Daily Tidbits: April 2, 2008

• AP uncovers reference to classified DOJ memo that held the 4th Amendment does not apply to domestic counterterrorism efforts on U.S. soil.
• 26 legislators and other state elected officials in Oregon endorse Obama.
• College audience cheers during Obama’s hour-long live appearance on MSNBC’s Hardball today.
• Hillary releases new “3am call” campaign ad, but this time against McCain’s economic policies.
• Power eBay sellers of autographs hound Obama in Philly. Men first jumped in front of third graders greeting Obama at his hotel this morning and, because they were being disruptive, were moved to the sidewalk by police. They then followed Obama to his next event, where one of them continued to harrass Obama for a photo. Obama finally relents, after noting his unhappiness with how they disrupted his chat with the third graders. Here’s his campaign statement: “It was apparent that these guys were seeking autographs on books and magazines to sell on ebay,” said Jen Psaki, a campaign spokeswoman. “They wanted a picture to authenticate the signatures. They were first at the senator’s hotel and tried to get in front of third graders who were lined up to see Senator Obama. After being disruptive, the police moved them to the sidewalk. They then followed the motorcade to the second stop at the market and continued to push for a picture to authenticate whatever they could get signed.” What troubles me about the video (linked here to CBS News) is how passive the Secret Service are — the rude guy is able to get his hands on Obama, after there already was a police intervention involving the guy. (I mean, who knows, he could’ve been trying to give Obama one of those creepy germwarfare handshakes like in “24.” I miss that show.)
• Latest Gallup daily tracking poll shows Hillary recovering from Bosnia debacle, with Obama leading 49-46%.
• Wyoming Governor, a former Clinton appointee, endorses Obama.
• Yet another telecom/mortgage lending industry lobbyist joins the McCain campaign.
• In a shocker, Public Policy Polling shows Obama leading Hillary by 2 in PA. No other polls show this, so it’s clearly an outlier. But it is consistent with a trend in Obama’s favor in the Keystone state. Another new poll by Quinnipiac shows Hillary up by 9, although even in that poll, it shows a trend in his favor.
• Fed Chair Bernanke warns Congress this morning that economy should contract in first half of year, all but using the magic word “recession.”
• Bill Clinton’s tirade in private meeting with Unelected Delegates leaves them stunned. Bill lambasts Richardson over his Obama endorsement.
• Richardson defends his endorsement of Obama and criticizes Carville’s “Judas” comment.
• Obama campaign aims to re-shape electoral map in general election.
• Halperin sets the bar for what the MSM will consider a true Hillary victory in Pennsylvania.
• Democratic contest presents test for Howard Dean’s DNC leadership. Seems like 99.9% of the complaints are coming from Hillary’s supporters.
• John Yoo’s DOJ memo from 2003 declassified; had given Pentagon unfettered right to interrogate and torture without legal accountability.
• Obama’s March fund raising totals somewhere in $30-35M, while Hillary’s is expected to be closer to $20M.
• Obama’s six day bus tour in PA finishes today in Philly and seems to have made inroads among working class voters successfully. Yesterday, he picked up endorsements from the mayors of York, Reading and Lancaster.

• Critics suggest McCain’s economic advisers, such as former Senator Phil Gramm and former CEO Carly Fiorina, offer ideas out of sync with the current weak economy.
• Maureen Dowd argues that Hillary is doing Obama a favor by toughening him up before the general election. So apparently he’s Rocky and she’s Mickey taking him to the meat plant to train.
• In case you had any doubt who the GOP wants to run against (Hillary or Obama), the RNC website has a section dedicated for poking fun at Hillary’s notion of Unelected Delegates trumping the will of the voters, i.e., Hillary’s various schemes for surpassing Obama outside the playing field of elections. The GOP exploits the issue to frame Democrats as anti-democratic.