Blue Spot

Labels: Colin Powell, endorsement

CNN Political Ticker: All politics, all the time Blog Archive - Powell meets with McCain and Obama « - Blogs from CNN.com

(CNN) — Former Secretary of State Colin Powell, who remains a popular figure among Democrats and Republicans, recently sat down with both presidential candidates, CNN has confirmed.

The Hotline first reported the meeting earlier Tuesday.

According to an associate of Powell's, the former Bush administration member and onetime chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff had "pleasant, private conversations" recently with both Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain. An Obama campaign source confirms the Illinois senator recently met with Powell. McCain's campaign has not returned a request for comment.

Watch: Powell says he's undecided

Powell has long praised Obama's candidacy and he told reporters recently in Vancouver he "would listen carefully to what both [candidates] have to say" before deciding whom to support.

Labels: endorsement, General Election 2008, McCain, Obama

Editorial: Clinton is top candidate for Dems | argusleader.com | Argus Leader

Obama could certainly become one of those candidates in the days ahead - at the time of this writing, his mathematical advantage is considerable. His appeal also is clear, and his campaign has been strong.

But Clinton is the strongest Democratic candidate for South Dakota.

Her mastery of complex policy detail is broad and deep, and her experience as a senator and former first lady matches that.

Measured against her opponent, Clinton is philosophically more moderate. That is likely a good thing for South Dakota.

Clinton's energy policy is forward thinking and wise. She advocates a broad federal research initiative to help solve our looming oil crisis. It's a plan that would join university researchers, private industry and individual inventors behind a common goal.

Is ethanol part of the answer? Clinton believes it is but not necessarily corn ethanol.

That is not precisely the answer South Dakota wants to hear. Corn-based ethanol has been a boon for farmers here. But the simple fact is that she probably is correct. Advances in cellulosic ethanol technologies could render corn ethanol obsolete and wasteful. Happily, South Dakota is poised to be a major player in the push to experiment with other kinds of ethanol.

Clinton has demonstrated a real commitment to Native American issues and will have visited several South Dakota reservations before the race is over. Clinton is precisely correct when she says that people outside the region have a poor understanding of the troubling trends on our reservations. Federal attention could help. That includes but is not limited to higher-ranking posts in the federal bureaucracy.

Her truly universal health care plan would be welcomed by thousands of South Dakotans. Even on reservations, where health care is nominally universal already, such a plan would be welcome. The federal government would never be allowed to subject everyday Americans to the kind of care Native Americans living on reservations routinely receive.

Obama is justifiably credited as a powerful speaker, but Clinton holds her own easily. As those who have attended her South Dakota rallies can attest, she is quick on her feet and energetic. She frames her ideas clearly in speeches and answers questions with genuine directness.

Her resilience and determination never should be questioned. She has met or overcome every challenge or roadblock in her way, and there have been many. Her determination to carry the nomination process through to its real conclusion has perhaps earned her a grudging respect from those who would never support her.

Clinton might not win this race. In fact, it's a long shot. But whatever some might say, the race is not over, and her name is on the ballot. Win or lose, she's also the best Democratic candidate for South Dakota.

Labels: Election 2008, endorsement, Hillary

While Republican incumbent, Rep. Vito Fossella is contemplating his political future due to a recent scandal, Democrat Steve Harrison is fighting for the chance to serve NY-13.

(Staten Island/Brooklyn) Vito Fossella’s Democratic opponent for the Staten Island/Southwest Brooklyn based NY 13th Congressional District seat, Steve Harrison, has received a flurry of endorsements recently including a 2800+ person strong independent New York City group that’s part of a national grassroots network founded by Howard Dean. Other recent Harrison endorsements include two African American political leaders, a union president and Staten Island and Brooklyn district leaders.

Democracy for New York City (DFNYC), which is part of a coalition of independent grassroots groups nationwide belonging to the Democracy for America” (DFA) network, has endorsed Harrison with an unprecedented 100 percent of the vote. DFA was founded by Democratic National Committee chair and former presidential candidate Howard Dean and is run by his brother Jim.

Organizer Tracy Denton says her organization will provide troops for Harrison.

"We are very excited to mobilize our volunteer base to help Steve Harrison, a solid Democrat who will not be afraid to stand up on the issues that matter."

She adds “As part of a national network of Democracy for America groups all across the country, we are seeing that voters want to return a Democratic majority to Congress, but not just any Democrats. They want to support Democratic candidates who will be strong enough to do what it takes to end this war in Iraq and bring our troops home. The future looks good for good Democrats like Steve Harrison."

Kelvin Alexander, co-founder of 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement has endorsed Harrison because he will fight for those who can not fight for themselves.

“Steve has the energy, desire and passion to fight for those left out of by the system.”

Alexander founded 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement with Eric Adams, now a State Senator, in 1995. Kelvin is Adams’s chief of staff and is a former State Senate and Assembly candidate in Staten Island.

Harrison has recently received the endorsement of another Staten Island African American leader, Debi Rose, past president of the African American Political Association and an Obama delegate. Ms. Rose is a 2009 candidate to replace term limited City Councilman Mike McMahon. Rose came within 170 votes of defeating McMahon in the 2001 primary.

