News politics 2008-05-10 Andanh.com

Obama rises from political obscurity to verge of history Sat, 10 May 2008 20:33 EDT
The amazement was on their faces. Hundreds waited for Barack Obama on that evening in South Carolina, 15 weeks ago, to claim victory - a surprising victory, surprisingly large.

And amazing it was. It made it possible for him to stand today on the verge of being the first black person ever nominated for president by a major party.

One could guess the thoughts of the blacks and whites in that crowd: Can you believe that our state - South Carolina, first to secede and first to open fire in the Civil War - is now catapulting a black man to the front of the presidential contest in a year that bodes well for Democrats?

"Race doesn't matter," some began to chant. "Race doesn't matter!"

The cry soon gave way to more familiar chants of "Yes we can," and everyone in the auditorium surely knew that race does still matter in so many ways. But in a pinch-me moment, they seemed to realize that a barrier had been broken with a swiftness and certainty that even they had not foreseen.

Feminists sharply divided between Clinton, Obama Sat, 10 May 2008 13:17 EDT
No constituency is more eager to see a woman win the presidency than America's feminists, yet - despite Hillary Rodham Clinton's historic candidacy - the women's movement finds itself wrenchingly divided over the Democratic race as it heads toward the finish.

At breakfast forums, in op-ed columns, across the blogosphere, the debate has been heartfelt and sometimes bitter. Are the activist women supporting front-runner Barack Obama betraying their gender? Are Clinton's feminist backers mired in an outdated, women's-liberation mind-set?

Ellen Bravo is a Milwaukee author and activist who advocates on behalf of working women - and is an Obama supporter. She faults Clinton for her 2002 vote authorizing the Iraq war and believes the Illinois senator would be more supportive of grass-roots political action.

At times, Bravo, 64, has been dismayed by the harsh criticism directed at women like herself from pro-Clinton feminists.

"I felt it was an ultimatum - vote for Hillary Clinton or you're betraying the women's movement," Bravo said. "It's very self-defeating and alienating, particularly to younger women who, regardless of who they support, don't like to be told, 'Do this. Do that.'"

In Oregon, Clinton hits Obama while he targets McCain Sat, 10 May 2008 07:46 EDT
Campaigning a few miles from each other Friday, Barack Obama trained his eye on November and the GOP, while Hillary Rodham Clinton battled for her political life, trying to hang on a bit longer in hopes of denying him the Democratic presidential nomination.

Obama, increasingly confident that Clinton cannot overtake his lead, ignored her in his prepared remarks at a Portland-area workplace. Instead he pointedly criticized Republican Sen. John McCain's economic, health and Iraq policies, saying the probable GOP nominee would continue failed Bush administration priorities.

When asked about Clinton, Obama heaped more praise than criticism on the New York senator, continuing his efforts to avoid antagonizing her or her supporters. Speaking later with reporters, Obama hinted that he might help Clinton retire her campaign debt if he prevails.

Also campaigning in Portland, ahead of Oregon's May 20 primary, Clinton took the opposite tack, knowing she can't take on McCain unless she somehow derails Obama. At a round-table at Doernbecher Children's Hospital, she criticized Obama's health care plan for promising universal coverage to children but not adults.

"An artificial distinction between children and adults is unworkable," Clinton said. "You've got to have a seamless health care system which covers every single person. My plan does, my opponent's doesn't."

Today on the presidential campaign trail Sat, 10 May 2008 07:51 EDT
IN THE HEADLINES

Obama wins endorsements from 9 superdelegates, government employees union ... GOP leader says his party benefits from bitter Democratic primary season ... Clinton presses ahead, campaigns in the Blue Grass State

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Obama picks up 9 superdelegates, union endorsement

WASHINGTON (AP) - Barack Obama all but erased Hillary Rodham Clinton's once-imposing lead among national convention superdelegates on Friday and won fresh labor backing as elements of the Democratic Party began coalescing around the Illinois senator for the fall campaign.

Oregon State coach gives Obama a hand Fri, 09 May 2008 22:18 EDT
Barack Obama got a boost from a major-college basketball coach in Oregon on Friday, but it's the coach who may need help come November.

Craig Robinson is Oregon State's new coach and the brother of Obama's wife, Michelle. He introduced his brother-in-law to more than 2,000 people at a campaign event in Albany, Ore., winning loud applause - a sound he might not hear often this season.

Robinson, a star player at Princeton, faces a huge rebuilding task. The Beavers went 0-18 in the powerful Pac-10 Conference last year, and their coach was fired in midseason.

As for helping his kinsman, Robinson's clout appears limited. He was Brown University's head coach earlier this year when Hillary Rodham Clinton beat Obama in the Rhode Island primary. In Oregon, Obama is riding high in the polls, a spot that Robinson may envy in a few months.

