CNN=Politics Daily
(CNN) - In the latest installment of CNN=Politics Daily, Scott McClellan is responding to the criticism being directed at him over his new book, reports Ed Henry.
Barack Obama's doctor released a letter summing up the Illinois senator’s physical condition that declares him in "excellent health," says Candy Crowley.
Some of the lingering issues surrounding the seating of the Florida and Michigan delegations may be resolved this Saturday when the DNC's Rules and Bylaws Committee meets in Washington. Senior Political Analyst Bill Schneider takes a look at the possible outcomes of the meeting.
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Clinton campaign plans to keep going - but isn't saying where
(CNN) - Democrats, reporters and rival Barack Obama’s campaign have all been scrutinizing Hillary Clinton for signs she may continue her presidential run after the last primary takes place June 3. On Thursday, they got an answer: definitely maybe.
The press corps traveling with the New York senator received an afternoon e-mail asking them whether they wanted to stay on the road with the campaign next week – most of which falls after Tuesday’s votes in Montana and South Dakota, the final contests of the primary season.
Reporters were offered the option of traveling with the campaign on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, June 4-6.
But the Clinton campaign – which regularly informs journalists of travel plans just hours beforehand – is offering no other details, including possible destinations.
Said Clinton spokesman Jay Carson. "There are a lot of places for us to go between June 4 and November."
Clinton has double-digit lead in Puerto Rico
(CNN) - Hillary Clinton holds a double-digit lead in Puerto Rico, a new poll out Thursday suggests.
According to the new survey conducted for the newspaper El Vocero and Univision, the New York senator is leading Barack Obama there 51 percent to 38 percent among all adults in the commonwealth's primary this Sunday. The poll also show 52 percent of Puerto Ricans view Clinton favorably while 42 percent have a positive view of Obama.
The weekend primary will likely be the New York senator's last chance to boost her popular vote total, since Obama is widely viewed to have an advantage the final two primaries that vote Tuesday - South Dakota and Montana.
The survey was conducted May 8-20. Given the length of the survey time, it is possible it may not reflect the current views of Puerto Ricans since both candidates have visited the island since the polling began, and other recent developments on the campaign trail may have swayed voter's minds there.
Both Obama and Clinton paid visits to the island over the weekend, and Clinton is planning a return trip at the end of the week. Former President Bill Clinton and daughter Chelsea have also spent the majority of the week campaigning throughout the island, hoping to drum up a high turnout.
"You will never have a chance to vote for some one who cares more who has done more and who will do more as president," Bill Clinton told potential voters in San Juan Wednesday. "So I ask you all show up and be there for her. Talk to your families talk to your friends. Send a message back to the mainland on Sunday that Puerto Rico deserves to be considered and its potential is unlimited if only you had a genuine partner in the White House."
Fifty-five delegates are up for grabs, more than were awarded in each of the three most recent voting states - Oregon, Kentucky, and West Virginia.
Murdoch predicts McCain will lose
(CNN) – Rupert Murdoch offered a dire prediction Wednesday for John McCain's chances in the general election.
He will lose in a landslide, the News Corp. chairman said at a California conference, according to Reuters.
"You have got the Obama phenomenon, Murdoch said. "You have got, undoubtedly, a recession ... The average American is really getting hurt financially and that all bodes well for [Obama].
"You have probably the making of a complete phenomenon in this country," Murdoch continued, referring to what he thinks will be an overwhelming victory for the Democratic presidential candidate.
The News Corp. chairman, often viewed as a messenger for the Republican Party given his holdings include several media organizations with a conservative bent, also showered praise on the Illinois senator, calling him a "rock star."
While calling himself a friend of McCain, Murdoch said his lengthy stint in Congress has led the Arizona senator to make so many compromises that it is not clear where he stands on the major issues. He also called McCain "unpredictable," and questioned his knowledge on economic issues.
News Corp's holdings include Fox News, the Wall Street Journal, and the New York Post. The Post endorsed Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton earlier this year.
Blitzer: Why did McClellan revive the cocaine controversy?
WASHINGTON (CNN) – There are many stunning allegations in Scott McClellan’s new book on his years in the White House. But his decision to bring up President George W. Bush’s alleged cocaine use as a young man was perhaps most surprising. Why revive an allegation that has long been dormant?
McClellan recalls a phone conversation he overheard Bush having when he was still Governor of Texas and running for president some eight years ago.
“The media won’t let go of these ridiculous cocaine rumors,” he quotes Bush as having said in that conversation with a political supporter. “You know, the truth is I honestly don’t remember whether I tried it or not. We had some pretty wild parties back in the day, and I just don’t remember.”
