Elephant In The Room: Gender

The number one issue in this election right now is not Iraq, it is not health care. It is gender. Hillary leads among women 2-1. Obama is going to have to compete on gender. How do you do that? You take it head on.

Obama took Hillary head on on Iraq and she has faltered. Hillary voted for the war. Now she is saying Bush and his associates told her they were going to use the vote to send in UN inspectors, not to wage war. Now that is what I call a serious lapse of judgment. Hillary must be faulted for believing Bush and his associates. How do you know Bush is lying? His lips are moving.

Obama took Hillary head on on health care and she faltered. She says she needs eight years. Obama says four. Eight is not going to fly. That is too long of a wait. If you can't do it in four, you can't do it in eight. And if you can do it in eight, you can do it in four. It is not about having more time. It is about having the guts to take on the skewed forces at work in the sector.

Obama took Hillary head on on foreign policy and she faltered.

Pakistan Is Getting Interesting And Obama Might Have Shaken Things
Let Me Get This Straight
Engaging Third World Dictators
What Obama Said On Pakistan

Hillary can be taken and had head on also on gender. If she can be engaged in a policy debate on gender, she is going to come across as yet another Indira Gandhi, yet another Benazir Bhutto, strong, smart women who do good work more or less in an executive position, but who don't budge the gender compass much.

Obama 2008's pitch has to be this: if you want symbolic progress on gender, you go with Hillary, if you want substantive progress on gender, you come with me.

And my message is not to the candidate and his professional staff, although that it is. My message is primarily to the grassroots volunteers. This has to be bottom up. This is the only way to bring about positive change on gender as on much everything else.

The Grassroots Power Woman

Gender has to be talked about. Workplace issues and relationship issues have to be talked about. The grassroots power women of Obama 2008 are the ones who will take gender dynamic to a whole new level. It will not be Hillary.

Obama 2008 has to be ready to give everything to women including the vice presidency to Hillary.

In The News

Senator Craig plans to resign on Saturday International Herald Tribune
Virginian Often Opposed Own Party Washington Post
Senator Warner Will Not Seek Re-election New York Times
Iowa Permits Same-Sex Marriage, for 4 Hours, Anyway New York Times
Gonzales' testimony undergoing scrutiny Los Angeles Times
US dog left £6m trust fund The Press Association
Obama wows his supporters Malaysia Star TINA Turner’s Simply The Best was played to the hilt at the New York Marriott ballroom that evening in Brooklyn, New York City. ...... The VIP guest was at least an hour late .... At 6.36pm, the people roared. Cameras flashed. The rock star of politics, Barack Obama, emerged on stage where a banner was hung, proclaiming “Brooklyn for Barack.” ...... that much written about baritone voice of his ..... a speech that got him flashing brightly on the political radar of Americans. ...... the reason I am hopeful is that I have seen what can happen when people get together. ...... “The question is not whether I am ready, but are you ready?” he asked. ..... “He’s fantastic. He’s genuine,” Williams gushed.
Obama campaign descends on London for fundraising drive Guardian Unlimited when his campaign arrives London in October hoping to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars from wealthy Democrats in the capital. ..... Obama will not be there in person, he will be represented by his wife, Michelle. ..... In six months he has raised more than $58m (£29m), compared with Hillary Clinton's $52m. .... She is beginning to develop a presence of her own on the campaign trail that will help to chip away at the advantage Mrs Clinton has in the form of her spouse, the former president. ...... anyone managing to draw together contributions from a group of 10 or more eligible donors totalling at least $23,000 - a process known as bundling - will be invited to a special VIP pre-reception. ..... With wealthy American bankers increasingly spending time in London - the chief executive of Goldman Sachs, for instance, spends six months of the year in the City ..... The Democrats will be holding a primary election in Porchester Hall, west London, on February 5, the same date as a swath of states. Supporters unable to reach London will be able to vote on the internet.
Unions Back Clinton, Edwards, Huckabee Guardian Unlimited
The Edwards-Clinton Mutual Sustainability Pact Atlantic Online
Hillary a disaster for Dems The Flat Hat, VA
Do We Still Need the South? TPMCafe, NY
Edwards has lead in Time's new poll DesMoinesRegister.com, IA 32 percent of the new poll's participants chose Edwards as the one for whom they would caucus, compared with 24 percent for Clinton, 22 percent for Obama and 13 percent for Richardson. .... When asked which of the four "will take on special interests in Washington," 35 percent chose Obama, 25 percent chose Edwards, 19 percent chose Clinton and 7 percent chose Richardson.
Poll: Clinton Leads Democratic Field; GOP Side More Muddied Fox 28, IN

