usdemocrats.com political news weblog
October 31, 2008
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usdemocrats.com political news weblog
October 31, 2008
back to weblog index
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New CNN Poll of polls: Obama
holding on to national advantage -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A new CNN Poll of Polls compiled Thursday evening indicates that 50 percent of likely voters are backing Obama for president, with 43 percent supporting McCain and 7 percent undecided. The previous poll of polls, compiled earlier
Thursday, suggested that Obama held a 5 point lead over |
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Some voters still waiting
on absentee ballots -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From CNN Associate Producer Martina Stewart
Some voters still haven't received absentee
ballots. Max Lohrey of La Junta in Otero County, Colorado called CNN’s voter hotline concerned that a missing absentee ballot might have “fallen into the hands of the wrong people . . . is this going to be used for fraud?” Chawnte Williams, is registered to vote in the Denver area but is currently out of state. Williams reports that she requested an absentee ballot earlier this month and was informed that it would not arrive until the end of October because of printing problems. When the ballot did not arrive as scheduled, she called to check on it again, and was told by her local election officials that they had no record of her requesting an absentee ballot. “So because of somebody’s clerical
error, now it looks like I might not be able to vote,” Williams
said on the hotline. "I feel like I'm not going to be able
to vote and there's no reason why," Williams also told CNN
in a telephone interview Thursday. |
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Fact check: Does group McCain
chairs have link to Columbia professor Khalidi? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Statement Get the facts!
The Facts Obama knows Khalidi from their days in Chicago, but his campaign says he "has been clear and consistent on his support for Israel, and has been clear that Rashid Khalidi is not an adviser to him or his campaign and that he does not share Khalidi's views." Since 1993, McCain has been chairman of the International Republican Institute — a nonprofit and nonpartisan group that helps promote democratic practices and institutions across the globe. The IRI, in an October 29 press release, said it "gave grants" to the Center for Palestinian Research and Studies for polling in the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and Gaza. The IRI said its "relationship with CPRS ended in 2000, and we understand that it no longer exists." "We understand that Rashid Khalidi was one of the many founders of CPRS, and we understand that he was for some (unclear) amount of time a board member," the IRI said. A defunct CPRS Web site lists Khalidi was one of the seven people who founded the group in March 1993. CPRS described itself as "an independent academic research and policy analysis institution." "Because CPRS is independent of political factions, it is in a unique position of being able to serve as a forum for meetings of Palestinian and international researchers from various political backgrounds and ideologies in a free academic and professional atmosphere," the group said.
The Verdict: True. There was a relationship
in the 1990s between the IRI, chaired by McCain, and the CPRS,
co-founded by Khalidi, which received IRI funding. |
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Court: Michigan must return
purged names to voter rolls -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From CNN Associate Producer Martina Stewart Sen. Obama campaigned in East Lansing,
Michigan at the beginning of this month. |
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Biden: GDP, ExxonMobil proof
McCain’s policies ‘upside down’ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From CNN Political Producer Alexander Marquardt
Biden claims that the Republican ticket's
economic policies are 'upside down.' “Here the entire economy of America is shrinking, and the oil companies are, this one in fact, made the largest profit in its history in a quarter,” said Biden. It was reported Thursday morning that Exxon Mobil made $14.83 billion in this year's third quarter. |
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Obama leads McCain 50-38 percent
in Mich. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081031/POLITICS01/810310366 |
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Obama retains seven-point
lead on McCain -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE49J0LF20081031 |
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How Electronic Voting Machines
Could Steal Our Democracy -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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House and Senate Race Roundup -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://feeds.dailykos.com/~r/dailykos/index/~3/jqQOxd4OiS4/647309 |
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Hoyer on TARP Provisions --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WASHINGTON, DC – House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today: “In the past few days, it has become apparent that some financial institutions are misinterpreting the intent of Secretary Paulson’s ‘Troubled Asset Relief Program.’ This program was set up to provide assistance to banks for the purpose of lending, not for the purpose of issuing excessive bonuses, severance pay, dividends, or acquisitions of other institutions. It is the responsibility of all parties involved to remember not only the terms, but the spirit of this program. “Let’s be clear, Congress will continue to exercise strong oversight of this program. And we will work closely with Secretary Paulson and the next Administration to ensure that the taxpayers’ interests are protected and that Main Street is truly the beneficiary of this important program.”
