Attacks on McCain's Military Service WIll Backfire

(Danville, California)

I have written here many times about different strategies each candidate might want to employ to win the White House. It's not an exercise of my favoring one side or the other; it is rather the political strategist in me hypothesizing on how to devise a winning game plan. I will continue to write those strategy columns as the campaign goes on, because people constantly ask me: "What will it take for Obama to win?" or "How can McCain win the White House?"

The reason I bring this up today is that some on the Democratic side are making a huge mistake. Attacking John McCain's military record is NOT how to win this race, and might well backfire.

Retired General Wesley Clark, who is said to be on Barack Obama's "short list" for Vice-president, said of McCain: "He has been a voice on the Senate Armed Services Committee, and he has traveled all over the world; but he hasn't held executive responsibility.... That large squadron in the Navy that he commanded — that wasn't a wartime squadron."

CBS's "Face the Nation" moderator Bob Schieffer quizzed Clark on the fact that Barack Obama has no military service. "Well, I don't think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be President," Clark replied.

The Internet is also full of attacks on McCain's military service, with some left-wing sites going so far as to call him a "war criminal" because bombs he dropped in Vietnam may have hit civilians. (Never mind that collateral damage has occurred in every war since time began). Even more mainstream political forces have attacked McCain. Consider what Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) told a newspaper in April: "McCain was a fighter pilot, who dropped laser-guided missiles from 35,000 feet. He was long gone when they hit. What happened when they got to the ground? He doesn't know. You have to care about the lives of people. McCain never gets into those issues."

Rockefeller, heir to the fortune of his billionaire family, never served in the military. He also later apologized for his McCain comments, and the Obama campaign condemned the Rockefeller remarks.

McCain, by most definitions, is an American war hero. He was shot down in combat, held as a POW for 5 1/2 years, and repeatedly beaten and tortured to the point that he considered committing suicide. The Vietnamese, knowing that McCain's father and grandfather were prominent Navy Admirals, offered to release him early. He refused, insisting on staying with his fellow prisoners and not wanting preferential treatment.

Some Democrats have attacked McCain because they believe the Vietnam War was wrong. The logic of that escapes me. Talk about comparing apples with oranges! McCain was a Navy pilot, obeying orders. That's how the military works. He didn't start the war; he served in it. Whether Vietnam was right or wrong is a different argument for a different day. By the way, whom did President Bill Clinton send when the U.S. reopened diplomatic relations with Vietnam? Why, Sen. John McCain (who even visited his old prison cell) and another former POW, Rep. Pete Peterson (D-FL), who became the U.S. Ambassador. For all his misgivings over Vietnam, Clinton did the right thing at that time.

Even Barack Obama has referred to McCain on many occasions as a "genuine American hero" and says he "honors his service to our country." Fellow Democrats ought to heed Obama's respect, class, and just good common sense and put McCain's military and foreign policy experience "off limits." It's foolish to attack a man's strongest asset. It's like saying Kobe Bryant has no business on the basketball court!

If Democrats want to beat McCain, then attack him on legitimate issues. Criticize his economic policies, or his immigration bill, or his support for "No Child Left Behind." But, for Heaven's sake, just concede that McCain served his country honorably and heroically and leave it be. Even a wise politician by the name of Barack Obama had the good sense to do just that!

Leave your comments! And check in daily at http://www.markcurtismedia.blogspot.com/.

Court's Actions Could Have Political Fallout

(Danville, California)

 

    There is an old saying that "nothing happens in a vacuum!" In other words, when something happens, it has a ripple effect. The law of inertia, so to speak. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

The courts have that kind of impact on politics.

 

    Take two recent examples: This week the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that under the Second Amendment to the Constitution individuals have the right to bear arms; and last month the California Supreme Court ruled that gay marriages could go forth. Some form of the latter issue will eventually appear before the U.S. Supreme Court, as well.

 

    So how does this play out politically? Well, it certainly raises the issue of whom each candidate might appoint to the high court. At 88, Justice John Paul Stevens is most likely to retire next; and Antonin Scalia and Ruth Bader Ginsburg may not be far behind. The new President will likely have one appointment in the first term and, if reelected, two in the second term.

 

    The question for voters then is "Who do you want ruling on the Supreme Court?" The last 11 high court decisions were 5 to 4. Moderate-to-conservative Anthony Kennedy is the usual swing vote, taking the role once held by Sandra Day O'Connor.

 

    John McCain has already pledged to appoint conservative justices in the mold of Scalia and Samuel Alito. Barrack Obama has yet to be very specific on this; but as the most liberal member of the U.S. Senate, he is more likely to select a pro-choice, liberal-leaning justice in the mold of Ginsburg or Stephen Breyer.

