Politics Indiana V15 N3 Friday, Aug. 29, 2008 Aggressive Obama aims at McCain Obama opts for a political entreaty beyond Democrats By BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS - Barack Obama’s rhetoric soared to the rim of a stadium a mile high Thursday night, but the central message and the impressive set were grounded in the realities of the coming slugfest with John McCain. Obama opted for an ac- ceptance speech with a distinct political nature, mentioning Mc- Cain a dozen times. For a candi- of the time,” Obama said about 10 minutes into the speech. date who had long sold himself as being above traditional “Sen. McCain likes to talk about judgment, but really, what partisan politics, Obama was on the attack mode before does it say about your judgment when you think George millions of Americans who tuned in for the first time. Bush has been right more than 90 percent of the time? I Obama obviously didn’t want to repeat the don’t know about you, but I’m not ready to take a 10 per- mistakes of 2004 and John Kerry, who attempted to take cent chance on change.” the high road and was “Swift-boated” to a narrow defeat Obama continued, “The truth is, on issue after despite the increasingly unpopular Iraq War. “The record’s clear: John McCain has voted with George Bush 90 percent See Page 4 Conventional Obama By MARK SCHOEFF JR. WASHINGTON - Sen. Barack Obama made history Thursday night by accepting the Democratic nomination for president. On the 45th anniversary of Dr.Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, Obama “Hillary contributed 18 became the first African American to have his name placed at the top of the million cracks in the glass ballot. As expected in an Obama speech, ceiling. It turns out that the there were moments of soaring rhetoric. It’s no surprise that such a gifted orator women of America aren’t would hit high points and deliver memo- rable lines. Most of them came at the finished.” end, with references to King’s speech by the man who was fulfilling the dream - Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 2 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Friday, Aug. 29, 2008 before our eyes. the budget line-by-line to eliminate Howey Politics For the most part, though, wasteful programs. Obama became a conventional He sounded more like a first- Indiana politician once he began talking. The term senator than he ever has during is a nonpartisan news- amount of time he devoted to attack- the campaign. McCain can’t beat a ing Sen. John McCain, his Republican phenomenon in a terrible Republican letter based in Indianapolis opponent, was remarkable. year like this one. But he definitely can and published by NewsLink In spite of the most favor- compete with a junior senator who able political climate imaginable for is to the left of a center-right-leaning Inc. It was founded in Democrats, their standard bearer felt country. compelled to concentrate his speech If the election is waged at 1994 in Fort Wayne. on McCain. Yes, Obama was demon- ground level, rather than in a more strating that he can punch back. But ethereal realm, McCain will be in his Brian A. Howey, publisher he acted as if he was on the ropes. element. He’s the scrapy fighter who is By the time Mark Schoeff Jr. Washington Obama concluded, writer it was clear that Jack E. Howey, editor McCain is framing Beverly Phillips, associate the fight. One has to wonder how editor McCain, who is rep- resenting a divided Subscriptions: party weighed down by an enor- $350 annually HPI via e-mail; mously unpopular $550 annually HPI & HPI Daily president, can be Wire. the one dictating the terms of this Call 317-631-9450. race. Howey Politics Indiana Obama will PO Box 40265 surely get a solid bounce out of his Indianapolis, IN 46240-0265. masterfully produced Invesco Field at his best grinding away in townhall concert. But what may bring him back meetings where issues are paramount. Contact Us down to earth is that the message In such an atmosphere, Mc- voters took away from the extrava- Cain actually has a chance of convinc- www.howeypolitics.com ganza is that McCain is the guy to ing voters he can win. Such a percep- [email protected] beat. tion is his only hope for prevailing Main Office: 317-202-0210. Why would they think that? in November. As Bob Dole knows, if people never think you can win, you Howey’s Mobile: 317-506-0883. Because Obama seemed to make that very point. He gave much more cre- won’t. Indianapolis Fax: 317-254-0535. dence to McCain’s attacks by elevating On Thursday night, Obama