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Daily Kos Affirmations
A new Research 2000 poll conducted for Daily Kos shows a striking change in public opinion regarding the MN Sen. candidates since 11/4. Entertainer/almost-Sen. Al Franken (DFL) has seen his numbers improve -- particularly among Indies -- while quasi-ex-Sen. Norm...

Posted on January 12, 2009 11:42 AM


Odds And Ends, Let The Confirmation Hearings Begin
Confirmation hearings for Pres.-elect Barack Obama's Cabinet commenced today with Tom Daschle's appearance in front of his former colleagues. The HHS Sec nom cautioned that "as we face a harsh and deep recession, the problem of the uninsured is likely...

Posted on January 8, 2009 06:09 PM


Obama/Kaine
WASHINGTON -- Pres.-elect Barack Obama officially tapped VA governor Tim Kaine today as the next chairman of the Democratic National Committee, saying they share a "pragmatic, progressive philosophy" to govern across party lines. "We cannot afford to abandon the movement...

Posted on January 8, 2009 04:42 PM


Obama Tomorrow -- Raising Kaine
Pres.-elect Barack Obama has two big events tomorrow; he'll give what the transition is billing as a major speech on the economy during a morning event at George Mason University, and he and VA governor Tim Kaine, the next party...

Posted on January 7, 2009 09:01 PM


Kagan For SG, Ogden For Dep. AG
Pres.-elect Barack Obama's transition team announced today that Elena Kagan, dean of Harvard Law School, will serve as Solicitor General of the United States. Kagan is oft mentioned in legal circles as a potential Supreme Court justice. With one woman...

Posted on January 5, 2009 10:37 AM


Plouffe, Live From The White House, Next The DNC?
David Plouffe sent a new video message to Barack Obama's supporters this afternoon urging them to join their friends and neighbors this weekend for a series of 'Change is Coming' house parties. The goal? To reflect on the campaign...

Posted on December 9, 2008 03:40 PM


A Limited Edition Holiday Mugging
The latest effort by Barack Obama to raise money for the Democratic National Committee arrived in my in-box this a.m: This holiday season, celebrate the historic accomplishment of our movement for change. Treat yourself or a loved one to...

Posted on December 4, 2008 10:33 AM


"A Red, White And Blue Christmas"
The White House released information this morning about its many holiday soirees -- from the menu for all receptions to the musical groups featured at events. First Lady Laura Bush's office also offered up a string of 2008 holiday...

Posted on December 3, 2008 03:49 PM


The Big Security Six
As we await Barack Obama's presser in Chicago, browse the transition's official release announcing Sen. Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State, that Defense Secretary Robert Gates will remain as Secretary of Defense, that pending Senate approval Eric Holder will serve...

Posted on December 1, 2008 10:33 AM


Hotline After Dark -- Summers Lovin' Had Them A Blast
The talk of the TV was Pres.-elect Obama's economic team, which includes NY Fed. Reserve Pres. Timothy Geithner as treas. sec., ex-Treas. Sec./ex-Harvard Univ. Pres. Larry Summers as Nat'l Economic Council dir. and UC-Berkeley professor Christina Romer as head the...

Posted on November 25, 2008 08:49 AM


Weekend Lineup
Here are the scheduled guests for the Sunday public affairs shows and other weekend programs: SUNDAY: Meet the Press hosts ex-Sec/State James Baker and ex-Commerce Sec. William Daley, Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), and a roundtable with CNBC's Erin Burnett, ex-Wall...

Posted on November 21, 2008 12:38 PM


Good News For Daschle ...
Seems to be lousy news for outgoing Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean. Dean, a doc, was rumored to be in the mix for Health and Human Services. So what is a viable alternative for the former VT guv? One...

Posted on November 19, 2008 01:30 PM


Policy Worker Bees
The Obama-Biden Transition Team announced leaders today for a series of Policy Working Groups. The focus of the groups "will be to develop the priority policy proposals and plans from the Obama Campaign for action during the Obama-Biden Administration." Group...

Posted on November 19, 2008 12:26 PM


Gingrich Interested In RNC's Top Job
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is interested in the chairmanship of the Republican National Committee, his longtime lawyer told the Atlanta-Journal Constitution today. Gingrich adds his name to a growing list of GOPers intrigued by the party's top job: SC...

Posted on November 10, 2008 04:45 PM


Dean Stepping Down As DNC Chair
Per The Huffington Post's Stein: Dean, who has been serving in the post since 2005, has said in the past that he would serve only one term, though his successful work with the Obama campaign had led some Democrats to...

Posted on November 10, 2008 01:21 PM


Senate Update: The Waiting Game
There are three Senate races still in flux 48 hours after voters went to the polls. ALASKA Current vote totals from the AK Bd. of Elections website show Sen. Ted Stevens (R) leading Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich (D) by...

Posted on November 6, 2008 03:48 PM


Obama's Win, An Analysis
How did it happen? How did Barack Obama defy the odds and do what few imagined possible a year ago, turn back Hillary Clinton's well-funded frontrunner campaign and trounce a Republican nominee, a war hero no less, who had the...

Posted on November 5, 2008 04:40 PM


Senate Update: Spoiler Alert
The MN SEN race is still too close to call, but with 82% of the vote in, Sen. Norm Coleman (R) is leading Al Franken (D) 42.0%-41.8%, or 5,500 votes. If Franken loses, it will almost certainly be due...

Posted on November 5, 2008 12:49 AM


Senate Update: Gosh Darn It, People Like Both
With 43% of the MN vote in, Sen. Norm Coleman (R) and Al Franken (D) are virtually tied, with Franken leading 42%-41%. Although Ramsey Co. is largely in, about 70% Hennepin Co. is not (the big Dem counties). However...

Posted on November 4, 2008 11:26 PM


A Night To Remember
The nets' extensive plans for election night coverage are below: ABC -- "Vote 2008" will originate from Times Square beginning with a special edition of "World News" at 6:30pm and continuing with full election coverage from 7pm until at least...

Posted on November 3, 2008 01:04 PM


Weekend House Call
Some updates on the House front on this final weekend... Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL 10) is not only fighting a toxic environment for GOPers, but also Barack Obama-enhanced turnout in his suburban Chicago CD. Now his opponent, '06 nominee Dan...

Posted on November 1, 2008 02:20 PM


Biden: Golda And I WereLikeThis
JUPITER, FL - As his three-day bus tour of the Sunshine State worked its way south, Joe Biden placed additional emphasis this morning on seniors issues and defending Israel, something he said can be best assured by restoring America's image...

Posted on October 29, 2008 12:43 PM


Weekend Lineup
Here are the scheduled guests for the Sunday public affairs shows and other weekend programs: SUNDAY: Meet the Press hosts Colin Powell and a roundtable with NBC pol. dir. Chuck Todd, New York Times' David Brooks, Newsweek's Jon Meacham, NBC's...

Posted on October 17, 2008 12:46 PM


NJ EXCLUSIVE: Iseman Says McCain Affair Rumors False
Vicki Iseman, the lobbyist tagged by The New York Times for having a close relationship with John McCain, breaks her silence to speak with National Journal's Ed Pound. Iseman tells Pound that the rumors of her affair with McCain are...

Posted on October 16, 2008 04:01 PM


Odds And Ends, Making Up Is Hard To Do
Odds and Ends, 22 days and counting: -- John McCain will appear Thursday night on the Late Show with David Letterman. He pulled out of an appearance last month when he suspended his campaign to deal with the economic crisis,...

Posted on October 13, 2008 04:53 PM


Obama's Speech
Remarks available in full after the jump ... Just a graph in, by the way, he salutes Hillary Rodham Clinton....

Posted on August 28, 2008 10:14 PM


Not Beating Around The Bush
Dean John Hutson of the Franklin Pierce Law Center in Concord, N.H. just took to a new level the whole past/future line hammered last night by former VA Gov. Mark Warner: "The Grand Old Party is no longer grand....

Posted on August 27, 2008 09:53 PM


Dean On Tubbs Jones
DNC Chairman Howard Dean on Stephanie Tubbs Jones: "We are greatly saddened about the passing of Congresswoman Tubbs Jones. Stephanie was a true American hero and inspiring leader, having spent a lifetime breaking barriers and standing up for her values....

Posted on August 20, 2008 08:31 PM


Netroots Nation In Quotes
"There's a really huge misconception in the traditional media about who we are as a voting group. And I say 'traditional media,' not 'mainstream media,' because we are the mainstream…On issue after issue, we are where the American people reside.”...

Posted on July 20, 2008 12:13 AM


75K
The Democratic National Committee will announce later this morning that the final day of the party's convention will be held at INVESCO Field at Mile High, which can accommodate more than 75K people. So Barack Obama will give his nomination...

Posted on July 7, 2008 10:04 AM


Who Said This?
"It's very helpful to the president," remarked a GOP pol in an October 2004 report about the release of a new Osama bin Laden tape. A hint -- It wasn't Charlie Black. It was John McCain, commenting in a 10/30/04...

Posted on June 24, 2008 02:48 PM


Filing Suit, Again
The Democratic National Committee will file a complaint in U.S. District Court in Washington next week seeking to to compel the Federal Election Commission to investigate John McCain's decision to withdraw from the FEC's matching funds program, a move the...

Posted on June 17, 2008 02:48 PM


Pouncing
The Dems are pouncing on John McCain for his earlier remark -- offered in an interview with Matt Lauer on "Today" -- that it's "not too important" when troops come home from Iraq. Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued...

Posted on June 11, 2008 01:44 PM


Team Spirit
WASHINGTON, Democratic National Committee HQ -- Democratic Party leaders banded together today to announce their support for Barack Obama, attempting to heal the divide between supporters of Obama and Hillary Clinton and to put John McCain in the party's crosshairs....

Posted on June 10, 2008 04:23 PM


Here Comes The Unity Blitz
Democratic Party leadership is holding a unity presser tomorrow afternoon at the DNC's HQ in Washington. Participants: DNC Chairman Howard Dean, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, DGA Chairman Joe Manchin, Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin, DSCC...

Posted on June 9, 2008 04:02 PM


Sunday Snapshot -- Don't Cry For Me, America
All of the Sunday shows discussed Hillary Clinton's concession speech in DC on 6/7. NBC's Mitchell, asked what happened between 6/3 and 6/7: "Charlie Rangel. Pressure from her own biggest supporters. It was Charlie Rangel who first catapulted her into...

Posted on June 9, 2008 09:22 AM


Not Yet
The Hotline's Chris Bodenner talked with several HRC die-hards at the Nat'l Building Museum yesterday. Here are some of their thoughts: In her classy concession speech, Hillary Clinton spoke of reconciliation and regrouping against GOPers. But beneath the calls for...

Posted on June 8, 2008 04:02 PM


Dean On DNC's New Donation Policy
A party statement: Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean and the Obama for America Campaign today announced that the DNC will no longer accept Washington lobbyist donations, making the same commitment as Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president....

Posted on June 5, 2008 10:54 AM


Sunday Snapshot -- Reserving The Right
All of the Sunday shows focused on the 5/31 DNC Rules and Bylaws Cmte meeting, where it was decided to fully seat the disputed delegates from MI and FL, giving each delegate a half a vote. Clinton strategist Harold Ickes,...

Posted on June 2, 2008 09:41 AM


Stay-At-Home Moms Revolt
WASHINGTON -- Hundreds of protesters gathered this morning outside the Marriott Wardman in Woodley Park, carrying signs that read: "I'm not half a voter" and "Count all the votes, or I'm for McCain." While the RBC called the meeting to...

Posted on May 31, 2008 11:39 AM


Dean: This Race Is About America's Future, Not The Candidates
WASHINGTON -- DNC Chairman Howard Dean, the 2004 presidential candidate who saw his campaign stall after a disappointing Iowa caucuses defeat, told a personal story this morning to the RBC -- and the nation -- to punctuate his call for...

Posted on May 31, 2008 09:58 AM


RNC's "Without Preconditions"
The RNC issued this vid in light of Barack Obama's remarks today before the Cuban American National Foundation. It calls Obama "naive on foreign policy, not ready to be commander in chief." Obama's prepared speech is available after the jump;...

Posted on May 23, 2008 12:09 PM


Justice Hillary Clinton?
I have a story running in tomorrow's National Journal on the pros, cons and precedents for putting Hillary Clinton on the Supreme Court. NJ subscribers can read it here. For On Call devotees, it's available after the jump. Enjoy! (JENNIFER...