Sen. John Warner Will Not Seek Re-election in '08 MyFox Kansas City
Democratic Donor Turns Himself In New York Times
Nepal's government agrees to peace deal with ethnic rights group ... International Herald Tribune The Madhesi group's leader, Upendra Yadav, celebrated the deal, saying the Madhesi people "who had been oppressed for centuries will go to the November polls and shape our future ourselves."
A Front-Runner or The Wes Clark of 2008? Washington Post the chaotic calendar and geography of the nominating contest. ..... a delegate-bonanza for Giuliani on Feb. 5, when New York, New Jersey and Connecticut are among the states in play. .... Thompson's home state of Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Missouri and Oklahoma. ..... the region that has become the GOP's foundation. .... summertime speculation. ... It was almost exactly four years ago that Democrats were buzzing about the imminent entry of one Wes Clark. Once in, he fizzled instantly. ...... the staff turmoil that has afflicted the organization. .... the arrival of veteran Bill Lacy as campaign manager has helped to settle things. ..... an era of round-the-clock news cycles, metrics, micro-targeting, blogs and other new media. .... the verdict would be clear by the end of September.
RJD, SP slam law & order in UP, Bihar Economic Times
Obama's California man outlines anti-Hillary strategy Sacramento Bee
Obama wants another 'boom' event in Atlanta Atlanta Journal Constitution metro Atlanta over the next two weeks. ..... The largest event looks to belong to Barack Obama. ..... another huge rally in downtown Atlanta ... Sept. 20 ... $25. ..... In April, on the Georgia Tech campus, Obama drew 20,000. This September event is less about show and more about serious network-building. .... most of those donations will be accompanied by an e-mail address and phone number. ..... A standard, $1,000-a-head event follows.
Late Show with Hillary Clinton Washington Post One big laugh line: Bill Clinton had looked into the vice presidency ....... 10. Bring stability and long term security to "The View." 9. Each year on my birthday, every American gets a cupcake. 8. You'll have the option of rolling dice against the IRS for double-or-nothing on your taxes. 7. Having trouble getting a flight and Air Force One is available -- it's yours. 6. My vice president will never shoot anybody in the face. 5. Turn Gitmo into a Dairy Queen as soon as possible. 4. For over a century there have been only two Dakotas -- I plan to double that. 3. We will finally have a president who doesn't mind pulling over and asking for directions. 2. I will appoint a committee to find out what the heck is happening on "Lost." 1. Am I right, ladies?One more pantsuit joke and Letterman disappears. ...... January 2000 .... 10. I lost a bet with Tipper. 9. I did think this was a show where you answer a couple of easy questions and you win a million dollars. 8. If Dan Quayle did it, how hard could it be? 7. I was already in town to interview for the Jets' head coach position. 6. Four words: severe lapse of judgment. 5. I needed an excuse to get out of dinner with Donald Trump. 4. When they threw in a "Late Show" tote bag, I said, "Gas up the Taurus, Bill, we're goin' to Dave's." 3. I have not been in the Ed Sullivan Theater since I was dating Ringo. 2. Um, to tell you the truth, Dave, I thought Johnny hosted this show. 1. If I can make it here, I can make it anywhere.
Edwards' Wife Talks of Clinton 'Hatred' Forbes "I don't know where it comes from. I don't begin to understand it. But you can't pretend it doesn't exist, and it will energize the Republican base. Their nominee won't energize them, Bush won't, but Hillary as the nominee will. It's hard for John to talk about, but it's the reality." ...... She has suggested that Obama and his campaign plagiarized material from Edwards' 2004 presidential campaign and criticized Obama for opposing the Iraq war but voting for the funding, saying that he's been "behaving in a holier-than-thou way." ..... Last year, Mrs. Edwards apologized to Clinton after saying her choices in life have made her happier than the New York senator.
Bihar JD (U) dissidents elect new chief Hindu
First Iowa gay marriage shows 'love and justice' Chicago Tribune
Rove chokes up on final day at White House CNN
Singh Says US Nuclear Accord Is Vital for India (Update3) Bloomberg
Bush: China growth provides "good opportunity" for US China Daily
Google Begins Hosting News on Its Site Forbes material produced by The Associated Press and three other news services ..... It could diminish Internet traffic to newspaper and broadcast companies' Web sites where those stories and photos are also found - a development that could reduce those companies' revenue from online advertising. ..... the AP, a 161-year-old cooperative owned by news organizations. .... Google doesn't have any immediate plans to run ads alongside the news stories or photographs hosted on its site, but company officials aren't ruling out the possibility in the future. .... Internet's most powerful company. .... In the first half of this year, the 9-year-old company earned $1.9 billion on revenue of $7.5 billion. ..... In July, Google News attracted 9.6 million visitors, trailing Yahoo News (33.8 million visitors), MSNBC (24.5 million), AOL News (23.9 million) and CNN (22.5 million) ...... Referrals from Google News accounted for 2.2 percent of the traffic at newspaper Web sites during the week ending Aug. 25 ...... "This may result in certain publishers losing traffic for their news wire stories, but it will allow more room for their original content ..... "AP relies on its commercial agreements to help pay the enormous costs of covering breaking news around the world, ranging from deadly hurricanes and tsunamis to conflicts like the war in Iraq
Premiere of RGV Ki Aag in Mumbai Times of India When Amitabh walked in, the paparazzi and the fans went into an understandable frenzy, to which Mr Bachchan simply said, “Tum log na!”

