By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer

July 1, 2008 – It looks like the chill between Sen. Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton is beginning to thaw.  According to Obama’s campaign, the two spoke on Thursday by telephone and the Clinton pledged his support to the Illinois senator.

Clinton had been noticeably quite and away from public events since Obama clinched the Democratic nomination.  Political watchers and pundits have been speculating when and if the former president would wholeheartedly support Obama’s candidacy.

Earlier this week a British newspaper reported a source who said Clinton was still angry Obama had bested his wife for the nomination.  The Telegraph newspaper quoted a Democratic source who said, “One person told me that Bill said Obama would have to ‘kiss my ass,’ if he wants his support.”

An initial news release from a spokesman for the former commander in chief did not offer a fiery endorsement of Obama, and some even inferred that the secondhand statement was a straight-up diss. Bill Clinton “would do whatever he can to ensure Obama wins the presidency,” The one-sentence statement read.

Thursday’s 20-minute phone conversation between the two titan politicians was the first time they have spoken since Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) announced she was suspending her campaign June 7. Bill Burton, spokesman for Obama, said, “He [Obama] has always believed that Bill Clinton is one of this nation’s great leaders and most brilliant minds, and looks forward to seeing him on the campaign trail and receiving his counsel in the months to come.”

During the primary Clinton often played the “bad cop” to wife Hillary’s “good cop” and was extremely critical of the first-term senator.  But now that is all behind the two and Burton said Clinton has agreed to campaign with the presumed nominee and on his own. 

Bill Clinton was in London to participate in the Nelson Mandela birthday bash  last week and was unable to attend the Unity, N. H. rally with his wife and Obama.  Matt McKenna, a spokesman for Bill Clinton, said, “President Clinton continues to be impressed by Senator Obama and the campaign he has run, and looks forward to campaigning for and with him in the months to come.

 ”The president believes that Sen. Obama has been a great inspiration for millions of people around the country and he knows that he will bring the change America needs as our next president.”

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer 

June 30, 2008 – If there’s any truth to a report from the British newspaper The Telegraph, former President Bill Clinton is a long way from bumping fists with Barack Obama. In fact, the paper reports, Clinton is still so infuriated with the Illinois senator for the nastiness that surfaced during the primary campaign that he said Obama will “have to kiss his ass” to get his support for the presidency.

According to the newspaper, a friend of the former president said: “He’s been angry for a while. But everyone thought he would get over it. He hasn’t. I’ve spoken to a couple of people who he’s been in contact with and he is mad as hell. He’s saying he’s not going to reach out, that Obama has to come to him. One person told me that Bill said Obama would have to quote kiss my ass close quote, if he wants his support. “

It’s common knowledge that Clinton is still angry that Obama, a relative newcomer to national politics, defeated his wife for the Democratic nomination, and the former president blames Obama for the beating his own rep took during the primary. Many African Americans, who once revered Bill Clinton as a friend of Blacks, have since described him as racist following comments linking Obama to the Rev. Jesse Jackson and references to Obama living a “fairytale.”

Last weekend, Bill Clinton was conspicuously absent from the Unity, N.H., lovefest between Obama and the former first lady, which raised questions about the former president’s feelings about the presumed nominee.

The Telegraph source is quoted as telling the former president, “You can’t talk like that about Obama – he’s the nominee of your party, not some house boy you can order around.”

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer

June 29, 2008 – Sen. Barack Obama is planning to take two trips this summer – one to the Middle East and one to Europe.  The trips will allow him to see firsthand America’s progress in these regions while boosting his national security credentials. 

His Republican challenger, Sen. John McCain has challenged Obama’s experience and readiness to handle foreign affairs, including the U.S. military presence in Iraq and Afghanistan.  McCain considers issues of national security his strong suit because his extensive military service and more than 20 years in Congress. 

Obama will visit Israel, Jordan, Germany, France and Britain this summer, but his campaign made no mention of Iraq and Afghanistan.  Obama had mentioned earlier he would be traveling to Iraq and Afghanistan some time this summer. The last time he was there was in January of 2006.