 

    Expect this to become a central issue in the campaign, given the recent landmark decisions!

 

    Check back all week at www.MarkCurtisMedia.blogspot.com.

 

---

Gas prices getting you down? Search AOL Autos for fuel-efficient used cars.

Cute Gimmick; Now "Where's the Beef?"

(Danville, California...Oh how I wish the byline said Unity, New Hampshire!)

 

    They couldn't write this kind of script in Hollywood. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama hold their first "unity rally" in Unity, New Hampshire. Not only that, but they tied there in January, each getting 107 votes! So, Friday it was a great place for a photo op! It was a cute story, nothing more!

 

    But now what? Do they become running mates? Does he help pay off her campaign debt? Where does Bill Clinton fit in? Do her angry supporters back McCain? So many questions! The big question is how long the political lovefest will last! That's because there are many other questions to ask, of Obama and McCain:

 

    1) What can you do (if anything) to boost a sagging U.S. economy?

    2) How will you deal with radical Islam?

    3) Whom might you appoint to the U.S. Supreme Court, and why?

    4) What's your environmental policy (including domestic drilling)?

    5) How can you deal with a divided Congress? A divided country?

 

    Those are just for starters! Instead, we have been treated to Obama being quizzed on calling a female reporter "Sweetie" in a meaningless off-the-cuff remark; and we've been treated to McCain being grilled about singing a parody, "Bomb, bomb Iran" to the melody of the Beach Boys' classic "Barbara Ann!" These are big media issues? Come on!

 

    I remember back in 1984, when Gary Hart challenged Walter Mondale for the Democratic nomination, running on the platform of "new ideas." He beat Mondale in several primaries and was gaining momentum, when Mondale simply quizzed him about just what those new ideas were. He could not answer!  Mondale taunted him with the quote from Clara Peller in the old Wendy's TV ad, "Where's the Beef?" There wasn't any, and Hart lost!

 

    The candidates have to give us more. The press has to give us more. The public has to demand more. This is not "Burger King," where you can simply customize your order and "have it your way!" This is not "American Idol," where we chose our favorite singer. This vote MATTERS! Demand tough questions; demand specific answers!

 

    The blog is back! Check in often at www.MarkCurtisMedia.blogspot.com.

 

 

 

 

 

---

Gas prices getting you down? Search AOL Autos for fuel-efficient used cars.

McCain Needs Pennsylvania to be President

(Danville, California)

 

    The other day I blogged about how Barack Obama was expanding his list of "battleground" states from 11 to 18 and about what he needs to do to win the White House in November.

 

    By my analysis, the "big three" battleground states this year are former GOP strongholds which have become much more "middle of the road." They are New Mexico, Nevada and Colorado. If Obama wins every state John Kerry won in 2004, plus just one of these, he will be President.

 

    So, let's turn the tables and see what John McCain needs to do if he is to win. Let's assume he wins only two of the states I just mentioned. He must win one state elsewhere (assuming he wins all the other 2004 Bush states). Republicans would be wise to focus on three key states: Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan. They must win one of these, or Obama is President!

 

    Bush won Ohio last time, but it was close. I would predict a much larger African-American turnout in places such as Cleveland, Cincinnati and Columbus. If that happens, Obama wins Ohio. Michigan has a similar dynamic. Kerry won it in 2004, and if Democrats turn out an even higher number of black voters (who historically don't vote in large numbers), then Obama wins Michigan.

 

    My Analysis:

    Certainly, Pennsylvania has big urban pockets of black voters, especially in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Nevertheless, Obama lost decisively to Hillary Clinton (by 10 percentage points), mainly on the heels of his ridiculous analysis of rural voters as bitter, Bible-thumping, gun-toting hicks. He has a lot of damage control to do. A good many Hillary backers are threatening to vote for McCain. Pennsylvania also has the highest population of military veterans in the United States. Pennsylvania, which keeps reelecting the moderate Republican Arlen Specter to the U.S. Senate, might well swing to the moderate McCain.

 

    My Prediction: If McCain really wants to be President, he will pour as much money and organization as he can into Pennsylvania! If he wins the "Keystone State," he is your next President!

 

    There is a LOT going on in politics these days. Check back often at www.MarkCurtisMedia.blogspot.com.

 

---

Gas prices getting you down? Search AOL Autos for fuel-efficient used cars.

Election Has Lessons for Our Kids

(Sacramento, California)

 

    Eureka! It's not only the state motto of California; it's a great word to describe this year's election process. My son Patrick says "Eureka" means "I have found it!" In 1849, that meant gold. Today, it means kids have found a link to the presidential election, as well as to the worlds of politics and government about which they can talk and learn.

