Presidential campaign cash in Alabama

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is the Lee County's top campaign money winner through Jan. 31, according to FEC reports and CNN. Clinton had raised $19,200 locally through the end of January, but now-defunct Democratic candidate John Edwards had led the way with most dollars raised statewide with $444,231.

McCain is a liber- ... I mean, never mind!

So ... Mitt Romney's come around to John McCain. From CNN:

Former Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney announced Thursday that he is backing Sen. John McCain in his bid for the Oval Office.

"I am honored today to give my full support to Sen. McCain's candidacy for the presidency of the United States," Romney said in a joint news conference with Sen. McCain by his side ...

One source said Romney wants to endorse McCain "in the interest of healing."

Healing, right. And let's remind ourselves, shall we, of why that "healing" is necessary. From Newsday:

Yesterday's endorsement apparently did not come easily, after McCain and Romney slashed each other with charges of duplicity, flip-flopping and being too "liberal."

Romney and McCain both noted their past battle as they sought to put it behind them.

"In the thick of the fight, it's easy to lose sight of your opponent's finer qualities," said Romney, who waited a week after his emotional withdrawal to make the announcement.

"But in the case of Senator John McCain, I could never quite do that," Romney said. "Even when the contest was close and our disagreements were debated, the caliber of the man was apparent."

McCain and Romney had a seriously contentious relationship during the campaign. There were times when the Arizona senator could barely mask his downright contempt for the former Massachusetts governor. And there were times when he didn't bother to try.

As for Romney himself, it's no secret that although he has noted McCain's experience as a POW and introduced him Thursday as a "true American hero," he also believes McCain to be a traitor to true conservatism -- at least, that's what he said in his campaign commercials when the two were rivals.

What precipitated this change of heart? Romney's statements Thursday are at pointed odds with statements he made about McCain before Super Tuesday. So that begs the question: when was Romney distoring McCain -- during the campaign, or on the stage Thursday?

Or both?

Obamacans

If you've been wondering what it is about Barack Obama that is such a big deal, I have a video clip for you.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/23125215#23136897

This is a clip from an appearance Obama made in Madison, Wis., on Wednesday following his sweep of the so-called Potomac Primaries on Tuesday.

Obamacans, he explains at about 2:09 into the clip, are Republicans for Obama.

Watch this clip. I bet you won't be able to keep a straight face, no matter who you support.

This is one reason that Obama has done so well for himself during the presidential campaign. He connects with people.

Three for the show

A sweep of the so-called mid-Atlantic primaries (Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia) today have made Barack Obama the official frontrunner for the Democratic nomination for president of the United States.

Also, presumptive GOP nominee John McCain survived a scare from Mike Huckabee in the Commonwealth of Virginia to score three wins and close in on the 1,191 delegates he needs to secure the Republican nomination.

The evening's losers, Hillary Clinton and Mike Huckabee, insist that the losses aren't as weighty as it may seem. Clinton campaigned tonight in Texas, a March 4 state, seeming to add credibility to pundits' speculation that she will go through the rest of February without scoring any victories. Clinton's senior campaign officials have sought to quell such speculation by reminding donors and volunteers that although she may not win any states, she will be picking up delegates even in loss, an important distinction that will keep her competitive until March 4.

As for Huckabee, he maintains that he will stay in the race to give Republican voters a choice until one candidate -- presumably McCain -- amasses the necessary delegates to sew up the nomination.

In this weekend's column, we'll consider Clinton's strategy of looking ahead to March 4. In comments, give me a feel for how you think that strategy will play out.

What is a delegate, and why does it matter?

Political strategists on both sides of the Democratic primary have begun to quietly discuss the ever-increasing possibility that the nomination process could be a long and protracted one. If you're at all unclear about what delegates are and why they matter more than the popular vote, get up to speed now so that you'll be able to make sense of the stories to come. CNN's interactive (read: colorful and clickable, not at all like your high school civics book) Delegate Explainer is a great place to start.