Posted on May 22, 2008 10:24 PM


Cindy McCain: I Won't Ever Release My Tax Returns
Cindy McCain, wife of the presumptive GOP nom, told Today's Ann Curry this a.m. that she will never release her tax returns -- not even if her husband wins the highest office in the land. She said it's a privacy...

Posted on May 8, 2008 01:42 PM


McCain's Justice Advisory Cmte
John McCain announced today the members of his campaign's Justice Advisory Committee. Translation -- The very folks who would help a President McCain select nominees to the SUPCO and federal courts. Heading up the effort are Theodore B. Olson, former...

Posted on May 6, 2008 02:01 PM


McCain Knocks HRC/Obama For Backing "Activist "Judges
With former TN Sen. Fred Thompson in the audience today, John McCain offered a shout out to conservatives by verifying his support for strict constructionist judges. He criticized his Dem rivals for not backing John Roberts and Samuel Alito...

Posted on May 6, 2008 11:27 AM


Sunday Snapshot -- Wright On
Barack Obama was on "Meet the Press" for the full hour 5/4. The interview was conducted in Indianapolis, IN. Obama, asked why Rev. Wright re-emerged: "You know, you'd have to ask him. I think that it's possible, as a consequence...

Posted on May 5, 2008 09:11 AM


Weekend Lineup
Here are the scheduled guests for the Sunday public affairs shows and other weekend programs: SUNDAY: Meet the Press hosts Barack Obama. Face the Nation hosts House Maj. Whip James Clyburn (D-SC), Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN) and ex-Gov./Richmond Mayor Doug...

Posted on May 2, 2008 02:12 PM


RNC Calls On Cable Nets To Pull DNC's "100" Ad
Republican National Committee Chairman Robert M. Duncan called today on CNN and MSNBC to pull a new Democratic National Committee ad criticizing John McCain's support for the Iraq war, saying it was coordinated with the Democratic candidates' campaigns. The RNC...

Posted on April 28, 2008 04:19 PM


Weekend Lineup
Here are the scheduled guests for the Sunday public affairs shows and other weekend programs: SUNDAY: Meet the Press hosts DNC Chair Howard Dean and a roundtable with Washington Post's David Broder, Slate.com's John Dickerson, PBS' Gwen Ifill, NBC's Andrea...

Posted on April 25, 2008 12:58 PM


Dean To McCain: "Get This Ad Pulled"
All signs indicate that the North Carolina Republican Party plans to air a TV spot using the Rev. Jeremiah Wright's "God damn America" line to criticize Barack Obama and two of his leading NC supporters -- despite the RNC and...

Posted on April 24, 2008 11:04 AM


Edwards' Camp Chief, Turlington, For Obama
Barack Obama's campaign today announced the endorsement of 49 prominent supporters of John Edwards - including Ed Turlington, Edwards' former national chairman. "Barack Obama and John Edwards share a commitment to taking on special interests and standing up for regular...

Posted on April 23, 2008 12:36 PM


Dean: FL/MI Finale In June
Howard Dean tells Air America's David Bender today that there will be a rules committee meeting later this spring and that the fates of the Florida and Michigan delegates will be decided by June. "I think that all the pieces...

Posted on April 22, 2008 07:31 PM


Won't You Be My Neighbor
The Democratic National Committee is rolling out its new online Neighborhood Volunteer tool, which will empower grassroots activists to use the party's voter file for organizing efforts in their communities. The DNC is launching it first in Kansas and Virginia,...

Posted on April 21, 2008 03:50 PM


Sunday Snapshot -- The Passion Of McCain
John McCain was on "This Week": McCain, on ex-Sen. Bob Smith (R-NH) saying his temper would place the U.S. at risk in int'l affairs and "the world perhaps in danger": "Yes, I served with him, and had significant differences on...

Posted on April 21, 2008 09:41 AM


"Better Off"
The Democratic National Committee has released this ad to run on national cable networks starting tomorrow. The spot, which features footage of John McCain asserting that all is well with the economy, will be used at organizing events across the...

Posted on April 21, 2008 09:28 AM


That Six Pack? We Spoke Too Soon
John McCain's campaign released his 2006 and 2007 tax returns today. His wife's returns remain private, however. The senator's 2006 taxable income was $215,304, for which he paid $72,771 in taxes. Last year, his taxable income was $258,800, for which...

Posted on April 18, 2008 05:26 PM


Obama Won't "Walk Away" From Comments
WASHINGTON -- Barack Obama told reporters at a meeting of The Associated Press today that he had spoken inappropriately in characterizing some small town voters as "bitter" but that he wouldn't "walk away" from the broader point he was trying...

Posted on April 14, 2008 04:49 PM


"It's A Target-Rich Opportunity"
WASHINGTON -- Howard Dean said that Democratic National Committee polling out today of voters in 17 unidentified swing states indicates that John McCain has damaged his maverick brand since 2000 by aligning with President Bush on the war and courting...

Posted on April 10, 2008 02:08 PM


Odds And Ends, Torched
The DNC is releasing new polling data tomorrow about John McCain. Scheduled to present the info: Howard Dean, Cornell Belcher of Brilliant Corners and Allan Rivlin of Garin, Hart, Yang Research Group. One Q for the panel -- Where's the...

Posted on April 9, 2008 06:00 PM


Sunday Snapshot
John McCain was on "Fox News Sunday": On his campaign strategy: "California can no longer be written off, in my view. And that means going to all parts of that state and reaching out to Hispanic voters, independents, others. I...

Posted on April 7, 2008 08:36 AM


The Patriotism Tour Continues
John McCain speaks today at the VFW Nat Headquarters in Kansas City, MO. (Swing state alert.) His speech, excerpted after the jump, is essentially the continuation of last week's bio tour, which emphasized the senator's service in reintroducing him to...

Posted on April 7, 2008 08:19 AM


Weekend Lineup
Here are the scheduled guests for the Sunday public affairs shows and other weekend programs: SUNDAY: Meet the Press hosts Gov. Ed Rendell (D-PA) and Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) and a roundtable with NBC's Tom Brokaw, author Michael Eric Dyson...

Posted on April 4, 2008 01:16 PM


"Stirred The Conscience Of Our Nation"
Pols and parties and, more importantly, real people are commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King's assassination. Hillary Clinton and John McCain are speaking in Memphis. Barack Obama is reportedly folding his tribute into a scheduled...

Posted on April 4, 2008 10:06 AM


Hotline TV: Grading Howard "Ho-Ho" Dean
...

Posted on April 2, 2008 03:19 PM


Well, He Did Agree To Hotel Rooms
A DNC source called the just completed sit-down between the Florida Delegation and Chairman Howard Dean a "good, collabortive meeting." Most important tidbit: there will be hotel rooms for the Florida delegation at the convention. But, will they be in...

Posted on April 2, 2008 01:00 PM


Quote Of The Day
From today's Hotline: "I'm asking them for the sake of their country to do this." -- DNC Chair Howard Dean, on asking superdelegates to endorse by 7/1, "Election Center," CNN, 4/1....

Posted on April 2, 2008 12:47 PM


Hotline After Dark -- Funny Guy
John McCain does media interviews again as he kicks off his bio tour. ABC's Claiborne: "McCain's tour ... is a way to get him back into the political spotlight, which has been dominated lately by Democrats" ("World News," 4/1). McCain...

Posted on April 2, 2008 09:12 AM


Thompson To Play Cheney In Oliver Stone's "W"
If you're a regular reader of The Hotline, you know already that today's edition included a very merry April Fool's Spotlight (Al Gore seeks Senate seat he gave up in '92) and Top News items. Here were the equally wonderful...

Posted on April 1, 2008 01:27 PM


Make Up Your Minds
Howard Dean on MSNBC just now weighed in on the Super Ds: "I'd like the other 330 to stay who they're for between now and the first of July."...

Posted on April 1, 2008 12:49 PM


The Week's Winners And Losers
Winners ... Chelsea Clinton -- Launched a pitch perfect smackdown of a Butler University student who asked if the Monica Lewinsky scandal tarnished her mother's image. Also made a stitch of news today in Allentown, PA, when she asserted that...

Posted on March 28, 2008 06:20 PM


Dean On McCain Ad: Just Another "Bush Republican"
The DNC released this statement from Howard Dean today, reacting to John McCain's first TV ad of the general: "The American people have been waiting for a president who understands the challenges they face, not another out of touch Bush...

Posted on March 28, 2008 12:56 PM


Must Reads
The AP reports that Al Gore thinks the Dem race will work itself out just fine before the Denver convention. PA Sen. Bob Casey backs Barack Obama, gets on the campaign bus, writes the Philly Inquirer. Dr. Dean tells CBS...

Posted on March 28, 2008 10:54 AM


Hotline After Dark -- Calling All Delegates
Hillary Clinton went "On the Record" last night: On her Rev. Wright comments: "I was asked ... very point-blank yesterday what I would have done had I been in a position where someone was, you know, making those kinds of...

Posted on March 27, 2008 08:49 AM


Hotline After Dark -- Not So Sunny Days
Barack Obama sat down with PBS' Ifill for an extended interview that took place in PA. The interview was originally scheduled for last week but had to be rescheduled. In it he previewed this a.m.'s speech: Obama: "I think it...

Posted on March 18, 2008 08:50 AM


Sunday Snapshot
Dem campaign surrogates made the rounds on the Sunday shows this weekend: Hillary Clinton supporter/PA Gov. Ed Rendell (D) squared off against Barack Obama supporter/ex-Sen. Tom Daschle (D-SD) on "Meet the Press": Rendell, asked how a revote in MI and...

Posted on March 10, 2008 09:47 AM


Weekend Lineup
Here are the scheduled guests for the Sunday public affairs shows and other weekend programming: SUNDAY: Meet the Press hosts ex-Sen. Tom Daschle (D-SD), Gov. Ed Rendell (D-PA), and a roundtable with Washington Post's Dan Balz, Atlantic Media's Ron Brownstein,...

Posted on March 7, 2008 01:12 PM


FL Buzzzzz
Dem sources tell On Call tonight that Howard Dean and FL Sen. Bill Nelson spoke this evening about prospects for a possible primary redo. Dean reiterated to him what he's said publicly - that there are two options for seating...

Posted on March 6, 2008 11:47 PM


You Decide
Howard Dean has the impossible task of making this now totally screwy Dem nom process -- FL and MI, SuperDs -- appear fair and efficient. On MSNBC this a.m. he tossed the ball to the states to come up with...

Posted on March 6, 2008 11:38 AM


Hotline After Dark -- Campaign Calculus
Reporters and pundits practiced their math skills last night as delegate counts were the topic du jour. Most pundits pointed out that even if Hillary Clinton wins most of the remaining delegates, she still won't catch up to Barack Obama...

Posted on March 6, 2008 09:08 AM


Pressure
DNC Chair Howard Dean released a statement tonight about the FL and MI quandary, advising that the states have two options, per the committee's bylaws, to attempt to seat their delegates. Meanwhile, FL Dem Party Chairwoman Karen L. Thurman also...

Posted on March 5, 2008 08:01 PM


Crist And Granholm: Seat Those Delegates
FL Gov. Charlie Crist, a GOPer, joined with MI Gov. Jennifer Granholm, a Dem, in calling on their party chairmen today to resolve the matter of seating their respective state delegates. "Gov. Granholm and I both believe that all delegates...

Posted on March 5, 2008 03:53 PM


To The Pain
Barack Obama, addressing supporters tonight in TX, sought to put the best shine on what had to be a disappointing evening for his campaign. "We have nearly the same delegate lead as we did this morning," he said. "And we...

Posted on March 4, 2008 11:47 PM


Ladies And Gentlemen, Your Republican Nom
Nets call TX and RI for McCain. CNN reports that McCain is the GOP nom ... MSNBC's Olbermann: "John McCain has officially wrapped up the Republican nomination tonight." FNC's Hume: "It's something to talk about when we don't know what's...

Posted on March 4, 2008 09:00 PM


Heads Up: Dean On Colbert Tonight
DNC's Paxton tells us that Howard Dean will make a brief appearance on "The Colbert Report" tonight by phone. He’s on after a segment about John Hagee and John McCain, which includes an interview with Catholic League President Bill Donahue...

Posted on March 4, 2008 08:11 PM


Sunday Snapshot
There were a lot of campaign surrogates on the Sunday shows this weekend: Obama adviser David Axelrod and HRC adviser Howard Wolfson were on "This Week" this weekend: Axelrod, on HRC saying she and McCain have experience while Obama has...

