Get Out Your Calculators!

(Danville, California)

 

    Not long ago, I bought two new household calculators from the office supply store. Today I needed them. The long-awaited decision by the Democratic National Committee regarding the disputed delegates from Florida and Michigan is in. It's a bit complicated, but follow along! All the numbers have changed:

 

Needed to Nominate:    2,118

 

Total Now Including Florida & Michigan:

 

Obama:   2,052

Clinton:   1,877.5

 

How Many Short?

 

Obama:  66

Clinton:  240.5

 

Up for Grabs This Week:

 

Puerto Rico:         55

South Dakota:      15

Montana:             16

 

   
This week should be a split, with Clinton winning Puerto Rico Sunday, but Obama taking South Dakota and Montana on Tuesday. Obama will be just a bit short, but more Super Delegates will come forward; and by Tuesday night, when he addresses the crowd in St. Paul, I predict he will have enough delegates to capture the nomination.

 

    So what happens to Hillary Clinton? As I have predicted for weeks, she will be the "reluctant" VP choice. It will be a "shotgun marriage," as he doesn't like her and she doesn't like him. But they need each other if the Democrats are to beat John McCain in November. The Democrats just "surrendered" Florida to the GOP Saturday, with the DNC vote. Michigan remains up for grabs, but it is a "must win" for Democrats in November. Plenty of Michiganders and Floridians feel downright abandoned by the DNC vote Saturday, so there will be a backlash.`

 

    The fight may not be over this week either. Clinton strategist and high-powered lawyer Harold Ickes, Jr., is threatening a floor fight at the August convention in Denver or legal action. Ickes angrily informed the party's Rules Committee that Clinton had instructed him to reserve her right to appeal the matter to the Democrats' Credentials Committee, which could potentially drag the matter to the party's convention in August.

    "There's been a lot of talk about party unity: Let's all come together and put our arms around each other," said Ickes, who is also a member of the Rules Committee that approved the deal. "I submit to you, ladies and gentlemen, hijacking four delegates ... is not a good way to start down the path of party unity."

 

   
All in all, the race for the White House is wide open, and I predict another one-state margin, just as we had in 2000 (Florida) and in 2004 (Ohio). As of now, I predict this year's deciding state will be......Colorado or New Mexico!

 

    I will be in South Dakota and Montana on Sunday and will be there until Wednesday. Check in often at www.MarkCurtisMedia.blogspot.com.

 

(Associated Press contributed to this report)

 

 

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The Politics of Kindness and Generosity

(Oakland, California)

 

    As I travel the country this year covering the presidential election, I have listened to countless speeches from politicians and others about what the government can do and needs to do to make the nation a better place. The problem is, and let's be honest here, the government can't do everything. In fact, in many cases, it can't do a fraction of what politicians promise, nor should it.

 

    The nation's private sector can, and does a lot of good charitable work that goes widely unnoticed. Take, for example, the Habitat for Humanity homebuilding I attended this morning in Oakland, California. The event was sponsored by Roger and Judy Haughton, a couple I have known for quite some years now. Roger is the retired CEO of the PMI Group, Inc., a huge insurance company. The Haughtons decided to make a personal gift of $50,000, which was matched by a corporate gift from PMI, Roger's former employer. "We are so thankful that we are able to have family here, business associates, people who have touched our lives," said Roger Haughton.

 

    The Haughtons are kind and generous people, with whom I have worked on various charity events in the past. Roger rose to be one of the top insurance executives in the nation (and, I am sure, was well compensated for it). But instead of keeping it all to himself, he, with his wife and children, has spent a lifetime of sharing and giving back to the community. Let's face it, a lot of other big-shot business executives would have spent the fifty grand on cars, vacations, art work, or wine collections. But not so the Haughtons. "When I saw this, I said, 'How can I pass up a sponsorship opportunity?'" Roger said.

 

    Today, dozens of family, friends, and former co-workers showed up to pound nails, saw wood, cut insulation and do just about everything else needed to build a new home.
The house is part of a "Habitat for Humanity" development in Oakland, that will eventually include 54 new homes. This is a tough part of town. Oakland is one of the most violent cities its size in America. Murders are common; and, sad to say, they happen not far from this Edes Avenue location. But this new neighborhood offers new hope.