Washington: 202-256-5822. them in the most important speech certainly indicated that he thinks Mc- Business Office: 317-631-9450. of his campaign. If Obama is that Cain can win. In doing so, he allowed worried about McCain‘s digs, maybe McCain to land punches without even ©2008, Howey Politics voters will place high value on them entering the ring. Indiana. All rights reserved. as well--and believe that McCain has But we’re still in the early Photocopying, Internet forwarding, raised legitimate misgivings. rounds, and Obama has the capability of throwing a devastating haymaker faxing or reproducing in any form, Obama didn’t set himself apart as a once-in-generation (or life- by rising above the street fight. Mc- in whole or part, is a violation of time) politician on Thursday night. He Cain had better put up his dukes next federal law without permission from sank to the political norm, reciting a week in St. Paul. v the publisher. litany of gauzy, orthodox liberal goals Schoeff reports for HPI and shopworn promises like parsing from Washington. HOWEY Politics Indiana Page 3 Weekly Briefing on Indiana Politics Friday, Aug. 29, 2008 Sen. Joe Biden. McCain-Palin ticket Jill Hazelbaker, McCain’s communications direc- tor, on on the CBS The Early Show, “John McCain is going a big GOP surprise to make the choice from his heart. He’s going to choose someone who can be a partner in governing. He’s going to By BRIAN A. HOWEY choose someone who brings character and principle to the INDIANAPOLIS - John McCain took the biggest table and who shares his priorities. And I’m confident that roll of the veepstakes dice today since Dan Quayle when he’s going to make a great pick.” he tabbed Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his vice presidential The choice gives the Republicans a Western nominee. ticket at a time when Democrats were taking aim at states The former mayor of Wasilla, she is the mother like Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada - states that Presi- of five with one of her sons preparing for a tour of duty dent George W. Bush commanded in his 2004 re-election in Iraq. She is an NRA member and is a pro-life, giving bid. Palin’s selection accentuates a geographical twist away birth recently to a child with Downs from the South, which has supplied Syndrome. She is a maverick and a re- Lyndon Johnson, Jimmy Carter, the former who refers to her husband Todd two President Bushes, Bill Clinton, Al as the “First Dude” who is a a member Gore, and Lloyd Bentsen to the national of the United Steelworkers. tickets. Instead, the two major parties “I know it will demand the best opted for the most unique diversity in I can give and I promise nothing less,” U.S. history with the first African-Ameri- Palin told a vigorous crowd in Dayton can presidential nominee and now the at mid-day today. She said she ran for first Republican female vice president mayor to “cut wasteful spending and nominee. taxes.” Palin said she “signed major ethics In his introduction, McCain reforms” and appointed both Republi- said, “She is exactly what we need in cans and Democrats. “I told Congress Washington today. She’s exactly who I thanks but no thanks to that bridge need, who this country needs.” to nowhere.,” Palin said. “If our state McCain noted that in the 2006 wanted that bridge, we’d build it our- gubernatorial race, “She beat the long selves.” She added that she had “taken odds to win a tough election on the on the good old boys.” issues of reform and public integrity.” “The people of America expect us The selection comes as McCain to seek public office and serve for celebrates his 72nd birthday. Should he the right reasons,” Palin said. “And win the election, he would be the old- the right reason is to challenge the est president to take office. At that age status quo and serve the common good.” and after a bout with melanoma, his choice of vice presi- “This is a moment where principle and indepen- dent was seen as a crucial. dence matter beyond party lines,” Palin said. “This is a “You could knock me over with a feather,” said moment that requires resolve, toughness and strength of longtime White House aide David Gergen on CNN. “John heart in the American president.” She said that McCain had McCain loves bold gambles and this is the biggest gamble.” shown the qualities “in the darkest of places in the ser- McCain unveiled Palin at a noontime rally vice of his country. I’m going to make sure no one forgets in Dayton. At 44, Palin is younger than the 47-year-old that during this campaign.