Former Speaker of the House of Representatives Newt Gingrich commends McCain for “putting the whole country first” by emphasizing Hurricane Gustav during this year’s Republican Convention.
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Newt Gingrich Anticipates that the "Whole Country Will Watch" McCain's Convention Speech: Play Now | Play in Popup | DownloadSenator John McCain (R – AZ) campaign manager Rick Davis held a conference call Monday morning to discuss the schedule for the week and fundraising. An information center has been established in the Xcel Energy Center for delegates and participants to monitor the weather in the southern states.
Campaign manager Rick Davis said Laura Bush will introduce a video and Cindy McCain will address the delegates following todays official events. The speech will be mostly non-political and will ask for hurricane relief.
The McCain campaign, in conjunction with Target and FedEx, is also creating 80,000 “comfort packages” that will go to the regions impacted by Hurricane Gustav. The packages will be assembled at the convention site beginning Wednesday morning. Volunteers interested in helping to pack the contents of the packages will be accepted then.
McCain’s campaign has begun a fundraising effort together with five governors from the affected region. They will identify charitabble organizations able to assist those impacted by the hurricane. In addition to working with those at the convention to raise money, the campaign has also set up a phone bank at the Minneapolis Hilton manned by a team of volunteers. These efforts will concentrate on reaching out to McCain’s previous donors.
What does John McCain do now? From the floor of the RNC, Jack Rice analyzes the impact of Hurricane Gustav and the politics of natural disasters.
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John Nichols, reporter for “The Nation”, speaks with Talk Radio News Service reporter Elia Herman at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, CO. Nichols talks about the recent Supreme Court ruling striking down the Washington DC handgun ban and its role in the election.
Democratic Presidential nominee Barack Obama appears as a “surprise guest” with Democratic Vice Presidential Nominee Joe Biden at the DNC.
U.S. Senate candidate Rep. Tom Allen (D-ME) speaks about the Democratic party’s push for a larger Senate majority. Allen also addressed his stances on issues like health care and oil prices.
On behalf of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid spoke in Denver Wednesday afternoon about the need to expand the Democratic majority in this year’s Senate elections. He introduced six candidates running for seats in the Senate this fall. Among them were former New Hampshire Gov. Jeanne Shaheen, Rep. Mark Udall (D-CO), Rep. Tom Udall (D-NM), Rep. Tom Allen (D-ME), Rep. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner.
The Democratic candidates are in close races for eleven Senate seats, and Sen. Reid was optimistic that the party will win the spots. Reid said, “The Democratic majority is slim…we know we need more numbers.”
Reid added that the Democrats are reaching for sixty seats, in order to prevent Republican filibusters, which have recently been used in record numbers. In the 109th Congress, only 54 filibusters were used. By comparison, the 110th Congress has already used a record-breaking 92 filibusters.
After Reid spoke, Sen. Charles Schumer discussed the importance of Wednesday’s meeting. Schumer said, “This gathering doesn’t have thousands of people…but it’s probably the second most important gathering that you will be at for the future of this country,” referring to this week’s Democratic National Convention.
Schumer emphasized the fact that the Senate races are just as important as the Presidential race. A Democratic majority must be elected, according to Schumer, in order to fulfill the party’s promise of change by passing comprehensive legislation. He acknowledged that if Sen. Barack Obama is elected President, he will need the support of a Democratic-led Congress.
The six candidates that joined Reid and Schumer will be running competitive races against Republican incumbents.
While the candidates all discussed change, most touched on specific issues. Allen and Shaheen shared a concern about the cost of heating oil, while Warner, the keynote speaker at the DNC on Wednesday, said he will take a stand to improve the country’s infrastructure.
Warner said “This is one of these moments in history…what happens over the next two, four, six, eight years will determine whether this country has the same preeminence in the twenty-first century that it had in the twentieth.”
The DSCC and some Senatorial candidates will address the delegates about their push for Senate seats at the DNC after the Roll Call Vote, which will take place Wednesday evening.
Yesterday in downtown Denver, at the Wells Fargo Theater in the convention center, College Democrats of America came together to talk about the “Nuts and Bolts” of younger Democratic voters. Lead by DNC Youth council Co-Chairs Jane Fleming Kleeb and Jason Rae, along with a panel that included CNN correspondent Jamal Simmons.
The Youth Council was quick to point out a major shift since 2000 of younger voters moving to the Democratic Party. In 2000 of voters 18-25, 46% voted for the Republican Party and 48% voted for the Democratic Party. In 2008 that same demographic is expected to split 34% to 65% in favor of the Democratic Party.
What’s the cause for this major shift? The Youth Council credited many different methods. A major issue touched on was lower barriers and making it easier to register. The panelists agreed that some younger voters are too embarrassed to admit that they aren’t registered. Rock the Vote uses a tool on their website that helps younger people register without feeling that embarrassment. A group called the Pink Bunnies dresses up in pink bunny costumes to try and alleviate any stress there might be of registering to vote.
The Youth Council also pointed out that in the last presidential election 82% of registered voters 18-25 came out to vote. This high number was attributed to many of the different and news ways to register, but Jamal Simmons noted the fact that networks like CNN use younger and more diverse correspondents help to engage younger voters in political discourse.
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Possible first lady to be, Michelle Obama, raised her voice today at the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America gathering in support of veterans. She joined families and veterans of the Middle Eastern wars to assemble care packages with destinations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Michelle began her speech by encouraging people to commit to the veteran cause and to serve America by supporting soldiers on the front and at home. “You have an obligation to your community,” Michelle stated to the crowd of blue t-shirts, “I’m pleased to see all our blue shirt families here today.” The blue t-shirts were emblazoned with “SUPPORTING OUR TROOPS” and were worn by the majority of the audience.
“I’m very pleased with Michelle attending this meeting,” said Paul Rieckhoff, Executive Director and founder of IAVA, a nonpartisan organization.
Also present was Jill Biden, Senator and Vice Presidential Candidate Joe Biden’s wife, supporting the veterans. “I’m honored to have the Biden family on the team,” said Michelle Obama expressing her happiness that they both share the interest of improving the community service and the situation for veterans all over America. Michelle also announced her happiness that her husband, Barack Obama, wants to focus on these issues
Jimmy Dean, Chair of Democracy for America and brother of DNC Chair Howard Dean, speaks on party unity, Democracy for America, and Obama’s 50-state campaign strategy. (7:03)
Jimmy Dean, Chair of Democracy for America, discusses party unity.: Play Now | Play in Popup | DownloadElia Herman interviews Heather Smith, Executive Director of Rock the Vote. (7:15)
Heather Smith, Executive Director of Rock the Vote, discusses the youth vote.: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