 

  "This is profound change," said Janice Jensen, Executive Director of Habit for Humanity-East Bay, "taking a blight and completely changing it to revitalize a neighborhood." Earlier, when I was being critical of politicians who promise a "government-do-all" solution to everything, I was not suggesting government has no role. Government can be a great (and necessary) partner in private ventures such as this. For example, the Edes Avenue site was built where a former petroleum company once existed, and money was needed from the federal EPA and the state of California to clean up the site. So, the government cleans and clears the site; and civic minded people and companies come in with a well-known national charity, and partner to make the sun rise again for some families in need.

 

    "You leave with the heart knowledge that this is really something you can do to permanently change the life of a family," said Judy Haughton, as she choked back tears. She also spoke of the young kids who grow up in the violent and economically depressed neighborhoods nearby. The new home becomes key not only to their family, but to their education as well. "They have a place to go home and study with a desk and a room," says Judy. To be sure, she says, the people pounding the nails today also benefit from doing a good deed. "Sometime I think it's the volunteers who comes away with more," she says.

 

    But ultimately, says Roger Haughton, it is the family that moves in that receives the greatest benefit. "We build a house; they are going to build a home," says Haughton.

 

    I was thrilled to be a part of today's event. As part of my new business venture, I have promised to showcase and promote good causes in our communities, such as Special Olympics and Habitat for Humanity. In this political season, I think it's important to realize that our government can't do everything; and it's critical for private individuals like the Haughtons and corporations such as PMI, to step in and help our communities in need. If you want to help, check the local Habitat web site at www.habitatEB.org.

 

    Sunday it's back on the campaign trail, as I head to South Dakota and Montana for the final two primaries on Tuesday. Check in at www.MarkCurtisMedia.blogspot.com.

 

 

    

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A Chill Wind Blows Through Michigan

(New Buffalo, Michigan)

 

    If there is a more beautiful coastal town in America, I don't know it. This week my campaign travels took me to the tiny coastal town of New Buffalo, Michigan. This is embarrassing to say, but although I lived in Wisconsin for my first 25 years, I had never set foot in Michigan (except to change planes). I had always wanted to stand on a beach on the other side of lake Michigan, and - at age 49 - I finally reached that goal.

 

    
The view was breathtaking! But it was cold, and a 30-knot wind was blowing from the west across the lake. The waves were at least 10 feet high. Michigan was angry (the lake that is, and many of the voters, too!)

 

    The weather was a fitting analogy for where Michigan is in this year's presidential campaign. Many voters feel a "chill wind" has blown through their desire to be "kingmakers" (or "queenmakers") in this year's campaign. Michigan and Florida have both been penalized by the Democratic National Committee (DNC), for moving up their primary elections, despite party orders not to do so. As a result, their delegates are not being recognized and may not be seated at the Democratic National Convention in August.

 

    Without the Florida and Michigan delegates, Hillary Clinton cannot win the nomination; and even if they're counted, she remains a long shot! If Barack Obama is the nominee, he faces the daunting task of trying to win both states in November, even though many Democrats who feel disenfranchised are threatening to stay home.

 

    Cherie Heyn works on the beach at New Buffalo. She voted for Hillary Clinton in the primary and is disappointed over where this dispute has left her candidate. "I think she should be the president," Heyn says. I broach the prospect of Clinton's being Obama's vice-presidential running mate, and I get a reaction chillier than the wind. "I doubt that, too," Heyn says, clearly not hiding her disappointment.

 

    She is a very kind, friendly lady, and smiles when I mention how beautiful her town is and that I want to come back to vacation. But I can tell my questions are reopening a wound that has really hurt people in Michigan. They want to make a difference, but feel their voice is not being counted. As to whether the DNC members will decide at their Saturday meeting in Washington that they are going to count Michigan and Florida,   Heyn simply states, "They either are, or they're not."

 

    I don't dare ask her if she is prepared to support Obama. I have made that mistake before when talking to those still clinging to Clinton and got stares more piercing than the Lake Michigan wind. Instead, I ask whether she is concerned about Democrats staying home in November. To my surprise, she says, "I don't think that's so." How many other Michigan Democrats share that optimism is unclear; but, as Heyn adds, "Only time will tell."

 

    This weekend I return to California; then on Sunday I am off to South Dakota and Montana for the final two primaries which are on Tuesday.

 

    Check back often at www.MarkCurtisMedia.blogspot.com.

 

 

    

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Memorial Day Memories

(Elm Grove, Wisconsin)

 

    Memorial Day was Monday, but I've been having trouble writing about it, because I have such bittersweet memories this year. The 2008 political campaign has really excited me as an American (and as a reporter), because I have never seen the public so engaged in the process in my lifetime. But Memorial Day was especially hard this year after my dad passed away. Our family home of 47 years is being sold. The house is right on the Memorial Day parade route and has been the scene of family parties for decades. This was the final one!

