Top Items:
Michael Calderone / The Politico:
Stephanopoulos defends debate performance: ‘We asked tough but appropriate questions’ — Despite criticism, ABC's George Stephanopoulos defended his performance in last night's Democratic debate, which he co-moderated with Charles Gibson. — “We asked tough but appropriate questions,” Stephanopoulos told me by phone this afternoon.
Discussion:
The Daily Dish, MSNBC, Hot Air, AMERICAblog, Blogometer, NewsBusters.org, Emptywheel, Gawker, PERRspectives Blog, culturekitchen, FOX Embeds, Boston Globe, FishBowlDC and The Raw Story
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Senator Hillary Clinton / New York Times:
Democratic Debate in Philadelphia — The following is a transcript of the Democratic debate in Philadelphia, as provided by the Federal News Service. — PARTICIPANTS: — SENATOR BARACK OBAMA — MODERATORS: — LOCATION: THE NATIONAL CONSTITUTION CENTER, PHILADELPHIA
Discussion:
TownHall Blog, Washington Post, protein wisdom, The Volokh Conspiracy, Lynn Sweet, Dick Polman's American Debate, Gateway Pundit, The Huffington Post, Weekly Standard Blog, Power Line, michellemalkin.com, Salon, Philly.com, JustOneMinute, FP Passport, Hot Air, Cato-at-liberty, Daily Kos, The Corner, Deadline USA and The Democratic Daily
Greg Sargent / TPM Election Central:
George Stephanopoulos Responds To Obama, Defends Handling Of Debate — At some point amid the hailstorm of criticism that greeted ABC's handling of yesterday's Dem debate, moderator George Stephanopoulos received an email — one of the many, many missives about the debate he's received — from an Obama adviser.
Faiz / Think Progress:
AUDIO: Hannity Feeds Stephanopoulos Debate Question On Weather Underground — Last night's ABC News Democratic presidential candidates debate was co-moderated by George Stephanopoulos and Charlie Gibson, but the unseen influence of Fox News' Sean Hannity was also on stage.
The Huffington Post:
ABC Hosts Heckled After Debate: “The Crowd Is Turning On Me” — Reflecting what seemed to be the main consensus of the night - that ABC botched this debate, big time - Charlie Gibson tells the crowd there will be one more, superfluous commercial break of the night and is subsequently jeered.
Philly.com:
VOTE FOR BARACK OBAMA — THE CHOICE in Tuesday's Democratic presidential primary is not only the one between a white woman and a black man. It's a choice between the past and the future. — More specifically, the nation must decide how to face the future racing toward us in the form …
Discussion:
Wonkette, Ankle Biting Pundits, The Fix, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Balloon Juice, The Page, Spin Cycle and The Caucus
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Zogby:
Newsmax/Zogby Poll: Deadlocked in Pennsylvania! — UTICA, New York—With just five days left before Democratic primary voters go to polls to decide who they want to be their presidential nominee, Hillary Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois are locked in a battle that is too close to call …
Discussion:
American Street, Public Policy Polling, MyDD, The Moderate Voice, TalkLeft and Indecision 2008
media.www.dailypennsylvanian.com:
Opinion Board — Pennsylvania Democrats are confronted with a tragedy of riches: two incredibly appealing candidates for their Party's nomination. — We want to believe that Sen. Barack Obama can accomplish all he promises. His soaring rhetoric and compelling vision have inspired us and many other students.
Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:
ZOGBY GOES FOR BROKE — If there wasn't a record, you might think that Obama was heading for a major upset victory in PA next week. Zogby has Obama just one point behind Clinton at 45%-44%. — But remember, Zogby was out in front this year predicting Obama's big wins in California and Ohio too.
Discussion:
Matthew Yglesias
Martine Powers / Yale Daily News:
For senior, abortion a medium for art, political discourse — Art major Aliza Shvarts '08 wants to make a statement. — Beginning next Tuesday, Shvarts will be displaying her senior art project, a documentation of a nine-month process during which she artificially inseminated herself …
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David Brooks / Campaign Stops:
No Whining About the Media — Three quick points on the Democratic debate last night: — First, Democrats, and especially Obama supporters, are going to jump all over ABC for the choice of topics: too many gaffe questions, not enough policy questions. — I understand the complaints, but I thought the questions were excellent.
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Paul Kane / Washington Post:
Congress May Seek Criminal Probe of Altered Earmark — The Senate moved yesterday toward asking the Justice Department for a criminal investigation of a $10 million legislative earmark whose provisions were mysteriously altered after Congress gave final approval to a huge 2005 highway funding bill.
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Daniel W. Reilly / The Crypt's Blogs:
Blunt opposes Justice probe of Coconut Road earmark
Blunt opposes Justice probe of Coconut Road earmark
Discussion:
TPMMuckraker
Chris Cillizza / The Fix:
Democratic Operative Takes on McCain's Age — Despite a recent promise from Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean not to make Sen. John McCain's age — he turns 72 in August — an issue in the presidential campaign, a senior Democratic operative has started a new website designed to draw attention to just that fact.
Discussion:
Ben Smith's Blogs
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Dan Collins / protein wisdom:
Another Notable Debate Freak-Out [Dan Collins; UPDATED, with verified Jeff G sighting] — At the HuffPo, Jeffrey Feldman entitles his bad acid diary entry, “Et Tu, ABC?” — This casts Obama as Julius Caesar, and ABC as Brutus, which is psychologically interesting in and of itself …
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Ben Smith / The Politico:
Obama on debate: ‘Sen. Clinton looked in her element’ — Just now in Raleigh, Obama took issue with ABC News' conduct during last night's debate, and used it to link Clinton to traditional political tactics.
Discussion:
The Daily Dish
John J. Kruzel / DefenseLINK:
Intercepted al-Qaida Letter Reveals Tactics, Strategy — Use silenced guns to kill coalition forces at Iraqi security checkpoints, smuggle weapons in gradual shipments to reduce the risk of detection, and poison Iraq's water supply with nitric acid to spread disease and death.