Posted on March 3, 2008 08:43 AM


Taxing
Barack Obama's campaign is pushing Hillary Clinton anew to release her tax returns and White House schedules. During Tuesday's Dem debate she vowed to make the tax returns public with a caveat: "I will release my tax returns. I have...

Posted on February 29, 2008 04:12 PM


Weekend Lineup
Here are the lineups for the Sunday public affairs shows and other weekend programming: SUNDAY: Meet the Press hosts a roundtable with Dem strategist James Carville, GOP strategist Mary Matalin, Dem strategist Bob Shrum and GOP strategist Mike Murphy. Face...

Posted on February 29, 2008 01:36 PM


"Inevitable Hillary?"
As Hillary Clinton's staffers struggle to halt Barack Obama's stride toward the party's nom, they have wagged fingers at the press for unfairly targeting the New York senator, for being tougher on her than her rival. But a look back...

Posted on February 26, 2008 08:27 PM


Dean: McCain Is Part Of "Culture Of Corruption"
Howard Dean, in an interview with National Journal Contributing Editor Linda Douglass that will air tomorrow, said that John McCain is part of a "culture of corruption." The DNC chairman said McCain, despite his reputation as a maverick, has long...

Posted on February 21, 2008 05:10 PM


Hotline After Dark -- A "Political Hangover"
In the aftermath of Super Tuesday, and dealing with "political hangovers" as some pundits put it, the talking heads looked back on country's first so-called national primary: REPORTERS START VYING FOR PUERTO RICO ASSIGNMENT There was a lot of discussion...

Posted on February 7, 2008 09:13 AM


Shifting Loyalties: Obama Winning Big Edwards Backers
John Edwards may not have endorsed one of his former rivals yet, but in the five days since he dropped out, his backers have so far made it clear who they're throwing their weight behind. Since Edwards suspended his campaign...

Posted on February 4, 2008 12:57 PM


A Candidate Scorned: Edwards Reacts To Kerry Decision
John Edwards released this statement today about John Kerry’s endorsement of Barack Obama ... “Our country and our Party are stronger because of John’s service, and I respect his decision. When we were running against each other and on the...

Posted on January 10, 2008 11:37 AM


Worst. Idea. Ever.
MANCHESTER -- Hillary Clinton's campaign hasn't confirmed reports that a NH loss would force her to skip SC and/or NV an focus on the 20 states holding primaries on 2/5. But just in case Clinton/Solis/McAuliffe/Penn/Wolfson is checking out "On...

Posted on January 8, 2008 03:22 PM


Question For You
How is the Hillary temper-losing moment going to play? Did she negate it with that charming answer to Spradling's question about her likability? Or if it's played and replayed by the media could it be a Dean scream-esque light moment?...

Posted on January 5, 2008 10:27 PM


You're Not The Only One, With Mixed Emotions
Barack Obama, wife Michelle and their two daughters were "watching the results from their West Des Moines hotel and will appear at Des Moines' Hy-Vee Hall to meet an expected 3,000 supporters" (DesMoinesRegister.com). "It really felt more like a...

Posted on January 3, 2008 09:57 PM


Say A Little Prayer
With 81 of 1781 precincts reporting, the IA Dem Party shows John Edwards leading Hillary Clinton 37-30%, with Barack Obama at 28%, Joe Biden at 2% and Bill Richardson at 1%. ABC News' Sarah Amos reports, Richardson "took the...

Posted on January 3, 2008 08:30 PM


Hotline After Dark -- The Reviews Are In
The reviews are in of Mitt Romney's speech. Talk of it dominated the airwaves last night: MSNBC's Shuster: "Most of the reaction came from observers on television, not the candidates in the race" ("Hardball," 12/6). FNC's Cameron: "Like Kennedy, Romney...

Posted on December 7, 2007 08:58 AM


More Feuding Over Foreign Policy Creds
Crafty late-day praise (albeit backhanded) from Barack Obama for President Bush's push for the Annapolis summit. And a bit of name dropping as well ... In other words, I spoke with Prime Minister Olmert today, Hillary, did you? "Annapolis is...

Posted on November 27, 2007 05:34 PM


Big Granite State Get for HRC: NH Guv's Dr. Wife, Susan Lynch, Endorses
Susan Lynch, wife of popular Dem governor John Lynch, is backing Hillary Clinton and will serve as her national campaign co-chair. This is a big deal endorsement for HRC in the Granite State ... Can Jeanne Shaheen be far behind?...

Posted on November 26, 2007 01:12 PM


Hotline After Dark -- Who's Your Daddy?
Lots of endorsement talk last night: Sam Brownback was on "Hardball" to talk about his endorsement of John McCain: Brownback: "John is the full package. He's a fiscal conservative. He's got a 24-year pro-life voting record. He's a pro-life candidate...

Posted on November 8, 2007 08:57 AM


A Yes OR No Answer, Please
John Edwards's team is hammering home that waffling point about Hillary Clinton, asking her to respond to "Five Questions on Iraq that Every Candidate Should Have to Answer." The theme has gained Edwards some much-needed traction since last Tuesday's debate...

Posted on November 6, 2007 02:38 PM


Rolph Won't Caucus for HRC
Iowa's Randall Rolph is making a name for himself in politics – but not as a candidate. A regular Iowa caucusgoer, Rolph has had news-making exchanges with several presidential candidates. Early in October during an event in New Hampton, he...

Posted on November 5, 2007 09:57 AM


Drama at Drexel?
If you’re listening to the media reports of the day, tonight’s Democratic presidential debate at Drexel University in Philly promises a bloodbath. It is, the pundits say, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s moment to leave a floundering field of also-rans behind,...

Posted on October 30, 2007 08:36 PM


Hotline After Dark -- All About Tonight
Barack Obama appeared on the "Tonight Show" last night: On Lynne Cheney saying he and Dick Cheney are eighth cousins: "How 'bout that? Not kissing cousins. ... I actually did know. People have been doing these genealogical studies of me,...

Posted on October 18, 2007 09:04 AM


Baracking The Vote
HANOVER, NH -- In a speech to students at Dartmouth College yesterday, Barack Obama's NH dir. told students that young voters could decide which WH Dem carries the Granite State in '08. "If we can get two to three thousand...

Posted on September 27, 2007 12:44 PM


Hotline After Dark -- Hurricane A Coming
Hurricane Dean dominated TV news last night but there was still some political talk -- a bit on the 8/19 Dem debate in IA and on Karl Rove's obsession with Hillary Clinton: Newsweek's Alter, on Rove attacking HRC: "He knows...

Posted on August 21, 2007 08:34 AM


Hotline After Dark -- Panic In The War Room
Last night's TV mainly focused on Iraq and Pres. Bush invoking exec. privilege to deny requests by Congress for testimony from ex-WH counsel Harriet Miers and ex-WH Pol. Dir. Sara Taylor. ABC's Raddatz: "ABC News has been told the White...

Posted on July 10, 2007 09:42 AM


Not Out-Deaning Dean
MyDD's Jonathan Singer is reporting that nearly a third of the $32.5 mil Barack Obama raised this quarter was raised online. The $10.3 mil raised in Q2 brings his total online numbers $17.2 mil, far surpassing any candidate in...

Posted on July 2, 2007 02:20 PM


Hotline After Dark -- Playing Hardball
Ann Coulter got an entire hour of "Hardball" last night and Elizabeth Edwards called in to say this: "I'm calling -- you know, in the South, when someone does something that displeases us, we want to ask them politely to...

Posted on June 27, 2007 08:52 AM


Fate-Respecting Giuliani Uninterested in Formal Announcement
With the chattering classes chatting away about when will former Sen. Fred Thompson make his formal '08 announcement, why hasn't Rudy Giuliani followed tradition and made his own, splashy I'm-in-this-race-to-win declaration?...

Posted on June 6, 2007 12:34 PM


Some Rye With That, Barack?
RYE, NEW HAMPSHIRE -- Sen. Barack Obama touches down on a cold, windy, rainy day in here in this seaside town for two days of straight-from-the-hip politics. Tonight, he holds a town meeting. He then presents his case to the...

Posted on May 18, 2007 03:47 PM


Still Debating The Issue
Joe Biden continues his quest to have an Iraq-centered debate. The DNC announced its official debate schedule 5/16 and today Biden sent a letter to the networks chiefs and DNC Chair Howard Dean calling for one of the six scheduled...

Posted on May 17, 2007 02:51 PM


Bill Clinton's On His Way!
This is how the NAACP in South Carolina is promoting Friday's visit featuring Bill Clinton: The South Carolina NAACP invites you to South Carolina State Conference Freedom Fund Celebration Featuring The Honorable William Jefferson Clinton 42nd President of the United...

Posted on May 16, 2007 10:51 AM


Obama Brushes Against The Third Rail
For the first time as a presidential candidate, Sen. Barack Obama, posed a question about entitlement reform, said that "everything was on the table," except for private accounts, and in doing so, because the first top-tier Democratic presidential candidate to...

Posted on May 14, 2007 10:19 AM


On The Download: A Web Site's Worth
What's a Web site's worth in 2008? It's a question that bears asking in light of the recent incident over Barack Obama's MySpace volunteer asking for payment for his work on the social networking site. After all, direct mail firms...

Posted on May 11, 2007 09:17 AM


Some Quick Takes... And The AP Ledes With Rudy and "OK"
Drudge has a poll.... MSNBC's Joe Scarborough believes that Mitt Romney won the debate.... Mitt Romney, John McCain and Rudy Giuliani all believe in evolution. A statement from the "Draft Thompson" committee: "“Tonight, we saw ten fine politicians stand side-by-side...

Posted on May 3, 2007 10:53 PM


Has Giuliani Really Flip-Flopped On Gay Rights?
Short answer: Maybe. Ryan Sager is the author of a very admiring, very intelligent book about Republicans, and it silently argues for a Giuliani nomination. One can read the disappointment -- discovering a deity is human, almost -- in his...

Posted on April 30, 2007 12:13 PM


Biden's South Carolina State Director
will be Trip King, who was state dir. for Sen., Fritz Hollings for more than a decade. Also joining the team: the stupendously named Remle Beard, who was Howard Dean's upstate director in '04 and worked for the Gore-Lieberman ticket...

Posted on April 26, 2007 11:03 AM


More On Joe Trippi And John Edwards
Some points about Joe Trippi and John Edwards: # Trippi remains a hero to the Netroots. Justifiably. Opinions diverge when his fellow political strategists are polled, but many veteran strategists agree that Trippi is among the most brilliant, creative thinkers...

Posted on April 19, 2007 03:50 PM


Dem '08ers To Address Jewish Dem Group
Dem strategist Steve Rabinowitz e-mails: "All seven major Democratic presidential candidates will speak next week to members of the National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) here, in Washington. These speeches differ substantially from those delivered recently to AIPAC and the Religious...

Posted on April 19, 2007 02:42 PM


Spousal Unions In New Hampshire
Updated: Lynch tells the AP he'll sign the bill if it passes the Senate. According to New Hampshire Public Radio, the state senate has scheduled a vote on civil unions (or "spousal unions," as NH calls them) for next Thursday,...

Posted on April 19, 2007 08:46 AM


Spotlight: Primarily Virtual
Today's Hotline Spotlight: If the WH Dems' "virtual town hall" forum on Iraq tonight is a "bold" sign of how the Internet is reshaping participatory democracy, then why is a 2/5 nat'l primary such a bad idea? -- Many...

Posted on April 10, 2007 04:40 PM


Richardson Hires A Senior Pollster
He's Paul Maslin, who has polled for Democratic luminaries across the board. In 2003, he polled for ex-VT Gov. Howard Dean, and when that campaign ended, penned a revealing essay about his experiences for the Atlantic, a publication that lives...

Posted on April 9, 2007 04:25 PM


Quote Of The Day
From today's Hotline: "Our object was not to get you into power because we are Democrats -- our object was to get you into power so you actually do something." -- DNC Chair Howard Dean, Denver Post, 4/8...

Posted on April 9, 2007 12:40 PM


DNC Sanctions Six Debates
Sorry -- a busy morning here, so we're just posting press releases of interest. DNC Will Sanction Six Debates Washington, DC – The Democratic National Committee announced today that it will sanction six Democratic debates, one per month, starting in...

