By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer

 (June 12, 2008)  Stop the drama, and get the real deal about Sen. Barack Obama, his wife Michelle and where he stands on the issues.  That’s the reason the Obama campaign launched a new Web site today - to put an end to rumors and take on the folks spreading them head-on.  They’ve decided to fight Internet rumors on Internet’s turf.    

The war of words got underway because of what they consider a “smear” campaign against the freshman senator and his wife.  The website, www.fightthesmears.com, is up and running and will be maintained by the communication team with assistance from the current staff in the policy and research departments.

Some of the rumors the site clears up with “the truth” are; Obama is Christian not Muslim; he attended a secular school in Indonesia not a “radical maddrassa”; and that he w as sworn into the senate with his right hand on a Bible not a Koran.

Tommy Vietor, spokesman for the Obama campaign released a statement Thursday, saying, “Whenever challenged with these lies we will aggressively push back with the truth and help our supporters debunk the false rumors floating around the internet. This website is an action center that allows supporters to upload their address books and send emails to all of their friends. It’s not enough to just know the truth, we have to be proactive and fight back.”

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer

June 11, 2008 – On Tuesday, Democratic leaders gathered at party headquarters to rally behind their presidential candidate.  This symbolic gesture was to show the American people the long and often divisive primary battle is over, and all attention is now on defeating Republican Sen. John McCain in November. 

Chairman of the Democratic National Committee Howard Dean said, “I’m confident in the strength of our party as we work to elect Barack Obama our next president…and win seats up and down the ticket.” 

While Tuesday’s event featured all the party heavy-hitters including, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Democratic Governors Association Chairman Joe Manchin of West Virginia, more Democrats will gather on Capitol Hill today to discuss the troubled economy, an easy segue to Obama’s economic policy tour, which he launched on Monday.   

Sen. Debbie Stabenow, (D-Mich.), who joined her colleagues at the DNC Tuesday, will host the news conference to address the squeeze families are experiencing at the grocery store.   Stabenow will be joined by two senators from states Obama will need to win in November: Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey and Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania.  

Democrats might be getting it.  They’re showing some discipline, organization and discussing issues folks want to hear about.  

All this party unity is starting to annoy folks on the other side of the aisle.  The Republican National Committee circulated an e-mail Tuesday highlighting one Democrat who isn’t endorsing Obama for the White House.   

Rep. Dan Boren, the only Democratic member of Congress from Oklahoma, said Tuesday he couldn’t give his endorsement for the first term senator because he is “the most liberal senator” in Congress. 

But, The Associated Press reported, Boren also said he would cast his super-delegate vote for the senator at the August convention and vote for him in November.   “I think this is an important time for our country,” Boren said.

 ”We’re facing a terrible economic downturn. We have high gasoline prices. We have problems in our foreign policy. That’s why I think it’s important,” he added. 

  The Republican National Committee didn’t include that part of the story.

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer

(June 10, 2008) – Democratic Ohio Rep. Stephanie Tubbs-Jones told me Monday she has “no regrets” about her role as a national spokeswomen and co-chairwoman for Sen. Hillary Clinton’s campaign, even though it ended in a loss. 

I could tell she was still the loyal solider to her friend and colleague, even if it could bring her some negative political fallout from Black voters in her district.

“I think people were rushing her to suspend her campaign, Jones said. ”After 17 months of campaigning and delivering her message, she deserved the opportunity to talk to her family, friends and her supporters; she deserved the time.”

So when it was leaked Clinton might announce the end of her campaign on Friday or Saturday, Jones was disappointed that some of Clinton supporters heard about it on the news before she had a chance to tell them personally. 

But other Black lawmakers were anxious for Clinton to bow out so they could quickly give Obama their endorsement. Some who were backing Clinton were directly at odds with their constituents who had voted overwhelmingly for Obama. 

Jones, considered one of Clinton’s most enthusiastic supporters, said, she’s “prepared to support Obama.”  And she acknowledged, “They [the campaign] might not see me in the same role, filling the same capacity.”

When asked if she’ll lobby for Clinton in the No. 2 spot, she said, “That’s a decision he has to make. Do I think she should be on the list? Absolutely!”

But swaying lawmakers like Jones won’t be a challenge for Obama; his challenge will be persuading some of Clinton’s staunchest supporters to follow her lead. Jones says, “She  [Clinton] can help him – but he’ll have to do some work on his own.”

Work she says will need to start at the staff level.  Jones says once the folks who supported Clinton come together with those leading Obama’s campaign, cooridination of outreach will be easier. “The people in charge of his operation have to be willing to welcome some new people into the mix,” she said.

Those “new” people might be former Clinton campaign staffers, strategists, advisers and volunteers.  As of June 15, most paid staff will be off the Clinton payroll and some will likely be looking to join Obama’s national campaign staff. 