173 Vs 1,433 Delegates: February 5 Is Key

If Barack wins, Hillary is going to want to be running mate. That is what the Hillary 2008 Campaign Manager has publicly stated. If Hillary wins, Barack must be the running mate.

Bill Clinton Is Still Relevant

May the most qualified candidate win. It is amazing to watch the democratic process unfold. Democracy is a beautiful thing.

Obama's positive message is uplifting.

The big states that moved to February 5 did not do so to say let the small states give us a clue. The February 5 states are going to be quite independent.

My suggestion would be to invest heavily also in the February 5 states. Got to build major organization in California. That is 441 delegates.

Counting on momentum only to carry you all the way is not going to fly.

John Kerry's experience was that the Iowa victory meant everything. You win that one and you win all that follow. I don't think that will necessarily repeat.

Momentum + Betting Big On February 5 States

January 14 Iowa 56 Delegates
January 19 Nevada 33 Delegates
January 22 New Hampshire 30 Delegates
January 29 South Carolina 54 Delegates

Total 173 Delegates

""Tsunami Tuesday," "Super Duper Tuesday," "Giga Tuesday," "Mega-Tuesday," "Powerball Primary," and the "Tuesday of Destiny." A total of 1,433 Delegates will be pledged by the results of the February 5th votes."

Alabama 60, Alaska 18, Arizona 67, Arkansas 47, California 441, Colorado 71, Delaware 23, Georgia 104, Idaho 23, Illinois 185, Missouri 88, New Jersey 127, New Mexico 38, New York 280, North Carolina, North Dakota 21, Oklahoma 47, Tennessee 85 and Utah 29.

Democratic Party (United States) presidential primaries, 2008 ...

Hillary is smart, strong, experienced. She is disciplined. She has inherited a political machine from a guy who I call Pele. She is a woman. This is enormous symbolism for women. I mean, I like her myself. I was as fanatically behind her before Obama said he was considering running.

2008 is going to be a great year for the Democrats. That much is clear.

Hillary is a formidable candidate. She would be tough for anyone to beat. She has never lost an election, not since high school. She is methodical, she is thorough. The debates she has performed well in, she dreaded going into them, story has it, but she prepared and prepared and prepared. She role played. She did her homework. She works very hard. So if you want to beat her, you have to work harder.

February 5 Is Key

You don't want to have lost with a ton of money still in the bank. You got to focus like a laser beam on the first four states, true, but you can't afford to ignore the February 5 states. You got to give at least one day a week to the February 5 states while you give the rest of the week to the first four states.

Nevada's Hispanic population and South Carolina's black population mean the first four states are a fair composition. Howard Dean played his cards right.

Debates

They have been key to Hillary's big numbers. It really does boil down to those two seconds. But then Obama is getting better. He won the Iowa debate.