Posted on April 5, 2007 11:20 AM


On The Download: Democratic Internet Insiders Poll
Welcome back to On The Download, your dispatch on politechs: Politics, Multimedia and the Internet. If you have tips, comments, or suggestions, email us. On The Download asked 22 of some of the best Democratic Internet strategists what they...

Posted on March 23, 2007 09:04 AM


Hotline After Dark: Blue's News
Lots of Dems on TV last night: Barack Obama was on "LKL": On Iraq: "The precondition for any continuing involvement by the United States in Iraq has to be a willingness on the part of Iraqi leadership and the heads...

Posted on March 20, 2007 07:20 AM


Hotline After Dark: Scoot Over
Here's a small sampling of the Scooter Libby talk from last night's TV: CNN's Crowley: "It's hard to see how a terrifically weakened president is any more weakened by this" ("Situation Room," 3/6) MSNBC's Shuster: "Legally, this investigation is over...

Posted on March 7, 2007 08:53 AM


Spotlight: John McKerry?
Today's Hotline Spotlight: Is John McCain the John Kerry of '08? If so, is that a good or bad thing? -- The presumptive frontrunner due to establishment backing, superior org. and a "war hero" persona, Kerry ambled through '03...

Posted on March 6, 2007 03:41 PM


2008 Race Rankings: Gore! Gore! Gore!
It's hard not to view Barack Obama as the candidate with the momentum these past two weeks. The spike you are seeing in national polls is simply Obama's announcement from more than two weeks ago finally sinking in. If he...

Posted on March 2, 2007 11:25 AM


Paging Joe Trippi....
The Hillary Clinton camp is rolling out the big names of the Clinton Administration in its “grassroots” effort to raise $1M in a week. The “One Week One Million” campaign launched last week with high profile e-mail (and accompanying picture...

Posted on February 26, 2007 01:12 PM


Overlooked
From today's Hotline: Howard Dean....

Posted on February 23, 2007 12:35 PM


Romney Explores Early Iowa And New Hampshire Ads
Ex-MA Gov. Mitt Romney's media team is exploring the cost of buying early television ads in Iowa and New Hampshire, a Romney aide confirmed today. The aide, speaking on the condition of anonymity, would not say when Romney's campaign intended...

Posted on February 13, 2007 04:58 PM


On The Download: Dean Internet Class of 2004 -- Where Are They Now?
Welcome back to On The Download, your dispatch on politechs: Politics, Multimedia and the Internet. If you have tips, comments, or suggestions, email us. It’s probably no coincidence that Barack Obama’s presidential campaign, Obama for America, sounds a lot...

Posted on February 12, 2007 09:00 AM


Clinton Taps Clemons As New Hampshire State Director
Sen. Hillary Clinton has chosen NH Dem Party exec. dir Nick Clemons as her state director, capping off an intensive search-and-interview process by snagging the most in-demand operative in the state. In 2006, Clemons supervised the political and field operation...

Posted on February 8, 2007 04:45 PM


On The Trail: In Search Of The Hockey Stick Moment
There's a slang term in the corporate world that many start-up businesses view as the Holy Grail. It's called the "hockey stick moment" -- the point in a graph where a company's profits skyrocket from being comfortable but flat (like...

Posted on February 7, 2007 12:00 PM


A Note About The Note: What's That About Money In '04?
With apologies to our friends at ABC's The Note, there's a fairly glaring omission in their analysis today of Sen. Hillary Clinton's financial prowess. Money matters... but The candidate that raised the most in the primary (Dean) didn't get the...

Posted on February 7, 2007 09:34 AM


DNC Winter Meeting: Biden, Vilsack and Richardson On The Stump
DNC Winter Meeting: Joe Biden On The Stump Who: Sen. Joe Biden Standing Ovations: 4 Introduced by: MI Dem Chair Mark Brewer Subtle Theme: Iraq is the big issue, I have the experience to deal with it Overt Theme: Iraq...

Posted on February 3, 2007 01:35 PM


DNC WInter Meeting: Hillary Clinton On The Stump
Standing ovations: 3 Used notes: Yes. Introduced by: DNC treasurer Andy Tobias Subtle Theme: I'm Hillary Clinton. Overt Theme: I'm Hillary Clinton, and even though I'm in Congress, that's OK, because we're going to hold Pres. Bush to the fire....

Posted on February 2, 2007 12:00 PM


DNC Winter Meeting: Ex-Sen. John Edwards On The Stump
Standing ovations: 5 Used notes: Yes. Introduced by: Susan Turnbull Subtle Theme: I make you cry. I make your hearts bleed. So vote for me, because it doesn't have to be that way. I'm the only one of these turkeys...

Posted on February 2, 2007 11:15 AM


DNC Winter Meeting: Ret. Gen. Wes Clark
Who: Ret. Gen. Wes Clark Standing ovations: 0 Used notes: didn't appear to Introduced by: DNC finance chair Phil Murphy. Subtle Theme:I'm a general. This is a national security election. Overt Theme: I'm a general. This is a national security...

Posted on February 2, 2007 10:56 AM


DNC Winter Meeting: Barack Obama On The Stump
Who: Sen. Barack Obama Standing ovations: 2 Used notes: yes Introduced by: Subtle Theme: The media sucks. I'm authentic. ("This is not a contest for the TV cameras. It's a contest for America.") Overt Theme: "Democrats, this is not a...

Posted on February 2, 2007 10:25 AM


DNC Winter Meeting: Chris Dodd On The Stump
Who: Sen. Chris Dodd Standing ovations: 1 Used notes: yes Introduced by: MI Dem chair Mark Brewer Subtle Theme: GIve me, Chris Dodd, a chance before you make up your mind. I'm a Democrat's Democrat. Overt Theme: Let's ignite the...

Posted on February 2, 2007 10:05 AM


DNC Winter Meeting Digest: Debate Crack Down
The AP's Nedra Pickler reports on a secret meeting between DNC exec. dir Tom McMahon and the presidential campaigns of Sen. Hillary Clinton, Sen. Barack Obama and Ex-Sen. John Edwards. They want the DNC to reign in the number of...

Posted on February 2, 2007 09:20 AM


DNC Launches '08 Research Effort
Coverage of the Democratic National Committee's Winter Meeting Republican presidential candidates take note: if you didn’t think the Democratic National Committee was serious about scrutinizing your every utterance this early in the cycle, look at the resume of the man...

Posted on February 1, 2007 09:00 AM


Academe Is Talking Over... Sort Of
Academia is beginning to look like a beachhead for aspiring Democratic politicians. The 2008 presidential field features Barack Obama, who spent more than a decade as a lecturer at the University of Chicago law school. Hillary Clinton spent a handful...

Posted on January 31, 2007 03:06 PM


One Million For Obama Is 15 Percent There..
Still growing. The One Million For Barack Obama Facebook group has more than 159,000 members now, easily the largest accumulation of student support for any '08 candidate. Is this significant? Joe Trippi, the pioneering interenet strategist, wrote in our Facebook...

Posted on January 29, 2007 12:34 PM


A Digest Of Clinton News | Shame On Reuters!
1. The campaign announced that JoDee Winterhoff, who managed Sen. Tom Harkin's '96 re-election, will serve as IA state director for Sen. Hillary Clinton. Two other prominent Iowans have also signed on: ex-IA A.G. Bonnie Campbell and Andy McGuire, a...

Posted on January 25, 2007 06:41 PM


SOTU: TiVo Tips
Most of the nets have booked their guests for both pre and post SOTU coverage. Here are some listings: * ABC: Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. Also, "GMA" noted this a.m. that Obama will be the guest 1/24. * CNN:...

Posted on January 23, 2007 03:45 PM


The Daily Troika; Biden Time In South Carolina
As he prepares to formally announces his presidential campaign, Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE) is banking on a boffo showing in South Carolina. Why? Biden figures that, a year from now, Iowa and New Hampshire voters will divide the field,...

Posted on January 22, 2007 10:15 AM


On The Download: From One November To Another
Welcome back to On The Download, your dispatch on politechs: Politics, Multimedia and the Internet. If you have tips, comments, or suggestions, email us. Senator Ted Kennedy resoundingly won re-election this year in Massachusetts. But since November his e-mails...

Posted on January 19, 2007 05:45 PM


The Winter Meetings: A Preview
Events to watch, as virtually every party and organization in town holds their winter meetings: RNC Winter Meeting, Thursday, 1/18-Saturday, 1/21. It's a foregone conclusion that Mel Martinez will be elected the general chair of the nat'l commitee, even though...

Posted on January 17, 2007 09:13 AM


Breaking: Dean Chooses Denver
The labor pains were hard, but the DNC finally has its 2008 convention city locked down: Denver. A Democrat who was briefed said that chairman Howard Dean made the final decision yesterday, weeks later than planned. DNC comm. dir. Karen...

Posted on January 11, 2007 11:03 AM


100 Hours Watch: Old Man Dean
Mayor Gavin Newsom in the gallery a few rows behind Richard Gere. And behind him, DNC chair Howard Dean, wearing giant old man glasses...

Posted on January 4, 2007 01:53 PM


Not A Good Sign For Denver
The Democrats are expected to name their 2008 convention city this week, and the while the DNC is mum about who Howard Dean will choose, it's probably not in Denver's interest to have labor union woes re-aired so publicly the...

Posted on January 3, 2007 11:22 AM


Kissinger, Peterson, 57 Major Donors Join Team McCain
Ex-Sec/State Henry Kissinger has agreed to become an honorary co-chair for Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign in New York, McCain aides said. Along with Kissinger, McCain has won the support of Pete Peterson, a former Commerce Secretary, and John Whitehead,...

Posted on December 19, 2006 11:03 AM


Spotlight: The Waiting Room
Newt Gingrich might be onto something. Appearing on "Meet," he said that if McCain, Romney or Giuliani "seals it off by Labor Day, my announcing now wouldn't make any difference." In WH '08, should longshots wait before wading in, while...

Posted on December 19, 2006 10:17 AM


December House Cleaning
TX 23: Punctuation Matters Today's runoff between Rep. Henry Bonilla (R) and ex-Rep. Ciro Rodriguez (D) either "will be an exclamation point" to the Dem takeover over Congress or a "question mark," suggesting a potential GOP comback down the road....

Posted on December 12, 2006 03:30 PM


On the Download: Do You Feel A Draft Campaign In Here?
Welcome back to On The Download, your dispatch on politechs: Politics, Multimedia and the Internet. If you have tips, comments, or suggestions, email us. Two famous-name internet strategists from the 2004 Democratic primary have signed on as advisers to...

Posted on December 8, 2006 12:53 PM


HPN: Updates From Our State Affiliates
Updates from our Hotline Political Network Affiliaites Capitol Fax -- Is The Feud Over? JohnCombest.com -- P-D: Colin Powell Speaks Here About Iraq NhNewslinks.com -- Now Speaking For The Governor... Quorum Report -- CASEY: Will Real Guv Please STand...

Posted on December 8, 2006 08:30 AM


The Hotline's December House Cleaning
FL 13: DEAN'S DECLARATION DNC Chair Howard Dean said the Dem-controlled Congress "should not seat" Vern Buchanan (R), insisting there are still "18,000 people who may have voted, and we don't know what happened to their votes." Dean, taking a...

Posted on December 7, 2006 02:45 PM


HPN: Updates From Our State Affiliates
Updates from our Hotline Political Network Affiliaites Capitol Fax -- "Pockets Of Resistance" JohnCombest.com -- SNL: McCaskill Gets Down To Business NhNewslinks.com -- Obama Appearance Sold Out Quorum Report -- It's Official: Dist. 23 Runoff Next Tuesday Sayfie's Review...

Posted on December 7, 2006 01:30 PM


Phil Singer, Karen Hicks Aboard Team Hillary
If she runs, Sen. Hillary Clinton can count on the services of two top Democrats: Phil Singer, currently the DSCC comm. dir. He was the nat'l spokesman for John Kerry's presidential campaign and is a former comm. dir for Sen....

Posted on December 4, 2006 09:14 PM


The Daily Troika: Bayh's Cabinet / Miller Time In South Carolina
Get your Bayh sources while they're hot! For reporters and interested junkies, here's a look at the kitchen cabinet of Sen. Evan Bayh, David to Obama/HRC's Goliath. Tom Sugar -- Bayh's Senate chief of staff and gatekeeper. Was former...

Posted on December 4, 2006 10:30 AM


Carville Predicts A Gore Run
Live from the The American Democracy Conference at the Reagan Federal Center in DC. Editor's Note: this writer will not attempt to craft a narrative from Mr. Carville's stream of consciousness. Breezing through his standard roster of jokes (Mary Matalin...