The transition for both campaigns over the next few weeks won’t be easy. Obama is morphing from a primary campaign to a general election, and Clinton is dissolving her primary campaign and evaluating her future in the Democratic Party.

“[Clinton] still has work to do to bring her supporters along,” Jones said. 
 

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer

June 9, 2008 – This week will mark another page in history when Sen. Barack Obama embarks on the campaign trail as the only candidate running for the Democratic presidential nomination. But his newly earned status increases speculation of who’ll he’ll pick for the No. 2 spot on his ticket.

Some folks already are weighing in, but Obama, who isn’t tipping his hand, has appointed a three-member panel to bring him a list of candidates for consideration. The panel is made up of former head of Fannie Mae, James A. Johnson; the daughter of President John Kennedy, Caroline Kennedy; and former U.S. Deputy Attorney General Eric H. Holder.

But supporters of Clinton are wasting no time pushing for the New York senator to co-pilot the Democratic presidential ticket.  Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.), the host of the secret meeting with Obama and Clinton last Friday, said on ABC’s “This Week” that she would like to see the “dream ticket,” with both Clinton and Obama, become a reality.

“Hillary Clinton is well known. Certainly, she had the popular vote in this election,” she said. “That is something, and that is something tremendous. Now, I believe the [vice-presidential] nomination is up to [Obama]. I can’t tell him what to do. Nobody else can tell him what to do. All I can say is I agree with [the Pennsylvania Gov.] Ed Rendell, that if you really want a winning ticket, this is it,” she said.

It’s doubtful anyone will influence the Illinois senator’s choice, or that he’ll make a hasty decision. Clinton waited 24 hours before acknowledging that Obama had captured the delegate lead, and only publicly conceded  after party leaders exerted political pressure on her to do so.   

But on Saturday, Clinton held her last political rally to thank her supporters and give Democratic Party exactly what it needed: a start down the path to party unity.  “I endorse him and throw my full support behind him and I ask of you to join me in working as hard for Barack Obama as you have for me. You’ll always find me on the front lines of democracy fighting for the future.”

Obama, who took the weekend off, released a statement following Clinton’s speech, saying, “Obviously, I am thrilled and honored to have Sen. Clinton’s support. But more than that, I honor her today for the valiant and historic campaign she has run. She shattered barriers on behalf of my daughters and women everywhere, who now know that there are no limits to their dreams. And she inspired millions with her strength, courage and unyielding commitment to the cause of working Americans.” 

Speaking of those “working Americans,” Obama will return to the campaign trial today starting a two-week tour to discuss the economy. His first stop will be Raleigh, N.C.  And there is no indication that addressing the running mate position is on the agenda at all. 

While Obama works to woo Clinton supporters and White working-class voters over the next few months, his Web site is already on it.  The site features a full page thanking Clinton for her support.  It reads, “Thank You Sen. Clinton,” with her photograph placed in the center of the page along with a link for folks to write comments to show their appreciation for the former first lady.

Clinton’s Web site also thanks supporters when they sign on and offers the video of her farewell speech, but in red bold letters the message is clear, “Support Senator Obama today.”

But here are a few of the names being tossed around as Obama’s running mate in addition to Clinton; former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (S.D.); Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia; New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson; Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana; and Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.
 

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer June 7, 2008 – It has been an amazing journey for Sen. Barack Obama, who has now clinched the Democratic nomination for president of the United States, making history by becoming the first Black man to do so.   His course from the state house to the White House has taken him through a number of twists and turns, peaks and valleys; so now BET wants to take you on his journey and recall the most memorable moments of this unforgettable campaign.   The half-hour special, produced by BET News, will be broadcast on BET Sunday, June 7, at 11 a.m. (ET).  But if you would like a sneak-peek at this extraordinary special, click on the link to watch “Obama’s “Journey to the White House: Top 10 Moments.”  

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer

Posted June 6, 2008 –  Sen. Hillary Clinton is still grabbing headlines after loosing the Democratic nomination.  She issued a statement late Thursday saying: “She is not seeking the vice-presidency, and no one speaks for her, but her. The choice here is Senator Obama’s and his alone.”

That may have opened the door for her private meeting with Obama last night in Washington, D.C., home.   Robert Gibbs, a spokesman for Obama, would only disclose that the meeting did not take place at Clinton’s home and that “it’s the end of the primary process. They wanted to talk about bringing these campaigns together in unity.”

Obama, taking a few days off from the campaign trail, returned to Chicago Thursday night following the meeting with Clinton.

Taking the high road, Obama expressed his appreciation for Clinton’s statement – a gesture that was really two days late.  But Obama told reporters, “There’s no decision that I’m going to make that’s going to be more important before the November election. I intend to do it right, and I’m not going to do it in the press.”