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- In addition to giving a presidential-sounding speech in Berlin today, Barack Obama has put together a presidential transition team, something usually done by a president-elect, rather than a candidate three months before the election has taken place. Of course, not everyone is excited about Obama's confidence (see Corner, The). In the words of John Derbyshire "Is it just me, or have presidential candidates been getting worse and worse these past few decades? These two are appalling. I shall not vote for either. Fact, I wouldn't trust either of them to mail a letter."
- I know we've all been thinking it would be entertaining if Bobby Jindal were McCain's VP pick, but the Louisiana governor is adamant: "Let me be clear: I have said in every private and public conversation, I’ve got the job that I want. And I’ll say again on air: I’m not going to be the vice presidential nominee or vice president. I’m going to help Senator McCain get elected, as governor of Louisiana." Meanwhile CNN notes in an aside that Jindal is far more likely to get the keynote slot at the Republican National Convention, which, frankly, is a far more appropriate role for him.
- John McCain has proven himself not only a worthy news cycle grabber, responding to Obama's Berlin speech by watching it in a German restaurant in Ohio, but also a savvy adman, as in this new campaign video associating Obama with Fidel Castro (saith Castro, "[Obama] is the most advanced candidate." Ouch!)
- Chris Bowers has a compelling post on the role of third party candidates in this year's presidential election. The bottom line: Ralph Nader actually helps Barack Obama by over two percentage points.
- A new NBC/WSJ poll gives Obama a 6-point national lead over John McCain, although voters consider Obama to be the "riskier" choice. Gallup's daily tracking poll, meanwhile, has Obama going from a 6-point lead four days ago to just a 2-point lead today. Politico reports on Obama's large edge amongst Latino voters, and a new flurry of Quinnipac polls show McCain gaining in four swing states, including a 2-point lead in Colorado, 46-44. John Sides cautions, however, that "In 2 of these 4 key states, there has been no meaningful change, given the inherent sampling error in polls. In both Michigan and Wisconsin, McCain’s share is unchanged; Obama’s is down 2 points" and "Only in Colorado does this poll’s numbers appear to conform to a trend."
- The Arizona Republic reports that Obama has been quietly raising big money in Arizona, even more than Sen. McCain has for his presidential campaign.
- The Democratic Strategist makes the "case against McCain -- for women," citing recent polling and an In These Times cover story by Prospect alum Kate Sheppard.
- The GOP might be losing the new media war, as this Politico story reports, but it sure isn't losing its need to deify Ronald Reagan. Grover Norquist, clearly having way too much time on his hands, resurrects a decade-old quest: getting the Gip on the ten dollar bill. Take that, Alexander Hamilton!
--Mori Dinauer