Analysis: 'Hillary Democrats' could be up for grabs Fri, 09 May 2008 22:18 EDT
With the racially tinged Democratic race drawing to an awkward close, Barack Obama and John McCain face the challenge of winning over "Hillary Democrats" - the white, working-class voters who favored the former first lady over Obama's historic candidacy.

Obama and McCain clearly have set their sights on each other, a recognition of the long odds Clinton faces in trying to capture the Democratic presidential nomination. The McCain campaign figures some of her supporters might be up for grabs and won't necessarily vote Democratic in the general election in November.

"I've been saying for a year that you never count a Clinton out, but now people are laughing at me so I guess I've got to stop," McCain strategist Charlie Black said Friday. "But if you look at the blue-collar Democratic votes that Mrs. Clinton's been getting and then look at their opinions of Obama in these public polls, there's clearly an opportunity for McCain."

Clinton won more than two-thirds of the white voters without college degrees in the last three primaries - Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Indiana - according to exit polls conducted for The Associated Press and the television networks. When those Clinton supporters were asked who they would vote for in an Obama-McCain matchup, just fewer than half said they would support Obama. Three in 10 said they would vote for McCain and the rest said they wouldn't vote for either.

Shrugging off those numbers, Obama spokesman Bill Burton expressed confidence that Democratic voters will unite behind the nominee. He argued that the Illinois senator also would attract "droves of independent voters and disaffected Republicans that he has already won over all across the country."

Adwatch: Clinton portrays herself as middle-class champion Fri, 09 May 2008 15:50 EDT
TITLE: "Hillary for President"

LENGTH: 30 seconds

AIRING: West Virginia

SCRIPT: Announcer: "She's fighting for America's middle class."

Hillary Rodham Clinton: "It's time to level the playing field against the special interests."

Senate leader's cousin out of job Sat, 10 May 2008 02:04 EDT
Gov. Steve Beshear has not reappointed a cousin of Senate President David Williams as an administrative law judge though Tom Davis of Tompkinsville was selected by a nominating committee for another four-year term.

Williams, R-Burkesville, said the appointment is the Democratic governor's prerogative, "but every occasion he gets to stick his finger in my eye, he does."

Dick Brown, Beshear's director of communications, said, "The fact that Mr. Davis has any relationship with Sen. Williams played no role in the decision. The nominees for these positions face the same objective process as those for any other board, commission or appointment made by the administration."

Williams disputed Brown's comments.

"The place over there leaks like a sieve and it was the factor," the senator said. "I'm not complaining, whining about this, but every time the governor does something like this, he looks a bit smaller."

Candidates have low profile, slim funds, but still serious Sat, 10 May 2008 05:49 EDT
Their campaigns lack the big bucks. They know they are not household names.

But the candidates whom the media label as running "limited campaigns" are serious about their quests.

"I'm very serious about my race. I'm running to win," says James E. Rice of Campbellsville. He holds down two jobs -- a warehouse employee for Amazon.com and a worker at a convenience store -- and had to plop down $500 like all candidates, rich or poor, this year to file to run for the U.S. Senate.

Rice is one of five Democratic candidates running limited campaigns. The five trail far behind in campaign funds raised by their top competitors, Louisville businessmen Bruce Lunsford and Greg Fischer, who have hundreds of thousands of dollars on hand to spend.

Consider the money for the other candidates.

Party: Democratic Sat, 10 May 2008 02:04 EDT

Michael G. Cassaro
Born: Feb. 7, 1956

Residence: Prospect

Occupation: Physician

Education: University of Louisville medical school; bachelor's degree in civil engineering from U of L.

Family: Wife, Donna, and two children.

New Fischer ad criticizes democratic rival Sat, 10 May 2008 02:04 EDT
Greg Fischer's campaign for the U.S. Senate rolled out a new TV ad Friday criticizing Bruce Lunsford, his chief rival in the May 20 Democratic primary election, for endorsing Republican Ernie Fletcher in the 2003 race for governor.

Lunsford got in trouble with die-hard Democrats when he supported Fletcher over Democrat Ben Chandler. Fletcher won the 2003 election.

Lunsford stood with Republican incumbent U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell when he endorsed Fletcher. McConnell is seeking re-election and has token opposition in this month's GOP primary.

The 30-second ad features video of McConnell speaking alongside Fletcher and Lunsford. It suggests that Lunsford would not bring change to the U.S. Senate if elected.

"For Bruce Lunsford, change meant deserting the Democratic party," Fischer says in the ad.

Fischer faces uphill climb for Senate Fri, 09 May 2008 05:54 EDT
Louisville businessman Greg Fischer had to make a sensitive decision.

