Politics

Starting Gate: Peeking Forward

By Vaughn Ververs

April 2, 2008 / 9:11 AM EDT / CBS News

3982289While the Democrats remain stuck in this long limbo period in between primary contests, presumptive GOP nominee John McCain is reintroducing himself, launching inspirational Web videos and yucking it up with David Letterman.

Today, McCain's "biography tour" stops in Annapolis, Maryland and the Naval Academy he struggled at. If likeability is to be a factor in November, the Republican is putting as many coats of shine on as he can before the Democratic candidate gets into the clear.

It's something that is not being overlooked by Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton entirely. And yesterday, the Democratic front-runner took some time away from the nomination fight to take a few shots at McCain. "He's on a biography tour right now," Obama said during a town hall meeting in Pennsylvania yesterday. "Most of us know his biography, and it's worthy of our admiration. My argument with John McCain is not with his biography, it's with his policies."

But should he eventually wind up with the Democratic nomination, an Obama-McCain matchup would be one of personality as much as policy. And it would be one that could obliterate the kind of strategic calculations we have seen in past elections. Obama's campaign is already envisioning a general election strategy which would include a massive focus on reshaping the electorate through voter registration efforts, the Politico reports today.

Obama has the potential to expand the map from the traditional dozen or so "battleground" states the campaigns have fought over in the past. So does McCain, whose appeal to independents could open up states Republicans have largely written off in other campaigns. Ohio and Florida will still be crucial battlegrounds, but so will Michigan, Virginia, Arkansas, Minnesota and, just maybe, even California.

It's not difficult to imagine 25 to 30 states being in some state of play come fall with these two candidates. And that would be a fitting conclusion to campaign 2008.

Patriotism Redefined: McCain's speech in Annapolis will combine his military service with his oft-repeated call for all to serve a bigger cause than their own self-interest. From prepared remarks, McCain will seek to broaden the definition of patriotism. "Love of country, my friends, is another way of saying love of your fellow countrymen -- a truth I learned a long time ago in a country very different from ours," he will say.

"That is the good cause that summons every American to service. If you find faults with our country, make it a better one. If you are disappointed with the mistakes of government, join its ranks and work to correct them. I hope more Americans would consider enlisting in our Armed Forces. I hope more would consider running for public office or working in federal, state and local governments. But there are many public causes where your service can make our country a stronger, better one than we inherited. Wherever there is a hungry child, a great cause exists. Where there is an illiterate adult, a great cause exists. Wherever there are people who are denied the basic rights of Man, a great cause exists. Wherever there is suffering, a great cause exists."

I'm Rubber, You're Glue … Bill Richardson responds to James Carville's attacks in a Washington Post op-ed today. Carville not only called Richardson a "Judas" for endorsing Obama over Clinton, he then went on a print and TV offensive against the New Mexico governor. Today, Richardson writes:

"While I certainly will not stoop to the low level of Mr. Carville, I feel compelled to defend myself against character assassination and baseless allegations.

Carville has made it very clear that this is a personal attack -- driven by his own sense of what constitutes loyalty. It is this kind of political venom that I anticipated from certain Clinton supporters and I campaigned against in my own run for president.

I repeatedly urged Democrats to stop attacking each other personally and even offered a DNC resolution calling for a positive campaign based on the issues. I was evenhanded in my efforts. In fact, my intervention in a debate during a particularly heated exchange was seen by numerous commentators as an attempt to defend Sen. Clinton against the barbs of Sens. Obama and John Edwards.

As I have pointed out many times, and most pointedly when I endorsed Sen. Obama, the campaign has been too negative, and we Democrats need to calm the rhetoric and personal attacks so we can come together as a party to defeat the Republicans."

Around The Track

McCain yesterday said he has begun compiling a list of potential running mates, according to the AP. "I'd like to get it done as early as possible. I'm aware of enhanced importance of this issue given my age," he said.

In an interview with Talking Points Memo, Clinton strategist Harold Ickes admitted he has been raising the issue of Rev. Jeremiah Wright in his discussions with superdelegates.

Some Democrats are grumbling about Howard Dean's handling of the Democratic split as chairman of the DNC, according to the New York Times.

Meanwhile the Wall Street Journal reports there is still a measure of dissatisfaction among conservative leaders with McCain. "I have seen no evidence that Sen. McCain is successfully unifying the Republican Party or drawing conservatives into his fold," James Dobson tells the paper. "To the contrary, he seems intent on driving them away."