Posted on November 30, 2006 09:12 AM


Carville's Truce?
Live from the The American Democracy Conference at the Reagan Federal Center in DC. James Carville isn't stepping back from his full-frontal criticism of Howard Dean. But this morning, speaking to benefactors of the UVA's Center for Politics, he proposed...

Posted on November 30, 2006 09:04 AM


Today's Blogometer: Forever Backing The Frontrunner
While it's unclear what alternatives will eventually emerge (ex-Sen. John Edwards, Sen. Barack Obama for Dems; ex-NY mayor Rudy Giuliani and MA Gov. Mitt Romney for GOPers), it can safely be said that the respective sides of the 'sphere both...

Posted on November 27, 2006 01:49 PM


The Carville Claims: A Closer Look
James Carville has been generating a wave of publicity in criticizing DNC Chair Howard Dean for not sufficiently funding competitive House races. He’s claimed the Democrats could have won another dozen seats if the DNC allocated more money in the...

Posted on November 17, 2006 12:43 PM


Hotline After Dark -- Weathering The Murtha Storm
With storms in the southeast, cable TV had a hurricane of coverage on the weather. But there was some political talk, particularly about the Dem House Leadership race: CNN's Bash: "Democrats unanimously elected the first woman to speaker of...

Posted on November 17, 2006 07:17 AM


Carville's Still On A Tear, But Rahm and Dean Will Bury The Hatchet
As James Carville continues his crusade to oust Howard Dean as DNC chair, DCCC chair Rahm Emanuel wants to concilliate. According to sources in the DNC and DCCC, Emuanel called Dean this morning to distance himself from the tone and...

Posted on November 16, 2006 10:44 AM


Hotline After Dark -- Murtha's "Crap" Storm
The election may be over but TV is enjoying cover the leadership races: Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) played "Hardball" last night: MSNBC's Matthews: "[Bush] invites Steny Hoyer down to the White House with Nancy Pelosi. Were they trying to set...

Posted on November 16, 2006 07:25 AM


Dated Kerry, Married Dean
Who won the election for Democrats last week? Apportion a large measure of credit to the national environment and to Republican mistakes. Give the Democratic grassroots, who cultivated candidates, knocked on doors and raised money for people and causes ignored...

Posted on November 14, 2006 11:02 AM


Carville Hates Dean
Per the New Republic's Ryan Lizza? Some big name Democrats want to oust DNC Chairman Howard Dean, arguing that his stubborn commitment to the 50-state strategy and his stinginess with funds for House races cost the Democrats several pickup opportunities....

Posted on November 10, 2006 12:27 PM


Boehner's Min. Leader Letter
A hand delivered letter from Maj. Leader John Boehner is making the rounds this evening: Why we lost seats. I'll be talking with everyone in our Conference in the coming days about how we can rebound. If I haven't talked...

Posted on November 8, 2006 07:00 PM



RESULTS: NATIONAL **** SENATE **** HOUSE **** GOVERNORS Democrats Win The House, Await MT, VA Canvass For Senate (Webb Leads By 12K) Dems Pick Up OH, PA, RI, MO Dems Pick Up AZ 05, AZ 08, CO 07, CT...

Posted on November 8, 2006 04:19 AM


Live News Wire
At 4:20, Hotline projects that Al Weed (D) got smoked. CANVASS DETAILS IN VIRGINIA: Canvasses begin tomorrow morning. Some as early as 8 am. VA: No credentials are needed to observe a canvass as a representative of the parties...

Posted on November 8, 2006 03:38 AM


Archives
11:10 pm At 11:04, CNN calls the House for Dems. At 11:03, MSNBC calls Kyl (R) in AZ SEN. MSNBC's Matthews: "That's interesting." At 11 pm, FNC calls that Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) has won re-election, Gabrielle Giffords (D)...

Posted on November 7, 2006 11:26 PM


On The Download: The Final E-Appeal
Welcome back to On The Download, your almost-daily dispatch on politechs: Politics, Multimedia and the Internet. Hotline subscribers: Check out our archives. If you have tips, comments, or suggestions, email us. If you have ever signed up for a...

Posted on November 7, 2006 12:05 PM


What To Watch For...
How quickly is an official request filed in St. Louis to keep polls open? Early voting effect on stopping Burns' momentum and on salvaging Ford? Dems living by the independent sword in just about every race but two: CT...

Posted on November 7, 2006 10:03 AM


The Hotline's Hot House Race Updates
A daily update of ads, polls, trends and analyses from the hottest House races. Updated Race Rankings: House **** Senate **** Governors 1. Sweeney Says: Rep. John Sweeney (R) and his wife, Gaia, confirmed State Police responded to a...

Posted on November 2, 2006 05:00 PM


Did Boehner Make A Bungle?
In a coordinated attempt to divert the pre-election traffic flow from John Kerry, the nation's top Democrats siezed tonight on a remark by Maj. Leader John Boehner who, in a CNN interview tonight, appeared to blame generals for the chaos...

Posted on November 1, 2006 07:30 PM


Cheney's Ha Ha On Kerry
From remarks to be delivered by VP Cheney in Montana today: Of course, now Senator Kerry says he was just making a joke, and he botched it up. I guess we didn’t get the nuance. He was for the joke...

Posted on November 1, 2006 12:00 PM


The Hotline's Hot House Race Updates
A daily update of ads, polls, trends and analyses from the hottest House races. Updated Race Rankings: House **** Senate **** Governors 1. Like Pitching In Montreal: Ex-Phillies pitcher/Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) arrived in PA 07 to "lend his...

Posted on October 24, 2006 04:05 PM


On The Download: SMS Politics
Welcome back to On The Download, your almost-daily dispatch on politechs: Politics, Multimedia and the Internet. Hotline subscribers: Check out our archives. If you have tips, comments, or suggestions, email us. Mobile politics seems to be catching on everywhere...

Posted on October 20, 2006 04:24 PM


DNC Takes Out Loan For DSCC
The DSCC's optimism about winning the Senate is apparently contagious as the DNC is going to pony up an extra $5-10M for the Senate committee, according to sources familiar with the previously reported arrangement between the two campaign orgs. While...

Posted on October 17, 2006 07:25 PM


Sunday Snapshot: Debates And North Korea
As Election Day approaches, Senate races are getting more attention from the Sunday shows. "Meet the Press" hosted the MN SEN debate with Rep. Mark Kennedy (R) and Hennepin County Atty Amy Klobuchar (D). "This Week" had TN SEN candidates...

Posted on October 16, 2006 09:31 AM


The Saturday Brunch
A special news digest from the editors of the Hotline. Updated Race Rankings: House **** Senate **** Governors Bush and Clinton will be active on the trail in the last week ... The nasty knob has been turned up in...

Posted on October 14, 2006 10:13 AM


Denver's Hyatt Recognizes Union
The Denver Post reports that Workers at the Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center have formed a union, organizers reported today. The city-bonded Hyatt has been the focus of union and political attention since organized labor voted earlier this...

Posted on October 2, 2006 09:35 AM


'08 Convention News: Denver Back In Play
The city of Denver, which as recently as early September stood a small chance of securing the Democratic National Convention in '08, is a contender once again. If anything, city leaders can thank the Republicans. Set side-by-side, New York's bid...

Posted on September 27, 2006 07:49 PM


Today on Hotline TV: Pride Goeth...
So Dems are going to win it all in November, right? What if they don't? Are the DSCC and DCCC setting up the DeaNC as the fall guy? Oh, and what's this we hear about Terry McAuliffe? Visit HotlineTV.net...

Posted on September 26, 2006 04:34 PM


Today's Blogometer: Preaching To The Choir
Righty blogger attention is mostly focused 9/18 on Islamic reaction to Pope Benedict XVI's 9/12 speech. Normally not a subject of interest to Hotline readers, conservative blogger reaction can be found here, here, here, here, here, here, and here (this...

Posted on September 18, 2006 01:12 PM


Dean, Emanuel Reach Deal
The DNC's Howard Dean and the DCCC's Rahm Emanuel, at odds for months over election strategy, have struck a deal. The DNC has agreed to spend money in 40 of Emanuel's House races, a Democratic official said this afternoon. Sources...

Posted on September 12, 2006 05:01 PM


Sunday Snapshot: Cheney V. Russert
Talk of the 5th anniversary of 9/11 dominated the Sunday shows. VP Cheney was on "Meet the Press" for the full hour. On Osama bin Laden: "There's the on again/off again approach, is the U.S. really serious about bin Laden?...

Posted on September 11, 2006 10:00 AM


The Hotline's Sunday Snapshot
"Meet the Press" kicked off its Senate debate series with PA. Incumbent Sen. Rick Santorum (R) and challenger state Treas. Bob Casey (D) joined NBC's Russert for the full hour. Casey, asked if he'd still vote for the war in...

Posted on September 5, 2006 11:07 AM


The Saturday Brunch
Today: Ciro's back in ....Another House Republican turns on Rumsfeld.... Allan Litchman's "Letter From A Baltimore Jail"....and much more........ The Brunch is an exclusive Saturday political news digest and tip sheet from the editors of the Hotline. WHAT'S BREWING A...

Posted on September 2, 2006 10:44 AM


Hotline After Dark -- Shays Says He Knows More About Iraq Than Any Member Of Congress
NBC/MSNBC showed more highlights from NBC's Williams' interview with Pres. Bush. Bush, on Defense Sec. Donald Rumsfeld's speech: "I didn't know he was giving a speech today. The secretary of defense is saying what we all have been saying,...

Posted on August 31, 2006 07:21 AM


The Saturday Brunch
An exclusive Saturday political news digest and tip sheet from the editors of the Hotline. WHAT'S BREWING No one should be surprised: Republicans starting to feel queasy about the President's direction on Iraq and starting to endorse Democratic-ish plans...

Posted on August 26, 2006 10:24 AM


Crossover Artist
Welcome back to On The Download, your almost-daily dispatch on politechs: Politics, Multimedia and the Internet. Hotline subscribers: Check out our archives. If you have tips, comments, or suggestions, email us. First, some final post-facto analysis on the news...

Posted on August 25, 2006 11:07 AM


Hotline After Dark -- Cruising For Politics
Still a lot of JonBenet coverage but Tom Cruise also got a lot of TV time and yet, shows did find room for a little politics. DNC Chair Howard Dean was on the "Situation Room" and "Hardball" last night:...

Posted on August 24, 2006 07:32 AM


Exclusive: McCain's Web Team. And Nicco Mele.
Over the past several months, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) has quietly recruited for his presidential campaign some of the most influential online strategists in the country, including one of the main architects of Howard Dean's pioneering website. John Weaver, McCain's...

Posted on August 23, 2006 05:34 PM


The Hotline Daily Troika: What's Buzzing In The Early Primary States
MA Gov. Mitt Romney's (R) CoS Beth Myers is "leaving state employment" to serve as dir. of Romney's Commonwealth PAC (AP). An internal poll for Dem Paul Hodes shows him essentially tied with incumbent Charlie Bass in NH's 2nd...

Posted on August 22, 2006 11:00 AM


Michigan: Land Of Innovators
David All, the Republican conference's uber-web-geek-cum-online-evangelist, will spend the last two months of the cycle in Michigan as communications director for Michigan Senate candidate Mike Bouchard. With the blessing of his boss, conference vice chair Jack Kingston, All has revolutionized...

Posted on August 21, 2006 06:26 PM


DNC In Chicago: Putting The "Blah" In Blah-gojevich?
Ask any IL Dem to explain why Gov. Rod Blagojevich faces a rocky reelection bid, and they'll reply that his troubles are self-inflicted, personality driven and, most importantly to them, not reflective of the state party's overall strength. That response...

Posted on August 20, 2006 05:53 PM


DNC In Chicago: Dean Says Bush Has Failed The World
DNC Chair Howard Dean today tried to make one thing clear to his GOP rivals: If they want to fight the '06 midterms on nat'l security, Dems are ready. Presenting a dark and threatening image of the world under Pres....

Posted on August 19, 2006 01:22 PM


DNC In Chicago: What's Next, Blaming Bush For ATM Fees?
DNC Chair Howard Dean frequently places blame for a wide array of woes at the feet of Pres. Bush and the GOP. Today, to that list, he added frustrating airport delays. Dean made the link between GOPers and airport delays,...