At the conclusion of the Christian County Democratic Women's Club meeting Monday night, the candidate for U.S. Senate was asked to judge a Derby hat contest. About a half-dozen women had worn fancy hats to the meeting, including one sporting a Fischer campaign sticker.

Fischer was somewhat taken aback about being put in what he called "a tight spot." After all, this was a crowd whose support he needed, and the relatively unknown, first-time candidate couldn't afford to offend with a poor choice that would be embarrassing or, at worst, could cost votes.

But thinking on his feet, Fischer enlisted the crowd to help in his selections. He put his hand above each contestant, and judged from the audience applause who should receive recognition. Everyone seemed pleased by his adroitness, including the third-place winner whose chapeau had the campaign sticker.

A bigger audience on May 20 will decide whether Fischer, Louisville businessman Bruce Lunsford, or one of five other candidates should be the Democratic nominee for U.S. senator. The winner will face Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, who is seeking his fifth six-year term, in the November general election.

At EKU, Chelsea touts mom's policies Fri, 09 May 2008 02:05 EDT
Chelsea Clinton worked early on her Mother's Day gift Thursday.

Instead of flowers or candy, the 28-year-old investment banker said she wants to help secure a primary win for her mother, presidential candidate and New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.

So Chelsea Clinton visited Eastern Kentucky University Thursday afternoon to rally support from young voters before they hit the polls in the state's May 20 Democratic primary.

"I am a passionate and proud supporter of my mom," Chelsea Clinton said.

The Clinton campaign announced the visit Wednesday in the middle of EKU's finals week. But as many as 400 students, faculty and community members streamed into the Powell Student Center to hear the younger Clinton discuss her mother's policies at the nearly hourlong forum.

Obama outlines plans for race against McCain Sat, 10 May 2008 18:47 EDT
Barack Obama began sketching the outlines of his expected presidential contest against Republican John McCain on Saturday, saying the fall election will be more about specific plans and priorities than about questions of political ideology or who is more patriotic.

Barely mentioning Democratic rival Hillary Rodham Clinton, Obama said he was open to campaigning with McCain in "town hall" events. But he also warned that controversial issues such as McCain's ties to the Keating Five savings and loan scandal are fair game, and he called McCain's proposal for a temporary halt in the federal gasoline tax a pander and a gimmick.

He did not mention that Clinton supports a similar plan.

Obama also said he soon will campaign in Michigan and Florida, two battleground states whose Democratic primaries were essentially nullified by party disputes, angering many voters.

Saying he still has not secured the nomination, Obama nonetheless entertained several questions about the likely outlines of a contest against McCain. As he campaigned in Oregon, whose primary is May 20, Obama picked up four superdelegate endorsements, erasing Clinton's once-substantial lead among the party leaders who will determine the nominee.

In Ky., Clinton calls for Democratic unity Sat, 10 May 2008 06:12 EDT
Although U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton hasn't given up her fight in the Democratic presidential contest, she aimed her sharpest rhetoric Friday at Republicans -- specifically President Bush -- and called for Democrats to unite behind their nominee in November.

"The world will breathe a sigh of relief when George Bush and Dick Cheney hand over the keys to the White House," Clinton told the more than 1,200 people at the Kentucky Democratic Party fund-raiser in Louisville. "With your hard work it will be a Democrat who walks through that door."

Clinton didn't mention by name her primary opponent, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, but said Democrats need a nominee who goes "toe to toe with John McCain."

"We've had enough with speeches. We've had enough promises," she said in her 30 minute speech at the Kentucky International Convention Center. "What we need is action. George Bush has dug us into a deep hole and it's going to take a lot of work to dig us out."

Clinton, speaking in Kentucky 11 days before the state's Democratic voters cast ballots, reiterated her key arguments for remaining in the race, despite trailing Obama in delegates, votes and states won. She urged Democratic voters to look at her primary wins in big states. And she reminded Kentuckians of the attention she's given the Bluegrass state.

Road projects veto contested Sat, 10 May 2008 02:04 EDT
Although Gov. Steve Beshear vetoed a bill last month that contained a state highway construction plan for the next two years, another approved bill containing the state's biennial budget "clearly establishes" a two-year road plan for the state, contends Senate President David Williams.

In a letter sent Friday to Beshear, the Burkesville Republican urged Beshear to "follow the law," which he says requires Beshear to continue implementing the road plan in the current two-year state budget that expires June 30.

"The General Assembly enacted that provision, you signed the bill, and it is now the law," Williams said in the letter. "It is your constitutional duty to follow the law. Although certain flexibility is allowed by statute, you cannot make up the law as you go."

Dick Brown, Beshear's director of communications, dismissed Williams' complaint and said the governor is following the state constitution.

"The governor is very confident that his veto of House Bill 79 is effective and that he is proceeding constitutionally to implement an effective highway plan for the Commonwealth," Brown said.

Chinese Dir