Once you have a handle on delegates, we can discuss that mystical curiosity of democracy known as SUPERDELEGATES. Look for that in coming days (unless, of course, you are one, in which case Chelsea Clinton may be calling you for breakfast).

Break out the brooms

Barack Obama made it 5-for-5 Sunday with a win in the Maine caucuses (http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/02/10/maine.dems/index.html, http://youdecide08.foxnews.com/2008/02/10/wintry-weather-greets-maine-democratic-caucuses-goers/), completing a sweep of the weekend's primary action.

That led Hillary Clinton to break out a broom of her own: She swept out campaign manager Patti Solis Doyle and replaced her with longtime adviser Maggie Williams. Clinton herself put on a brave face while discussing the change with national media: the move wasn't indicative of any sea change in the campaign, she said; it was just a natural progression because this had already been a long campaign.

Privately, though, Clinton campaign staffers intimate that the change had been in the works since the former first lady's defeat in Iowa, and it was just a matter of time until it happened. Over the weekend, it appeared that Williams began to step up and take control; after that, all that remained was the official announcement.

This happened against a backdrop of a new awareness that top level advisers began to have about the campaign's financial and structural disarray. The volunteer base is not what it should be at this point; the campaign is strapped for cash; internally, some staffers were still going to Doyle for direction while others had already begun to take marching orders from Williams.

All this led, predictably, to what the New York Times reports in its Tuesday editions: that Clinton had a conference call Monday with "donors, superdelegates and other supporters" wherein she struggled to convince them that "the nomination is not slipping away from her" http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/12/us/politics/12clinton.html?ei=5065&en=83bd560436fa713f&ex=1203397200&partner=MYWAY&pagewanted=print).

The concern among Clinton faithful is understandable. Pundits -- and the campaign itself -- fully predict Obama to sweep Tuesday's so-called Potomac Primaries in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C. In fact, it could be March 4 before Clinton sees another victory. And while she will still be earning delegates in states Obama wins (as long as she registers at least 15 percent support in those states, as she presumably will), the concern is about the tsunami of support, victories and momentum Obama will be riding in to contests in Texas and Ohio on March 4.

Talking heads discussed tonight how Rudy Giuliani's strategy of Florida as a firewall after losses in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina failed him. I noted in a column last month that it's difficult to remain in the national consciousness as a winner if you aren't winning for a month or more. That hurt Giuliani, to be left out of the national conversation as a winner for three weeks headed in to Florida. It remains to be seen whether Clinton can take that risky formula and will success out of it on March 4.

Writers' strike news?

CNN reports that there may be a break in the writers' strike and that it may be over as soon as Monday.

YESSS!!

Now, when is 24 coming back?

Larry King

I forgot to mention earlier that I saw a preview for Larry King's show this weekend ... it's an encore of the show he did with Bill Maher earlier this week.

King had Michael Moore ("the irrepressible Michael Moore," to use the language from King's programs exactly) and Bill Maher on during the same week? What is it, Looney Week?

I want to see King's viewership numbers from this week when they are released.

John King

I hardly know what to talk about first, that John King just said John McCain needs to be Gumby or that Mike Huckabee has won primaries in states that don't matter.

On the first point, pundits were commenting on the apparent continued distemperment that Christian voters have with regard to McCain. King said, "What McCain needs to do, and it may be impossible for anyone other than Gumby, is reach to the left while holding on to the right" or something like that.

Gumby makes presidential political history.

(Actually, I think some people would prefer to vote for Gumby than the folks who are left -- on either side.)

On the second point, the crew was talking about why Huckabee is not getting out of the race quite yet. As long as he's winning, they opined, why get out? And as Huckabee himself pointed out earlier, why should he listen to people saying he should get out -- especially when those people (read: Texas Gov. Rick Perry) are McCain supporters?

