This was Hillary Clinton’s campaign song, prior to the controversial choice of Celine Dion’s Air Canada theme, You and I. It was also former California Governor (now Attorney General) Jerry Brown’s theme song in his 1992 presidential primary campaign against Hillary’s husband. Right Here, Right Now, from the British group Jesus Jones.
** GIULIANI TO CALIFORNIA, ROMNEY USES PERSONAL FUNDS. Not surprisingly, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani comes to California later this week as the dash for the cash prior to the end of the second quarter fundraising period continues. It’s not clear if he is still the Republican presidential frontrunner.
On the one hand, he still leads Fred Thompson in most national polls. On the other hand, he is now behind in the four earliest states. Thompson has taken the lead in Nevada and South Carolina. And Mitt Romney, who today said that he is putting more money from his personal fortune into his campaign coffers — he did $2.35 million in the first quarter — has leads in Iowa and New Hampshire after spending unanswered millions on TV advertising.
** SCHWARZENEGGER CONFERS WITH SARKOZY, WILL BE LAST FOREIGN OFFICIAL TO MEET WITH BLAIR AS PRIME MINISTER. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today held a wide-ranging discusssion with new French President Nicolas Sarkozy at the Elysee Palace. The two discussed several matters, including Schwarzenegger’s 2008 trade mission to Europe and possible collaboration between California and France on climate change.
Schwarzenegger sees this as a particularly good time for that involvement, since France will be assuming the rotating presidency of the European Union. I’ll have a fuller report on this later.
Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s office confirmed that Schwarzenegger will be the last foreign official to confer with the outgoing prime minister at 10 Downing Street when the two meet in London tomorrow, and that their joint press conference will be the last Blair holds as prime minister. The two will conduct a roundtable on climate change strategies following their private meeting.
** CALI REPUBLICANS HAVE NEW TOP STAFFER. The California Republican Party, reeling in the wake of the departure of its chief operating officer, an Australian citizen who repeatedly ran afoul of US immigration law, has a new interim top staffer. He comes out of the party’s conservative heartland. Bill Christiansen was the longtime executive director of the Orange County Republican Party. Later, he was executive director of the Arizona Republican Party.
** EDWARDS ON TONIGHT. John and Elizabeth Edwards will appear tonight on The Tonight Show. They’re in California to raise money as the sprint to the end of the fundraising quarter continues. Host Jay Leno has a good set-up for a spirited segment. Elizabeth Edwards announced in San Francisco, where she took part in the annual Gay Pride festivities, over the weekend that she supports gay and lesbian marriage. John Edwards does not, though he does support civil unions.
** OBAMA TV ADS NOW ON. Barack Obama is making a sudden move in Iowa, where polls show him close to a lead. Here are the two TV ads he has just launched. They are introductory spots. One, called “Carry,” is about his bipartisan success in the Illinois Senate on health care, ethics reform, and worker programs. The other, called “Choices,” is about his background as a young man and decision to work as a community organizer in Chicago, turning down the big money offers that came his way as president of the Harvard Law Review.
** NO SCHWARZENEGGER WEBCASTS FROM EUROPE. Unfortunately, there will be no webcasts of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger with French President Nicolas Sarkozy or British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
** OBAMA TO LAUNCH TV ADVERTISING IN IOWA. NWN previously reported that Barack Obama’s campaign was exploring doing TV ads in early states. Today it announced that two TV ads will begin airing in Iowa, where the Illinois senator is in a three-way statistical dead heat with Hillary Clinton and John Edwards in the latest polling. The ads are introductory spots and will be linked to here when available. The strategy of early TV advertising has worked well for Republican Mitt Romney, who’s already spent millions on media buys.
** SCHWARZENEGGER IN AUSTRIA YESTERDAY, FRANCE TODAY. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger returned to his native Graz, Austria yesterday for the first time since his name was stripped from the city’s sports stadium after he approved the execution of a famous LA gang leader convicted of murder. It’s only his second trip to Austria since his election as governor of California in the dramatic 2003 recall election. Schwarzenegger retains his Austrian citizenship as well as his American citizenship.
Today the European Union member meets with new French President Nicolas Sarkozy to discuss trade and a possible pact between California and France to combat climate change. Tomorrow, the former action movie superstar will be in Britain to confer with his friend, outgoing Prime Minister Tony Blair, who leaves office on Wednesday. The two will further their alliance on climate change. I’m going to find out about possible webcasts of these events.
** NEW NEVADA POLL. CLINTON LEADS DEMOCRATS, FRED THOMPSON LEADS REPUBLICANS. A new Mason-Dixon poll released over the weekend shows Fred Thompson moving into the lead among Republicans in the second-in-the-nation contest in the Silver State, with Hillary Clinton maintaining her strong lead there among Democrats.
On the Democratic side, Clinton is first with 39%, Barack Obama is second with 17%, John Edwards third with 12%, and Bill Richardson fourth with 7%.
Fred Thompson becomes the third candidate so far this year to lead in Nevada. He’s at 25%, Mitt Romney is at 20%, one-time leader Rudy Giuliani is at 17%, and John McCain, who took a lead there last month, has slid to 8% amidst the immigration controversy (He’s co-author of the Senate bill with Ted Kennedy, not a popular figure among many Republican primary/caucus voters).
Keep in mind these polls are early, and numbers in a state presidential primary or caucus can turn very rapidly with the onset of very active campaigning. While the Democrats in particular have made a number of forays into Nevada — and held the first two presidential forums of the campaign — there has been very little competitive engagement so far.
** ANTI-GOP PARTY CHAIRMAN WEB SITE SPRINGS UP. Just like that, within hours of the resignation of the top staffer for the California Republican Party following the revelation of his troubled immigration background, a web site has sprung up calling for the ouster of the man who championed him, state Republican chairman Ron Nehring. As you can see, research reveals that it was done through an anonymous registration service in Arizona. I blanked out the contact phone numbers.
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** AL QAEDA’S AMERICAN PRISONERS STILL NOT LOCATED. American troops are now in the midst of a 44th day of searching for the remaining two US soldiers captured by Al Qaeda in an ambush south of Baghdad. They have had no luck so far. A video put out by Al Qaeda forces in Iraq claims that all three men were executed after being captured. But, with the exception of the Californian found floating in the Euphrates River, that claim can’t be confirmed. The US high command in Baghdad has revealed that ID cards for the other two American prisoners were found in an Al Qaeda safehouse on June 9th.
** Track global and national energy prices in near real time via Bloomberg. Most crude oil prices have dipped below $68 per barrel on settlement of the Nigerian oil strike. Nigeria is the world’s fifth largest oil producing nation.
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Well, The Great Canuck Purge of 2007 is underway. Hopefully Celine Dion will be next.
And hopefully, Bill Shatner’s paperwork is in order.
Nevadans are only reacting to national publicity, it looks like.
Actually, it was the Australian guy who was forced out.
I’m shocked. Those pigs. How can they look to recall such a fine American. He is an American, isn’t it?
When I wrote about it was more amused than outraged but I thought those hires might stir up the nativist base of the CA GOP. But the news that their Aussie has, shall we say, some curious items in his resume, just makes it more delicious.
Will this help Arnold rescue the party from these nuts? Maybe but see Robert “The Prince of Darkness” Novak’s column today questioning the Governator’s GOP Bona Fides. Since it is well known that he has impecible sources inside the Republican Party I’ve got to think they’re sending a message via the pundit. And it ain’t good news for Swarzenegger.
Their counter strategy of blaming the liberal press was working pretty well until investigative reporter Lance Williams got in the act.
“Is Arnold Schwarzenegger really a Republican?”
Well, BOB, does being a Republican mean being:
Unpopular, ineffective, under indictment, incapable of implementing policy goals and holding views out of the mainstream?
Then no, BOB, Arnold isn’t a Republican.
Oh, and he never outed a CIA operative for political gain either, BOB, incase that’s what it takes to enter your little tree fort these days.
As usual with Novak, there are a number of inaccuracies in that column.
For one thing, Schwarzenegger is not the only statewide Republican elected official. There’s other stuff. Life is too short to fact check Bob Novak.
Oh, I didn’t even think to read Novak’s column for facts.
If anyone finds a lost fact in forest of dribble, we should offer a reward for it’s safe return to reality.
That’s a cool song.
Right. You don’t read Novak for facts but for what the GOP insiders are thinking – and what they’re trying to tell others. And its interesting that they’re turning their guns on the only guy popular in CA. I mean Tom McClintock?
That’s a stupid column by Bob Novak. He’s channeling the Flush Report.
obama’s ads look good. real good.
Perhaps a bit … post-partisan?
Well, I was thinking both ads address electability.
The first ad highlights accomplishments (addressing Obama’s chief weakness – experience). It also frames him as someone who can appeal to moderates – which polling has shown is a major weakness of Hillary. Given the last two presidential races, Democrats are really hungry for a win and electability is going to be a bigger issue in the primary.
The second ad highlights his experience, but also his youth and “Washington outsider” status. Always nice to remind voters of all the good works you were doing when the two other front runners were voting for the Iraq war.
These are good ads — I wish Edwards had money to run this kind of stuff too. Sigh.
I like the Obama ads. He looks fresh.
Yeah, I think the ads are pushing his reasonable nature, his authenticity, idealism, ability to work across partisan divides that people are tired of.
His media consultant, David Axelrod, is very good. Notice how each starts with “The Obama Story” motif. They’re crafting a narrative for the campaign.
Did you know that Axelrod once worked with Gray Davis?
BTW, do you like this song better than the Celine Dion?
Hasn’t Axlerod worked for EVERYONE (who has money anyway)?
Yes, that song IS better than Celine Dion.
A soundtrack of nails on chalkboard would be better — assuming the chalk and board aren’t from Canada.
He has been around the block.
Incidentally, a top hand with Angelides has resurfaced in a key role campaign role. Can you guess who and with whom?
I’m guessing Cathy Calfo. Please tell me Hillary hired her…
Pollster Paul Maslin with Bill Richardson.
I like Richardson – hopefully Maslin can model something close to reality for him, rather than spin a web of fantasy like the one that encompassed the Angelides campaign.
Maslin is a good pollster. I heard he hated most of what went on in the Angelides campaign.
We didn’t really hear from Paul Maslin after Angelides eked out his primary win last June.
Appologies to Maslin. Apparently he spent most of his time on the oil tax thingy.
oh, and the property rights measure
evidently the enviromentalists had maslin for most of the election cycle…and one prominent developer
Here is Meat Romney’s reaction to today’s Supreme Court ruling:
“Score one for free speech … McCain-Feingold was a poorly-crafted bill. Today’s decision restores, in part, to the American people a right critical to their freedom of political participation and expression.”
Quadrophonic Blaupunkts for everybody!
“Bill Christiansen was the longtime executive director of the Orange County Republican Party.”
Does he have any connections with the OC Republicans who bankrupted the county, by privatizing its finances into the hands of cronies of the local party machine?
If so, three cheers for him — I hope he bankrupts his new operation, too!
Re: “Right Here,Right Now” would be a perfect campaign song….IF they used the version by Van Halen.(Right Now)..not Jesus Jones. Who has sold more albums Van Halen (Rock Gods) or Jesus Jones? Who will be voting in this election British music fans or Van Halen fans?
Back to my nap:)
Those aren’t the same song are they?
Bottom line, If you want to be competitive with Obama…your campaign better inject a little hard rocking youth into it.
…I am that voting block that actually votes…so give me what I want..As of today the campaigns are putting me to sleep.
No, it’s not the same song. Van Halen is like the 1970s and 80s.
Carole — you need to watch the video again. Apparently, Jesus Jones lead to the downfall of Communism. Show a little respect!
Kids today could learn alot by listening to Eddie Van Halen’s guitar work on Eruption.
Yes, exactly, twas music slew the beast.
They’re very different songs. I don’t know that the Van Halen songs has quite the right message for a presidential campaign.
He spent a lot of time on the Angelides campaign.
>Brasky :
Appologies to Maslin. Apparently he spent most of his time on the oil tax thingy.
Jun 25, 2007 02:54 PM
It’s an interconnected group there.
>RM ‘Auros’ Harman :
“Bill Christiansen was the longtime executive director of the Orange County Republican Party.”
Does he have any connections with the OC Republicans who bankrupted the county, by privatizing its finances into the hands of cronies of the local party machine?
If so, three cheers for him — I hope he bankrupts his new operation, too!
Jun 25, 2007 04:25 PM
The Orange County official who bankrupted the county was Treasurer Robert Citron. He was a Democrat.
The Supervisors should have put a lot more controls on what Citron was doing, and although those guys were Republicans, Gaddi Vasquez was the only one who was part of the GOP power structure (Harriett Wieder, Roger Stanton, William Steiner, and Tom Riley were the other 4).
That’s outrageous spin.
Capitol Boy,
Please refresh my feeble old mind, Citron wasn’t the goat?
Eruption! Yes wildly fantastic song…Whew!
Jesus Jones…no
This song has a more … contemporary style, Carole.
Nobody is going to choose an Eddie Van Halen guitar solo for a presidential campaign song.
Contemporary? Hmm.. reminds me of the doctors office. Eddie Van Halen reminds me of my teens and 20′s…good memories and Eddie is still a hot rocker:)
Bill,
Please tell me Vegas is coming back soon!
Hillary should use Innagadddevidah!
Gov. Schwarzenegger in Europe is a topic I want to see more of.
Done.
Well, Celine Dion is a worse choice than Van Halen for theme music …
Doesn’t the new season of Las Vegas always begin in the fall? It’s hardly summer yet.
>carole w :
Contemporary? Hmm.. reminds me of the doctors office. Eddie Van Halen reminds me of my teens and 20′s…good memories and Eddie is still a hot rocker:)
Bill,
Please tell me Vegas is coming back soon!
Jun 25, 2007 08:38 PM
It is good to see Schwarzenegger in Europe again. I wish he come to Moscow.
Sen. Lugar crossed the line yesterday on Iraq, stating it was time to start downsizing, and that waiting for September was a mistake because the politics both there and here would only deteriorate further and make it ever harder to salvage American interests in the region.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/26/AR2007062600286.html
Could this be a watershed moment?