Obama, earlier in his campaign, talked about pulling down the number of troops in Iraq . McCain has agreed with President Bush about the recent surge of soldiers in Iraq and refuses to set any deadlines for withdrawing troops. 

McCain said Saturday that the country was making significant but fragile progress.  McCain expressed confidence about prospects for the two countries, completing an agreement that would keep U.S. soldiers in Iraq after a U.N. mandate expires at year’s end, The Associated Press reported.

Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said that the U.S. military is still needed. “I, of course, am encouraged. We both agree that the progress has been significant, but the progress is also fragile. And there’s a lot of work that needs to be done,” McCain told reporters after a private 45-minute meeting in Washington, D.C., with Talabani.
 

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer

(June 27, 2008) – The two former Democratic rivals will appear together Friday night in New Hampshire to show unity and continue the praise they lauded on each other Thursday night at private gathering of supporters. 

 Obama told the 200 “A-listers” invited,  “It was an extraordinary honor to be alongside her during the course of this campaign. I am a better candidate as a consequence of having run against Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.”

The informal gathering may have also served as dry run for the two candidates to warm-up for the “unity” event on Friday night in Unity, N.H.  It also allowed the two camps of supporters time together to practice for the rally focused on the themes of unity and victory.

The Thursday night event offered an additional bonus for Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) who is struggling to pay off her campaign debt.  Before the event got underway, chairwomen of Obama’s finance committee, Penny Pritzker wrote a check for $4,600.  she and her husband’s contribution to help Clinton retire her debt. “We’re helping. It’s important,” Pritzker said.

Pritzer isn’t the only one from the Obama campaign helping out.  On Thursday Obama and his wife Michelle wrote checks to help out the former first lady; each giving the allowed maximum of $2,300 to help his former rival.

Thursday night Clinton told those gathered, “We have to make it a priority in our lives to elect Barack Obama the next president of the United States.”

Those Clinton supports in attendance appeared to agree, which included Black lawmakers, Reps. Shelia Jackson Lee (D-Texas) and Stephanie Tubbs-Jones (D-Ohio), both staunch Clinton supporters.  They heard a direct appeal from Obama for their support.   
 
“I recognize that this room shared the same passion that a roomful of my supporters would show. I do not expect that passion to be transferred. Sen. Cinton is unique, and your relationships with her are unique.”

But he noted, “Sen. Clinton and I at our core agree deeply that this country needs to change.”

Let’s see now if Obama can woo the rest of Clinton’s supporters by November. 

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer  

(June 26, 2008) –Obama’s donors may need to pick up where Clinton’s donors don’t. Money problems remain for Clinton. Sen. Hillary Clinton may have suspended her campaign, but she hasn’t been able to suspend the debts her campaign racked up with consultant and vendors during the primary fight for the nomination. In coming weeks, she will learn whether her primary supporters are willing to put their money where their mouths are and write checks to help the New York senator get out of debt. 

Since suspending her presidential her campaign June 7, Clinton has been working feverishly to retire millions in campaign debts.  On Wednesday she made an appeal via the Internet to supporters, asking them to make donations.

 In her appeal, Clinton wrote, “I made a promise to you, and I intend to keep it.  I told you that if you stood up for me, I would always stand up for you. You did more for me than I could have ever imagined, and I’m going to keep my end of the bargain and keep fighting for what we believe in – in the Senate and on the campaign trail, helping to elect a new Democratic president and a bigger Democratic majority in Congress.”

It looks like she’s already getting some needed assistance from former rival Sen. Barack Obama.  Obama has asked members of his National Finance Committee to contribute to Clinton’s campaign if they could.

During a news conference Wednesday in Chicago, Obama told reporters, “What I said was to my large donors who are in a position to write large checks, to help Sen. Clinton retire her debt, or at least a portion of it. And I think they’re going to be those who are willing to do so.”

Now that the primary season has ended, individual donors can contribute $2,300, but with Clinton’s debt in excess of $10 million, she will need thousands of donors to climb out of about $30 million in the red.

The tone of Clinton’s appeal to supporters was one of urgency.  “As you know, I had to loan money to my campaign at critical moments. I’m not asking for anyone’s help to pay that back. That was my investment and my commitment because I believe so deeply in our cause,” she wrote.

