Subject: Hillary For President News Briefing for Thursday, May 22, 2008
From: "Bulletin News Network" <[email-masked]>
To: [email-masked], [email-masked], [email-masked]
Date: 22 May 2008 06:31:40 -0400

HILLARY FOR PRESIDENT NEWS BRIEFING (Executive Version)
Full version is attached and available online at http://www.bulletinnews.com/clinton

TO: CLINTON CAMPAIGN

DATE: THURSDAY, MAY 22, 2008 6:30 AM EDT

TODAY'S TABLE OF CONTENTS

SEN. CLINTON'S CAMPAIGN:

+ Clinton Pledges To Take Florida, Michigan Dispute To Convention.

+ Polls Show Obama Making Inroads With Clinton Supporters.

+ Obama Nets Two More Superdelegates; Clinton Adds One.

+ In Puerto Rico, Clinton, Obama Camps Adopt To Native Style Of Stumping.

+ AFSCME Chief Raises Doubts About Obama's Chances Against McCain.

+ Clinton Campaign Owes New York Vendors, Consultants.

+ Clinton's Strengths Said To Make Case For Number Two Slot.

+ Florida Poll Shows McCain Leading Both Democratic Hopefuls.

+ Democrats Lead McCain By Double-Digits In California.

Sen. Clinton's Campaign:

CLINTON PLEDGES TO TAKE FLORIDA, MICHIGAN DISPUTE TO CONVENTION. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama both visited Florida yesterday, with the former pressing the case for seating delegates from that state and Michigan at the convention and the latter courting an important general election state. Clinton's insistence that she was prepared to carry the fight to the Democratic convention in August, however, was seen as undercutting Obama's effort to pivot and focus on their Republican adversary, John McCain. The New York Times (5/22, Seelye, Zeleny, 1.18M) reports a day after Obama "gathered a majority of pledged delegates in the Democratic presidential nominating contest," Clinton "defiantly sent out new signals Wednesday that she might take her fight for the nomination all the way to the party's convention in August." On the "trail and in interviews, she raised a new battle cry of determination, likening her struggle for these delegates to the nation's historic struggles to free the slaves and grant women the right to vote." But "behind the scenes, the campaigns were working with the Democratic National Committee to resolve the dispute over the delegates before May 31, when the party's rules committee is to decide the matter."

ABC World News (5/21, story 2, 3:05, Wright, 8.78M) reported, "Obama barely mentioned the ongoing dispute on whether Florida's primary votes should count. But Hillary Clinton was determined to put that issue front and center. Obama was clearly hoping his first, big swing through the Sunshine State would focus mainly on the future. And the upcoming battle with John McCain." But Clinton "made her strongest case yet for counting the results of Florida's January primary, even though, the contests here and in Michigan broke Democratic Party rules." Clinton: "You didn't break a single rule. And you should not be punished for matters beyond your control."

The Politico (5/22, Vogel) reports Clinton's move is "part of a last-gasp strategy aimed at prolonging her campaign by convincing the party to alter the nomination math. By seating the penalized Florida and Michigan delegations, she would not only gain a significant number of delegates but also bolster her popular vote argument with the superdelegates." Fox News "The Big Story" (5/21, Kelly) reported, "Today's delegate count gives Barack Obama 1,962 compared to Hillary Clinton's 1,779." But Clinton is still fighting back, moments ago, saying she is willing to take this battle all the way to the convention, in particular citing the need to get the votes down in Florida and Michigan counted."

POLLS SHOW OBAMA MAKING INROADS WITH CLINTON SUPPORTERS. The Christian Science Monitor (5/21, Sabar, 56K) reports the "recent focus on lopsided individual races in places like West Virginia (Clinton) and North Carolina (Obama) has obscured what polls now show is a much more fluid national electorate." Clinton's support "among key parts of her base – women, whites, Easterners, Hispanics, adults with no college education – dropped below 50 percent in mid-May, according to a Gallup study released this week. Senator Obama, meanwhile, has so expanded his support that he logged a record 16-point lead over Clinton in polling last weekend among Democratic and left-leaning voters, according to Gallup." If that lead "holds, it would suggest that a growing number of Clinton supporters no longer see her as a viable candidate and are coalescing around Obama as the likely Democratic nominee. The findings indicate that Democrats may have an easier time uniting behind Obama than some exit polls suggest."