Other recent Harrison endorsements include John Strika, President of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades Local 806, Marc Zink, Staten Island’s 61st Assembly District Leader and Joanne Seminara, 60th Assembly District Leader (Brooklyn/Staten Island).

Harrison says he received these endorsements because of his issue stances.

“I am proud of these endorsements. These groups and individuals endorsed me because of my opposition to the war in Iraq and support for civil liberties protection, universal, single-payer healthcare, a solid energy policy, fair trade, repeal of the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations and ethics reform, all of which are in line with the thinking of the majority of Americans.”

Other Harrison endorsements include: The Democratic Advancement Political Action Committee (DAPAC), the Progressive Democrats of America, the Staten Island Democratic Association, the Democratic Organization of Richmond County, the American Heritage Democratic Organization, legendary feminist Gloria Steinem, former judge and Assembly member Frank Barbaro and 60th AD District Leader Ralph Perfetto.

Labels: endorsement, Fossella, Local, NY-13, Steve Harrison

CNN Political Ticker: All politics, all the time Blog Archive - Clinton wins Indy racer’s endorsement « - Blogs from CNN.com

(CNN) — If only Indy drivers were superdelegates.

The Clinton campaign on Monday touted the endorsement of Sara Fisher, the first woman to earn a pole position at an IndyCar series event.

"We need a president who will stand up for us and be a fighter for Hoosiers and all Americans," Fisher said in a statement released by the campaign. "Hillary will be a president who steers our country in the right direction and puts our economy back on track.

"Something Hillary and I have in common is our commitment to achieving our goals, leaving roadblocks behind and refusing to be knocked down," she also said. "Hillary is a doer and a fighter who keeps getting out there, going for the checkered flag.”

Fisher has completed in six Indianapolis 500s and will try to qualify for her seventh this month.

Labels: Election 2008, endorsement, Hillary

Well, by now you may have heard that one of my favorites, Tom Hanks, has endorsed Barack Obama. This following, Bruce Springsteen's endorsement, I must admit really disappointed me.

But is Hanks still supporting Hillary? I went to Open Secrets and discovered that as recently as Saturday, Hanks gave $2300 to Hillary. Hmmm...I guess if I'm Hillary, I'd gladly take the money. I haven't seen his video yet so I'm not really sure what's up with this. I'll have to wait until tonight as the job is blocking videos from being viewed. Really curious though.
*UPDATE: OK, so I read the Open Secrets page wrong. He actually gave to Hillary last year. This is what happens when you try to rush posts while working. Sorry!

Labels: Election 2008, endorsement, Hillary, Obama

Indiana's largest paper picks Clinton - 2008 Presidential Campaign Blog - Political Intelligence - Boston.com

But in what it described as a "difficult choice," the newspaper's editorial board said that Clinton's "years of high-level experience" gives her the edge.

The next president "will take office at a time of extraordinary risk for this nation, both at home and abroad," including "a sagging economy, rising energy and food costs, the gap in health care, wars in two countries and threats from Iran," the endorsement editorial said. "Clinton is the better choice, based on her experience and grasp of major issues, to confront those challenges."

Of Obama, the editorial said, "His inexperience in high office is a liability."

Labels: Election 2008, endorsement, Hillary

HillaryClinton.com - Media Release I know this has been floating around a while already, but I just found out and I really, really like this guy. Great news!

Congressman Tim Ryan formally announced his support for the candidacy of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton for President today. Citing her experience and economic platform, Congressman Ryan believes that Hillary Clinton, if elected President, is in the best position to create jobs and economic growth in Northeast Ohio.

"The people of the 17th district overwhelmingly voted for Senator Clinton in the Democratic primary and today I officially pledge my support for Hillary Rodham Clinton. Throughout the 1990s, Senator Clinton working alongside President Bill Clinton had a proven record of economic growth and higher wages for America's working families," said Congressman Tim Ryan. "People in the seventeenth district of Ohio would enjoy a return to strong economic growth, millions of jobs being created and a rise in wages. I look forward to working with her to see that our community is the beneficiary of her economic policies."

Labels: Election 2008, endorsement, Hillary

New Clinton supporter is a potent symbol - Ben Smith and David Paul Kuhn - Politico.com

North Carolina Governor Mike Easley's scheduled endorsement of Senator Hillary Clinton today offers her a potent symbolic and electoral boost in the biggest state left to vote.

Easley is a meaningful ally in the culture war she's waging against Senator Barack Obama, as she seeks to cast him as a hopelessly unelectable liberal elitist and to persuade the Democratic Party leaders who will decide the nomination – the "superdelegates" – to choose her instead.

"It’s an incredibly strong endorsement because Easley is popular among the blue collar 'Bubba' voters who are Democrats," said David "Mudcat" Saunders, a Democratic consultant who advised former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards and former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner on winning rural voters.

Easley had endorsed Edwards for president, but again became a heavily sought superdelegate once Edwards bowed out of the race.

"He's clean in the culture. Easley's wrecked the Charlotte Motor Speedway doing 150 miles per hour, and Bubba likes that," said Saunders, referring to NASCAR fan Easley’s 2003 race car crash. “He's a hunter. He's a strong Second Amendment guy. He gives her great cultural validation in the state of North Carolina."

Labels: Election 2008, endorsement, Hillary, superdelegates