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C-SPAN Weekend Alert -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- C-SPAN Highlights Friday: Saturday: Sunday: Monday: Friday: Saturday: Monday: Friday: Saturday: Sunday: Monday: Saturday: Sunday: Monday: * Sen. John McCain Rally in Springfield,
VA - Sat., C-SPAN, 12pm ET LIVE ********************************************************************** Saturday: Sunday: Monday: * Banks that use infusions of federal funds for anything other than lending will be violating the terms of the financial rescue, House Financial Services Chairman Barney Frank warned Friday...- Full Story at http://www.c-span.org/capitolspotlight * For Halloween, which New York House member
represents the site of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”
in Congress? - Answer at http://www.c-span.org/capitolspotlight
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I want you to be there with
me on Election Night when the results come in. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We're planning a big event that will include tens of thousands of supporters in Grant Park in downtown Chicago. We're saving some of the best seats in the house for 5 people who make their first donation to the campaign before Sunday at midnight. If you're selected, you can bring a guest, and we'll fly you in and put you up in a hotel for the night. You'll go backstage at the big event and -- no matter what happens -- you'll have a front row seat to history as we celebrate the supporters who got us over the finish line. Any donation counts -- whatever you can afford. Show your support at this crucial time with a donation of $5 or more, and you could join me on Election Night: https://donate.barackobama.com/frontrow This movement for change has been a testament to the power of ordinary Americans coming together to achieve extraordinary things. I look forward to having you there on Election Night. Thank you, Barack |
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This Republican is voting
for the Democrats -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.thedailyjournal.com/article/20081031/OPINION03/810310345 |
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Dirty tricks: Flyers instructs
Democrats to vote after the election -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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Democrats ahead for three
GOP Senate seats -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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Libya makes final payment
to compensate terror victims -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WASHINGTON (CNN) — Libya has paid $1.5 billion to the families of terror victims, ending the remaining roadblock to full relations with the United States, the State Department said Friday. The payment ends Tripoli’s legal liability from U.S. terror cases and paves the way for increased U.S. involvement in the oil-rich nation. President Bush Friday signed an executive order restoring Libyan immunity from terror-related lawsuits and dismissing pending cases over compensation as part of a deal reached this summer. “The removes the last obstacle to
a normal relationship between the United States and Libya,”
said David Welch, the top U.S. diplomat for the Middle East,
who negotiated the agreement. He called Libya’s rehabilitation
from a terrorist nation to a U.S. ally “historic.” |
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Obama lays out priorities
for ‘09 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (CNN) — Sen. Barack Obama told CNN Friday that turning around the economy and energy independence are his top priorities for 2009 if elected president. In an interview with Wolf Blitzer in Des Moines, Iowa, Obama was asked to name his top priority from a list of issues, including taxes, health care, education, energy policy and immigration. “(The) top priority may not be any
of those five. It may be continuing to stabilize the financial
system. We don’t know yet what’s going to happen in
January,” he said. “None of this can be accomplished
if we continue to see a potential meltdown in the banking system
and financial system. So that’s priority number one —
making sure the plumbing works.” |
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Obama to advertise in McCain’s
home state -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Plouffe said the campaign will broadcast its positive spot, “Something,” in Arizona. “We’re running a positive ad there. It’s Sen. McCain’s home state. We’re cognizant of that,” Plouffe said. The latest CNN Arizona Poll of Polls, released
Friday morning, finds McCain leading by 4 percentage points in
his home state. |
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Civilian, local security death
tolls in Iraq dropping -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The official believes it is the lowest monthly Iraqi civilian death toll since the bombing of the Askariya Mosque in Samarra in February 2006, an event that caused widespread sectarian warfare. Listing figures from the Interior, Health, and Defense ministries, the official said 278 civilians were killed and 464 wounded this month, compared to 359 killed and 705 wounded in September. Twenty-two police were killed and 64 were wounded, compared to 56 killed and 145 wounded in September. Eighteen soldiers were killed and 40 were wounded, compared to 26 killed and 41 wounded in September. The figures illustrate the drop in violence
in Iraq. |
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A record 821000 vote early
in Illinois -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/A_record_821000_vote_early_in_Illinois.html |
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After millions of votes, Democrats
outnumber GOP -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/31/early.voting/?iref=mpstoryview |
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Research 2000: Arizona is
Very Tight -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Among the 17% of the sample that actually voted early, Obama leads McCain, 54% to 42%. |
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Daschle Still Favorite for
Obama Chief of Staff -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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PPP Poll: Obama Way Ahead
in Colorado -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Highlights: Sen. Barack Obama holds a double-digit lead in Colorado, but Sen. John McCain looks likely to win handily in West Virginia despite indications the race was more competitive there. Colorado: Obama 54%, McCain 44% Michigan: Obama 55%, McCain 42% Minnesota: Obama 57%, McCain 41% New Mexico: Obama 58%, McCain 41% Oregon: Obama 57%, McCain 42% West Virginia: McCain 55%, Obama 42% |
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CNN Electoral Map update:
McCain loses ground -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From CNN Associate Political Editor Rebecca Sinderbrand
Check out CNN's Electoral Map. (CNN) — Some tough news for John McCain in his own backyard, as his home state of Arizona moves from “safe McCain” to “lean McCain” in the latest CNN poll of polls. |
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Reagan official who endorsed
Obama lobbied to head transition; Duberstein denies claim -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From CNN Correspondent Dana Bash
McCain aides say a Reagan official who
endorsed Obama lobbied to head the Arizona senator's transition. |
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Pennsylvania GOP loses challenge