Iowa Debate: Obama Clear Winner

Media Attack On Obama

First it was Osama Obama.

Then it was ignore Obama.

Now they have gone more sophisticated. They have him stuck in the too inexperienced narrative. He has to fight back. He has to turn it into a judgment narrative.

Gender: The Number One Issue

If Barack and Hillary are Coke and Pepsi, women are going to go for Hillary. And I can understand why. Gender has to be addressed.

The Grassroots Power Woman



In The News

Castro: Clinton-Obama “Invincible” New York Times
Rep. Adam Smith to be Washington state chair for Obama's campaign Seattle Post Intelligencer
Clinton, Obama draw blacks, liberals from Edwards The Swamp, IL
Edwards On Track in Iowa TIME after Edwards' seven-day, 31-stop bus tour of the state, gives Edwards 29% of the vote, five points ahead of Hillary Clinton and seven ahead of Barack Obama ....... With the field limited to the top four candidates, Edwards's lead over Clinton widens, to 32% to 24%. Obama was at 22%, with Bill Richardson at 13%. Iowa polls can be unreliable, since only 5% to 10% of voters go to the caucuses; some other recent surveys have Edwards in a dead heat with Clinton and Obama. The race remains wide open, but Edwards's position remains strong. ...... Strongest Leadership: Clinton holds a commanding lead over Edwards and Obama, 36% - 23% - 20%. ..... Handling of Iraq: Clinton (27%) leads Obama (19%), Edwards (18%) and Richardson (16%). ..... Protecting Against Terrorism: Clinton leads the field by a wide margin, picked by 27%, compared to Edwards, at 19%, Obama at 15%, and Richardson at 14%.
Poll: Clinton opens up a 20-point lead over Obama The Union Leader, NH showing her with a 20-point lead over her closest rival, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama. ....... The same poll in July showed the two candidates in a dead heat at 31 percent apiece. ..... On the Republican side, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has opened a lead over former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani -- 27 to 23 percent ..... The poll done this week of the Democrats shows Clinton favored by 37 percent of the likely primary voters, while Obama has 17 percent and former vice presidential candidate John Edwards has 14 percent ...... ARG polls done in Iowa show Clinton with a 28 to 23 percent lead over Obama, with Edwards at 20 percent, and in North Carolina Clinton has 32 percent, with Edwards at 24 percent and Obama at 21 percent.
Romney Leads, Obama Drops in New Hampshire Angus Reid Global Monitor, Canada Hillary Rodham Clinton is first with 37 per cent, followed by Illinois senator Barack Obama with 17 per cent—down 14 points in a month—and former North Carolina senator John Edwards with 14 per cent. ...... Since 1952, 11 Republicans and eight Democrats have won the Granite State contest and later earned their party’s presidential nomination. ...... In 2004, Massachusetts senator John Kerry won the Democratic New Hampshire primary with 38.4 per cent, followed by former Vermont governor Howard Dean with 26.3 per cent, retired general Wesley Clark with 12.4 per cent, and Edwards with 12.1 per cent.
Obama Admits Early Election Wins Crucial For Maintaining Minority ... AHN Obama's (D-IL) campaign acknowledged that in order for African-Americans to view him as a viable candidates, the senator must win either the Iowa caucus or the New Hampshire primary. ...... But two recent polls show Obama trailing Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) in both those predominantly Caucasian states. The switch to a focus on whether Obama can win in predominantly white states comes after months of blacks wondering if Obama, who has a white mother and African father, was "black enough to win." .... "We have to do well in Iowa and New Hampshire, and if we do, we will win South Carolina," Nugen said. "No one in the campaign would disagree with the notion that we have to win a state like New Hampshire to do well with black voters in South Carolina and beyond." ..... A recent Time magazine poll of voters in Iowa found Obama trailing Clinton by two points. While the Iowa numbers are very close, Melissa Harris-Lacewell, professor of political science at Princeton University, explained that blacks don't trust whites to actually vote for a black person when they say will do so. ..... She gave the example of the 1989 Virginia gubernatorial campaign of L. Douglas Wilder, a black candidate who had been leading in the polls by double-digit numbers. However, he barely won, taking victory by fewer than 7,000 votes. ..... All of that means African-American voters will be looking closely at the Iowa and New Hampshire results to gauge if Obama truly is electable.