Candidates Lean On Governors For Support
Seven governors already have made endorsements early in the 2008 White House race and pressure is growing for others to choose soon, bringing along their networks of fundraisers and activists.
Their support can prove influential, some analysts say, because the most effective governors have an election-tested base of motivated voters, willing donors and the ability to help sway undecided primary voters.
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., has the support of three governors and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., the backing of two. Two former GOP governors _ Mitt Romney of Massachusetts and Mike Huckabee of Arkansas _ each has picked up the endorsement of one governor. And one current governor, Democrat Bill Richardson of New Mexico, is in the race himself.
"They all call," Gov.
Romney says he enjoys Democratic dust-up
MERRIMACK, New Hampshire (AP) -- Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney said Friday that he relishes the infighting that has consumed two of his potential Democratic opponents, Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois. "It's great, isn't it?" Romney said to peals of laughter from crowd of employees at a solar-related equipment plant on the newly declared candidate's first visit to the leadoff presidential primary state. "I love to see it when it happens on the other side." The former Massachusetts governor described his leading Republican rivals, Sen. John McCain of Arizona and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, as "friends" and "national heroes," before adding, "I respect them. I'm sure we'll disagree on issues from time to time, but I doubt you'll see the rancor that apparently may exist elsewhere." Earlier this week, Clinton aides called on Obama to repudiate criticism of the former first lady leveled by Hollywood producer David Geffen, a former Clinton backer not supporting Obama.
Eugene Robinson: Beyond Barack Obama's 'blackness'
ORANGEBURG, S.C. -- Is Barack Obama "authentically" black? Come on, be real. Is the pope Catholic? Obama made his first campaign trip to this early-primary state over the weekend, drawing about 3,000 people to a rally in Columbia, the state capital, and another 2,000 to a "town hall meeting" here in the city where I was born and raised. If those who rose early on a Saturday morning to attend the Orangeburg event constitute a representative focus group, black voters will want to weigh Obama's policy positions against those of the other candidates before deciding whom to support. But they won't spend a lot of time pondering his identity. Among the dignitaries with front-row seats in the auditorium at Claflin University (where my mother used to be head librarian) was state legislator Gilda Cobb-Hunter, an African American, who had no patience for the "blackness" question that reporters kept asking.
Stars Fork Out $2300 to Get Near Obama
No red carpet, no VIP room, and no real prospect of face time, but even so the hottest ticket in Hollywood last night was the gala for Barack Obama. The benefit for the Democratic party's equivalent of a rock star was expected to raise $1m for his White House run, breaking a sound barrier even in this gilded city.
Being at close quarters with Mr Obama had dozens of A-listers reaching for their cheque books to pay the $2,300 (1,150) admission. George Clooney, Tom Hanks, Jennifer Aniston, Barbra Streisand, Eddie Murphy, and Denzel Washington planned to attend.
Other figures expected at the Beverly Hilton included the studio bosses of Fox, Universal, Walt Disney, and Paramount.
Some guests may have also been eager to earn the goodwill of Mr Obama's hosts, the powerful troika behind DreamWorks: Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg, and David Geffen.
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