 

    Sunday, this interest took us to the state capital of California in Sacramento with Troop 36 of the Boy Scouts from St. Timothy's Church in Danville, CA. There were twelve Scouts and nine parents and many lessons about democracy. Interest in all this stuff always seems to peak when there is a big election, and this year does not disappoint.

 

    As the kids posed in front of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's office, at least they knew who the governor is! When I see surveys indicating that 80 percent of the public cannot even name the current Vice-president, it really worries me. Scouting supplements the kids' school work, so I see much of it as an extension of the classroom, or a place Scouts get more education. Yes, they enjoy camping and lots of outdoor activities; but trips like this really help fill in educational gaps.

 

    The Scouts all knew that Ronald Reagan was the only Governor of California to have become President of the United States. We saw his official portrait in the Capitol. We also saw a very unusual contrasting portrait of then-Governor Jerry Brown, who succeeded Reagan and now serves as the state's Attorney General. The contrast between the two portraits certainly illustrates the diversity of Americans' political views (not to mention artistic tastes) - diversity which may drive us all nuts, but is the envy of every other nation on earth!

 

    Just some fun trivia: The Capitol took fourteen years to build, and huge steel columns had to be floated on barges up the Sacramento River. The Assembly Chamber is green, modeled after Britain's House of Commons; and the Senate Chamber is red, modeled after the British House of Lords. The original Capitol had no electricity. The last governor actually to work in the original office was Earl Warren, who left to become Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court.

 

    My point is that buildings such as this are rich in history, and our kids need to know that. The best lesson of the day came from the tour guide. He asked the boys why there are public galleries, with balconies over both the Assembly and Senate chambers. When no one answered, he told the boys it was so the public could "look over the shoulders of their political officials, to see what they're up too!"

 

    The boys came away having learned that their government belongs to them; it does not belong to the people who get elected.

 

    John McCain visits California today, while Barack Obama is in the key state of New Mexico. I will have more presidential analysis all week at www.MarkCurtisMedia.blogspot.com.

 

 

---

Gas prices getting you down? Search AOL Autos for fuel-efficient used cars.

Obama Expands Battleground in Risky Strategy

(Danville, California)

 

    There is a fascinating article on Associated Press today from reporter Liz Sidoti. In it she explains how Barack Obama is expanding his fight from 11 so-called battleground states, to 18. I call this risky, because it forces a campaign to spend money on states it might not win, and takes away money from key states it needs to win.

 

    The classic example of this was Al Gore in 2000. He spent so much time and money trying to win Florida (a GOP-leaning state), that he failed to put forth enough time and money in his home state of Tennessee and Bill Clinton's home state of Arkansas. He lost all three and lost the election. Had he won just Arkansas, he would have been President. Obama is risking the very same mistake. Let me dissect this!

 

The 11 key battleground states:  Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

 

My Analysis:  Focusing on these is wise! These ARE the 11 key states for both parties. A one-state change from the last election could swing the balance.

 

My prediction: This may come as a surprise to people. My picks for the BIG three are Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada. Why? These used to be solid GOP states, but demographics have changed. So many labor union workers from places such as Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin have moved to these states looking for work after factories closed, that Democrats can now complete. The minority populations have grown steadily, too; and that makes these states more "in-play." For example, Al Gore won New Mexico by just 300 votes in 2000; then George W. Bush won it back in a close 2004 race. I believe these three states hold the keys to the White House.

 

The other 7 states: Alaska, Georgia, Indiana, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota and Virginia.

 

My Analysis: Obama could commit political suicide with this wider new focus. He might have a shot in Georgia, but only if he picks former home-state Senator Sam Nunn as his running mate, and even that is no guarantee. Virginia Senator Jim Webb (a former Navy Secretary and former Republican), could help in a similar fashion; but Obama might win Virginia without him. Virginia has become a more politically mixed state, as the metro-DC suburbs are heavily Democratic territory, whereas out-state rural areas remain solidly GOP.

 

My prediction: Of these seven states, Obama would be wise to compete intensively only in Virginia. Georgia and North Carolina are marginal, and the other four are simply a waste of time and money. Of course, a candidate can't say that publicly because one can offend a lot of voters in the other states.

 

I will do a similar state-by-state analysis for the McCain campaign in the coming days.

 

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

---

Gas prices getting you down? Search AOL Autos for fuel-efficient used cars.

Forget VP for now; Who's the Secretary of State?

(Danville, California)

 

    We get obsessed in the press (and a lot of the public, too!), over who will be the #2 person in every administration. I admit I love the speculation, the handicapping of candidates, and the wondering about "Who could add what?" to an administration. But I suspect we do so to the exclusion of considering who might fill certain key cabinet posts.

 

    That may change this year! I fully expect in the rush to "outdo" one another, the two candidates will not only name their VP choices by midsummer, but they will also start naming potential cabinet members, hoping to win key constituencies. For example, will Obama name Eric Holder as Attorney General, shoring up even more black voter support; or will he turn to southerner John Edwards, hoping to ease concerns of white Democrats in parts of the South?

Since such considerations pose real dilemmas for both candidates,

 

   I'll write about cabinet prospects from time to time. Today, let's talk about the Secretary of State.

 

    On the Democratic side, Sen. Joe Biden is often mentioned, and you know he'd love the job. He was long frustrated in the thankless job as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, so much so that he openly announced he wanted to switch Chairmanships to the Foreign Relations Committee, and eventually did. While Biden is still in the VP stakes, Secretary of State seems a better fit. Still, he's his "own man," as Al Haig was, making you wonder whether he would toe the company line or follow his own agenda.

 

    Another possibility for the job is former UN Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, who probably would have had a better shot if Hillary Clinton had won the nomination. Still, Holbrooke is well known to our allies and might be seen as a more stabilizing choice.

 

    On the Republican side, one possibility is former interim UN Ambassador John Bolton. While more abrasive than many would like, Bolton had McCain's behind-the-scenes support for the UN post even though he failed to win confirmation by the full Senate. McCain might endear himself to the more conservative wing of the party by picking the right-wing Bolton. Still, if the Democrats gain seats in the Senate - and they likely could - getting Bolton confirmed might require a Houdini Act.

 

    A safer choice? Perhaps longtime Indiana Senator Richard Lugar, who - like Biden - is a party elder well respected on both sides of the aisle and also well known overseas. Even if McCain wins, he'll need to shore up international support by appointing someone who is well respected by our allies.

 

    For both parties, it's a tough choice. The past three Secretaries of State were all history makers: The first black; the first woman; then the first black woman. The problem is that both parties may feel the pressure to "top this!" and simply can't!

 

    The important thing for both parties to remember: This is about international respect; this is not a popularity contest.

 

    I'll write more soon about other potential administration appointees. Check in often at www.MarkCurtisMedia.blogspot.com.

 

 

     

 

   

 

---

Gas prices getting you down? Search AOL Autos for fuel-efficient used cars.

My Political Blog RETURNS Friday 6-20-2008

(Danville, California)

 

Greetings political junkies, friends and family!

 

I have received numerous emails, phone calls and complaints...that my blog was NOT being published every day as promised!  I agree. Due to work and other commitments I have been away! (PLUS I needed a few days R&R once the primary season ended...as well as Little League baseball).

 

But, as of Friday 6-20, my DAILY blog entries will return!

 

Speaking of response. I cannot believe how many people e-mailed to say they liked my new promo picture. And I did not think anyone would notice. LOL!

 

We'll talk politics Friday from San Francisco!

 

God Bless to all,

Mark

 

 

---

Gas prices getting you down? Search AOL Autos for fuel-efficient used cars.

Happy Father's Day, Candidates!

(Danville, California)

 

    Happy Father's Day to all! This is the first Sunday in almost six months when I am not in some airport, traveling to the next primary. I am happy and sad about that. Happy to sleep in my own bed; sad, because the primary drama was just riveting, week after week. The late Tim Russert's producer was talking about that on "Meet the Press" this morning, saying that Tim did not want it to end either. We're all going to miss Tim! The tributes today were wonderful and well deserved. My prayers remain with his wife Maureen, his son Luke, and his dad "Big Russ," whom so many millions of Americans came to know through Tim's book.

 

    My church had a great Father's Day tribute today, too. It made me think about my own dad, this being the first year without him. It also made me think about our remaining presidential candidates and about their kids. It's easy to forget sometimes that these are human beings, with spouses and kids like the rest of us. I thought of Ted Kennedy today, too, and how precious each day must be now with each of his three children. Growing up in the public eye is not easy. I think of new bride Jenna Bush and hope that she and her husband can find time out of the limelight to just be themselves. Life is a tough road, and having a famous father makes it harder in many cases, not easier.  

 

    So who are John McCain and Barack Obama's kids? We have heard little about them, but all that is about to change. John McCain has a daughter, Sidney, from his first marriage to Carol Shepp. He also adopted her two children. McCain and his second wife Cindy have four children - Meghan, 24, Jack, 22, and Jimmy, 20,  who served in Iraq, as well as Bridget, 17,   whom they adopted at the behest of an orphanage run by Mother Theresa.

 

    Barack Obama and his wife Michele, have two daughters, Malia Ann, 10, and Natasha, 7. We know little more about them, probably because they are so young; but - like the McCain kids - they are about to be thrust into the public spotlight as never before.

 

    I was impressed this year with Chelsea Clinton, now 28, and how mature and poised she had become since I first saw her as a 12 year old at her dad's inauguration. Quite a remarkable transformation!  Her parents kept her out of the public eye; and the press, for the most part, left her alone. I wish the same treatment for the current crop of presidential children. This is their fathers' pursuit of office, not theirs.

 

    I pray for their privacy, normalcy, safety and well-being. I hope, more than anything, that they share a special bond with their dads, as I had with my dad and as my kids have with me.

 

    I hope you all had a great Father's Day! Check in this week for more on the latest politics at www.MarkCurtisMedia.blogspot.com.

 

---

Vote for your city's best dining and nightlife. City's Best 2008.

Tim Russert 1950-2008

(Danville, California)

 

    I am saddened today about the death of Tim Russert, arguably the greatest political reporter of our generation. The NBC "Meet the Press" host and best-selling author was only 58 years old.

 

    I had occasion to meet Tim on stories from time to time in Washington, DC, as well as on social occasions, such as the annual Radio-TV Correspondents' dinner. I also enjoyed his books about his dad, because they reminded me of my relationship with my own father. My dad owned both Russert books, and I saved them and found comfort in reading parts of them after my dad passed away.

 

    I don't have any idols in the TV business, because I think that's kind of a silly notion in any profession. However, there are people I deeply respect and admire, and one of them was Tim Russert. In this awful era of screaming, partisan journalists and hosts, Russert was as calm and fair and as well researched as they come. He did his homework. His guests were the stars of the show; he was not. Anyone running for president got a good grilling on "Meet the Press," which came to be known affectionately as the "Russert Primary" because it was often tougher than trampling through Iowa and New Hampshire in the dead of winter.

 

    I last spoke with Tim Russert during the Iowa Caucuses on January 2, when I took this picture of him. We were at a jam-packed rally for John McCain, along with a whole host of network reporters, including George Stephanopolous, Andrea Mitchell, Judy Woodruff, Brian Williams and more. It was a "who's who" of American journalism, with a bunch of local reporters like me tossed in. Russert and I spoke briefly about why so many top reporters were there, when McCain was polling in 5th place. "Do you guys know something we don't know?" I asked him, wondering whether they had polling that McCain was surging. He said he honestly didn't know why everyone was there, as he patiently posed for pictures with the locals. I was struck by how much time he took speaking with local voters who had come to the McCain rally without knowing that such a famous TV journalist would be there.

 

    Anyway, I did not know him well, other than pleasantries exchanged while covering politics over the years. What I knew him best for was his quality and integrity on "Meet the Press," a show made richer by the man who hosted it for so many years.

The worlds of politics and journalism will deeply miss him.

---

Vote for your city's best dining and nightlife. City's Best 2008.

Vice-Presidential Battle in Full Swing in Both Parties

(Danville, California)

 

    America Online is running a fascinating poll today, listing 17 potential GOP running mates for John McCain and 18 for Barack Obama. Some of them are long shots, while others are just plain crazy ideas - crazy for reasons I won't go into.

 

    There are, however, some really serious candidates on both sides, so let me evaluate five apiece:

 

Republicans:

 

Charlie Crist-- PLUS: Florida governor could help carry his own state for McCain; MINUS: Not known at all outside his state, although that may not matter if he just wins Florida.

 

Mitt Romney-- PLUS: Brings solid economic, business and executive skills that McCain, by his own admission, is lacking. MINUS: As John Edwards and Al Gore found out, you MUST win your own state to win the White House. Can Romney carry Massachusetts?

 

Condoleezza Rice-- PLUS: Racial and gender balance to counter the Democrats' ticket, plus she's brilliant. MINUS: Too tied to the controversial Iraq War. Can she carry her home state of California? Iffy, at best.

 

Bobby Jindal-- PLUS: A young, ethnic governor from a potential swing state, who has also served in Congress. MINUS: At 36, he's just too young, but a rising star in the GOP. Check back in 2016.

 

Kay Bailey Hutchisoon-- PLUS: A long time, experienced Texas pol, who would strongly appeal to female voters and who is clearly qualified. MINUS: McCain is likely to win Texas anyway, so can she help him in other states? It's a toss-up.

 

Democrats:

 

Hillary Clinton-- PLUS: A lot of people voted for her in a very close race. She can win the anti-Obama women, who feel he took "skips" on her turn. MINUS: Clinton fatigue. She still has strong negatives in polls; and her "loose cannon" husband has been an odd mix of campaign helper and hinderer, depending on what he says on any given day.

 

Bill Richardson-- PLUS: He has all the experience that Obama lacks, with strong appeal to Latinos; and he's from a swing state. MINUS: He betrayed the Clintons; and if he gets picked over Hillary, millions of women voters may just stay home.

 

Claire McCaskill-- PLUS: She could carry Missouri for the ticket (unlike the 2004 election, when John Kerry blew it by not taking Missouri's Dick Gephardt as his VP). You win Missouri, you win the White House. MINUS: Not well known outside of Missouri; has the same lack of foreign policy experience as Obama. Still a possibility, if Hillary says "No."

 

Sam Nunn-- PLUS: An expert on military and foreign affairs who is widely respected in both parties. He might just carry Georgia, and the Democrats only need to win one southern state. MINUS: Young voters who came out heavily for Obama just don't know who he is. It's a generational thing. Also, maybe Nunn can't carry Georgia. It's dicey at best.

 

Ted Strickland-- PLUS: A popular governor of a "must win" state for Democrats who has also served in Congress. MINUS: Aside from Ohio, could he help Obama elsewhere? He was a shoo-in pick if Clinton had won the nomination, because she needed him more than Obama.

 

My Predictions:

 

Hillary Clinton-- I think Obama has no other choice. The potential backlash against him if he does not pick her could be devastating. He needs her to win.

 

Kay Bailey Hutchison-- Although Mitt Romney is the most qualified choice and fills in McCain's "gaps," the gender issue is huge. McCain must counteract the Democrats' ticket if Hillary is on it. More women vote in the U.S. than men, and this will put pressure on McCain.

 

Wild Card:

 

The Democrats must pick first, since they have the first convention. The GOP pick will be a reaction to what they do. As I've said, if Obama picks Clinton, then McCain picks Hutchison. (Same thing if Obama picks McCaskill.) But if Obama picks anyone else, look for McCain to pick Romney.

 

What's your opinion? There is a comment section at the end of each of my blog articles at www.MarkCurtisMedia.blogspot.com.

 

 

 

---

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

Top Ten List: Why Hillary Clinton Should be VP Choice

 (Danville, California)

 

    Today in Washington, DC, Hillary Clinton gives her concession speech and endorses Barack Obama for President. The two met privately at Senator Dianne Feinstein's home Thursday night to discuss lots of issues. (Oh, to have been a fly on the wall!). In any case, in honor of the David Letterman tradition, here is a my "Top Ten List" on why Obama should pick Hillary as his running mate and why she should accept:

 

10) Young voters (and they matter now) never heard of Sam Nunn or Bob Kerrey.

 

9) The VP still gets a cool, free house! (The residence at the Naval Observatory).

 

8) Obama can't win West Virginia without her.

 

7) Bill Clinton becomes like a "crazy" in-law! (OK, that's mostly a bonus for the people who write the headlines!)

 

6) Being VP is the best spot to steer health care reform legislation.

 

5) One in three past presidents first served in the vice presidency, making it the best "launching pad" for the big job.

 

4) The VP gets to cast the tie-breaking vote in the Senate (and there could be many).

 

3) Obama and Clinton both will get to keep their Senate seats if they lose in November.

 

2) Obama can't win Pennsylvania without her.

 

1) Democrats in Florida and Michigan may actually show up on election day!

 

I'll be keeping an eye on today's developments and the possible search for a VP. Check back often at www.MarkCurtisMedia.blogspot.com.

 

 

 

---

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

Grazing on the Campaign Trail: South Dakota & Montana

(Rapid City, South Dakota)

 

    Well, there is nothing like another campaign trip to get my appetite working again. I knew - heading into South Dakota and Montana - there would be some good beef on the agenda. It's fun when the candidates plan rallies at good places, too. Hillary Clinton's campaign event at Tally's Restaurant, 530 6th Street in downtown Rapid City, was a godsend. Reporters and supporters were packed in like sardines. But, as soon as Hillary left, so did almost everyone else, except me. I decided to stay for lunch!

 

    As soon as they told me the special was meatloaf, I was sold. It came with delicious mashed potatoes and locally-grown corn. The gravy on the meat and spuds had just enough hint of rosemary and sage. It was delicious, and I had a "lighter than air" biscuit to mop the plate. At $6.95 it was a steal!

 

    Mary, the waitress, who has worked here since 1981, kept offering me a variety of homemade pies. After saying no a dozen times (Okay, a half dozen), I caved and ordered the chocolate pudding pie. Oh my! Don't tell my doctor!.

 

    Tally's is owned by Mike and Kathy Johnson, and their kids are among the great support staff. Even one of my "Food Network" heroes, Rachel Ray, dined here, wrote about it in one of her cookbooks, and featured the stop on her TV show "$40 Dollars a Day!" Tally's made Hillary Clinton a "to go" order. "They made her breakfast," said Kathy, "It was an 'everything' omelet." Mike Johnson also works as a local stagehand, so he helped set up and tear down a lot of the TV and radio lines. "It's kind of a one-shot deal," he said. "It's an exciting thing. It's great for the city. Some people will find out where South Dakota is now!" Numerous people asked me to mention how civic minded the Johnsons are and how much they do for the Rapid City community. Nice folks and a great restaurant!

 

    
I didn't get to spend too much time in Montana, but my trip provided me with a scoop of maybe the best ice cream I have ever eaten. "Hoofers," at the main intersection in Broadus, is a combination "coffee shop-ice cream parlor-laundromat," all rolled into one! Try the "Praline Pecan" ice cream. Around the corner at "Powder River Lanes & Cafe," enjoy a great Montana beef burger and fries!

 

    Okay, my new diet starts today!

 

    In the meantime, I am keeping watch on any vice-presidential developments in both parties. Check back at www.MarkCurtisMedia.blogspot.com.

 

 

    

 

    

---

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

Clinton Scores South Dakota Upset

Mark Curtis will talk about that on KTVU.

McCain and Obama Set for November Battle

(Rapid City, South Dakota)

 

    It was a night to be nice, with Hillary Clinton, John McCain and Barack Obama all congratulating each other for a hard-fought campaign and congratulating each other for inspiring their various constituencies. And they noted they are all friends in the U.S. Senate. Don't expect the lovefest to last long. This is politics, a hardball sport. That's the way it is.

 

    Now that it's McCain vs. Obama in November, expect the gloves to come off. Already, Tuesday night McCain mocked Obama, saying that direct talks with the President of Iran are "not the kind of change" people want. He also said that Obama, 25 years his junior, "has fallen for failed ideas of the past."  Obama later praised McCain's heroic service to this country, then counterpunched: "I respect his (McCain's) many accomplishments, even if he denies mine," said Obama.

 

    
In Rapid City, South Dakota, the seat of Pennington County, local Republicans gathered to watch the election returns and speeches on TV. All the candidates had already left the state. Hillary Clinton's surprise upset over Barack Obama was the real shocker of the night.

 

    "Oh, I believe that Obama does not represent the demographic of this state," said Marli Erickson (shown on left), who in 2010 will be president of the Pennington County Republican Party. "He comes from an urban population area in Illinois. I don't see the commonality with South Dakota," she added. As for how John McCain can carry South Dakota, a traditionally Republican state, when it comes to the presidency, "McCain has to do a balancing act," Erickson said. "With the economy at home in the doldrums and the war in Iraq, his platform has equally to address both." Erickson works in the financial industry.

 

    Obama was the last person to speak on the TV tonight. He commended his opponent. "Senator Hillary Clinton made history in this campaign," Obama said from St. Paul, Minnesota. "She has made history, not just because she's a woman...but because she's a leader who inspires millions of Americans."  Obama congratulated Clinton for her surprising South Dakota victory and for her overall hard-fought campaign. No hints yet whether she is his VP choice.

 

    
A local Republican leader I spoke with, who asked that his name not be used, has some concerns. While he is voting for McCain, he worries the GOP has a tough road ahead with Obama. "He's young; he's articulate; and he has enormous appeal to young people," the man said. "Even in South Dakota, people have flocked to hear him speak."  Of McCain's speech tonight, the same Republican expressed more concerns. "It was almost pathetic. It seemed canned," the man said. "There was very little passion in it."  Nevertheless, he thinks South Dakota is still Republican enough to be safe for McCain in November. The rest of the nation is his concern.

 

    The most fascinating person I met tonight was an African-American man named Dana Jones. Dana has been a mortgage banker and is a military veteran. He moved here from Orange County, California. He got to meet Obama at a recent rally, where Jones told the candidate that his biggest concern is the nation's high school dropout rate. Jones, who is 44 and working on his MBA, said the two had a good talk. "He fully understands the implications on a global economic standpoint," Jones said. He is also excited that Obama made history. "I feel proud that he's a great candidate who just happens to be black, " Jones said, adding, "Even if he was white, I'd be proud of him." Jones says he supports Obama for his stance on issues, not because they are both black.