 

    
The Elm Grove parade is, I suspect, like many across America. Small town; lots of veterans; lots of grandparents and babies; lots of everything in between. It's "Americana" and very heartwarming and colorful.

 

    More than anything, I was fixated on the veterans in this year's parade, many of them of the World War II era, as was my dad. They are dying at a rate of more than a thousand a week. Like World War I vets, they will eventually be gone. But we must always hold them in our individual and collective national memory. As Tom Brokaw characterized them, they are "The Greatest Generation" that bailed us out of the Great Depression, saved us in World War II, and then built the most vibrant and generous democracy the world has ever known.

 

    Ed Rolland was a lander on Normandy Beach on D-Day, June 6, 1944. I asked him what being recognized in this parade more than 60 years later meant to him. "Oh this is great," he said, sounding a bit choked up. Thousands of people, young and old, waved American flags as his car passed by. Many shouted, "Thank you!" There were vets from Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and other conflicts in the parade as well.

 

    A bit about my dad, before I go. First, he loved this parade and the annual party with neighbors and friends. He was the gentlest and most generous man I've ever known - both father and friend. "Doc" was a senior at Campion Jesuit High School in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, the day that Pearl Harbor was attacked. Like many in his class, he would never formally finish high school. "They mailed me my diploma," he once told me. My Grandfather Curtis was a doctor, and my dad was planning on medical school, too. Now, the nation needed thousands of doctors for the war. So he left high school early, took a few basic undergraduate courses in biology and chemistry at Marquette University, and was promptly enrolled in Marquette Medical School with classes year round. There were no such things as spring break or summer recess. The nation was at war. He was a fully-trained and licensed physician at the amazingly young age of 22 and was commissioned a medical officer in the United States Navy in 1947.

 

    The war, thank God, was over by then; but the military still needed all those doctors to treat the thousands of wounded and disabled who came home. Dad was stationed in the Navy at Bremerton, Washington. Eventually he was discharged, came back to Milwaukee, got married and started a family, and began a medical practice. Then the Korean War broke out; and he was called back to active duty, serving at the Great Lakes Naval base in Chicago and commuting for years, while holding a "night time medical practice" in Milwaukee. In 1990 he began working for the Defense Department again, this time as a civilian. He worked 17 years doing military physicals on young recruits at the Military Entrance Processing Service (MEPS). He died a week shy of his 83rd birthday and was still a practicing physician of 60 years at the time of his death. To his family, he was a loving husband, father and grandfather; and we will miss him until the end of time.

 

    
Today's column is dedicated to the memory of Lt. William C. Curtis, M.D. (USN), December 27, 1924, to December 21, 2008, and all those he stood shoulder-to-shoulder with as part of "the Greatest Generation."

As "Papa" would always say, "God Bless!"

 

    

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Avoiding a Repeat of 2008 Primary Fight

(Buchanan, Michigan)

 

    This week's campaign travel took me to Buchanan, a beautiful town of about 5,000 people, in Berrien County, Michigan. (Berrien County lies just across the Indiana state line and is perhaps best known as the home of Benton Harbor, a coastal city.)

 

    Buchanan may be the birthplace of an idea which could change American politics. The goal is finally to remove Iowa and New Hampshire from always holding the "first-in-the-nation" caucuses and primary elections. This year Michigan and Florida, as two of our nation's largest states, broke the party rules and tried to leapfrog the other early primaries in an effort to exert greater influence on the presidential process. Like many of the people in other heavily populated states, Michiganders and Floridians are tired of having less say in choosing the nominees of both parties.

 

    "Look at the state of Iowa," says local Democratic activist Jess Minks. "It is a very small minority (of the U.S. population)." Only three serious Democratic candidates survived Iowa, and only four Republicans. By Super Tuesday, when 24 states cast ballots, such favorites as John Edwards and Rudy Giuliani were gone. Millions of voters never had a chance to have their opinions count.

 

    The issue of what states go first is not entirely political either. Some of it is economic. "Iowa gets ten million dollars each year," says local Democratic candidate John Klimek. And he has a point. The early primaries and caucuses are front loaded with media, delegates, party activists, etc. That's a lot of hotel rooms and restaurant receipts. The economic boon is a bonus. Later states aren't so prosperous, especially if a nominee is selected early.