Then King started talking about the so-called "Potomac Primaries" (or, as Gloria Borger calls them, the "Beltway Primaries") and how McCain should do much better there because the number of evangelical voters will drop significantly. His next comment was something along the lines of, "When McCain starts losing in primaries that matter, then we'll have something to talk about."

I'm not sure what he meant by that comment, but I'm pretty sure the folks in Kansas, Tennessee, Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia and West Virginia wouldn't like it much.

Preview of the general election

Folks, if you're watching Obama's speech at the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner, what you're seeing is a little preview of the general election. We didn't get to see much of Hillary Clinton's speech to this group a couple of hours ago, so we don't know how much of this ground she covered. But Obama is out to prove to Virginia Democrats tonight that he has what it takes to take it to John McCain.

He's covered all the hot topics of this campaign; notably, the war in Iraq, health care reform, energy policy, college affordability and the economy.

On that last part, Obama mentioned the "Bush-McCain tax cuts" and talked about how "the wheels came off the Straight Talk Express."

He even came after McCain on McCain's biggest asset -- foreign policy -- and he's coming with both barrels. Defending his controversial position about reopening diplomatic channels with foreign countries like Iran, Obama quoted JFK, arguably the Democratic Party's greatest modern hero. It's an example of what makes Obama so smart. He structures his arguments not only by disparaging the other side's position, but also by bolstering his own. It's a powerful -- and effective -- combination.

This is like watching a boxer try to make weight before a big fight. Obama's taking the general election stump speech out for a spin, kicking its tires and getting a feel for its rate of acceleration. From the looks of the turnout across the nation and they way people react to him, he'd better get comfortable in the driver's seat.

Jefferson-Jackson update

Barack Obama is taking the podium at the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner in Richmond, Va., where Hillary Clinton spoke about two hours ago. The crowd had a polite and even slightly enthusiastic reception for her. But ... they are going crazy for Obama.

CNN's Candy Crowley, reporting live from the dinner, is basically shouting into the microphone; still, she is barely audible.

This crowd is whipped up, and it's all because of Obama.

**Update: Obama has also been called as the winner of the contest in the USVI. I wonder if he'll plan a thank-you trip there ...?

Viewer challenge

OK, guys ... it's viewer challenge time.

The challenge is to listen to CNN and find something positive that Jeffrey Toobin says about the GOP -- either any of the candidates or Republicans in general. Let me know when you hear it.

For Toobin, just being liberal isn't enough. It seems the real joy for him is in being anti-Republican.

Obama wins Louisiana

I was watching the race, but Obama takes LA. Hillary is 0-for-3 on the night.

But remember, it's about delegates, not state wins ... lucky for her.

88 wins!!

Welcome back to Victory Lane, Dale Earnhardt Jr. ... It's been too long.

But judging from the dominance tonight, it looks like it will be a familiar place for you this year.

YES!! Things are right in the NASCAR world again!

Washington

Hey, what's with that big white space on the pie chart breakdown for the results from Washington? Are those voters who just dropped out rather than caucus for one of the other three GOP candidates? It would be nice if they'd tell us.

Campbell Brown ...

... is annoying.

Wow...

The map now has Google Map function. It is incredible to see satellite images of New Orleans -- and the blue tarps and vacant neighborhoods of the Ninth Ward.

What a sobering sight!

Whoo hoo!

John King and the CNN election map have appeared! Excellent!

Election history is so much easier this way, don't you think?

Oh no!

I missed an accident on the shootout. Man!! But at least the 88 is out front.

Polls close in Louisiana in just a couple of minutes. We'll know more about the so-called Huckabee surge -- like whether it's real -- in just a little while.

Hindsight is 20-20

I am seriously conflicted: Election returns on the cable news networks versus the Bud Shootout on Fox.

I should have let my husband talk me in to that picture-in-picture feature when we were looking for a new TV. If only I had considered another application for that technology than football!