscast cannot.

I am excited about MedicalMatters.org and I hope you will join our discussion."

Xcel Energy Center Focus Of 2008 DNC Bid

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman announced that Minneapolis-Saint Paul has focused its bid to host the 2008 Democratic National Convention. Major convention events would be held at the Saint Paul Xcel Energy Center and the Minneapolis Convention Center.

If Minnesota were to host the convention, the DNC has decided to use the Xcel Energy Center for the large evening convention events and would use the Minneapolis Convention Center, Minneapolis Hilton Hotel, and Minneapolis downtown office spaces for the convention headquarters and grassroots organizing center of activity.

"It is clear that the Xcel Center is the best mass meeting venue for the convention's evening events," Mayor Rybak said. "Working together, I am confident that we can put on the most successful grassroots convention ever."

"By focusing our bid around these venues in Minneapolis and Saint Paul, we can create a real multi-venue, inter-city, grassroots convention that energizes Democrats like never before," said Marot Coleman.

Minneapolis-Saint Paul is one of three cities (along with Denver and New York) in the running for the Democratic convention. Minneapolis-Saint Paul is also in the running for the Republican National Convention.

Brian Kennedy To Join Bill Frist's Volunteer PAC In Iowa

Brian Kennedy to Join Volunteer PAC and head Grassroots 2006 Campaign.
 
Washington, D.C. – Volunteer PAC, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist’s leadership PAC, today named Brian Kennedy to serve as its Iowa Chairman. Mr. Kennedy is past Chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa and former Executive Director of the Republican Governors Association.

“I am looking forward to working with Senator Frist to lead a grassroots campaign across Iowa and the nation as we work to reelect the Republican majority to the United States Senate and win key races in Iowa,” said Kennedy.

Kennedy joins Marcus Branstad, who was named director of field operations in Iowa earlier this year.

John McCain Receives Support From Phil Gramm

Phil Gramm's support of John McCain is featured in this Washington Times article.

"Now, one of the most widely respected conservatives in the country says he is ready to help pull the McCain campaign bandwagon whenever the senator makes his 2008 Republican presidential run official.

"He is the only person I know who is running and capable of getting elected who is tough enough to do what needs to be done," says former Texas Sen. Phil Gramm."
   
John McCain served as national chairman of Senator Gramm's 1996 presidential campaign.

Lyndon Johnson 1960 Announcement

Statement of Candidacy by Senator Lyndon B. Johnson in Washington D.C. on July 5, 1960.

"A few days from now we begin choosing our next national leadership. 

The final choice will be made in November–by all the people.  But what you have to choose between in November will be decided for you at the two national conventions. 

I know this responsibility weighs heavily on the 6,000 Americans who are delegates.  I am sure they have the prayers of the 179 million Americans for whom they will be acting. 

But what matters most in July may count for very little in the long and perilous years beyond. 

After July, the bandwagons will be silent.  The dark horses will be out to pasture. 

And we will stand face-to-face with whatever destiny this century holds for us–with one man, the one man we choose this year, standing out in front to lead us.

Unlike the Republican Party, our Democratic Party has always had open and free conventions–and our greatest leaders have been nominated at our freest conventions. 

Democrats–Democratic delegates–are going to make up their minds together in convention, as they have done before.

The American Presidency itself has a far different role than it did when some began seeking to tie up those who will be convention delegates.

The choice we make in July–in both our parties–must take into account much that could not be seen six weeks or six days ago.

What all this may mean to individual men matters little.  The party nominations are not “owed” to anyone.

My name will be placed in nomination at the Democratic Convention.

I understand that many will support my name on the first ballot–and a good many more on the second. Some of my supporters are even saying that by the third ballot votes for me may reach a majority

In their consideration, I shall be honored to have the delegates consider my candidacy

I am, as of this moment, a candidate. I’m a candidate for the Democratic nomination for the office of President of the United States."

Full Speech Text