 

    What the Michigan delegation would like to see is a staggered primary season. The nation would be divided into three regions: East, central and west. Each individual region would hold a lottery to see which four states vote first, and then the other regions and states would rotate over the course of weeks, if not months. Every primary season would begin with a different region. Imagine in January of 2012 New Mexico, Oregon, Montana and Utah having the first four primaries. The following week, it might rotate to Michigan, Delaware, New York and Kentucky. The next week, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, North Dakota and Texas. Then in 2016 the primaries might start in the east, and maybe New Hampshire gets to go first again. The idea is variety and change. The state order would be determined by lottery.

 

    "Finally, everyone is going to get an opportunity to go first," says Jess Minks. His cohort John Klimek says the idea of a more equitable system is crucial to retaining all the young voters who got involved this year - young voters who had appeared indifferent in the past. "This young, vibrant group that is now involved is going to walk away," Klimek says, "if the primary system is not fixed."

 

    Michigan and Florida bucked the party and lost their delegates in the process. In many ways it was a protest vote. On Saturday a committee of the Democratic National Committee meets in Washington, DC, to decide the fates of those disputed convention delegates. Hillary Clinton can't win the nomination without them, and Barack Obama may not win in November without their support if they walk away.

 

    "What Michigan and Florida are doing is the right thing," says Jess Minks. We'll find out Saturday, and again in 2012, whether he is right!

 

    I will have more on the campaign from the Midwest this week, then it's on to South Dakota and Montana Sunday for the final two primaries on Tuesday. By the way, Puerto Rico votes on Sunday. There is a lot going on, so keep checking at www.MarkCurtisMedia.blogspot.com.

 

 

 

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Michigan and Florida Decision Looms

(Buchanan, Michigan)

 

    Decision time is finally nearing to ultimately settle the fate of Democratic convention delegates from Michigan and Florida. You'll recall that both states were penalized by the Democratic National Committee for moving their primaries ahead of the February 5 "Super Tuesday."  As of now, their delegates are not to be seated. Hillary Clinton won both states and is counting on their delegates as her last, best shot at winning the nomination.

 

    I traveled to Michigan Tuesday to speak with voters and party officials about their hopes for this Saturday's big DNC meeting in Washington, DC. Not only are the primary delegates at stake, but turnout in November could be affected, too. First stop was the South Berrien County Democratic Club headquarters. That's where I met up with Jess Minks and John Klimek, two active party leaders who are both candidates for the County Commission. Both are busy watching what happens in Washington, DC.
"We want to make sure our votes count," says Minks. "The delegates will be seated when this is over," he believes. Minks theorizes that Barack Obama will have enough committed Super Delegates by this weekend to win the nomination,  making the meeting a moot point.

 

    Various ideas have been kicked around, including the possibility that each delegate from Michigan and Florida would be counted as only a half-vote. Critics say that violates the principal of "one man,one vote" and could open the door to a legal fight by the Clinton campaign.

 

    The bigger issue to many is what happens in November if Florida and Michigan are not counted. If angry voters stay home in both states, John McCain will likely win the White House.
John Klimek makes his living as a contractor, and he worries about turning off young voters who turned out in record numbers this year. "The fear is that our children and grandchildren will be disenfranchised," he says. "Those young people, whom we need to step forward in years to come, will say, 'I'm not getting involved.'"

 

    For Jess Minks, that prospect means only one thing. "The candidates will sit down," he says. "We'll see if Hillary Clinton is vice-president. They'll work this thing out. Neither one of the candidates wants to see the Party split or divided." The concern about a split in the party, though, is well illustrated by an editorial cartoon that hangs on the wall.

 

    Despite Minks's optimism, the phone has been busy at the local Democratic headquarters. One woman called while I was there today, promising never to donate to the party again. She is one of the local voters angry at the national party. Minks, who is a retired coal miner turned political organizer, tried to calm her down and to explain that the situation would be fixed. "She was very upset," he said. "She called the DNC in Washington to find what's going on." He added hopefully, "She'll go back to making donations."

 

    My trip to Michigan was fascinating. Democrats here have an idea which they believe will prevent these fights in the future, through a system of rotating primaries. We'll talk more about that in my next column.

 

    Check in at www.MarkCurtisMedia.blogspot.com

 

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Thanks to Our Military this Memorial Day Weekend!