A joint Democratic Party fundraiser is scheduled this month with appearances by Clinton and Obama.  But any money raised there can only be used for the general election and not for lingering primary debt. 

If Clinton’s supporters don’t come to her rescue and she has to rely on Obama’s contributors to bail her out, she may also be required to work a lot harder to help get those reluctant Clinton supporters come on board. 

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer 

(June 24, 2008) - It’s time for the Democrats to unite if they want a win in November, and it looks like Clinton and Obama supporters will come together in New Hampshire to make it happen.  This week, the two former rivals will make their first appearance together at what’s being billed as a Democratic unity event. 

The rally is titled “Unity for Change” and will take place in the city of Unity, N.H.  The unity theme and location appear to be the brainchild of former Clinton supporter state Sen. Maggie Hannsan, of Exeter.  The city was an easy pick for the party since the community of about 1,700 evenly split their primary vote between the two candidates, both receiving 107 votes on Jan. 8. 

While Clinton won the New England state in the primary, Hassan said, “I remember looking at the results a couple of days after the primary and being struck by the Unity result.”

Now the two candidates will unite the states Democrats behind the Illinois senator to defeat Republican challenger Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).  The “Unite for Change” rally will take place in the city, which is situated in the western part of the state, about 10 miles southeast of Claremont.

New Hampshire Democratic Chairman Raymond Buckley told The Union Leader newspaper, “New Hampshire is honored to be the host of this historic event.”

While the Dems talk unity, the presumed Republican nominee found himself  rebuking one of his top advisers, who said that another terrorist attack on U.S. soil would be a “big advantage” for his candidate. 

MCain supporter Charlie Black is quoted in the upcoming July 7 edition of Fortune magazine saying that a terrorist attack “certainly would be a big advantage to him.”  The comments drew criticism form both McCain and Obama.  Black said Monday he regretted making the remarks.

McCain told reporters on the campaign trial, “I cannot imagine why he would say it. It’s not true. I’ve worked tirelessly since 9/11 to prevent another attack on the United States of America. My record is very clear.”

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer 

June 23, 2008 – Could the Black vote do for Sen. Barack Obama what it did for George W. Bush in 2004 – deliver a win?  The Democrats lost in 2004 because Bush carried states like Ohio and Florida. The Bush camp’s targeting of Black voters could have made the difference.  Bush was able to capture a win with double digits from Black voters and his strategists believe that’s what made the difference.

  So the Obama campaign is taking note and turning it’s attention to wooing Black voters, which they’ll need in swing states. But Obama wants to pull this off without alienating White voters.

No doubt more African-Americans will come to the polls in November, but historically Black voter turnout is low.  If this year’s primary season is any indicator, Obama will capture more than 85 percent of the Black vote.   Now the challenge will be to get those folks back, along with some others in the general election to the polls. 

David A. Bositis, who analyzes Black voting trends for the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, told The Los Angeles Times that he predicts Black turnout could rise by as much as 20 percent.  He isn’t alone; some Democratic strategists have been predicting it could be even higher. 

“This will be a completely new precedent,” said Bositis. “This year we’re going to be looking at record territory, and this will be a level of Black turnout that’s never been seen before,” Bositis said.

Obama’s campaign has reached a new and younger voting demographic too.  From his first Iowa caucus win, he has managed to attract young voters under the age of 35.  The campaign continues to target all races under 35; high school students who will be 18 by Election Day; college students; and Latinos who haven’t committed to either party or presidential candidate. 

Once these new or unaffiliated voters are found, the Obama campaign is reaching out in hopes of getting them to register to vote and get them to turn out on Election Day.  Because Obama has not run a campaign with a Civil Rights Movement theme or racial overtones, he’s managed to capture the Black vote without quashing the enthusiasm of White voters. 

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer
(June 20, 2008) – Sen. Barack Obama, whose unprecedented talent to inspire private donors via the Internet, has allowed him to opt out of a public finance system that would actually limit his fundraising ability for the general election. And it has also allowed him hit his Republican rival where it hurts the most – in the proverbial pocketbook. Obama will be the first presidential candidate to turn down public money since the system was enacted for the general election in the late 1970s. 

