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- Battles between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama continued yesterday. Obama launched three web videos showcasing a former president of Chicago NOW who switched to his campaign from Clinton's. On the less honorable side, Obama has launched a new radio ad that's pretty shockingly brutal to Clinton as well as being more than a bit dishonest (though it is now coming down after the Obama camp received word the Clinton "new ideas" one is as well). The ad says, correctly, that she supported NAFTA but doesn't explain that his position on trade is fairly similar to hers. A long section in his book describes how he basically supported CAFTA, but voted against it to protest the lack of aid to displaced American workers. There are two basic courses Obama can take. He can hit Clinton as hard and as dishonestly as she has hit him, or he can try and use her attacks against her. He chose the latter, successfully, in the far milder spat between the campaigns back in December and November of last year (see Matt Ygelsias's longer take here).
- Meanwhile the Clinton campaign is attacking Obama for, shock! horror! supporting single-payer healthcare three years ago. I, for one, won't stand for that kind of thing.
- Attacks against Obama are starting to generate a backlash as they did last winter (kudos to the reporter for describing the Clinton "new ideas" attack as "discredited" -- now if only reporters would truth squad everyone, not just candidates they don't like). David Corn is skeptical the backlash will come soon enough or strong enough to affect February 5 voters. I agree, but as my new article points out, this almost certainly ain't gonna be over any time soon. Elite opinion will matter, especially if superdelegates are as important as I think they will be.
- Finally in our mudslinging roundup, Illinois political blogger ArchPundit rounds up all aspects of the Rezko story. Basically he's a guy who made money by cozying up to political figures and then extracting favors. Obama let him cozy up a little bit, but never gave any illegitimate favors.
- The Obama campaign's February 5 strategy is just another indication of how completely topsy-turvy this election is. He's apparently counting on heartland voters to reject Clinton as too polarizing and "coastal." Not exactly a wine-track aproach. It also reinforces the use-their-own-attacks-against-them theory instead of the hit-back-as-hard-as-you-can one. Greg Sargent has more here.
- The Clinton campaign is pushing back with a claim that Obama has been attacking her all along and a website called "Attack Timeline" that's pretty unconvincing.
- Dennis Kucinich announced today that he will hold a press conference tomorrow to discuss his "transitioning out of the Democratic Presidential primary race." The other day I transitioned out of the shower and it took me like 30 minutes. I recommend just getting out. This also must mark the first time a candidate leading in the polls has dropped out.
- Meanwhile, in Louisiana, an absurdly undemocratic Republican caucus gave a victory to ... Fred Thompson. Well, except that it was really "uncomitted pro-life." But most of the backers of that slate were Thompson supporters. So, yes, Thompson finally dropped out the day he actually won a state.
- Mitt Romney: economy-whisperer.
- I knew there was a reason McCain was using the Rocky theme, turns out he's got Stallone! I so want a Chuck Norris v. Rambo cage match now. Maybe Romney can snag JCVD?
--Sam Boyd
