CNN=Politics Daily
(CNN) - With a week to go until Pennsylvania's Democratic primary, all eyes are on Sens. Hillary Clinton and Obama as they continue to battle for their party's nomination.
But, the presidential race had some competition Tuesday when Pope Benedict XVI arrived for his first official visit to the United States, garnering a greeting by President Bush and the first lady when his plane touched down outside of Washington, D.C.
In the latest episdoe of CNN=Politics Daily, Wolf Blitzer provides a quick look at past papal visits. White House Correspondent Ed Henry also reports on the potential impact of the Catholic vote in the 2008 presidential election.
Senior Political Correspondent Candy Crowley reports on how Sen. Clinton is trying to capitalize on the recent 'bitter' gaffe by Sen. Obama and on Obama's counterattack.
Sen. John McCain rolled out his major economic proposals in a speech Tuesday. Dana Bash reports on what the presumptive GOP nominee is doing to lay the groundwork for his face-off with Clinton or Obama during the general election.
Finally, Jessica Yellin takes a look at a potentially critical demographic in the 2008 presidential race - single women.
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McCain: 'I will contest every vote of every young American'
(CNN) - Sen. John McCain, who will be the oldest person ever sworn in to a first term as president should he win the White House in November, made it clear Tuesday that he is going to fight hard for the youth vote notwithstanding his age.
“I will contest every vote of every young American,” McCain told MSNBC’s Chris Matthews during an appearance on Matthews’s show set at Villanova University.
“He’s extremely eloquent,” McCain said when asked by Matthews why McCain thought so many young people are excited by Sen. Barack Obama’s oratory. “I think that there is a desire for change out there in America,” McCain added, sounding Obama’s dominant campaign theme.
“And the kind of change that I think I can make is reaffirm Americans’ faith in their future, in their ability to educate their children, to serve this country, and I think that I can provide that motivation,” McCain added.
Obama has overwhelmingly won over young voters in the Democratic primaries t so far. Should McCain face off against Obama in the general election, an age gap of some 25 years would separate the two men.
Specter announces recurrence of Hodgkin's
WASHINGTON (CNN) - Sen. Arlen Specter's Hodgkin's disease, which he battled in 2005, has recurred, but doctors said its return was detected early and Specter has an "excellent chance" of once again achieving remission, according to a statement issued Tuesday by the senator's office.
Specter will continue to perform his Senate duties and conduct his campaign for re-election to a sixth term, but will undergo 12 weeks of chemotherapy, the written statement said. Hodgkin's disease is a cancer of the lymphatic system.
The recurrence was found during a routine scan, which flagged small lymph nodes in Specter's chest and abdomen, the statement said. A follow-up biopsy of one of the chest lymph nodes was positive for recurrence, but a bone marrow biopsy was negative.
Reid jokes Dem race making him 'bitter'
(CNN) - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid joked on Thursday said the sharp back-and-forth of late between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama is having an effect on him.
"It makes me bitter," the Nevada Democrat said, invoking Obama's controversial comments that sparked strong criticisms from Clinton and Republican John McCain.
Reid went on to call the prolonged Democratic "healthy for our party," and predicted, "This is all going to be over fairly soon."
Clinton: Bush was 'unready' for presidency
WASHINGTON (CNN) - Hillary Clinton invoked September 11 on Tuesday, accusing President Bush of squandering the goodwill in America’s favor following the terrorist attacks.
"We have seen the power of the presidency placed in hands unready or unwilling to address the tasks that lie ahead," Clinton remarked at a luncheon hosted by Newspaper Association of America in Washington, D.C.
"Just think of the days after September 11. Imagine if President Bush had tapped into the wellspring of American energy, initiative and goodwill," she said, making an argument reminiscent of her former presidential rival Joe Biden, who regularly offered similar comments on the campaign trail and at the 2004 Democratic National Convention.
Her advisers billed Clinton's speech as a wide angle envisioning of her administration and how it would differ from President Bush's.
(UPDATE: Republican response after the jump)
Obama dons flag pin once again
Watch Sen. Obama in Washington, Pennsylvania Tuesday.
WASHINGTON, Pennsylvania (CNN) –- For the first time since a mini dust-up back in October, Democrat Barack Obama wore an American flag pin Tuesday at a town hall meeting with veterans in Pennsylvania.
But he didn't show up wearing the pin–instead, a Vietnam era veteran presented it to him on the ropeline as Obama made his way to the podium at the start of the event.
