The Trail: Washington Post 2008 Campaign Daily Update

Below is the complete webpage for the Washington Post's on-line daily political campaign update page, called "The Trail."

Consider the editor's selection of detail. Also note how the content of some entries indicates the political gamemanship at work.

Consider the choice of diction behind the wording "Rhetorical Flourishes."

Consider the selection of detail behind the choice of including Sarah Palin's answer given to third graders.

Consider the choice behind printing an article implying that our enemies want John McCain to win. Consider the McCain team's response that the news media ignores similar situations involving Barack Obama.

Why would one print that "Firefighters" support Obama? What's an implied link?

Barack Obama

Obama: Biden Prone to 'Rhetorical Flourishes'

By Robert Barnes
RICHMOND -- Democrat Barack Obama said today there is no reason to believe that he is more likely to be tested by an international crisis if elected than if rival John McCain is, and said the important question is how the next president responds.

"Whoever is the next president is going to have to deal with a whole host of challenges internationally -- and a period of transition in a new administration is always one in which we have to be vigilant," Obama said after meeting here with his team of national security and foreign policy advisers.

He was responding to a question about an assertion by his running mate, Joe Biden, over the weekend. "Mark my words," Biden had said. "It will not be six months before the world tests Barack Obama like they did John Kennedy. The world is looking."

McCain's campaign has used the statement to imply that Obama is not ready to lead in a dangerous world.

Even though Biden's words suggested that Obama would be singled out for the test, Obama brushed the comment off, saying, "I think Joe sometimes engages in rhetorical flourishes."

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Posted at 1:42 PM ET on Oct 22, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (1)
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The Green Zone

A $2 Billion Presidential Race

By Matthew Mosk
For those keeping score at home, the price tag on the race for the White House now totals $2.1 billion.

This according to the Center for Responsive Politics, which projects that by the time it ends, the candidates and political parties will have raised and spent roughly $2,400,000,000.

The major figure in all this spending is Sen. Barack Obama, who has, through the end of September, raised more than $620 million since announcing his candidacy in Springfield, Ill.

His Republican rival, Sen. John McCain, has raised $272 million, for a combined total of $892 million raised by the two campaigns.

October and early November numbers will boost that figure even higher.

Posted at 12:48 PM ET on Oct 22, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (7)
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John McCain

McCain Aides Blast Post Report on Al-Qaeda

By Michael D. Shear
Senior McCain aides blasted a report published in today's Washington Post quoting commentary on an Islamic extremist Web site that "Al-Qaeda will have to support McCain in the coming election," saying that The Post had relied on a "blogger" whose connections to al-Qaeda were questionable. And the McCain team accused The Post of running an "inflammatory" headline while ignoring words of praise for Barack Obama from other Middle East leaders.

Randy Scheunemann, the campaign's top foreign policy adviser, read reporters several statements of praise for Obama from a leader of Hamas, the president of Iran and the leader of Libya.

Scheunemann told reporters he would not "characterize" the statements, but later said that "we're going to talk about who has got support from terrorist groups in this election" and then added that "we have three clear examples here of very strong statements."

Former CIA director Jim Woolsey, also a McCain adviser, added: "It is ridiculous to believe that in its heart of hearts that al-Qaeda wants John McCain to be the president. It's ludicrous."

Posted at 12:22 PM ET on Oct 22, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (19)
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Today at The Post

On Al-Qaeda Web Sites, Joy Over U.S. Crisis, Support for McCain

From today's print edition comes this report by Joby Warrick and Karen DeYoung:

Al-Qaeda is watching the U.S. stock market's downward slide with something akin to jubilation, with its leaders hailing the financial crisis as a vindication of its strategy of crippling America's economy through endless, costly foreign wars against Islamist insurgents.

And at least some of its supporters think Sen. John McCain is the presidential candidate best suited to continue that trend.

"Al-Qaeda will have to support McCain in the coming election," said a commentary posted Monday on the extremist Web site al-Hesbah, which is closely linked to the terrorist group. It said the Arizona Republican would continue the "failing march of his predecessor," President Bush.

The Web commentary was one of several posted by Taliban or al-Qaeda-allied groups in recent days that trumpeted the global financial crisis and predicted further decline for the United States and other Western powers.

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Posted at 12:00 PM ET on Oct 22, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (2)
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The Sleuth

Palin's Make-Up Costs Add to Extreme Makeover Woes

By Mary Ann Akers
John McCain's makeup is right out of "American Idol." Running mate Sarah Palin's is so "So You Think You Can Dance" -- and so much more expensive.

McCain's September payments of $8,672.55 to "American Idol" make-up artist Tifanie White, who has also worked on the reality dance show "So You Think You Can Dance," are a drop in the bucket on the campaign's beautification front compared to the costs incurred by the GOP vice presidential nominee.

The Sleuth has learned that Palin's high-paid traveling make-up artist is Amy Strozzi, who was nominated for an Emmy Award for her work as head of makeup on "So You Think You Can Dance." Strozzi was paid $13,200 by the McCain-Palin campaign last month alone, according to the campaign's latest financial disclosure report filed this week.

That's $4,527.45 more than McCain's make-up artist made last month.