McClellan says the comments “struck me” and “stayed with me to this day – not for what it revealed or concealed about the young George W. Bush, but for what it said about Bush as an older man and political leader, especially as revealed through my later experiences working for him.”
McClellan adds: “I remember thinking to myself, How can that be? How can someone simply not remember whether or not they used an illegal substance like cocaine? It didn’t make a lot of sense.”
When I interview the former White House press secretary Friday in The Situation Room, I will ask him why he decided to revive this issue now.
Cafferty: Clinton’s “I’m more electable” working?
Despite being hopelessly behind in pledged delegates and with only three primaries to go, Hillary Clinton refuses to give up. In fact, she continues to insist that she is more electable than Barack Obama.
Clinton told voters in South Dakota yesterday that her wins in swing states and her strong vote margins among certain groups make her more likely to beat John McCain in the general election.
At the same time, her campaign sent uncommitted superdelegates a letter with polling data showing how she could compete better than Obama in the fall. They pointed to her wins in states like Ohio and West Virginia along with her strong showings among older women, Hispanics and rural voters.
While Clinton has toned down her attacks on Obama in recent weeks, she has implied that if he becomes the nominee, the Democrats could lose in November.
To read more and contribute to the Cafferty File discussion click here
Pelosi prepared to 'step in' to end race
(CNN) – Hillary Clinton has hinted that she is prepared to take her fight to fully seat Florida and Michigan all the way to the party's convention in late August, but House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says that's not going to happen.
In an interview with her hometown newspaper, the San Francisco Chronicle, the California Democrat said she is prepared to "step in" if the presidential race does not resolve itself by the end of next month.
"I will step in," Pelosi told the paper. "Because we cannot take this fight to the convention…It must be over before then."
Pelosi, who will serve as chair of the convention, has largely stayed on the sidelines during her party's prolonged primary race. But the House Speaker has said Democratic superdelegates should not overturn the pledged delegate winner, and has warned of irreparable harm if they do so. Barack Obama officially won the majority of pledged delegates in last Tuesday's primary contests, though it's been clear for several weeks Clinton could not overtake him in that category.
Pelosi also indicated she opposes the Clinton campaign's desire that both Florida and Michigan's delegations be fully seated at the convention. The party stripped both states of their entire delegations last year after they moved their presidential primaries ahead in the nominating calendar.
Pelosi said she agreed the two states should be seated in some way, but said only "in a way that is not destructive to any sense of order in the party."
"If you have no order and no discipline in terms of party rules, people will be having their primary in the year before the presidential election," she said. "So there has to be some penalty."
The Democratic National Committee's Rules and Bylaws Committee meets Saturday in Washington to consider exactly how to seat both states. It's likely the committee will vote to meet the rule-breaking states halfway - a move that will help Clinton close the delegate gap with Obama but not overtake him.
Doctor: Obama in 'excellent health'
(CNN) - Barack Obama is in "excellent health," the Illinois senator's doctor said in a letter summarizing the presidential candidate's medical history.
Obama's campaign released the letter to the press Thursday.
Livin’ La Vida Clinton
(CNN) – Puerto Rican pop star Ricky Martin said Thursday that he will shake his bon-bon for Hillary Clinton in the race for the Democratic nomination.
“Whether fighting for better education, universal health care and social well-being, as First Lady and Senator from New York - representing millions of Latinos –she has always fought for what is most important for our families," Martin said.
Clinton said she was honored to earn the Grammy Award winner’s support.
“He is a very important voice in the Latino community and together we will work to improve the lives of families and children across the country,” Clinton said in a statement.
Puerto Rican voters head to the polls Sunday.
Clinton launches TV ad in Montana
(CNN) - Hillary Clinton is hitting the television airwaves in Montana, five days before that state holds one of the primary season's last two contests.
The 30-second ad, called "Only One," is a largely positive spot that promotes the New York senator's plan to tackle the special interests in Washington.
"She's the only one in this campaign who voted against the Bush energy bill against six billion dollars to the oil companies, the only one taking on the insurance companies to guarantee health coverage for every American and she's the one who'll end fifty five billion dollars in giveaways to corporate special interests and cut taxes for the middle class instead," the ad's narrator states.
The American Leadership Project, a pro-Clinton independent group also launched an ad in the state earlier this week.
Montana and South Dakota hold the final two Democratic primaries next Tuesday. Barack Obama is widely viewed to have an advantage in both states.
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