Whispers Poll Tells Obama: Say No to Hillary Clinton
As Sen. Barack Obama gets set to announce his running mate, there is growing evidence that his backers and the public in general do not favor an Obama-Clinton ticket. In our exclusive Washington Whispers poll, Obama's success in ending the Clinton era was cited by nearly 1 in 3 as his best aspect, right behind his liberal-progressive positions.
As the Democratic Party gets ready for its presidential nominating convention in Denver, what aspect of Sen. Barack Obama do you like most?
Liberal-progressive positions 34%
Ended the Clinton era 30%
Youthfulness 25%
Mixed-race background 11%
Source: The Synovate eNation Internet poll was conducted August 13-15 among 1,000 nationally representative households by global market research firm Synovate.
Pro-Choice Vice President
The McCain campaign is not shooting down reports to Washington Whispers that senior aides are polling top donors, delegates, and even radio talk show hosts for their reaction to a pro-choice running mate. "We are in constant contact with our donors and supporters and it wouldn't be at all surprising if people were soliciting their thoughts about any aspect of the campaign," said a McCainiac on background. Our sources suggest that the questions were a way to float the possibility that former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge was in the running for the No. 2 slot, though Republican Party officials said later that Ridge was not on the veep list. Others believe that the pro-choice question is an indication that McCain is seriously considering independent Sen. Joe Lieberman, a close friend and former Democratic vice presidential candidate. That, however, would anger conservatives who for the first time are sounding enthusiastic about McCain. He was strong on their issues during Saturday's TV "debate" at the Saddleback Church. (It might also spoil McCain's latest fundraising letter that references his performance.) Some conservatives went so far today as to suggest that the McCain camp was raising the issue of naming a pro-choice running mate just as a way to woo moderates, even though he has no intention of doing so. And it all comes as we are receiving word from Republican and conservative officials that pro-life Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty has moved to the top of McCain's vice presidential short list.
Sen. 'Big Mouth' Biden for Obama's Veep?
Sen. Joe Biden has never had a problem talking. It's stopping talking, say even some of his pals, that's the issue. So much so that when he junked his last presidential campaign and Sen. Barack Obama emerged, some floated Biden's name as a potential secretary of state, in part because he chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and is a very comfortable on the world stage. But it was dismissed by other Democrats who thought the popular Delaware senator's wordy style and knack for sometimes saying the wrong thing was less than ideal for the world's top diplomat. So why would Obama consider Biden as a vice presidential choice? Well, in a word, say Democratic sources, because of his mouth. The thinking is that Biden could take on Sen. John McCain's Straight Talk Express with his own blunt style while allowing Obama to continue his more thoughtful and cerebral style. Here's how one Senate insider explains it: "What may hurt you in one job helps you in the next. In other words, his outspokenness is exactly what Obama needs on the trail and in office. You need a partner who can say the things you can't, who can shoot and still take the incoming fire. Not only can Biden do that but he's good at it. Second, you need to build a firewall to inoculate Obama against criticism. What is the No. 1 criticism against Obama? That he's not seasoned and does not know enough about foreign policy. With Biden, that criticism is DOA. And third, if McCain and Biden have a good history, how ridiculous does McCain look going back and attacking his colleague?"
It's Boxers, Not Briefs for Obama and McCain
The political silly season has arrived on time, just a week before the Democratic National Convention. The latest: The Barack Obama and John McCain Paper Doll Books from Dover Publications. With the flip of just one page, the books done by the so-called King of Paper Dolls, Tom Tierney, answers the old Clinton question: boxers or briefs? As you can see, it's boxers in a romp. The books are fun to flip through and include shots of the candidates' wives and even a special wardrobe for them—including a wedding dress. Dover is running a candidate countdown that will reveal the bestseller, something Tierney will be watching. "Whom do I plan on voting for?" asks Tierney. "Whoever sells more paper doll books, of course."
Mitt For Veep Hits D.C. Streets
Somebody pushing Mitt Romney as Sen. John McCain's running mate has hit Washington streets with posters like these to promote their guy. We hear that Romney remains on the vice presidential short list, behind Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty. But it is promotions and campaigns like these that have some in the GOP-McCain camp wondering if as vice president, Romney--with an eye on eventually running for the top job again--would be promoting his own presidential agenda more than McCain's.
A CIA Standing-O for President Bush
It's named for his dad, but if his visit to Langley on Thursday was any indication, current President Bush owns the CIA.
In advance of vacationing at his ranch in Crawford, Texas, Bush visited the CIA HQ to receive briefings on the war on terror and the situation in Georgia. But instead of a quickie stop, he stayed for over two hours and met with many of the agency's workers during lunch. In his fifth visit to the CIA since becoming president, Bush was joined by CIA Director Mike Hayden and Deputy Director Steve Kappes to meet with counterterrorism experts and then political and military analysts on Georgia and Russia.
Bush then walked into the agency's cafeteria where he was greeted with a standing ovation by the 2,000 employees inside. Clearly pleased, he told them, "I appreciate your service more than you could possibly know."
Bush then took a seat at a table with two dozen junior employees. They included analysts, clandestine operatives, scientists and engineers, and support personnel. In between bites, he asked them about their jobs and where they have served overseas. One analyst, who played a key role for the CIA in identifying the nuclear reactor that was being built in Syria with North Korean assistance, gave the president a bronze commemorative coin that Hayden had presented to each agency employee who was directly involved in that intelligence effort.
The 3-inch diameter coin was inscribed with, "Syria-North Korea Project" and the words, "No Core, No War."
During the visit, which went two hours longer than scheduled, we hear that the president shook hands, gave hugs, and signed autographs, even on $5 and $10 bills some employees gave him for signature because they didn't have another piece of paper handy.
As he left, Bush praised the agency. "It's really important for the people who work here to understand the significant — the significance of the contributions they're making to secure the homeland. The people here work long and hard hours. They're smart, capable, and they deserve the nation's thanks," said Bush.
Hayden issued his own inside memo to employees: "Supporting our government with timely, accurate intelligence is our job 24/7, but it isn't every day that we hear directly from our top customer just how important our work is—and that he stays two hours longer than scheduled. Thank you for ensuring that CIA remains central to the security of our nation, and for making this visit such a great success."
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