Posted on August 19, 2006 01:19 PM


DNC In Chicago: "We're Gonna Win (Maybe)!"
Caution, you're entering a [Dem] spin zone. Strategists leading the Dems' campaign to retake Capitol Hill gave DNCers a detailed overview of the '06 landscape, in which they agreed with DNC Chair Howard Dean's opening assessment that "if the election...

Posted on August 18, 2006 10:05 PM


DNC In Chicago: Fowler Amendment Advances, NH Cries Foul
CHICAGO -- Re-igniting a regional rivalry over their party's '08 primary calendar, DNCers today moved to penalize '08 Dem candidates who campaign in states that "jump" ahead of the DNC-sanctioned timeline. Following a testy debate, the DNC's rules and bylaws...

Posted on August 18, 2006 04:18 PM


Lieberman, Lamont And The Republican Jewish Coalition
Ned Lamont’s Connecticut primary victory is giving the Republican Jewish Coalition a pounding headache. The national group, with four offices around the countr, is using the defeat of Sen. Joseph Lieberman as a call to arms for American supporters of...

Posted on August 17, 2006 03:18 PM


NevadaPrimary

Updated: 7: 06am ET Sec/State Results | Las Vegas Review Journal | KLAS TV | Jon Ralston It's over in NV. GOP Rep. Jim Gibbons and Democratic tate Sen. Dina Titus have secured their party nominations. Neither was the preferred...

Posted on August 16, 2006 12:01 AM


McCain Still Facing '00 Bush Hurdles?
In an interview with Iowa's other journalism dean, AP's Mike Glover, John McCain said there is "lingering resentment" among some GOPers because of his primary fight with George W. Bush in '00. McCain goes on to tell Glover that those...

Posted on August 15, 2006 07:53 PM


Shouldn't Howard Dean Get Credit For This?
Gov. Jim Douglas (R-VT)'s campaign sent out an In Case You Missed It, touting the fact that Vermont had the smallest percentage of uninsured children in the nation. That's an impressive accomplishment. But credit for Vermont's pioneering insurance system, called...

Posted on August 11, 2006 02:55 PM


The Republicans' Financial Advantage
The Federal Election Commission has tallied the receipts and disbursements for every hard dollar raised by a Republican or Democratic committee in the country, campaigns excluded. The numbers suggests that the national donor base of both parties is... maxed out....

Posted on August 1, 2006 01:14 PM


Names And Faces At The DLC
DENVER, CO -- ** the It Boy of the DLC Conversation is 39-year old speaker of the Colorado House, Andrew Romanoff. Romanoff, who represents about 70,000 Denver residents, is a convention keynoter fresh off a demonstration of his formidable political...

Posted on July 23, 2006 06:53 PM


Democrats Add Nevada, South Carolina To Calendar
Here's our full coverage from Saturday's meeting of the rules and bylaws committee, consolidated for easy reading. IA Caucus Date Set For 1/14/08 The committee is about to adjourn for the day, having set the date for Iowa's caucus at...

Posted on July 22, 2006 03:56 PM


DNC Begins GOTV Check-Writing; DSCC Raises $8.8M; DCCC has $6M More On Hand Than NRCC
The Democratic National Committee opened its wallet this week, writing checks to state coordinated campaigns in Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Pennsylvania. It's the first round of earmarks from the $12 million budgeted by Howard Dean, the DNC's chair, for...

Posted on July 20, 2006 03:40 PM


CT SEN UPDATE: Kossacks React
The major CT bloggers (Spazeboy, My Left Nutmeg, Connecticut Blog, Connecticut Bob, and Lamont Blog) are wrapping Bill Clinton's announcement that he is campaigning for for Sen. Joe Lieberman (D) into their Quinnipiac poll posts. Most claim Team Lieberman chose...

Posted on July 20, 2006 01:30 PM


DNC To Nation: Don't Count Us Out
DNC exec. dir. Tom McMahon, sent a sharply worded letter to the editor of The Nation, takes reporter Ari Berman to task for his story about the DNC's GOTV plans. We've obtained the letter, which you read in full after...

Posted on July 14, 2006 11:56 AM


Consultants Corner: Sending Out An SMS
Any questions, comments or thoughts about what you've seen in Consultants' Corner, or what you'd like to see, email us. Joined by GOP strategist Mary Matalin, Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA) launched his re-election campaign's text messaging initiative during a woman's...

Posted on July 14, 2006 10:16 AM


HRC To Host DNC Fundraiser
Her circle of advisers may not like the DNC's priorities under Howard Dean, but Hillary Clinton doesn't want Democrats, to, you know, lose in the fall. Tomorrow, we hear she's hosting a fundraiser for the DNC at her house on...

Posted on July 11, 2006 02:17 PM


Hawkeye State Update
1. David Yepsen suggests that Mitt Romney is making the most traction in Iowa among the activist slice of the state's Republican base. By broadcasting this sentiment, Yepsen therefore alerts the non-activist Republican base in Iowa -- those folks who...

Posted on July 11, 2006 09:16 AM


SCOTUS Strikes Down VT Campaign Finance Laws
In Justice Sam Alito's first case on campaign finance, the Supreme Court knocked out tringent spending and contribution limits Vermont intended to impose on state-wide officeholders. The 6-3 decision, authored by Justice Stephen Breyer, held that while the state had...

Posted on June 26, 2006 11:34 AM


Dems Closer To New Caucus, Primary
As we wrote earlier, the DNC's rules and bylaws cmte has approved a measure adding one post-IA caucus and one post-NH primary to the nomination calendar. Four states have applied for the caucus date and seven have applied for the...

Posted on June 22, 2006 02:47 PM


Hotline After Dark -- Don't Hesitate, Gesitate
While Ben Bradlee and Jim Lehrer examined the state of modern journalism on PBS, cable put theory into practice. Iraq was the big TV topic last night -- both VP Cheney's comments at the Nat'l Press Club and the...

Posted on June 20, 2006 07:22 AM


Four Reasons Why The Southern Baptist Convention Election Matters To You (If You're Not A Southern Baptist)
A blogswarm propelled a revolution in the leadership of the nation's largest protestant domination yesterday; delegates to the Southern Baptist Convention chose an outsider from South Carolina as their new president, rejecting the establishment candidacy of an Arkansas mega-church...

Posted on June 16, 2006 02:47 PM


Dean V. DSCC Over Lieberman
Jim Dean, bro of the DNC chair and head of Democracy for America, is hopping mad at the DSCC and Chuck Schumer. We reported yesterday that Schumer pointedly declined to rule out supporting Lieberman even if Lieberman's allies were to...

Posted on June 15, 2006 01:05 PM


Not Satire: Dem Message Rollout Postponed, Part V
As gleefully noted by the RNC, the Democratic leadership has -- sigh -- postponed its planned town hall meeting originally scheduled for tomorrow. The Dems were going to roll out their domestic agenda and tell the world what they'd do...

Posted on June 13, 2006 09:56 PM


A Dream Travel Week?
No wonder Howard Dean wanted to be DNC chair so he could have weeks like this. -- On Friday, he addresses the very important Virgin Island Dem Cmte in St. Thomas. -- On Saturday, he's in Vegas for YearlyKos. In...

Posted on June 4, 2006 11:28 AM


MA Dems Hosting A 3-Way
All three MA GOV Dems -- Deval Patrick, Tom Reilly and Chris Gabrieli -- made the ballot. Patrick is the official party endorsed candidate, with 58% of convo delegates, followed by Reilly at 27% and Gabrieli who just made it...

Posted on June 3, 2006 05:32 PM


Hotline After Dark -- We're Never In Reruns
Who needs to air a presser when you can see a member of the Bush family on "Access Hollywood?" The fallout from the Pres. Bush/PM Tony Blair presser: FNC's Hume: "The White House made quite an effort to get...

Posted on May 26, 2006 07:19 AM


One Fine Lash For Warner
Kathy Lash has joined Mark Warner's Forward Together PAC as a political deputy, working with Warner's top political strategist, Mame Reiley. Lash, married to ex-Dean mgr Joe Trippi, has worked on many Virginia-based congressional campaigns and political staffs. In 1990,...

Posted on May 25, 2006 02:22 PM


Why Is The Liberal Blogosphere So Down On Nancy?
DailyKos is doing one of his regular checkins with his readers to gauge their opinions on key Dem Party leaders. Not surprisingly, DNC Chair Howard Dean remains wildly popular. But once again, House Min. Leader and potential-Speaker-in-waiting Nancy Pelosi scores...

Posted on May 23, 2006 05:36 PM


Dems Ponder 527s To Catch Up With GOP $$
Major Democratic donors, nervous that Republicans' federal fundraising advantages will give GOP candidates an extra bounce before the November election, are pondering strategies to fund several committees that would air television ads designed to give Democrats in tight races...

Posted on May 23, 2006 02:22 PM


Drudge Almost Apologies To Howard Dean...Almost
Almost... Drudge had claimed that "Well-placed" sources "claimed DNC Chairman Howard Dean made the decision himself to back mayoral candidate and sitting Lieutenant Governor Mitch Landrieu (D-LA)." But the DNC -- and folks who would know -- called the report...

Posted on May 22, 2006 04:14 PM


Consultants' Corner
THE NEW FRONTIER Was the fuss over micro-targeting in '04 really legit? Can it decide an election before the votes are already in? These questions and more led to an investigative foray into the expensive and complex world of targeting...

Posted on May 22, 2006 11:25 AM


Is Tom Daschle For Real?
Leaving aside the plausibility question, is the former maj./min. leader, who heads to IA, NH and MI beginning June 9, a Gingrich-esque book-deal flirter? A Gore-esque monocausual promotion whiz? Or is he soberly considering a bid for the presidency?...

Posted on May 19, 2006 01:47 PM


Why Are They Fighting?
In response to these headlines: Dean and Party Leaders in a Money Dispute Democrats Are Fractured Over Strategy, Funds A Democratic state party chair, who asked to remain anonymous, provided us with these thoughts: With an election just months away,...

Posted on May 11, 2006 02:49 PM


Two Weeks In the Life Of Howard Dean
First, there was this. Then this. And this. Then came This, for CBN News. Which led to this. And This. And This. And now: "I misstated the Democratic Party's platform, which does not say that marriage should be limited to...

Posted on May 11, 2006 01:51 PM


Sunday Snapshot: Gas And Condi
Hotline subscribers: Get Sunday Snapshot, which includes an exclusive video compilation of the highlights, e-mailed to you each Monday by 9:00 am ET. WE SPY LOTS OF CIA TALK Porter Goss' resignation as CIA chief and Michael Hayden's nomination...

Posted on May 8, 2006 11:07 AM


Bayh's Labor (of) Love
The Hotline turns on the h-MRI, launching a series of short scans of WH '08 resumes. Over the next few months, we'll cut to the bone to assess candidates' records when it comes to using them to attract a...

Posted on May 4, 2006 02:54 PM


Career Track
We hear that SEIU communications dir. Ben Boyd has accepted a job with Edelman public relations's DC office. He'll start at the end of May. The Service Employees, led by president Andy Stern, is at the vanguard of labor's battle...

Posted on May 2, 2006 02:35 PM


Hotline After Dark -- The Sting Edition
PBS showed "All the President's Men" last night, but cable had scandals of its own to talk about. BUT FIRST ... Brian Williams anchored “Nightly News” from New Orleans, where he got an interview with Pres. Bush. Asked about...

Posted on April 28, 2006 07:19 AM


Hotline/Diageo Poll: She Rules, And It Ain't Mysterious
To call Hillary Clinton the 800lb gorilla of WH '08 Dem race massively undersells her standing, even self-described "conservative" Dems. They also think she's the most likely Dem to win WH'08, even if John McCain's the GOP nominee. So...

Posted on April 26, 2006 01:27 PM


Dean's State Of The DNC Address
DNC Chair Howard Dean said 4/22 that Dems have 175 organizers in all 50 states, "working hard, organizing the Democratic Party in every precinct in every state." Closing the committee's spring meeting in New Orleans, Dean attacked GOPers and the...

Posted on April 22, 2006 02:46 PM


Dean Gets The Highest Of Compliments
When DNC Chair Howard Dean this morning paid tribute to his predecessor, the late Ron Brown, who died 10 years ago this month, Brown's widow Alma, returned the favor. "I know you've had several chairman in the past 10...

Posted on April 22, 2006 11:40 AM


The DNC In New Orleans: Counting Heads
Today, the DNC's rules and bylaws will hear pitches from ten states and the District of Columbia who want to hold their '08 delegate selection caucus before the window opens in Feb. (Guest pitchers include Rep. James Clyburn for...

