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- Sam noted this Ben Smith article in today's Politico demonstrating the Obama campaign's determination to be competitive in 14 Red states, helping local Dems downticket. The Chicago Tribune ran a similar story today, detailing voter resgistration drives in nine states that could significantly boost turnout amongst youths and African Americans. Tom Edsall has an informative piece at the Huffington Post today, drawing upon recent literature in political science and applying it to the 2008 election.
- Chris Cillizza and Bob Beckel each make the case for an Obama/Clinton ticket today. I'm with Ezra on the Beckel analysis: he's right that Clinton would be excellent in the capacity of VP-as-attack-dog, but adding Clinton carries additional baggage that might confuse the message and discipline of the Obama campaign.
- Oregon Republican Sen. Gordon Smith, facing a difficult reelection battle, cut a remarkable ad yesterday that focused on how often he voted cooperates with Barack Obama in the Senate. The Obama campaign shot back immediately, clarifying that the presidential nominee backs Smith's opponent, Democrat and state house speaker Jeff Merkley.
- Ralph Nader, rapidly degenerating into a caricature of Lyndon LaRouche, today described Obama as "half African-American," adding that "I haven't heard him have a strong crackdown on economic exploitation in the ghettos. Payday loans, predatory lending, asbestos, lead. What's keeping him from doing that? Is it because he wants to talk white? He doesn't want to appear like Jesse Jackson?" Matt Yglesias helpfully reminds us that Obama has, actually, vowed to crack down on predatory lenders, race-based financial exploitation, and yes, even lead and asbestos removal.
- Obama urged his donors to help retire Hillary Clinton's campaign debt today, although in calls to Clinton's donors, there were apparently still some bad feelings left over from the primaries. The goodwill flowed in Hollywood, however, with Obama raking in $5 million from celebrities at a posh L.A. fundraiser.
- David Plouffe observed that the so-called Barr Effect could extend not only to Georgia but Alaska as well. According to Marc Ambinder, Plouffe also hinted that the VP selection process would be based on merit, not geography.
- Think Progress observes that McCain hasn't voted in the Senate since April 8, while Obama's most recent vote was on June 4.
- And, finally, the Southern Poverty Law Center discovered in a survey of white supremacists that many of them are open to a Barack Obama presidency.Noted racist David Duke explained: "My bet is that whether Obama wins or loses in November, millions of European Americans will inevitably react with new awareness of their heritage and the need for them to defend and advance it."
--Mori Dinauer