(Stockton, California)

 

    I was at a John McCain rally in Stockton on Thursday and was struck by how many people in uniform are supporting him. McCain, of course, is a Vietnam veteran. He was a Navy fighter pilot who was shot down and spent five and a half years as a prisoner of war (POW) in the dreaded "Hanoi Hilton." So, it's not surprising to see a lot of veterans at his rally.

 

    Al Lennox was in the Navy, serving in Vietnam. "John McCain understands the needs of veterans," Lennox said. "He will be such a great President. He completely understands dealing with veterans in the modern world."

 

    Certainly there are other veterans who support other candidates. For example, Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA), a retired Navy Admiral, is backing Hillary Clinton. And retired General Tony McPeak, who once commanded allied forces in Iraq, is backing Barack Obama. My point is, that without the military, our freedom to vote for whom we wish would not exist. A strong and well-supported military means we can vote Democrat, Republican, Green, Independent, etc. So this weekend we need to remember those who died defending our country and the others who fought with them and are still with us today.

 

    Al Lennox is a McCain backer, but he is also the incoming State Commander of the American Legion. With that in mind, I asked him for a more bipartisan comment about what his hopes are for this weekend in terms of public recognition. "It's huge," he said. "If everybody would just pause and reflect on our country - reflect on how many veterans died and fought for our freedom - we, as veterans, would be extremely grateful." He also added, "Enjoy your families!"

 

    
Depicted in this photo are veterans who now reside in Sutter Creek, California. From left to right they are: Kit Meitinger (Army, Vietnam); Bob Cozad (Air Force, Vietnam); Al Lennox (Navy, Vietnam); and Richard Barghooan (Navy, Vietnam).

 

    
Also present at the McCain rally was a group of Lao veterans. They fought on the U.S. side in Vietnam and now live in freedom in California.  God bless those, young and old, who have served and protected our country.

 

    I will be in Wisconsin and Michigan this week, covering Memorial Day and looking ahead to this week's big Democratic National Committee meeting concerning the fate of the disputed Michigan and Florida delegates.

 

    Check in at www.MarkCurtisMedia.blogspot.com.

 

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Mean What You Say; Say What You Mean

(Danville, California)

 

    In the world of politics (and in life, for that matter), there is an old saying: "Mean what you say; and say what you mean!" It's good advice, and I bet Sen. Hillary Clinton wishes she'd taken it before talking with the "Sioux Falls Argus" editorial board.

 

    Clinton referenced the fact that her husband Bill did not wrap up the Democratic nomination until June of 1992. And then she mentioned the assassination of Robert Kennedy in June, 1968, as a reason she will still be in this race, come June, 2008. The reference was unfortunate, because it makes it sound as if she is staying in "just in case something bad happens this time!"

 

    That's NOT what she meant! All she needed to say was "The nomination was undecided in June when my husband ran in 1992, just as the nomination was not settled in June, 1968."
She could have saved herself a lot of trouble by leaving the assassination reference out. Her statement would have been historically accurate, without being insensitive.

 

    Let's be frank here. People's assassination fears are up this year, with the first serious presidential contender in U.S. history who happens to be biracial. Here are two facts that back this up: 1) Colin Powell decided not to run in 1996, in large part, because of his wife's fears he would be a target; 2) Barack Obama has had full Secret Service protection since January, way before any of the other candidates, because serious threats had been made against him. (Hillary Clinton had a tiny contingent, as an ex-First Lady, but no one else had any Secret Service detail four months ago).

 

    It is sad that we have to discuss protection of our leaders, but there is at least one thing we learned from Bobby Kennedy's assassination (and the others, too!), and that is we don't ever want it to happen again!

 

    I will be in Wisconsin and Michigan the next few days, celebrating Memorial Day and covering the disputed Michigan delegates. Then it's on to South Dakota and Montana for the final primaries on June 3.

 

    Check back often at www.MarkCurtisMedia.blogspot.com.

 

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Hot Congressional Races on Tap, Too!

(Stockton, California)

 

    We've focused so much on the presidential race this year that it is easy to ignore some sensational races for the House and Senate which could swing the balance in either body. Whoever controls Congress will have a big impact on the President's agenda, no matter whether that's Obama, McCain or Clinton. And remember: It isn't always Democrat vs. Republican. The "death" of the Clinton health care reform effort in 1994 was very much due to its being undermined by key Democrats, angry that they were left out of the process.