"I was just handed this," Obama said. "It's a flag pin. I think I'll go ahead and put that on."
He then did just that.
"I appreciate your service," Obama told Philip Fiumara, Jr., a Vietnam era veteran and undecided voter, according to the campaign.
"Thank you so much. It means a lot coming from you, and we are grateful to you."
This is the first time Obama has worn a flag pin on his lapel since it was widely reported last fall that he had stopped wearing one.
At the time, Obama said, "My attitude is that I'm less concerned with what you're wearing on you lapel than what's in your heart. You show your patriotism by how you treat your fellow Americans, especially those ones who serve."
Clinton, Obama go negative on special interest influence
(CNN) - Hillary Clinton’s campaign debuted a new 30-second television spot Tuesday that accuses Barack Obama of accepting donations from energy executives and supporting the Bush-Cheney energy bill – as the Illinois senator’s campaign unveiled a new mailer and Web ad that says she has accepted more lobbyist money than any other candidate.
“Every gallon of gas takes over three bucks from your pocket,” says the announcer in the new Clinton ad, ‘Pocket.’ “But Obama voted for the Bush-Cheney energy bill that put $6 billion in the pocket of big oil. Hillary voted against it….”
The new Obama mailer and Web ad make many of the same charges against the New York senator. "Clinton has taken money from lobbyists for oil companies, drug companies and insurance companies,” says the Pennsylvania mailer. “She says they represent ‘real people.’ Do they represent you?"
McCain camp pulls its proposal - for passion fruit mousse
(CNN) - For a few hours Tuesday morning, the latest campaign trail drama seemed to center not on policy or politics - but on pasta farfalle.
At least three “McCain Family Recipes” posted on John McCain’s campaign Web site and credited to his wife Cindy – including Ahi Tuna with Napa Cabbage Slaw, Passion Fruit Mousse, and Farfalle Pasta with Turkey Sausage, Peas and Mushrooms - appeared to be direct copies of dishes created by the Food Network. Another seemed to be a slightly altered version of a dish prepared by TV chef Rachael Ray.
The similarity was first noted by a New York attorney and appeared in a report on the Huffington Post Monday night.
The McCain campaign quickly moved to quell the controversy over cabbage slaw. “Apparently a web intern added Rachael Ray to our policy team without her knowing it,” McCain campaign spokesman Tucker Bounds told CNN Tuesday morning. “He was swiftly dealt with and the page is down for revision. Our apologies to Food Network …but according to our press assistant the passion fruit mousse is really worth trying.”
Cindy McCain appears to be the only candidate spouse this year to devote a share of the official campaign Web site to recipes; neither Bill Clinton nor Michelle Obama currently have posted their favorite dishes on their spouse’s presidential sites. No word yet on when the Arizona senator's wife might unveil a new plan for the nation's Ahi tuna lovers.
Published on: April 15, 2008 at 8:45 am
New Obama spot responds to Clinton ad
(CNN) - Less than a day after Hillary Clinton’s campaign released an ad that said voters were “insulted” by Barack Obama’s recent remarks about some small-town Americans, the Illinois senator’s campaign released a new Pennsylvania spot Tuesday that says people are “rejecting Hillary Clinton’s attacks.”
The 30-second ad opens with some members of a Pennsylvania crowd reacting badly to Clinton in Pittsburgh Monday when she said “I know that many of you, like me… were disappointed by recent remarks that [Obama] made.”
Says an announcer, “There's a reason people are rejecting Hillary Clinton's attacks. Because the same old Washington politics won't lower the price of gas or help our struggling economy. Barack Obama will represent all Americans. He offers a new approach….”
Obama himself adds: “When we get past the politics of division and distraction and we start actually focusing on what we have in common, there's nothing we can't accomplish…”
Some NC 'Women for Hillary'... aren't
(CNN) - Hillary Clinton’s campaign released a list of 100 North Carolina “Women for Hillary” Tuesday, featuring 98 of the state’s most prominent Democratic women – and two men with gender-neutral names.
North Carolina Public Radio and the Raleigh News and Observer report that Dana Cope - president of the State Employees’ Association of North Carolina – was inadvertently included in the press release of women backing the New York senator.
Also on the list: Ashley Thrift, a Winston-Salem lawyer and chief of staff to former North Carolina Sen. Ernest Hollings.
The Clinton campaign told the News and Observer: "We are proud of the broad support Senator Clinton has from women... and men across North Carolina."
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