CNN=Politics Daily
(CNN)—In the latest installment of CNN=Politics Daily, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are planning to join forces to help the Illinois senator capture the White House in November. CNN's Suzanne Malveaux reports on Clinton's plans to hit the campaign trail in hopes of rallying support behind Obama's candidacy.
Meanwhile: presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain spoke in Canada Friday about his support of free-trade policy and worked to portray Obama as a protectionist. CNN’s Dana Bash has the details.
Plus: Obama accused the Arizona senator Friday of flip-flopping on immigration policy. Senior Political Analyst Bill Schneider reports.
Finally: Mayor Michael Bloomberg urged voters to reject false rumors surrounding the presidential candidates. The New York mayor encouraged the electorate to focus exclusively on the facts when deciding what candidate to vote for in the fall. CNN's Mary Snow reports from New York.
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When the Obama logo and presidential seal collide
The Obama campaign debuted a new logo Friday that bears a striking resemblance to the presidential seal. Photo credit: AP, White House.
CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) – Presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama sat down in Chicago Friday morning to discuss the economy with visiting Democratic governors, but all eyes were on the Illinois senator’s podium bearing, what might be described as, a quasi-presidential seal – a new Obama campaign logo.
The seal includes the same bald eagle as the actual presidential seal clutching an olive branch and arrows in its talons, but instead of a shield covering the center of the eagle’s body, the Obama version displays the campaign’s trademark “O.” Unlike the Presidential seal, which includes the words “Seal of the President of the United States” around the circumference, “Obama for America” and “www.barackobama.com” grace the top and bottom of Obama's.
Finally, just above the eagle, in Latin, are the words – “vero possumus” – which translates to “yes we can,” the oft-heard chant at Obama rallies.
It remains to be seen how the new seal will play in the campaign’s quest to win over working-class voters.
What do you think of the logo? Your comments below.
Obama raised roughly $22 million in the month of May
(CNN) — The Obama campaign said Friday it had raised $21.9 million in the month of May, along with nearly $690,000 in general election funds.
In its monthly campaign finance report filed with the Federal Election Commission, the campaign said its cash on hand figure was $43.1 million.
In April, the Obama campaign reported $31 million in donations. Monthly FEC reports for all presidential candidates are due by midnight.
CNN poll of polls update: Obama leads McCain by six points
(CNN) – CNN’s poll of polls has been updated to reflect a new Newsweek poll .
Sen. Barack Obama has gained two percentage points in his lead over Sen. John McCain, according to the latest CNN poll of polls released Friday.
Obama now leads McCain by 6 percentage points – 46 percent to McCain’s 40 percent. In the previous CNN poll of polls, Obama’s lead was 4 percentage points.
The national general election “poll of polls” consists of three surveys: Newsweek (June 18-19), Gallup tracking (June 16-19), and Fox News/Opinion Dynamics (June 17-18). The poll of polls does not have a sampling error.
Polls: McCain-Obama race tightening
(CNN) – Sen. Barack Obama has lost a percentage point in his lead over Sen. John McCain, according to the latest CNN poll of polls released Friday.
Obama now leads McCain by 4 percentage points – 45 percent to McCain’s 41 percent. In the previous CNN poll of polls, Obama’s lead was 5 percentage points.
Friday’s poll of polls is comprised of five national general election surveys: (1) Gallup tracking (June 16-19), Fox News/Opinion Dynamics (June 17-18), Cook/RT Strategies (June 12-15), ABC/Washington Post (June 12-15), and Reuters/Zogby (12-14). The poll of polls does not have a margin of error.
MoveOn.org shutters its 527
WASHINGTON (CNN) - The political advocacy group MoveOn.org is getting out of the 527 business.
"While MoveOn Political Action has always been funded exclusively by small donors like you, we've held open the MoveOn.org Voter Fund – a separate "527" organization – which can raise money from big donors. We haven't actually taken any big-money checks since 2004," MoveOn.org Executive Director Eli Pariser wrote in an email to the group's members. "In light of the new politics offered by Barack Obama, I've come to believe it's time to close the 527 forever."
The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee has said he does not want "527s" and outside, independent groups advertising on his behalf in the general election. A "527" is an political organization that can raise money in high dollar amounts and launch political advocacy campaigns, including television ads.
Blitzer: What's wrong with a politician who changes views?
WASHINGTON (CNN) - There’s nothing wrong with people changing their minds. We all do it – all the time. But as Luke Russert reminded us at his father’s funeral this week, politicians have a hard time admitting that they ever change their minds. They are apparently afraid that they will be accused of flip-flopping, which supposedly is bad for a politician.
Luke said that Tim Russert would also point out that the Americans are a very forgiving people. They will certainly accept politicians changing their minds as long as they are up front about it. What’s wrong with political leaders simply saying they’ve had a change of heart? “I used to think one way, but now think another.”
I was reminded of this when Barack Obama announced this week that he was opting out of the public financing of his general election campaign despite earlier expressing support for the public finance system. His decision certainly made financial sense, given that he could probably raise at least $300 million for the campaign compared to the roughly $85 million available in public financing.
In explaining his decision, Obama insisted the current presidential general election finance system was “broken,” something Democratic Senator Russ Feingold, a leader in campaign finance reform, denied. Would it have been so bad politically for Obama if he would have just said: “The country needs me in the White House and this decision will help make that happen. We can’t take any chances. As a result, I changed my mind”?
McCain visits Canada; Obama blasts him on offshore drilling
(CNN) - Sen. John McCain was touting U.S.-Canada economic and energy ties in a visit north Friday, while Sen. Barack Obama hammered his GOP opponent for embracing offshore drilling and other energy policies.
On Facebook, it's game on for McCain
(CNN) – Anyone who thought John McCain’s campaign – which launched its very first Facebook application just two days ago – would make a major push on the social networking Web site when pigs fly… is right.
McCain’s new “Pork Invaders” application, launched Friday, is a video game that requires users to dodge incoming projectiles from flying pigs. If a user takes a hit from one of the application’s pigs, the user loses one of the three lives granted at the beginning of the game.
How do you kill the flying pigs? By shooting off vetoes. With each pig killed by a veto, users rack up millions of tax dollars as their score, and progress to the next level - but only after the game lays out campaign talking points like comparing the respective records of Sen. McCain and his rival, Sen. Barack Obama, on earmarks.
Party unity - and potential VPs - at Chicago roundtable
CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) – Barack Obama sat down with 16 Democratic governors on Friday in his hometown of Chicago to discuss all things economic and to emphasize the future partnership they envision between the White House and the states.
Conversation focused on energy, infrastructure, jobs, education and health care.
Obama strayed from his initial scripted remarks to hit John McCain on his recent proposal to allow states to decide if they want to drill for oil off their coasts.
"When I hear John McCain say that he is now in favor of the same oil drilling off the coast that he was opposed to just a week ago, what he doesn't tell you is that George Bush's own energy department has said that this would have no impact on consumers until 2030," said Obama.
The governors in attendance included seven who had supported Hillary Clinton's presidential bid, and several who have topped many experts' of lists potential vice presidential prospects, including Kansas' Kathleen Sebelius, New Mexico's Bill Richardson, and Pennsylvania's Ed Rendell.
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