 

    That said, I am excited to be living in the Congressional district that is considered the "top one or two" contested seats this year. Freshman Congressman Jerry McNerney (D-CA 11th) was such an upstart two years ago that he defeated the Democratic party's hand-picked candidate, who was backed by Nancy Pelosi, et al. Then McNerney (with a lot of outside help from anti-war activists) defeated longtime GOP Congressman Richard Pombo, in the biggest upset of the 2006 election.

 

    The problem for Democrats is that this is a very large and in some areas, a quite conservative district (at least when compared to the rest of the very liberal Bay Area). It stretches from Stockton, in the conservative San Joaquin Valley, to the more moderate-to-liberal sections of the East Bay, such as Pleasanton (where McNerney lives). In between, there are more conservative pockets in Tracy and Danville (where I live). The economy is a mix of old and new - ; lots of agriculture, lots of high-tech. The Bay Area's only Republican State Assembly member is from this district. And it is one of the few California districts that George W. Bush won in 2004.

 

    Enter Dean Andal, age 48, as the Republican candidate. Andal spent four years in the State Assembly. "I call it four years in Purgatory!" he says, referring to the dominant Democrat presence in the Assembly. Andal then spent eight years on the California Board of Equalization, which is a powerful elected body that has an impact on tax and spending policy. So, he's very experienced and well known. Andal is from Stockton, the most conservative end of the district. 

 

    We spoke at a rally Thursday for John McCain, which was "emceed" by Andal, giving him a yet higher profile. "I really feel a calling," said Andal. "The country's at a crossroads right now."  He knows that the liberal McNerney is vulnerable in this centrist-to-right-leaning district. "Jerry is a nice guy, but he's very much to the left," says Andal.

 

    Andal was boosted when his primary opponent dropped out, leaving him able to focus straight on to the November election. The campaign is already quite busy. "It's going great," Andal says. "We have walked about 25 percent of the district door-to-door." He is concentrating on the far west and south ends of the district, where he is not so well known and where the voters are more moderate than his conservative base in the east end of the district. He says he has raised about $700,000 so far, but he says he will need a lot more, since the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee will be pouring millions in here, trying keep the seat (as will the Republican Party, trying to take it back).

 

    "This is going to be one of the top two races in the country for challengers," Andal said. And he's not alone in that opinion. The well-respected "Rothenberg Political Report" recently changed the status of this race from "leaning Democrat" to "toss up."  That is a very good sign for Dean Andal. For more information: www.deanandal.com.

 

    As the campaign progresses, I will also interview Rep. Jerry McNerney and write a column about him, as well. His office called to set up an interview after reading this blog! Watch for some special Memorial Day columns about our veterans in the coming days.

 

    Keep dialed in at www.MarkCurtisMedia.blogspot.com.

 

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McCain Promises to Fight for California

(Stockton, California)

 

Sen. John McCain pledged to wage battle in California this summer and fall, for the Presidency of the United States. That's an unusual promise for a Republican, as many in the GOP have written California off as a Democratic state. But Ronald Reagan carried his home state twice, and George H.W. Bush won here in 1988. The point is that - with the right GOP candidate - it may be possible to win here. McCain is from neighboring Arizona and is a moderate Republican. He noted that both states have issues in common, including severe water shortages. "Barry Goldwater used to say that we have so little water in Arizona, the trees chase the dogs," McCain said to roaring laughter.

 

McCain appeared before a late afternoon crowd in a hangar at the Stockton Airport. Earlier, he made two appearances in the San Francisco Bay area. Stockton is pretty conservative, while the Bay Area is quite liberal. Still, the South Bay has conservative pockets and big-wallet donors from Silicon Valley, who lean Republican. So the candidate may have been here more for the money, but also to raise the profile of a very viable Republican Congressional candidate named Dean Andal, who is running against a first-term Democrat in a right-leaning district. That race is a potential GOP gain in the House.

 

Terrorism and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were front and center for the former Vietnam War POW. "We face the transcendent challenge of radical Islamic extremism," McCain said. A woman in the crowd caused a ruckus when she interrupted by screaming, "Iran is not a threat." She was escorted out, as the crowd chanted, "We want Mac! We want Mac!" McCain added his signature line from the campaign: "If I have to chase him to the gates of hell, I will get Osama bin Laden." The crowd cheered wildly again.

 

Of his likely November opponent, McCain said, "I respect Senator Obama. For a young man with very little experience, he has done very well."  But McCain criticized Obama's willingness to sit down and talk with sworn U.S. enemies, such as the leader of Iran. "History shows that we don't negotiate with terrorists," McCain said. Taking another shot at Obama, he said, "Setting a date for withdrawal (from Iraq) is setting a date for surrender, and I will never surrender."