NBC Nightly News (5/21, story 5, 2:25, Mitchell, 9.87M) reported Clinton "now blames her campaign's shortcomings on sexism, not bad strategy." White women "still support her. In fact helped her win Kentucky last night by a whopping 35 points and in our exit polls, two-thirds of Clinton's female supporters there and last week in West Virginia said they would not vote for Obama if he's the nominee." Can Obama "close the gender gap? Last night and again today he tried by lavishing praise on Clinton." Obama: "She has broken through barriers and will open up opportunity for a lot of people, including my two young daughters." Mitchell: "Some argue the only fix is the dream ticket." Doris Kearnis Goodwin, historian: "It would clearly suit her supporters to see her in this top position, she would be breaking history once again by being the first female vice president."

OBAMA NETS TWO MORE SUPERDELEGATES; CLINTON ADDS ONE. The AP (5/22, Ohlemacher) reports that Sen. Barack Obama "added two superdelegates Wednesday, Rep. Joe Courtney of Connecticut and Mississippi Democratic Party Chairman Wayne Dowdy." Sen. Hillary Clinton, meanwhile, "picked up one, Ohio superdelegate Craig Bashein. Obama also took a delegate from Clinton in Colorado, where party officials finished counting votes from the Democratic state convention during the weekend. Obama won 36 delegates in Colorado and Clinton won 19. It is common for delegates to shift in caucus states where campaigns battle for delegates throughout the multistep selection process."

Clinton's Kentucky Landslide Fails To Sway State's Three Remaining Superdelegates. The Lexington Herald-Leader (5/22, Alessi, 113K) reports that not even "Clinton's landslide 35-point victory" in the Kentucky primary is inducing the state's three remaining undecided superdelegates-Gov. Steve Beshear, Democratic Party chair Jennifer Moore and vice chair Nathan Smith-to choose a candidate. "Beshear acknowledged that while Clinton's win in the Bluegrass State was big, the New York Senator faces a 'difficult' road to lock up the Democratic nomination." They "have been firmly uncommitted throughout the primary and all said Wednesday they would remain so." The Herald-Leader explains that three of Kentucky's other superdelegates are backing Clinton, Two are backing Sen. Barack Obama, and one has not yet been chosen. WLKY-TV Louisville (5/21, 11:13 p.m.) also covered this story on the air.

IN PUERTO RICO, CLINTON, OBAMA CAMPS ADOPT TO NATIVE STYLE OF STUMPING. The AP (5/22) reports, "Forget placards, stoic bodyguards and formal rallies. To win Puerto Rico's presidential primary, both the Clinton and Obama camps are campaigning in the boisterous, face-to-face 'boricua style' favored on this Caribbean island. ... 'There's a cultural clash in how campaigning is done' in Puerto Rico versus the mainland, said Roberto Prats, the island's Democratic Party chairman and a Clinton campaign spokesman. 'We suggested they build a campaign 'boricua style." 'Boricua,' derived from the Taino Indian word for the island's people, is the term Puerto Ricans use to refer to themselves. Large, billowing flags are replacing modest placards, staffers for both candidates have summoned their rusty Spanish, and Bill Clinton's bodyguards were asked to relax during his visit to a sprawling public housing complex. ... So far, both campaigns have relied mainly on high-profile surrogates." Clinton "has been represented by her husband, the former president, and daughter, Chelsea. Obama has sent his wife, Michelle, and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson."

