October 13, 2008
Election 2008: John McCain in the news
Some want presidential debate to take up immigration
Immigration policy has drawn remarkably little mention in this huge general-election campaign - and some want to see the presidential candidates confront the issue in their final debate Wednesday at Hofstra University.
Poll: Economy top issue in election for LI voters
Francine Caruso wants a president who can "fix the economy" and it's not hard to see why. This year, she's lost her job, couldn't sell her Wantagh home, and watched her husband delay retirement as his portfolio lost $30,000 last week in the market plunge.
McCain: I'll 'whip' Obama's 'you-know-what' at debate
Sen. John McCain acknowledged that the nation's economic woes have hurt his presidential campaign and took aim at Democratic rival Barack Obama, promising to "whip his you-know-what" in the final debate.
Spin Cycle: D'Amato's bipartisan fundraiser
Former Republican Sen. Alfonse D'Amato is apparently playing a major role in organizing a fundraiser for Democratic Gov. David A. Paterson - to be co-hosted by myriad bipartisan Long Island developers, lawyers, doctors and executives, at Island Park's Coyote Grill.
Major economic challenges face the next president
The stock market is on a quick-moving roller coaster, huge financial firms are still sizing up staggering losses and bailouts are barely making a ripple of impact.
Republicans growing concerned about McCain's strategy
INDIANAPOLIS - Three weeks before the election, Republicans are growing increasingly concerned about John McCain's ability to mount a comeback, questioning his tactics and even his campaign's main thrust in a White House race increasingly focused on economic turmoil.
Biden says McCain's barbs trying to distract voters
SCRANTON, Pa. - Democratic vice-presidential candidate Joe Biden yesterday accused the McCain campaign of trying to distract Americans from their economic woes by launching "unbecoming personal attacks" at Barack Obama.
Palin tones down attacks against Obama
ST. CLAIRSVILLE, Ohio - Sarah Palin told voters in southeastern Ohio yesterday that she and running mate John McCain would bring jobs back to this economically depressed piece of Appalachia.
Les Payne: Acts of rage, hate in McCain corner
The upcoming Hofstra debate will measure the two presidential candidates against the challenge of replacing a woefully incompetent commander of this luxury-liner republic that has sprung devastating leaks drawing us all into a titanic struggle to stay afloat.
Hofstra's Fitness Center to host debate's Spin Alley
It's normally home to Hofstra University's volleyball team, the Pride.
No problems on LI from group accused of voter fraud
ACORN, the anti-poverty group under investigation for voter fraud in several states, has organized voter registration drives on Long Island this year but no allegations of misconduct have been made, officials said yesterday.
TODAY'S PICKS
HOUSE (8 p.m., Fox/5) - After learning that his father has passed away, House is coerced into attending the funeral; the team tries to diagnose the illness of a woman who was in China searching for her birth mother.
Debate-watching parties around Long Island
This time around, debate-watching parties have a bit of local flavor. With Barack Obama and John McCain ready to duke it out Wednesday at Hofstra, a few places on Long Island are hosting parties and bringing in big names to celebrate.
Poll: Economy top issue for LI
Francine Caruso wants a president who can "fix the economy" and it's not hard to see why. This year, she's lost her job, couldn't sell her Wantagh home, and watched her husband delay retirement as his portfolio lost $30,000 last week in the market plunge.
Major economic challenges face next president
The stock market is on a quick-moving roller coaster, huge financial firms are still sizing up staggering losses and bailouts are barely making a ripple of impact.
North Korea off blacklist
WASHINGTON - After North Korea relented on nuclear inspection demands, the United States yesterday erased from a terrorism blacklist the communist country President George W. Bush once branded part of an "axis of evil." The U.S. step, assailed by some conservatives who say it is sketchy and rewards North Korea's bad behavior, is aimed at salvaging a faltering disarmament accord before Bush leaves office in January.
Fight for East End congressional seat heats up
Rep. Tim Bishop stood before the crowd of 60 veterans at VFW Post 6249 in Rocky Point, and explained his vote on the just-rejected $700-billion Wall Street rescue plan.
Obama's fundraising under scrutiny
Barack Obama's money machine is fueled by the likes of Martha Murphy, a grandmother who has donated 104 times for a total of $2,475.34.
Palin criticizes Obama's position on abortion
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin has turned her attention toward attacking Barack Obama's position on abortion.
McCain campaign's tone likened to George Wallace's
WASHINGTON - Rep. John Lewis, a Georgia Democrat and veteran of the civil rights movement, says the negative tone of the Republican presidential campaign reminds him of the hateful atmosphere segregationist Gov. George Wallace fostered in Alabama in the 1960s.