Posted on April 20, 2006 02:04 PM


Dean On Rove's "Demotion"
The developing Democratic take: Rove was "demoted" but not nearly far enough. Dean: "After having his hand in nearly every bad Bush policy decision and nearly every scandal that has consumed the Bush White House, it is not surprising that...

Posted on April 19, 2006 11:45 AM


Hotline After Dark -- Powered Up!
You can catch Hotline references in "Commander-in-Chief," or you can catch the commander-in-chief in the Hotline. RUMBLING WITH RUMSFELD Most of the talk on CNN was the calls for Defense Sec. Donald Rumsfeld's resignation. CNN's Malveaux appeared on most...

Posted on April 14, 2006 07:17 AM


Jots and Tittles
-- There are still 10K absentee and provisional ballots left to be counted in CA 50. --Catching up on some DNC news: Maria Echeveste, a former Clinton administration dep. chief of staff who was one of Howard Dean's earliest primary...

Posted on April 12, 2006 11:54 AM


The NH Phone Jamming Scandal: New News Really New?
Democrats call this news earth-shattering: " ... records show that Republican campaign operative James Tobin, who recently was convicted in the case, made two dozen calls to the White House within a three-day period around Election Day 2002 as the...

Posted on April 11, 2006 02:44 PM


Howard Dean Brings Together Gore And Clinton
Tonight, former vice president Al Gore will join ex-Pres. Bill Clinton at a gala fundraiser in New York (has any fundraising dinner in New York ever not been a gala?) for the Democratic National Committee. The event honors Maureen White,...

Posted on April 10, 2006 07:51 AM


RNC/WH Outreach To ... Labor Unions?
For the first time in years, the WH and RNC have organized high-level briefings for some nation's biggest labor unions, gatherings described by GOPers both as part of traditional midterm election outreach as well as a consequence of widening differences...

Posted on April 7, 2006 01:13 PM


RNC Announces Convention Dates
The 2008 Republican National Convention will begin 9/1 and end 9/4, the RNC said today. Party officials have in the past few months quietly reached out to political coverage decision-makers at television networks to test their reaction to those dates....

Posted on April 6, 2006 04:16 PM


Hotline After Dark
We know you got "Lost" in your own world last night so... "Hardball" focused on fallout from Tom DeLay's resignation, with ex-Rep. Vin Weber (R-MN), Pat Buchanan, and ex-San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown. DNC Chair Howard Dean also stopped by:...

Posted on April 6, 2006 07:19 AM


Hotline After Dark: What You Missed Last Night
Tom DeLay continued his TV tour, stopping by the "Situation Room," "Special Report" and "Hardball." Asked if he wants to be a lobbyist, DeLay: "I don't know what the future holds for me. I'm in God's hands and he...

Posted on April 5, 2006 11:26 AM


Charlie Cook Crashes The Gates
"The chances were close to zero that a 52-year-old white guy who is a registered independent and who has spent pretty much the last 33 years living and working inside the Capital Beltway would agree with all or most of...

Posted on April 4, 2006 04:22 PM


The Futures Market: Oklahoma
What's the Hotline Futures Market? It's our exclusive look at the up-and-comers in every party in every state. You won't a list like this anywhere else. If you've missed a state, check out our archives. Rep. Ernest Istook's (R) decision...

Posted on April 4, 2006 12:40 PM


Update: The Dem Gang Of Five Agrees...
DNC Chair Howard Dean has a new ally in his fight to convince donors to support his 50-state capacity building project. In late Feb., Dean and DNC exec. dir. Tom McMahon traveled to Harlem and sat down with ex-Pres. Clinton,...

Posted on March 31, 2006 11:39 AM


Bill Clinton's A Convert To Dean's 50-State Project
NOTE: This post is updated above. Will Howard Dean's Democratic National Committee be ready for the November elections? Party leaders and congressional campaign strategists are nervously pressuring Dean to stop spending money to staff organizers in states and instead commit...

Posted on March 31, 2006 09:32 AM


Luntz Focus Groups The Dems....
Luntz Maslansky Strategic Research presented its findings on the '08 Dem field this a.m. to reporters at a Christian Science Monitor breakfast. Their focus groups tested Dem primary voters in NH and IA. We don't know the size/demographic balance, etc.,...

Posted on March 30, 2006 03:51 PM


The Futures Market: Ohio
What's the Hotline Futures Market? It's our exclusive look at the up-and-comers in every party in every state. You won't a list like this anywhere else. If you've missed a state, check out our archives. After making in-roads into Toledo-based...

Posted on March 30, 2006 10:53 AM


Overlooked? Pelosi And Netroots...
As Markos Moulitsas Zuniga (and Jerome Armstrong) prepare to kick off their Crashing The Gate book tour in Washington Monday, it reminded us of a poll Moulitsas took of his readership. One of the book's core claims is that a...

Posted on March 24, 2006 11:33 AM


The New Networking
The OR GOV primary is a few months off yet, but 1 group of bloggers cast its vote in the blogosphere nearly 6 months ago. It's called the Atkinson for Governor Blog Network -- in support of state Sen. Jason...

Posted on March 23, 2006 03:55 PM


Reaching Those Pesky Young Voters
Our skepticism about "non-partisan" voter registration drives remains in effect, but we still think the program below is cool and worthy of a post. The George Washington University's Graduate School of Political Management (GSPM) will today announce the winners of...

Posted on March 22, 2006 02:15 PM


More On Lists: Will Ickes's List Be Different Than Dean's?
It's hard to write about voter files without getting into the weeds a bit, but some context is helpful to understand the genesis of the debate about whether the DNC's voter database works. Before the '04 cycle, the DNC asked...

Posted on March 17, 2006 03:19 PM


PoliTech Spotlight: DVR Targeting
No election cycle passes without some innovation becoming the latest "it." This year, it could be DVR/TiVO on demand advertising "Showcases." If you don't have a TiVO or DVR, go buy one. And go to the "Showcases" menu and imagine...

Posted on March 17, 2006 10:41 AM


Censure-bility
The beauty of our 24/7 news wire, Hotline On Call, is that even when we screw something up (like not including a "Censure" story today), we have a chance to right that wrong. Here's today's Censure story as it should...

Posted on March 15, 2006 01:39 PM


What You Missed On The Sunday Shows
Each Monday, Hotline TV editor Emily Goodin will pack a dozen hours of Sunday show news and analysis into one digestible post. '08 FEVER SWEEPS THE SUNDAY SHOWS After the SRLC, '08 fever hit the Sunday shows. Sens. George Allen...

Posted on March 13, 2006 09:43 AM


MEMPHIS: Mehlman Plays Find The Leader, The Fear Card
In advance of a speech that we're told will be a red meat extravaganza by RNC chairman Ken Mehlman, the RNC released a web video that pokes fun at Democrats for refusing to coalesce behind a leader. Asks Mehlman:...

Posted on March 10, 2006 01:44 PM


Are Two Lists Better Than One?
When Democrats discuss the mundane subject of voter databases, they can't do it without a public intra-party squabble that's a proxy for a debate about either (a) the party's next presidential race or (b) whether the party chairman is reforming...

Posted on March 8, 2006 03:43 PM


Union Grabs Andy Card For Legislative Conference
Lots of unions trumpet their "bipartisan" credentials and we can't think of one that hasn't at some point threatened to detach from the nipple of the Democratic Party. But how do you know a union is serious? Well, for one...

Posted on March 8, 2006 02:05 PM


Thomas To Retire
Republican sources say Rep. Bill Thomas (R-CA), the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, will announce his retirement today. Roll Call says that Thomas would most likely "hand the keys" of his district to an ex-aide, current state...

Posted on March 6, 2006 11:59 AM


Coffee Talk With Ken And Howard
Earlier this week, the Jewish Council of Public Affairs heard from the heads of the RNC and DNC on why their respective parties deserve the Jewish vote. Our report: RNC Chair Ken Mehlman, a self-proclaimed "nice Jewish boy from Baltimore,"...

Posted on March 1, 2006 06:34 PM


Mea Culpa: Unions And Turnout
Appearing at an AFL-CIO press conference to unveil its '06 political gameplan, AFSCME President and longtime Dem political strategist Gerald McEntee admitted yesterday afternoon that "progressives learned a hard lesson" in the '04 cycle: relying on paid turnout efforts is...

Posted on February 28, 2006 10:34 AM


The Futures Market: Nebraska
With term limits taking effect for the first time in '06, 20 of NE's 49 unicameral Sens will be out of jobs come this time next year. Dems are confident that they'll be able to influence a few elections, but...

Posted on February 23, 2006 09:19 AM


NRSC Picks Up The Pace
The National Republican Senatorial Committee NRSC) raised more $4.3M in January, twice as much as the Democrats' Senate committee took in, according to committee officials. Though the GOP's committee's bank account still lags its Dem counterpart by nearly $14 million...

Posted on February 21, 2006 04:21 PM



  ON CALL I N D E X • 2/15/06 » Cheney Speaks LINK · LINK · » The RNC's E-Campaign LINK · LINK · » MA Dems Won't Endorse For Sen LINK · » A GOP Retirement in...

Posted on February 15, 2006 06:01 PM


Dean Tries To Calm The Base....
Here's a statement the DNC just released from chairman Howard Dean. It differs somewhat markedly from what the Dr./ex-Gov. said last night, although it does appear to be an acknowledgment of the anger in some activist quarters at efforts by...

Posted on February 15, 2006 01:12 PM


Howard Dean On Hackett's Drop Out
He's not happy. "I think there was some skullduggery in Washington, that was going on, which I don't approve of. And I frankly think that's a shortcoming of the Democratic Party."...

Posted on February 15, 2006 09:50 AM


Cities Bid For the RNC Convention
The Republican National Committee has winnowed its '08 convention site to, ah, 31 cities -- those who requested information from the party about what it takes to bid. Today, the party will tell each city what a successful convention bid...

Posted on February 15, 2006 09:24 AM


Dean: Here's How I'm Doin'
Howard Dean wants you (and donors) to know what he's done with all that money. In an "Annual Report" the DNC released this afternoon, Dean touts the success of "The Plan" -- showing up everywhere, strengthening state parties, focusing on...

Posted on February 14, 2006 04:51 PM


He Just Couldn't Hackett
Well, it wasn't meant as a V's Day gift, but Paul "Rock On" Hackett's decision to quit OH SEN (announced via the NYT) still gives Dems a warm, fuzzy glow. Senate Dems "forced" him to make this "disappointing" decision, the...

Posted on February 14, 2006 04:46 PM


The Futures Market: Minnesota
What's the Hotline Futures Market? It's our exclusive look at the up-and-comers in every party in every state. You won't a list like this anywhere else. If you've missed a state, check out our archives. Two of our stars, both...

Posted on February 13, 2006 01:42 PM


We Can Never Get Enough Of Awkward Sexuality....
Not when Howard Dean claimed to be a metrosexual, nor when AR Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) tells NM Gov. Bill Richardson (D): "If this keeps up, we're going to have a political version of Brokeback Mountain up here."...

Posted on February 13, 2006 11:12 AM


Kate O'Connor Speaks (To Us)
Ex-Howard Dean aide Kate O'Connor, who's signed up to help Richard Tarrant (R) win a VT Senate seat, answers our questions: Why are you returning to politics? When the presidential campaign ended in 2004 I vowed that I would never...

Posted on February 9, 2006 09:01 PM


Former Dean Aide (D) to Advise Tarrant (R)
Kate O'Connor, a longtime aide to Howard Dean and a top adviser on his '04 presidential campaign, has signed up to work for GOP Senate candidate Richard Tarrant, who is challenging Rep. Bernie Sanders (I) in Vermont. Our favorite line,...

Posted on February 9, 2006 07:34 AM


SEIU And Vilsack At Odds
A potential Democratic presidential candidate, IA Gov. Tom Vilsack has earned the temporary enmity of one of the nation's most powerful labor unions because they believe that rules he sanctioned appeared to weaken collective bargaining rights of child care providers...

Posted on February 7, 2006 04:03 PM


The Hotline's Futures Market
What's the Hotline Futures Market? It's our exclusive look at the up-and-comers in every party in every state. You won't a list like this anywhere else. If you've missed a state, check out our archives. Today's state: Maine. Retirement rumors...

