Daily Tidbits: July 10, 2008

• McCain Campaign to Voters: Stop Whining – The Bad Economy is Just a Figment of Your Imagination. McCain’s top economic advisor, subprime lender lobbyist former Senator Phil Gramm, says current economic crisis is a “mental recession” and that America is “a nation of whiners.” He tells the Washington Times: “You’ve heard of mental depression; this is a mental recession.” Now, before you think this is just a wayward adviser drifting off-message, McCain has made a similarly dismissive comments on the campaign trail, such as here:

and here:

(I wonder if Phil Gramm was in a country club with a martini, cigarette and a beautiful date at his side when he made those remarks?). But McCain’s not out of touch. No, he’s got a full six percent (6%) of voters agreeing with him that the economy is just fine, according to today’s Gallup poll.

UPDATE: McCain has since thrown Gramm under the bus, as if he never made similar comments. Does he toss himself next?

UPDATE II: Obama Reacts To Gramm’s Remarks:

• Channeling Enthusiasm in Ohio. Obama plans to have 14,000 volunteers working in Ohio, or at least one for each of Ohio’s 11,500 precincts.
• Is the Bush Administration pressuring the Germans to prevent Obama from speaking in front of Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate?
• Holy Schnike! Obama is now tied with McCain in NORTH DAKOTA.
• Respected polling analysis site 538 has quantified the most decisive states in a close election (coined “Tipping Point” states). Of the 15 states, Obama leads or is tied in all of the top 10 states (ranked in order of decisiveness), and leads or is tied in two of the remaining five (i.e., 12 of the 15). Only three, NC, NV and FL, lean McCain.

• New Pew national poll has Obama on top 48-40%.

• Obama leads in new USA Today/Gallup national poll 48-42%, which is remarkably consistent with recent polling. Poll also shows Obama leads decisively among enthusiastic and committed voters, as further evidence of the “enthusiasm gap”. Steadiness of poll results shows how McCain’s “ceiling” is solidifying in low 40s, which is deadly for the better known candidate who wrapped up his nomination 3 months before Obama. By contrast, Obama is more likely to have some upside in his numbers as Hillary voters continue to drift his way and other voters, such as independents and disaffected Republicans, get to know him better. For example, a separate poll by Gallup released yesterday shows Obama has been making steady gains among those without any higher education — a segment that Hillary’s camp had argued Obama could not win.

• Does Politico Have Editors? Curious because today’s edition includes an article entitled “Fairness Doctrine Hypocrisy” in which the author, Derek Hunter of Americans for Tax Reform, claims Obama wants to bring back this old FCC policy of the 1980s. Right wing talk radio and FOX News live in fear of the doctrine’s return because it will force them to be even-handed, which would ruin their whole programming strategy. Hunter contends Obama hasn’t stated his position on it, but because Senators Kerry and Durbin support its return, “one can guess where Obama will come down.” This flimsy premise can be debunked with this new exciting device the kids call “The Google” – the first link that appears when you enter the search terms “Fairness Doctrine Obama” is a June 25, 2008 interview with Obama in Broadcasting & Cable Magazine with the catchy headline “Obama Does Not Support Return of Fairness Doctrine.” Perhaps that title was a little too nuanced for Hunter. I look forward to tomorrow’s Politico in which contributors will “guess” that Obama opposes motherhood and apple pie.

• While much of the netroots is upset about Obama’s vote on the FISA bill, this knowledgeable post is a voice of reason. Kos, Maddow, Greenwald and others are doing a disservice to audience by misrepresenting the merits and overstating significance of telecom immunity issue, and the related character assassination of Obama is only serving GOP goal of dampening enthusiasm of Obama supporters.

• McCain campaign lifts old slogan from Maggie Thatcher to attack Obama. Patiently awaiting cable networks roadblocked coverage of plagiarism… waiting… waiting…

• NJ GOP website removes slogan that said “Obama Loves America like O.J. Loved Nicole.” GOP club spokesman told the Philly Inquirer “I just want to apologize to anybody who was offended, because that wasn’t our intention at all.” Yup, the GOP just meant it as a heartwarming tribute.

• WaPo Front Pages GOP Talking Points. Dan Balz repeats a false list of Obama’s alleged flip-flops to set up premise that liberals see an opportunistic shift to the right while GOP still views Obama as a doctrinaire liberal. Of course the GOP view hasn’t really changed – they’re only pushing this “tacking to the right” line to dampen the stratospheric enthusiasm of Obama’s supporters. Article could have done some useful fact-checking, but instead just regurgitates GOP talking points.

Satire from Stranahan.

• Someone in MSM actually writes about McCain dissing Social Security as an “absolute disgrace.” (Although story is buried on inside pages).

• Hillary and Obama raised $4.1M together at NYC fundraiser Wed night. They did another joint event Thursday morning.

• Can Obama awaken the “sleeping giant” that is the Hispanic vote?

• Ted Kennedy’s return to the Senate against his doctors’ advice surprises GOP and causes their opposition to Medicare bill to collapse. A dramatic victory. McCain, meanwhile, didn’t bother to show up for vote for the second time.

• Should the Obama campaign remain wary of former Hillarylanders? For the most part, I think not.

• Hillary revives her HillPac that had been dormant during her presidential candidacy. Another sign that the Veep slop for her has already been taken off the table?

• I think the Jesse Jackson “hot mic on FOX News” story is just a handy made-for-cable-news distraction. It’s sad to see him sound so small and petty. There’s a generational jealousy at the core. And don’t forget, Jesse Jackson had reason to take Obama’s Fatherhood speech personally. But if anything, this mini-drama probably helps Obama overall.