Newsday poll
Democrat Barack Obama has opened up a double-digit lead over Republican John McCain on Long Island, according to a new Newsday poll - winning a nearly 2-to-1 edge among voters most fearful of an economic calamity.
Ellis Henican: All we are asking is not to be old and poor
In the end, here's what it all comes down to: You don't want to be old and poor. Nobody does.
School news: Massapequa students go to preserve
More than 650 students at McKenna Elementary School in Massapequa are boosting their knowledge of environmental science by using the Massapequa Park Preserve as their open-air classroom through the Brookhaven National Laboratory's Open Space Stewardship program. McKenna is the sole Nassau County school to participate in the program, school officials said.
Linda Winer: Will the economy bring Broadway to its knees?
If a Martian dropped into New York and saw the latest Broadway grosses, the little guy wouldn't have a clue about the Wall Street meltdown. In the week that ended last Sunday, "Jersey Boys," "Wicked," "South Pacific" and "Mamma Mia!" were still packing in capacity, top-ticket audiences. "Equus" is up $60,000, the new "Seagull" rose $80,000 and, significantly, Arthur Miller's "All My Sons," which opens Thursday, is nearly selling out, up there with the big musicals.
Republicans: Obama tied to group accused in voter fraud
Accusations of voter fraud have hurled a giant mud ball into an already messy presidential campaign, with Republicans alleging that Democrat Barack Obama has close ties to an activist group accused of compiling fake registration forms, including ones for the starting lineup of the Dallas Cowboys - submitted in Nevada.
Probe: Palin violated ethics laws and abused power
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Gov. Sarah Palin violated ethics laws and abused her power as governor in pressing to have her former brother-in-law fired as a state trooper, an independent legislative investigation found.
McCain tells angry Republican voters to respect Obama
LAKEVILLE, Minn. - The anger is getting raw at Republican rallies and John McCain is finally acting to tamp it down.
Diane Werts: OFF THE WALL: A monster bash and a scary Long Island house
Off the Wall pieces together its own monster.
Obama and McCain push economic plans as stocks plunge
Barack Obama proposed a $5-billion program to help small businesses, and John McCain called for suspending some rules on retirement account withdrawals as the faltering economy remained center stage for both campaigns Friday.
Saul Friedman: Elders' self-interest is to vote for Obama
With less than a month before this most important election in my lifetime, I'll leave it to the professional pundits to provide the differences between the major candidates on the cosmic issues of war and peace, the future of the economy and climate change.
Will the economy bring Broadway to its knees?
I f a Martian dropped into New York and saw the latest Broadway grosses, the little guy wouldn't have a clue about the Wall Street meltdown. In the week that ended last Sunday, "Jersey Boys," "Wicked," "South Pacific" and "Mamma Mia!" were still packing in capacity, top-ticket audiences. "Equus" is up $60,000, the new "Seagull" rose $80,000 and, significantly, Arthur Miller's "All My Sons," which opens Thursday, is nearly selling out, up there with the big musicals.
In Elmont, voters uneasy over nation's future
This is the first of four stories looking at various neighborhoods on Long Island and how residents view their community and the state of the country as the presidential election approaches.
McCain says Ayers issue is about honesty
WAUKESHA, Wis. - John McCain said yesterday questions about his rival Barack Obama's association with a former war protester linked to Vietnam-era bombings are part of a broader issue of honesty.
Obama calls McCain mortgage plan costly to taxpayers
DAYTON, Ohio - Barack Obama told a campaign audience yesterday that John McCain's mortgage buyout plan would cost taxpayers billions of dollars and reward bad behavior by lenders.
Palin's husband: She didn't know I was seeking firing
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Gov. Sarah Palin remained in the dark while her husband repeatedly asked top state officials to help get his former brother-in-law kicked off the state police force, Palin's husband and top aides say in affidavits provided to The Associated Press.
ON THE TRAIL
Law enforcement officials in Green County, Ohio, populated with Democrat-leaning college students, are seeking information on those who registered and voted during the state's weeklong same-day voting window. The window was the subject of an unsuccessful legal challenge by the Ohio Republican Party. County Sheriff Gene Fischer, a Republican, requested registration cards and address change forms yesterday for all 302 people who took advantage of the window. The county prosecutor said the records request was not politically motivated.
Your cup of coffee may be predicting the election
McCain or Obama? Decaf or regular?
Your cup of coffee may be predicting the election
McCain or Obama? Decaf or regular?