Posted on February 2, 2006 09:04 AM


DNC Notes
Two DNC items this afternoon. 1. In the wake of this morning's Roll Call story featuring anoynmous senior Dems blasting Howard Dean and co. for only netting $5M this year -- the DNC says it's raised $25K through the net,...

Posted on January 30, 2006 04:50 PM


Dean Formally Endorses DNC Nomination Calendar Changes
In a letter sent last night to the two co-chairs of the DNC's rules of bylaws cmte, DNC chairman Howard Dean for the first time formally endorsed proposed changes to the party's nomination calendar. Dean tells committee chairs Alexis Herman...

Posted on January 27, 2006 01:56 PM


Dean on Today Show
In case you missed it... On domestic spying: "Democrats the support the idea that you have to spy on terrorists. We support the idea that you need to eavesdrop from time to time but we also believe the president ought...

Posted on January 26, 2006 02:34 PM


As Democrats Reform....
As Dems unveil their lobbying reform proposals... ...CREW, a collection of liberal Dems, are blasting both parties for reform proposals that are all hat and no cattle. ...GOPers are sending around a Dem blogger's post suggesting that Sen. Harry Reid...

Posted on January 18, 2006 02:13 PM


Dean Puts Boots On The Ground
"Howard Dean has turned out to be the biggest surprise of the season. He's a good man. And he truly gets it." Those are the words of Charles Soechting, the TX Dem chair who when Dean announced his bid for...

Posted on January 6, 2006 12:24 PM


The Futures Market: Florida's Rising
Several sources we talked to in FL emphasized the speed with which state legislators move through the ranks, thanks to term limits. That certainly holds true, as one of the stars to watch is already in line (albeit six years...

Posted on January 5, 2006 11:40 AM


Kos Con
He may not talk regularly to Rahm or make recruiting calls on behalf of the DCCC -- and he can be disarmingly self-critical for a man of his ferocious reputation -- but Markos Moulitsas has juice. Evidence? Minority Leader Harry...

Posted on January 3, 2006 02:18 PM


Blogometer Special: The Year In Political Blogging
If 2004 was the year that blogs broke into the mainstream, 2005 saw an acceleration of this trend -- even without a presidential election to focus on. Unlike 12 months ago, the word "blog" itself is almost a household name....

Posted on December 23, 2005 04:50 PM


Hotline: The Year In Politics
And you thought this would be a quiet year? Relive the memories, the heartbreak, the joys and the laughs. The Hotline's year-in-review: 1/2: Under media and Dem glare, House GOPers put the kibosh on a rule requiring caucus leaders to...

Posted on December 22, 2005 02:27 PM


Smart, That George Allen
In early Jan, he'll be in Las Vegas to address the Consumer Electronics Show. Potential presidential candidates traditionally don't speak there. But Allen would run in part on "innovation" and there are probably worse ways to get cred with folks...

Posted on December 21, 2005 01:25 PM


Wal-Mart, Tobacco And Democrats
It is an open secret in Washington that many big-name, partisan political strategy firms have affiliates that handle non-partisan, revenue-producing corporate accounts. But the work gets a little tricky for Democratic consultants, especially if they're affiliated with a party that...

Posted on December 21, 2005 09:30 AM


Anatomy Of An Op (po) (UPDATED)
Wonder who discovered the 2004 video of President Bush assuring his audience that when the U.S. decides to seek wiretapes, it gets FISA approval? Duncan Blank, the curmudgeon known as Atrios, did so at 8:42 a.m. On Tuesday morning, the...

Posted on December 21, 2005 08:31 AM


DNC Seeks DoJ Memos
The Democratic National Committee is drafting a FOIA request for info on the NSA's domestic spying program. DNC chair Howard Dean announced the decision in an e-mail to supporters this afternoon. He wants to see the still-classified legal opinions and...

Posted on December 20, 2005 03:36 PM


Bush On the Patriot Act's Safeguards
Democrats are sending around this quotation from President Bush: "Now, by the way, any time you hear the United States government talking about wiretap, it requires -- a wiretap requires a court order. Nothing has changed, by the way. When...

Posted on December 20, 2005 12:27 PM


DNC's November $$
The Democratic National Committee raised a handsome $5.3 million in November but spend nearly eighty percent of its haul, according to documents filed today with the Federal Election Commission. The DNC reports about $7 million cash on hand. The party...

Posted on December 20, 2005 10:31 AM


The RNC's MoveOn Memo
The Fix's Chris Cillizza wrote yesterday about the RNC's pre-emptive strike against MoveOn, which will blanket vulnerable Republican congressional districts with petitions calling for an immediate end to Iraq. We've got the full RNC memo -- after the jump....

Posted on December 14, 2005 10:03 AM


IA Battle Wounds Pad The Resume For Young Dems
An updated post with lots more names... Jonathan Epstein, who served as John Kerry's IA field director, now manages the MD Gov campaign of Martin O'Malley. Kerry's IA pol. dir. Mike Malaise is helping ex-Rep Nick Lampson run for Tom...

Posted on December 12, 2005 03:31 PM


Vilsack Declares Victory; Sullivan Predicts IA/NH Dem Defeats
We asked IA Gov. Tom Vilsack this morning whether he endorsed proposals by the DNC calendar commission to add caucus states between IA and New Hampshire. As he dodged the question, he seemed to suggest that IA's cautious, private lobbying...

Posted on December 10, 2005 01:10 PM


Howard Dean's Disney Secret Service Codename Is...
REEDY CREEK IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT -- Walt Disney World is a quasi-independent city spanning Orange and Osceola Counties in Florida. Its daily population often exceeds 35,000. For obvious reasons, security is a priority. The outer layer is comprised of generally friendly...

Posted on December 10, 2005 09:51 AM


Florida Democrats Want...
Florida Democrats want a message to run on, and they are growing less patient without one. That's one reason why DNC chairman Howard Dean, castigated by members of his party for churning its already mucky Iraq message, was given a...

Posted on December 10, 2005 08:49 AM


Booze's On Rod!
Reedy Creek Improvement District, FL -- 2,000 Florida Democrats convene at Disney World today to take the measure of their 2006 candidate slate. The marquee events will give the faithful a chance to hear the early stump speeches of three...

Posted on December 9, 2005 12:34 PM


Dean v. Joe
Jim Dean, that is, brother of Howard, head of Democracy for America. Is petitioning against Joe Lieberman. We're told the DNC chair has nothing to do with this and no comment on it, either,...

Posted on December 8, 2005 10:07 PM


Granite, Cracked.
"When you whine too much, you sometimes get whacked." That's the reaction of a Democratic strategist with working knowledge of the DNC's nomination calendar commission when we asked what went in to producing its recommendations. The strategist was referring to...

Posted on December 8, 2005 09:34 PM


Mobile Register: Dems Should Drop Dean
The Mobile Register today became what we think is the first major newspaper to call for Howard Dean to step down as DNC chair. Have others already done so? Let us know!...

Posted on December 8, 2005 03:04 PM


Welcome to the (Digital) Future of Campaigns
Hotline contributor Brian Reich contributes this post: What exactly is the role of the internet in American politics? The 2004 cycle helped pull back the curtain on the potential for the web, and other technologies on campaigns -- with Governor...

Posted on December 7, 2005 02:54 PM


Vilsack's Comm. Dir. To Run Blouin's Campaign
Matt Paul, the always-cheery communications director for IA Gov. Tom Vilsack, will join the gubernatorial campaign next Monday of ex-IA economic development czar Mike Blouin. Blouin is said by many IA Dems to be Vilsack's first choice for a successor,...

Posted on December 5, 2005 12:04 PM


Dean On Gays
DNC Chairman Howard Dean unofficially endorsed a move by gay Democrats to require the party to guarantee that 5 to 10 percent of their '08 convention delegates are gay or lesbian. "Of course that's a good idea," Dean said during...

Posted on December 3, 2005 11:50 AM


NH Dems Openly Spar With DNC
DNC Chair Howard Dean worries that an increasingly bitter public spat between NH Dems and other members of the DNC's primary calendar commission could give political ammunition to GOPers, according to a commission member who has spoken with Dean. Another...

Posted on November 29, 2005 03:00 PM


AP: Cunningham Cops A Plea
The AP reports that Rep. Duke Cunningham (R-CA) will admit he violated the federal tax code... Per the House's "Code of Official Conduct," Cunningham must "refrain from voting in the House until judicial or executive proceedings reinstate" his "presumption of...

Posted on November 28, 2005 01:37 PM


Major Political Events...
The Republican Governors Association winter meeting begins Wednesday in Carlsbad, CA. MA Gov. Mitt Romney will take the reins as RGA chair as he readies his announcement about his future political plans. The Democratic National Committee holds its fall meeting...

Posted on November 28, 2005 11:16 AM


When Will Warner Establish His Exploratory Cmte?
To get a head start raising hard dollars that he could use to seed a presidential campaign, Howard Dean opened his exploratory account in May of 2002, the earliest of any of the major Dem '04 contenders. Judging by how...

Posted on November 22, 2005 02:03 PM


Karaoke With The GOPers...
Despite the Litany (TM) of woes, those GOP younglings still know how to party. Here's an e-mail invite we were sent, written by a current Republican official in the style of a Drudge siren story. We've left out a few...

Posted on November 17, 2005 01:17 PM


NH Revolts At Calendar Hints
The Hotline was the first to bring you news that a growing number of DNC primary commission members would vote to add several caucuses between IA and NH in Jan '08 at the commission's meeting in December. When we first...

Posted on November 17, 2005 11:49 AM


A State Party Website We Like
The Michigan Republican Party's website has several items worth checking out. One is an explicit comparison between RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman and DNC Chairman Howard Dean, something the national party itself is loath to put on the record. Also: a...

Posted on November 16, 2005 04:29 PM


'08ers And The Blogs
Aspiring presidential candidates are dipping their pinkies into the blogosphere. Real blogging is hard. It requires the candidate's staff to accept some measure of unpredictability and to relinquish message control. Many '08 hopefuls have therefore opted for the option of...

Posted on November 16, 2005 03:41 PM


A Renaissance For Florida Dems?
Yesterday's Quinnipiac poll suggesting that gubernatorial candidate Rep. Jim Davis (D) has gained on Republicans Charlie Crist and Tom Gallagher is the latest sign of life for the Florida Democratic Party, which just a year ago was a shell its...

Posted on November 16, 2005 09:02 AM


Word Play
WH Counselor Dan Bartlett appeared on the morning shows this a.m. and criticized Democrats who claim the president mislead the country on Iraq. Bartlett went from the use of the generic term "Democrats" to using specific names. But note on...

Posted on November 14, 2005 10:58 AM


Lessons Learned: The Surprises
More, from Wednesday's Hotline. We asked several dozen top GOP and Dem strategists to tell us what surprised them about the 2005 elections....

Posted on November 10, 2005 11:19 AM


UPDATED: Winners and...
(Some of) the winners behind the winners tonight include.......

Posted on November 8, 2005 11:44 PM


Dean Announces Convention Dates
And props to DNC chair Howard Dean for surprising the GOP... getting in their OODA loop, if you will. The DNC today announced that the 2008 Dem Nat'l Convention will be held from Mon, 8/25 to Thursday 8/28. According to...

Posted on November 4, 2005 12:59 PM


IA/NH Dates Set?
From today's Hotline: Some members of the DNC Primary Calendar Commission plan to circulate a formal proposal guarding IA and NH's first-in-the-nation stati and add two-to-four caucuses eight days after Iowa, according to commission members. The plan was developed in...

Posted on October 20, 2005 01:46 PM


A Roll Of The Dice
Looking for Vegas-like House race entertainment without the Vegas-like prices? Then travel to the biggest little city in the world, Reno, NV, and the rest of NV 03. Dawn Gibbons (R) officially announced yesterday she will seek her husband's congressional...

Posted on October 13, 2005 05:03 PM


Romney, Dean On The Hill
MA Gov. Mitt Romney is in DC today. He's having lunch with temp. maj. leader Roy Blunt (R-MO) and chief deputy whip Eric Cantor (R-VA.) And yes, that was DNC chair Howard Dean going into Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's office...

Posted on October 6, 2005 12:13 PM


Let's Spend the Night Together
Eat your hearts out, Rob Reiner and Martin Sheen. Howard Dean's moving up in the world. We hear Dean partied past midnight today with Mick Jagger at a tony DC hotspot (such as it is). Sources say Dean, following a...

Posted on October 6, 2005 06:31 AM


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