 

The crowd was estimated at 1,200. Among those in attendance, a woman named Bobbie from the Bay Area. She is a Democrat who is crossing over to McCain. So why not Obama? "I'm a Democrat, but I just don't trust him," Bobbie said. "If it was Hillary, I could vote for her; but he (Obama) just doesn't have the experience."

 

Also in the crowd were Becky Moreno and her daughters Sarah, 14, Arianna, 11, and her two-year-old son Michael, who was born on the 4th of July. Moreno is a lifelong resident of Stockton. She's backing McCain. "I think he's a man of integrity," Moreno said. "We need him!"

 

McCain also talked about cutting wasteful spending in Washington and vetoing the current farm bill, as well as many others. "I've got a veto pen. I've got a pen Ronald Reagan gave me years ago," McCain said. "I am going veto every pork barrel project."

 

The GOP candidate stuck around to shake many hands and then held a news conference. At that news conference McCain condemned the very controversial remarks of the Rev. John Hagee and then renounced Hagee's endorsement. Hagee had discussed a theory, based on Biblical prophesy, that Adolf Hilter drove the Jews back to the promised land. McCain called the remarks "crazy and unacceptable."

 

While in Stockton, I interviewed Congressional candidate Dean Andal, who is running in a district that stretches from the San Joaquin Valley to the Bay Area. We'll have more on that in tomorrow's blog.

 

Check back often at www.MarkCurtisMedia.blogspot.com.

 

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Get trade secrets for amazing burgers. Watch "Cooking with Tyler Florence" on AOL Food.

Both Candidates Begin VP Searches

(Danville, California)

 

    The two likely presidential nominees have officially launched their search for vice-presidential running mates. John McCain has invited some folks to his Sedona, Arizona, home for a Memorial Day weekend barbecue. Barack Obama has appointed a longtime democratic power broker to begin his search.

 

    Among those invited to the McCain party are Gov. Charlie Crist (R-FL) and Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-LA). Crist is a more likely choice, as Florida and Texas are the cornerstones for a GOP victory in November, just as New York and California are the cornerstones for Democrats. Jindal is an interesting idea. He's 36, an Indian-American and a former member of Congress. Louisiana is a "must win" for Republicans after the botched response to Hurricane Katrina (which, in fairness, was a bipartisan mishandling at the federal, state and local levels). Former Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-AR) has already stated that he would like to be the VP, and former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA) is also invited to the McCain BBQ!

 

    On the Democratic side, Obama has asked longtime Democratic operative Jim Johnson to lead his VP search, as Johnson did for Walter Mondale in 1984 and for John Kerry in 2004. Certainly Sen. Hillary Clinton will be considered. Other possibilities are Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO), as Missouri is a "must win" state for either party. Former Sen. Bob Kerrey (D-NE) or former Sen. Sam Nunn (D-GA)
are also being looked at to offset the foreign policy inexperience of Obama.

 

    Just remember "Mark's First Commandment" for presidential (and VP) politics: "Thou shalt win thy own state!"  John Edwards sank Kerry in 2004 by not winning North Carolina, and Al Gore sank himself in 2000 by not winning Tennessee.

 

    Sen. John McCain is holding a rally in Stockton, California,  later today, and I will be there.

Check back at www.MarkCurtisMedia.com.

 

 

   

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Get trade secrets for amazing burgers. Watch "Cooking with Tyler Florence" on AOL Food.

Grazing on the Campaign Trail: Oregon

(Beaverton, Oregon)

 

In the spirit of the late, great "New York Times" political reporter and food critic R.W. Apple, Jr., today we continue our series about great dining on the campaign trail. This week's trip to the Oregon primary took me to "Jake's Crawfish and Seafood," which was recommended by Mike, the photographer from KPTV, with whom I was working. My old friend Brad Belstock, of KOIN-TV, also said it was great.

 

I was told they have a wonderful "Happy Hour," so I arrived promptly at 5 p.m., since the Obama "victory rally" was not for another two hours."  It's an old wooden barroom-style restaurant, first opened in 1892. Cool place, with lots of photos of famous political figures.