Continue reading at The Sleuth»

Posted at 11:46 AM ET on Oct 22, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (18)
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Channel 08

Firefighters Target McCain, GOP Senators on Health Care

By Ed O'Keefe
The International Association of Firefighters has launched its voter mobilization campaign in support of Barack Obama with a new ad that attacks John McCain's health care proposals -- and two vulnerable Senate Republicans. The ad stars four firefighters concerned about how the Republican's health care proposals would affect their families' bottom line and pictures them in full work-gear in front of smoking ruins.

"Our job is to risk our lives to protect you, and your loved ones. We're proud of that," says one firefighter.

"Like you, we need our health care for our families," says another.

"And now John McCain wants all of us to pay taxes on health insurance," says a third firefighter.

"Pay more taxes? Or lose coverage? No thanks," say two others.

"Join us. Let's protect all of our families. Let's fight McCain's plan to tax our health care, together."

McCain has pledged to give families a $5,000 tax credit allowing them to buy their own health insurance, but he has also proposed taxing employer-provided health benefits, meaning most of the extra income from the tax credit would be spent on the taxes on employer-provided benefits. The Obama campaign, labor unions and other liberal groups have seized on this aspect of McCain's proposals repeated in recent weeks in both advertising and mailers.

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Posted at 11:28 AM ET on Oct 22, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (18)
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Battlegrounds

McCain to Granite State: 'I Love You'

By Michael Abramowitz
GOFFSTOWN, N.H. -- John McCain returned briefly this morning to the scene of some of his greatest political triumphs to try to rally voters for one last victory.

"I can't tell you how happy I am to be back in the great state of New Hampshire," McCain proclaimed in a rally at St. Anselm's College here. "I have great memories -- the hundreds of town hall meetings, the travels across this great state from one end to the other, for many, many years.

"I love you. I love New Hampshire. I know I can count on you again to come from behind, to again come from behind and take a victory ... all the way to Washington, D.C., next January."

New Hampshire is one off the few states carried by John Kerry in 2004 that finds McCain in a tight race with Barack Obama, and one would think it would be a prime possibility for a GOP pick-up given McCain's previous victories here. But it's unclear how Granite Staters will react to McCain 2.0, the new version that adheres more closely to GOP orthodoxy than he did in 2000.

After a round of interviews here, McCain plans to fly in to Ohio to rally with running mate Sarah Palin.

Posted at 11:24 AM ET on Oct 22, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (3)
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Ron Paul

Ron Paul Supporters, Alive and Well in Ohio

By Juliet Eilperin
FINDLAY, Ohio -- Rep. Ron Paul (R-Tex.) may have largely receded from the national scene, but his adherents are still playing a role in the presidential election -- by interrupting political rallies.

As GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin addressed an enthusiastic crowd here, a lone protester started calling out "Ron Paul! Ron Paul!"

He continued shouting until nearby attendees began chanting, "John McCain! John McCain!"

For a few moments Palin continued speaking, as if unaware of the interruption. But just after the protester was taken out of the arena, the Alaska governor remarked from the stage, "If that was a protester they escorted out, they escorted him out a little bit early. I think that person would have learned a little bit..."

And then, cheers from the crowd drowned the candidate out.

Posted at 11:07 AM ET on Oct 22, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (7)
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Sarah Palin

Veeps Run the Senate, Palin Tells Third-Grader

By Juliet Eilperin
FINDLAY, Ohio -- When asked about the role of the vice president yesterday, GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin gave an expansive interpretation of the legislative role and indicated she would be "in charge of the United States Senate" after taking office.

During an interview with KUSA at Denver International Airport, the reporter relayed a question from a Colorado elementary-school student, Brandon Garcia, who wanted to know what the vice president does.

"Aw, that's something that Piper would ask me as a second-grader, also," Palin said, referring to her youngest daughter. "That's a great question Brandon. And a vice president has a really great job, because not only are they there to support president's agenda, they're like the team member, the teammate to that president. But also, they're in charge of the United States Senate, so if they want to, they can really get in there with the senators and make a lot of good policy changes that will make life better for Brandon and his family, and his classroom. And its a great job, and I look forward to having that job."

While the vice president technically serves as the president of the Senate, and under the Constitution has the power to break a tie vote in the upper chamber, the second in command does not actually run the Senate. That role is left to the Senate majority leader.

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Posted at 11:03 AM ET on Oct 22, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (50)
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Channel 08

Obama Continues On-Air Latino Outreach

By Ed O'Keefe
The Obama campaign continues its recent radio and television ad campaigns in several states where it believes Latino voters could help secure a Democratic victory. The new messages focus on early voting, education and health care.

"Oportunidad" or "Opportunity" is a positive television spot about Obama's college education plans that will air in Colorado, Florida, Nevada and New Mexico:

"The cost of a college education is a real worry for many families. But under the Obama Plan a student can earn the first $4,000 of tuition through community service. Putting a college education within everyone's reach. And the Obama Plan offers scholarships to recruit more teachers to make sure our children are ready prepared. With Obama and the Democrats, a new opportunity."

The campaign's new radio ad stars a man and woman upset with the McCain campaign's attack ads and discussing Obama's "specific" plans for health care coverage and tax cuts.

"My neighbor -- who has 2 kids -- lost her job and her health insurance last week," the woman in the ad says. "And her husband, who works in construction, is about to lose his. I don't want to hear any more attacks. I want to know what the candidates will do for us."

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