McCain's 'that one' comment spurs debate
The recent presidential debate between Barack Obama and John McCain might have produced the only oh-no-he-didn't moment so far. But it depends on whom you ask.
Demand for tickets to presidential debate at Hofstra
The calls and e-mails began almost immediately after Hofstra University was tapped to host next week's third and final presidential debate.
McCain's plan for troubled home loans called impractical
WASHINGTON - John McCain's proposal to have the federal government directly buy and refinance troubled home loans would cost about $300 billion, his campaign said yesterday, as the plan was criticized in light of the scale of the mortgage meltdown.
Looking for leadership
The presidential debate Tuesday should have been a leadership moment. Sadly, it wasn't. Not in the way that people crave. With global financial markets spinning out of control threatening nest eggs, homes, jobs and the American dream, voters were hungry for more from John McCain and Barack Obama than policy prescriptions and one-upsmanship. It was a moment for inspiration.
James Klurfeld: What about the economy Obama, McCain?
There was a surreal quality to the presidential debate Tuesday night that was very discouraging. Even as both candidates went about their scripted, well-rehearsed routines, they all but ignored the 800-pound gorilla stalking around the room: the global financial meltdown.
Punchlines
Jay Leno, "The Tonight Show," on Tuesday's presidential debate: "The town-hall format is John McCain's favorite, as opposed to Barack Obama's favorite way - Sermon on the Mount."
McCain, Obama offer very different health care plans
It would be hard to come up with two more starkly different approaches to reforming American health care than those advanced by presidential nominees John McCain and Barack Obama.
For self-employed, health care hits home - hard
When self-employed guitarist Russell Alexander gets sick, he sometimes hits up an insured friend for unused antibiotics. For colds he likes zinc lozenges, chicken soup and vitamins, and he is convinced of the holistic healing powers of elderberry extract.
ON THE TRAIL
The son of a Democratic Tennessee state lawmaker pleaded not guilty yesterday to hacking the e-mail account of Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. David Kernell, 20, of Knoxville, Tenn., entered the plea in federal court in Knoxville, the same day prosecutors unsealed an indictment charging him with intentionally accessing Palin's e-mail account without authorization. Kernell, an economics student at the University of Tennessee, was brought into court wearing handcuffs and shackles on his ankles. He was released without posting bond, but the court limited his computer use to checking his own e-mail and doing class work. Kernell's father is Rep. Mike Kernell of Memphis.
McCain camp disavows use of Obama's middle name
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Republican Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign disavowed an introduction here yesterday that included Democratic Sen. Barack Obama's middle name, Hussein.
GOP VP pick Sarah Palin to drop puck at hockey match
Do politics and pucks mix? The Rangers and Flyers are going to find out when Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin drops the ceremonial first puck before the Philadelphia home opener at the Wachovia Center Saturday night.
Polls favor Obama after blame-filled debate
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - John McCain dismissively called rival Barack Obama "that one," Obama mocked McCain's "Straight Talk Express," and both left the stage to return to the campaign trail yesterday.
Push to get immigrant citizens registered to vote
Community organizers fanned out across Freeport, Elmont and Hempstead this week in an effort to find new American citizens and register them to vote.
Groups reaching out to increase voter registrations
When Judie Gorenstein makes her voter registration pitch to high school seniors, she holds a mock election - and then tells a third of them that they can't vote. That disenfranchised group, she explains, represents all the people who didn't get their act together before Election Day.
Voter registration deadline Friday
When Judie Gorenstein makes her voter registration pitch to high school seniors, she holds a mock election - and then tells a third of them that they can't vote. That disenfranchised group, she explains, represents all the people who didn't get their act together before Election Day.
Demand for Hofstra tickets floods in
The calls and e-mails began almost immediately after Hofstra University was tapped to host next week's third, and final, presidential debate.
ON THE TRAIL
Barack Obama is outspending John McCain at nearly a three-to-one clip on television time in the final weeks of the presidential election, according to ad buy information obtained by washingtonpost.com's "The Fix" column. That edge is almost certainly contributing to the momentum for the Illinois senator in key battleground states. From Sept. 30 to Oct. 6, Obama spent more than $20 million on television ads in 17 states including more than $3 million in Pennsylvania and more than $2 million each in Florida, Michigan and Pennsylvania. McCain in that same time frame spent just $7.2 million in 14 states. Even when the Republican National Committee's independent spending in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin is factored in (a total of $5.3 million), Obama still outspent the combined GOP forces by roughly $8 million in the last week alone.
McCain linked to council that aided Nicaraguan rebels
WASHINGTON - Barack Obama has his William Ayers connection. Now John McCain may have an Iran-Contra connection.
Obama campaign cites GOP gov's ties to Ayers
COLUMBIA, S.C. - Barack Obama's campaign is citing University of South Carolina speaking invitations to William Ayers and Republican Gov. Mark Sanford's role as university trustee to counter GOP efforts to link the presidential candidate to the 1960s radical.
Economy takes center stage at McCain-Obama debate
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Barack Obama and John McCain clashed repeatedly over the causes and cures for the worst economic crisis in 80 years last night in a debate in which Republican McCain called for a sweeping $300 billion program to shield homeowners from mortgage foreclosure.
Analysis: At debate, McCain attacks don't rattle Obama
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The blow after blow that John McCain rained down on Barack Obama in last night's debate - an attack in nearly every answer he gave - failed to shake a cool, collected Obama or to create a breakthrough for a campaign that has found itself falling behind.
Economy takes center stage at McCain-Obama debate
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Barack Obama and John McCain clashed repeatedly over the causes and cures for the worst economic crisis in 80 years last night in a debate in which Republican McCain called for a sweeping $300 billion program to shield homeowners from mortgage foreclosure.
At debate McCain, Obama spar over economy, Iraq
Sparring over the troubled economy, Barack Obama and John McCain met for their second debate Tuesday night, one hoping to solidify his lead and the other aiming to turn his fortunes around.
Unnecessary roughness
Strap on the hip-boots. It's getting nasty out there. Campaigns often slide into the gutter when time gets short and polls show one candidate pulling ahead. But there was reason to hope this year would be different. John McCain and Barack Obama each talk a good game about how much we want and need a new tone in politics. With real problems to solve, bipartisanship was the rallying cry, along with an end to the "swift-boating" of campaigns past.
ON THE TRAIL
Seven Alaska state employees have reversed course and agreed to testify in an abuse-of-power investigation against Republican vice- presidential nominee Sarah Palin. There is no indication, however, that Palin or her husband will do the same. Palin, a first-term Alaska governor, is the focus of a legislative inquiry into whether she abused her office by firing Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan. Monegan says he was dismissed because he wouldn't fire the governor's former brother-in-law. Lawmakers subpoenaed seven state employees to testify in the inquiry but they challenged those subpoenas. A judge rejected that challenge last week. Because of that ruling, Alaska Attorney General Talis Colberg says the employees have decided to testify. - - Associated Press
Swift-boating in debate is a risky maneuver
Strategists for Sen. John McCain have passed the word that he is poised to wage an even stronger attack against Sen. Barack Obama tonight in their second televised debate. If he becomes more personal, McCain will be taking another high-stakes gamble to turn his election chances around.
Some key swing states leaning to Obama
In the period leading up to tonight's debate in Nashville, the presidential election map changed substantially. Polls showed that Democrat Barack Obama pulled ahead in key swing states after two weeks of economic uncertainty, while Republican John McCain found himself on the defensive in battleground states - many of which traditionally vote Republican. Here's what happened:
McCain's goal to undercut Obama is a 2-edged sword
WASHINGTON - On a slippery slope of sliding polls, Republican John McCain signaled yesterday he must accomplish a key task at tonight's debate: instill doubt about his Democratic rival Barack Obama.
Some key swing states leaning to Obama
In the period leading up to tonight's presidential debate in Nashville, the presidential election map changed substantially. Polls showed that Democrat Barack Obama pulled ahead in key swing states after two weeks of economic uncertainty, while Republican John McCain found himself on the defensive in battleground states - many of which traditionally vote Republican. Here's what happened:
McCain to shake it up at Tuesday's debate
On a slippery slope of sliding polls, Republican John McCain signaled Monday he must accomplish a key task at tonight's debate: instill doubt about his Democratic rival Barack Obama.
Fey's Palin gives 'SNL' big boost
It's starting to feel like Tina Fey is running for vice president.
Economy may disrupt candidates' energy plans
Today, with stories on energy, Newsday begins a series examining where presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama stand on key campaign issues - and how those issues affect Long Islanders. Over the next several weeks, leading up to the presidential election on Nov. 4, the series will examine health care, the environment and climate change, the economy, immigration, the wars
McCain's brother calls Virgina counties 'communist'
WASHINGTON - John McCain's brother apparently made a joke at a campaign rally during the weekend that might not play well in parts of newly competitive Virginia.
Palin defends "terrorist" attack on Obama
BURLINGAME, Calif. - Sarah Palin defended her claim that Barack Obama "pals around with terrorists," saying the Democratic presidential nominee's association with a 1960s radical is an issue that is "fair to talk about."