 

The food was spectacular; and the prices, unreal! From the "Happy Hour" $1.95 menu, I chose a local oyster shooter, in cocktail sauce. Also for $1.95, I ordered the Tempura Seared Ahi Spring Roll. OHMIGOD! With wasabi, fresh ginger and a soy dipping sauce. Not to be satisfied, I had to try the local Seafood Etouffee. Chunks of salmon, dungeness crab, shrimp, crawfish and God-only-knows-what else was in a huge bowl with nut brown sauce and white rice. It could have fed three people. The price? Just $3.95, plus bread and butter. My meal was under nine bucks! (The Chateau St. Jean Chardonnay from Sonoma was a bit extra!). Happy hour ends at 6 p.m., so get there before and order food at the bar!

 

The bartenders and waitresses are very friendly and chatty. Joe, the bartender, has been here 16 years and loves it. "Never a dull moment," he says. "Jake's" is a popular tourist spot, as well as a haunt for locals.

 

"Jake's" is also something of a political mini-museum, with some classic photos, including Harry Truman's famed 1948 presidential victory, when the "Chicago Tribune" got it all wrong.

 

There is also an old Nixon campaign poster.

 

The talk of the bar, though, is a photo showing Presidents Kennedy, Johnson (then VP), Eisenhower and Truman in a church pew. It's one of those rare, "Mt. Rushmore" type pictures. A handful of us argued for about thirty minutes about where it was taken. Finally, I correctly guessed it was at the funeral for legendary House Speaker Sam Rayburn of Texas.

 

Anyway, "Jake's Crawfish" is a real Portland treat for the food, the history and the good company. It is located at 410 12th Street SW, Portland, OR.

 

Thursday I will be covering a rally for GOP Sen. John McCain in Stockton. Keep it tuned to www.MarkCurtisMedia.blogspot.com.

 

 

 

    

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Get trade secrets for amazing burgers. Watch "Cooking with Tyler Florence" on AOL Food.

Huge Turnout in Rainy Oregon Primary, KTVU

Split Decision; Final Rounds Loom

(Portland, Oregon)

 

Think Joe Frazier and Mohammed Ali. They split the first two fights; they split the first 12 rounds of bout number three. There are three rounds left: June 1 in Puerto Rico and June 3 in South Dakota and Montana.

 

Tonight it was a split decision, again!  Sen. Hillary Clinton won the Kentucky primary, 65 percent to 30 percent. But, Sen. Barack Obama won the Oregon primary, 58 to 42 percent. As of tonight, Obama has now gained a majority of the pledged delegates, which he believes makes him the all-but-certain nominee. The Clinton team is not giving up, with campaign chairman Terry McAuliffe saying, "This thing goes on. I don't know why people say it's over. It's another 2 to 1 victory tonight in Kentucky"

 

You'd have a hard time convincing the Obama campaign rally in Portland tonight. The crowd went wild when CNN projected Obama the winner, shortly after 8 p.m. Democratic Congressman Earl Blumenauer spoke to the hundreds gathered, saying that the Sunday rally that approached 70,000 here was the clincher for Obama. "It was the largest rally in the country for any candidate," said Blumenauer. "We've got 1.6 million people who financed this campaign," he added.

 

Despite all the euphoria, I spoke with former Gov. Barbara Roberts (D-OR), who offered a more sobering outlook. "All the enthusiasm we feel tonight has to start tomorrow morning, and the day after, and the day after that," Roberts said. At 71, Roberts is a lifelong pol who has seen the Democratic Party's enthusiasm in the spring fade by the fall election. She cautioned against that tonight. Whether the Obama legions heeds her advice remains to be seen. "This is the first time in 40 years our votes mattered," she said of Oregon's role in the 2008 presidential primary.

 

Governor Roberts told supporters they should even forego their summer vacations to work on the Obama campaign. That's when Huma Pierce, a 33-year-old local chiropractor, shouted out, "We can't afford the gas (for a vacation)" and the crowd erupted in laughter.

 

Later when I spoke with Pierce, her reasoning for supporting Obama was bereft of any humor at all. "I just can't afford my father's health insurance," she said, "He has Parkinson's." Pierce's father is 73, and she supports Obama's plan for national health care for him and others like him.  

 

On a lighter note, I will continue my popular columns of great food stops on the campaign trail. Look for my review of the legendary "Jake's Crawfish and Seafood" later on Wednesday. Thursday John McCain campaigns in Northern Califronia and we'll have more on that.

 

Speaking of Wednesday. I will be "live" with Ross McGowan on KTVU's "Mornings on Two" at 7:45.

 

Check in often at www.MarkCurtisMedia.blogspot.com.

 

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