over alleged voter registration -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The state GOP accuses ACORN of widespread fraud in helping register some 140,000 voters in Pennsylvania. ACORN welcomed the ruling against the Pennsylvania state Republican party, spokeswoman Ali Kronley told CNN Friday, turning the GOP charges back against the party. ”This kind of manufactured crisis is masking their own efforts to keep voters from voting,” she said. The top lawyer representing the Pennsylvania
Republicans said they were “disappointed.” But, Heather
Heidelbaugh added, the wording of the court order indicates the
judge thinks ACORN has problems. |
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U.S. diplomat optimistic amid
Congo conflict -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Assistant Secretary of State Jendayi Frazer spoke to CNN International by phone from Kigali, Rwanda, Congo’s neighbor, where she planned to meet Saturday with Rwandan President Paul Kagame. Frazer, who visited Thursday with Congo
President Joseph Kabila, was making diplomatic rounds to deliver
a U.S. message: “We understand the need for the Rwandans
and the Congolese to work together to try to end the human crisis
that’s unfolded in North Kivu (province), as well as to
cooperate together to address the negative forces in the eastern
Congo.” |
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Justice deploying more than
800 federal election observers -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- While many of the problems that may occur
in what is expected to be a record turnout next Tuesday will
come under the purview of state and local officials since they
have the primary responsibility for running elections, the federal
government is responsible for making sure federal laws are not The primary law in question is the Voting Rights Act, which bans intimidation based on race, color, or religion. The department will also investigate and prosecute cases of voter fraud. Unlike in years past, the Justice Department announced last month it will not use any criminal prosecutors to monitor elections to allay concerns of some voting rights advocates including them would discourage some from voting. The observers will come from the Office
of Personnel Management while the monitors will be Justice Department
employees. Usually the destinations chosen are ones where claims
of discrimination have occurred in the past or where there are
current allegations. |
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Rebels open ‘humanitarian
corridor’, spokesman says -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- National Congress for the Defense of the
People (CNDP) deputy spokesman A spokesman for the International Red Cross
confirmed that the bulk of Congolese Tutsi General Laurent Nkunda
told CNN on Thursday that he “We are respecting our cease-fire
… We are waiting for the response (to |
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Unprecedented wait times plague
Georgia voters -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From CNN's Adam Levine and Marylynn Ryan
Long lines plagued Georgia polling places
this Halloween. At a downtown Atlanta location the wait was up to four hours Friday as the line stretched down three blocks according to CNN’s Rusty Dornin, who was in line herself at the location. And that location isn't even the longest wait for voters in that county. According to Jessica Corbitt of the Fulton County Office of Community Relations, at the Welcome All Center in South Fulton County the wait was five hours long. Three thousand people have voted at the Adamsville location, according to Beverly Isom, executive aide to Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin. Isom told us that those at the front of the line at 4 p.m. had been waiting to vote since 9am, and that hundreds more have signed up and continue to wait in line. Crowds are reported to be orderly and patient — but are weary of the six-hour wait. |
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Battleground 2008: Creating,
keeping U.S. jobs -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From CNN's Ed Hornick, Eliott C. McLaughlin, Kristi Keck, Rebecca Sinderbrand and Scott J. Anderson
Since losing his job in July, Jon Lowder
is taking resume-building and networking classes. In a CNN.com special report, Battleground Voters, we talked to voters in five battleground states — Colorado, Florida, Missouri, North Carolina and Ohio — to find out how the economy would influence their choice for president. In the last of four parts, we talked to the unemployed, who say keeping jobs in their communities and in the country is key to their vote. |
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Congressman Dennis Kucinich
urgently needs your help -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Congressman Dennis Kucinich urgently needs your help to ensure that your voice will continue to be heard. http://kucinich.us/contribute |
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Students pick Obama in virtual
election -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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Displaced by Katrina, unsure
of Election Day -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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After millions of votes, Democrats
outnumber GOP -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/31/early.voting/?iref=mpstoryview |
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Simulation Shows Obama Will
Win -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Adams has developed a simulation model that involves running 50 million simulated state-by-state races, using the late-October poll results for each state. He ran his simulation 50 million times to allow him to calculate all the different combinations of electoral votes that might result, even long shots. While the number of possible outcomes is very large, the result is always the same. Obama receives 270 or more electoral votes 99.98% of the time. Using intervals of electoral vote results, there is a 95 percent chance that the outcome will have Obama winning between 303 and 381 electoral votes. |
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Obama Urged to Pick Cabinet
Soon -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Said Reagan chief of staff Ken Duberstein: "Decisions on the White House chief of staff, national security adviser, Treasury secretary and other top officials 'need to be made in the initial week to 10 days of a transition period." Said Clinton chief of staff Bill Clinton: Obama must "be able to transition very quickly" because "this president obviously is going to face some huge challenges." |
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McCain and Obama focus on
differences on economy -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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Obama Seeking Votes in Republican-Rich
Soil -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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Obama: McCain wears Bush mask -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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6 states to decide McCain-Obama
race -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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Counties report record-breaking
early voting turnout -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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Candidates campaign in Midwest
days before election -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |