HOLLYWOOD-- Barack Obama, hit with accusations he snubbed Hillary Rodham Clinton at Monday's State of the Union address, dispenses with the issue at the top of the Democratic debate on Thursday.
" I also want to note that I was friends with Hillary Clinton before we started this campaign," Obama said.
Inside the Democratic debate press filing center(a bar, converted for the night) at the Kodak Theater. My Chicago Sun-Times colleague Mary Mitchell is in the center of the photo. (Photo by Lynn Sweet)
HOLLYWOOD--There is a little time before the Democratic debate starts, so let me digress from politics and tell you the kick I just got from checking out the inside of the Kodak Theater, the home of the Academy Awards.
LOS ANGELES, CALIF.—Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton meet Thursday at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood—the same place where the Academy Awards are hosted—to meet in their first two-way debate.
“There are a lot of people in these Feb. 5 states who might be watching to a higher degree than they have in the past because they will be voting in five days,” said Obama campaign manager David Plouffe, who just wrapped up a conference call with reporters.
WASHINGTON--John Edwards is dropping his presidential bid, deciding he had little chance of being resurrected on Feb. 5 "Super Tuesday" votes. Meanwhile, Caroline Kennedy, who already cut a commerical spot for Barack Obama is traveling with him on Wednesday to rallies in Denver and Arizona.
Who does this help? Edwards departure cuts both ways for Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama.
Barack Obama poses for a picture with a cousin; summer, 2006 at an Illinois Breakfast in the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington (Photo by Lynn Sweet)
WASHINGTON--In El Dorado, Kansas on Tuesday, White House hopeful Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), talked about his maternal grandparents--a reminder that when race comes up in the campaign, Obama has a complex story to tell.
Fox News' Bonney Kapp has a terrific video with an interview of one of Obama's grandmother's cousins at the El Dorado event. LINK
WASHINGTON--My colleague Chris Fusco has the story LINK http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/766087,rezkocash012908.article about how Barack Obama decided to return all Rezko related campaign cash.
WASHINGTON--Barack Obama, asked Tuesday about whether he snubbed Hillary Rodham Clinton at the State of the Union said no, he did not.
" I was surprised by the reports this morning. There was a photograph in the Times about me sort of turning away. I was turning away because Claire asked me a question as Senator Kennedy was reaching for me. Senator Clinton and I have had very cordial relations off the floor and on the floor. I waved at her as I was coming in to the Senate into the Senate chamber before we walked over last night.
"There is a lot more tea leaf reading going on here than I think people are suggesting."
(A list of the Kennedy family members at the Obama rally is at the end of this column.)
WASHINGTON — Two generations of Kennedys — Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), his son, Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.), and niece Caroline — provided Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) with powerful testimonials Monday when they appeared together and said he could be a president in the mold of John F. Kennedy.
WASHINGTON--The Obama campaign has gotten around to forming a pool to cover some Barack Obama events and it was my turn on Tuesday night; the national pool is alphabetical order by news outlet. As it happened, the event I pooled was an Obama fund-raiser. There is progress on the Obama disclosure front. I was given, when requested, a copy of the invitation with the hosts names. The funder was headlined by Obama, Washington Mayor Adrian Fenty and Sen. John Kerry, who was with his wife, Teresa.
WASHINGTON--Bill Clinton hits one of his favorite Chicago spots, 437 Rush, owned by pal Phil Stefani, on Tuesday for a fund-raiser for Hillary Rodham Clinton.
On Wednesday, the former president stumps at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville; it's near a St. Louis media market (for the Missouri vote) and is part of Downstate where the New York senator may pick up some Illinois delegates.
WASHINGTON---"I know that he's ready to be president on day one,' said Sen.Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) in endorsing Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) for president, turning a line Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) uses against her.
With Kennedy was son Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.) and niece Caroline Kennedy. "Your mother and father would be so proud of you today," Sen. Kennedy said to Caroline.
WASHINGTON--When Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) and niece Caroline Kennedy endorse Barack Obama here in a few hours, add Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) to the picture. Patrick, the son of Ted, cousin of Caroline, will also be endorsing Obama.
WASHINGTON -- Democratic icon Sen. Ted Kennedy will endorse Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) for president today, passing him a generational torch at a rally here attended by his niece, Caroline Kennedy, and handing a disappointment to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.).
The endorsement of the Kennedys -- Caroline, daughter of President John F. Kennedy, announced her support for Obama in a Sunday New York Times column -- comes as the highly aspirational Obama campaign has been drawing parallels with President Kennedy and seeking a claim on his inspirational legacy to the nation.
WASHINGTON--The Obama Illinois campaign, in advance of the Feb. 5 balloting--where the Clinton team is making a run for Illinois delegates--is ramping up, with all the top Democratic office holders stumping for Barack Obama starting on Monday with one exception--Gov. Blagojevich. There's just too much heat on Blagojevich.
German author Christoph von Marschall, based in Washington, just published "Barack Obama: The Black Kennedy" drawing comparisons between Obama and JFK, who on June 26, 1963 said "As a free man, I take pride in the words 'Ich bin ein Berliner." (photo by Lynn Sweet)
COLUMBIA, S.C.—Bill Clinton, criss-crossing the country as a mega-surrogate for his wife as the “Super Tuesday” Feb. 5 votes loom in Illinois and 22 other states, hits Chicago on Tuesday night and Wednesday to stump and raise money for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.). Clinton was supposed to appear herself at a Tuesday fund-raiser, but Bill may fill in for her.
Meanwhile, ABC News, Susan Milligan of the Boston Globe LINK and other outlets are reporting that Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) will endorse Obama Monday at a rally in Washington D.C. on the campus of American University (near my house, I can walk to it!). This comes a day after landing JFK daughter Caroline's backing.
COLUMBIA, S.C. — For years, Barack Obama has simmered over the notion — based in some reality — that he won his U.S. Senate seat from Illinois because of a series of flukes. Denied New Hampshire and Nevada by Hillary Rodham Clinton, Obama wanted a South Carolina victory to prove that his Iowa win was not a fluke.