In a video announcement to his supporters, Obama said the public system is “broken” and that he could do this because of the grass-root support from 1.4 million folks who have supported his campaign through small contributions so far.

Republican Sen. John McCain quickly responded to Obama’s announcement, saying Obama had “gone back on his word,” to the American people.  Obama said his decision doesn’t conflict  with his support of campaign finance reform and the public financing of campaigns, noting more than half of his donors contributed less than $200.

The reversal by the Democratic nominee is bad news for McCain, who most likely will be compelled to rely on public funding for the general election, which has an $84.1 million spending limit.  

McCain raised the majority of his money from big donors who can’t continue to contribute to his campaign because they are maxed out.  So McCain will have to rely on shadow groups, known as 527s, which have millions to spend to help him battle Obama in the general election.

Obama said that the 527s are the reason he would not suppress  his fundraising prowess.  These technically unaffiliated organizations aren’t regulated and are credited with successfully ending McCain’s 2000 presidential bid; they were also the masterminds behind the swift boat ads that undermined Sen. John Kerry’s (D-Mass.) presidential bid in 2004.

 ”It’s not an easy decision, especially because I support a robust system of public financing of elections,” Obama told supporters in a video message Thursday. “But the public financing of presidential elections as it exists today is broken, and we face opponents who’ve become masters at gaming this broken system.”  

Obama’s decision could be another page in the presidential history book.  Having already shattered fundraising records during the primary season, raising $265 million, if he succeeds in raising an additional $200 million for the general election, he will have raised more money than any presidential candidate ever.
 

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer

(June 19, 2008)—It looks like “mo money” will be needed to win the White House for the Democrats’ presumed nominees, Sen. Barack Obama.  So on Thursday the freshman senator announced in a video message sent to supporters he will not take advantage of public financing for the general election.
Click to hear why. 

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer 

Photo by ABC/Steve Fenn

(June 18, 2008) —Michelle Obama proved Wednesday she is ready for primetime if her appearance with the ladies of ABC’s The View is any indication.  Obama joined the morning show anchors to talk about kids, politics, fashion and food.  But she also took the opportunity to set the record straight concerning some media attacks.

Her arrival on the show was greeted with thunderous applause and she fielded questions with ease.  When asked about her comments the GOP have used to question her love of country she said, “Of course I am proud of my country. Nowhere in America could my story be possible. I’m a girl who grew up on the South Side of Chicago, my father was a working class guy who worked his shift all his life, and because of his hard work he sent not just me but my brother to Princeton… I am proud of my country without a doubt. I think when I talked about it during my speech, what I was talking about was having a part in the political process. People are just engaged in this election in a way that I haven’t seen in a long time and I think everybody has agreed with that that people are focused, they’re coming out.”

Obama appeared relaxed with the crowd and even praised folks who could be considered adversaries.  She acknowledged differences in opinions aren’t a bad thing.  She praised  co-host Elizabeth Hasselbeck for being comfortable with her beliefs.  She also gave her husband’s rival Sen. Hillary Clinton some dab for running a race that will also make the history books.

“I think that Hillary Clinton says she created 18 million cracks on a ceiling, and we need to keep pushing it and pushing it. Because it’s only until women like her step out, take the risk, take those hits, and it’s painful. And it’s hurtful, but she has taken them so that my girls when they come along they won’t have to feel it as badly.”

None of the co-hosts were absent; Barbara Walters escorted Obama onto the stage; Whoppie Goldberg and Joy Behar, both Clinton supporters were on hand to chat it up with 44 year-old wife and mother. 

But The View’s audience wasn’t alone when it came to positive responses for Obama.  In a ABC/Washington Post poll also released Wednesday revealed about half of the people surveyed view Obama favorably, including 42 percent of men,  54 percent of women, and two-thirds of Democrats.  Republicans weren’t as impressed. Fifty percent gave her unfavorable ratings. While most  Independents were … well, undecided.

 Watch the video below.