 

    It's going to be a great fall campaign. I am heading back to California to get ready!  Tell all your friends about www.MarkCurtisMedia.blogspot.com.

 

---

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

Conservative Montana Raises Its Voice

(Broadus, Montana)

 

    It's easy to lose track of the Republican Party in all the clamor over Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama and their down-to-the-wire nomination fight. But South Dakota and Montana are very conservative states; and no matter how the Democrats fare today, it's very likely that both states will land in the GOP column in November.

 

    The Powder River County Courthouse was a busy place as voters cast ballots. County Clerk Karen Amende runs the elections here. "It has been steady, and we always have a good voter turnout here," said Amende. "It's been fun watching the news and having the politicians know Montana is here and that we have a voice."

 

    The local bowling alley, Powder River Lanes & Cafe, was busy at lunch time. Local contractor Rick Higgins was eating with his kids.
He backs John McCain. "I guess I believe in the war we're in," said Higgins. "I believe we are doing good over there. I feel like as soon as we leave, they (the terrorists) are going to come after us again."  Higgins is also upset with federal environmental policy that has protected certain species of wolves which now attack and kill livestock, hurting local farmers.

 

    
At "Hoofer's" Laundromat and Ice Cream Parlor, they advertise "gossip" on the sign, as well. That's where I found people talking politics, including Danny Johnson, who is running for County Commission, along with Ty Brewer and his dad, Tom Brewer. "I like the Republican stance as far as less government intrusion," said Johnson. "Traditionally, the Democrats follow government programs  and have more intrusion, especially on agriculture and farming here." Johnson says Washington, DC, policy is keeping Montana from mining more than 27 billion cubic feet of coal under its soil - a resource that might help ease the nation's energy crunch.

 

    Tom Brewer is pretty vocal, too. "I would definitely support McCain," he said. "You can document this. I will never, ever, in my lifetime vote for a Democrat for president." Brewer supports McCain on Iraq policy and believes the U.S. effort will prevail.

 

    No matter what happens tonight, people in Montana are thrilled that their votes count in this primary process, when all too often in the past the nomination had been decided in Iowa and New Hampshire, long before Montanans cast their ballots.

 

    I will be at McCain's and Obama's headquarters in Rapid City tonight and maybe Clinton's, too! Check in often at www.MarkCurtisMedia.blogspot.com.

 

    

 

    

---

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

Mark Curtis Live From Mount Rushmore, KTVU

Polls Open in South Dakota and Montana

(Sturgis, South Dakota)

 

    Polls opened at 7 a.m. in South Dakota and Montana this morning, and it's likely that we will see a record turnout in both states, as we have in most others. There was a steady stream of voters before noon at the Community Center in Sturgis, the western town now famous for its annual motorcycle rally. These are the final two primaries and we could have a Democratic nominee by later Tuesday night. South Dakotans are thrilled. One in Rapid City who has voted since 1973 was overjoyed at all the excitement and all the time candidates have spent here. "This is the first time since I was eighteen that voters in South Dakota mattered, " said Nancy Sutterer. "We've never had this many candidates here."

 

    One of the families I enjoyed meeting were the Mesteths of Rapid City. They are Oglala Sioux and have lived on reservations. Lori Mesteth is backing Hillary Clinton, no matter what. "She's a woman, and she and her husband have both visited the reservation," Said Mesteth. "They were doing a good job when he was in office," she added.  Mesteth said her concerns go well beyond Native American issues. She liked the fact that the federal budget was balanced during the Clinton presidency and that health care was improving.

 

    "She's a strong woman, and that is one of the very first things I see about her," she says. "She's a good role model for my daughters." Her fourteen-year-old daughter talked her into attending a Clinton rally. Mesteth and her two daughters support Clinton, but her three sons are backing Obama. So is it a family feud at home? "No," she says. "It's a split family, but as long as they are interested, I don't care," she adds.

 

    
Malcom Chapman is the President of the Rapid City City Council. He is thrilled by the turnout and having a strong final primary. "I've been telling people, we're just as important as the other 49 states," said Chapman, as he urged people to get out and vote.

 

    
Another Clinton backer here heading out to cast her vote, was Judy Hansen. "I think she's the real deal. I think she's honest, and she knows what she's doing. I think Obama will be a great president in eight years, maybe twelve," Hansen says.

 

    I am heading to Montana to speak with voters there. Check back later today for updates at www.MarkCurtisMedia.blogspot.com.

 

---

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

Mark Curtis Talks with KPFA Radio