AFSCME CHIEF RAISES DOUBTS ABOUT OBAMA'S CHANCES AGAINST MCCAIN. The Washington Post (5/21, Balz, 723K) reported on its "The Trail" blog that American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees president Gerald McEntee, speaking in a telephone interview Wednesday, "said there is no question in his mind that over the past few months, Clinton has been the superior candidate and that Obama's losses in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky could haunt the party in November. 'Are we going to pick a candidate that will literally walk almost lame into the Democratic National Convention?' he asked. McEntee said Republican John McCain will be a formidable opponent, one who is 'distancing himself from [President] Bush every day' and whose status as a war hero and patriot will make him attractive to many of the voters Democrats need to win in November. Obama, on the other hand, cannot seem to get over his problem with working-class voters. 'I think he has a problem with the blue-collar worker and relating to that worker.'"

CLINTON CAMPAIGN OWES NEW YORK VENDORS, CONSULTANTS. The New York Post (5/22, Retter, Haberman, 648K) reports that among the debts owed by Sen. Hillary Clinton's campaign are "$11 million that Clinton herself lent the campaign, phone-banking contractor the Spoken Hub, which is due some $100,000, and consulting firm Bill Lynch Associates, which is owed over $42,000. "Lynch insisted he's not worried. 'I'm not concerned for a minute,' he told The Post. 'She seems to have the ability to [raise enough money for her debt].'" The campaign also owes debts to ad firm A-Political and consultancy firms Primary Advantage and Brand Sphere.

Clinton Camp Has More Than $200K In Pennsylvania Debt. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (5/22, Wereschagin) reports, "Despite Barack Obama's seemingly insurmountable lead in delegates, Hillary Clinton has been quick to list reasons why she should stay in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination. Some Pennsylvania business owners would add one more: So she can raise enough money to pay them back. Clinton ended April about $19.5 million in debt -- nearly 10 times more than Obama, whose debt is $2 million. Clinton owes $206,524.51 to businesses and individuals in Pennsylvania, according to reports filed late Tuesday with the" FEC. Obama, meanwhile, has $154,000 in Pennsylvania debt.

CLINTON'S STRENGTHS SAID TO MAKE CASE FOR NUMBER TWO SLOT. In his column for The Politico (5/22), Roger Simon says Hillary Clinton's "victories in states such as Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia and her strength with women and white working-class voters have fueled the argument that Barack Obama must put her on the ticket if he wins the nomination and wants those states and those votes in the fall. And, as a senior Obama adviser told me Wednesday, some Clinton supporters are 'pushing real, real hard to get her on the ticket.'" But it "won't be easy." The adviser said, "You don't want your vice president taking away anything from the ticket, and she does." The adviser "cited two things against Clinton: the number of voters who consider Clinton 'dishonest' and the 'baggage' Clinton brings with her."

FLORIDA POLL SHOWS MCCAIN LEADING BOTH DEMOCRATIC HOPEFULS. The Palm Beach Post (5/21, Bennett) reported on its politics blog, "A new Rasmussen poll shows" Sen. John McCain leading Sen. Barack Obama 50% to 40% in Florida. The survey shows McCain leading Sen. Hillary Clinton 47% to 41%. The Post added, "Only 57 percent of Florida Dems say they plan to vote for Obama in November, with 27 percent saying they'll cross over and support McCain."

DEMOCRATS LEAD MCCAIN BY DOUBLE-DIGITS IN CALIFORNIA. The Stockton Record (5/22, Hank Shaw) reports a Public Policy Institute of California poll of 2,003 Californians conducted May 12-18 (+/-2%) shows, "Either Democratic candidate, Obama or New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, would beat Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., in a hypothetical matchup. Obama beats McCain 54 percent to 37 percent, while Clinton beats him 51 percent to 39 percent. Only Obama enjoys a favorable approval rating: 59 percent think favorably of him, compared with 36 percent who have an unfavorable view. A little more than half of voters view Clinton unfavorably, and 53 percent take a dim view of McCain. McCain, who will be in Stockton today, hopes to compete in California. To do so, he will need to convince independent voters that he is the best candidate."

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