Daily Tidbits: May 13, 2008

• In a shocker, Hillary scores victory in West Virginia primary.
• Obama picks up two new pledged delegates in Ohio after the state completes count of provisional ballots. As noted earlier, final count also showed Obama lost state by 8.8%, not 10% as originally thought.
• Senator McConnell: “Dems want to turn us into France.” When all the polls show over 80% of Americans think we’re headed in the wrong direction, this is the GOP’s idea of saying the Dems would send us in an even worse direction: France. “France” is conceptually worse than this Bush/Cheney recession, in their view. Once again, the GOP is running a 1988/2000/2004 election strategy against Obama. Clueless.
• The Hill asked all 97 U.S. Senators not running for president whether they’d be interested in being VP, and they all answered on the record!
• Daily Tracking Poll. In Gallup, Obama leads Hillary 50-44%. Obama leads McCain 47-44%. In Rasmussen, Obama leads Hillary, 51-42%. Obama is also viewed more favorably than McCain, and leads him in the head-to-head, 47-46%.
• ABC News reporter revives Muslim rumors about Obama.
• Even Carville Senses It’s Over. Tells college audience, “I think the great likelihood is that Obama will be the nominee.” When Carville sends in his check to Obama, will he apologize to Richardson?

• Brand-obsessed House GOP selects slogan already in use for antidepressant drug: “The Change You Deserve.” Given the GOP’s performance to date, coincidence?
• Drip, Drip Drip. Obama lands endorsement of Rep. Joe Donnelly (D-IN). Meanwhile, a MD pledged delegate, PG County Executive Jack Johnson, announced that he has switched to Obama. In addition, he said he plans to encourage other Clinton-pledged delegates in MD to switch to Obama in the name of party unity. Of course, Hillary opened this door when she argued earlier that pledged delegates were free to switch. Former CO Governor and DNC Chairman Roy Romer and New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin add two more superdelegates to the day’s tally.
• E.J. Dionne: Hillary’s continuation of her campaign comes at a high price.
• Hillary spread around lots of “walk around money” in Texas to GOTV.
• WaPo/ABC Poll: Americans’ outlook about direction of country gloomiest since 1992 — more than 80% believe country heading in wrong direction. Democrats hold biggest advantage over GOP since early 1993 as party best able to handle the country’s major issues (a 21-point advantage). Bush’s ratings at an all-time low.
• Obama picks up Anita Bonds of DC as a superdelegate. That’s five for Monday.
• Obama campaign volunteers sometimes encounter racism on the streets and door to door that contrasts sharply with adoring crowds at large events.
• Obama turns his attention to general election.
• Where Obama will be over the next two weeks? (hint: not Kentucky).
• Pro-GOP voters for Hillary cost Obama a victory in Indiana, which kept Hillary from conceding last Tuesday.