Briefing Sheet #2

1. Clinton Campaign Regroups After Shakeup at Top

Hillary Clinton replaced her chief strategist, Mark Penn, with Howard Wolfson on Sunday. He resigned after his apology for discussing a bilateral trade treaty between the Colombian government and the U.S. that Senator Clinton opposes. Clinton’s campaign is still going strong despite the setback.

2. Red Eyeing Ticket? That’s News to McCain

There have been speculations that Condoleeza Rice may end up being John McCain’s running mate. McCain has said that if this were true, he had not noticed her interest in the position. However, despite rumors, Ms. Rice has said that she is not interested in being the Vice President.

3. McCain Brushes Back Criticism of Iraq Stance

The major issues being discussed in the presidential race have switched from the economy to the war in Iraq due to an outburst of violence recently. McCain still supports a lengthy stay in Iraq, saying that the new Iraqi government is making progress.

4. McCain Raises $15 Million in March

As the title implies, John McCain raised 15 million dollars in fundraising last month, helping him bring up the rear behind his rivals. Obama has raised 40 million and Hillary has raised 20 million, but these numbers don’t seem to be effecting the McCain team, who believe that they are going to start seeing their efforts pay off soon in the form of fundraising.

5. No Endorsement From Montana Superdelegate

Montana Superdelegate Margarett Campbell let it slip that she would be backing Barack Obama before it was appropriate. In a contested primary, there is a neutrality rule that states that the Superdelegates cannot side with anyone for the time being. Campbell had a lot of backpedaling to do to make up for her mistake.

6. Hearings Rife With Political Overtones

The three presidential hopefuls all questioned General David H. Petraeus about recent incidents in the Iraq war while still managing to slip in a little hostility towards each other. Senator Clinton expressed her exasperation with the Iraq war while McCain simply said that he was disappointed with the way things were being handled. Obama, who appeared Tuesday afternoon to question the general was not quoted with his opinion, but it probably bares some resemblance to Senator Clinton’s view.

7. McCain Gets an Apology

Senator Jay Rockefeller, who remarked earlier that even though John McCain was a fighter pilot the experience would not have given him any idea of the human issues or the toll on the ground, apologized today. He admitted that he had very poor word choice. Even Barack Obama demanded that Rockefeller apologize to McCain out of Obama’s respect for McCain and due to the fact that Rockefeller is backing Obama in his race for the presidency.

8. New Obama Ad Makes Pitch to Women Voters

Usually we hear about Senator Clinton rallying for the votes of women, but this time Barack Obama is going after the female voters in a new ad featuring his wife, his grandmother and his half-sister. Rather than using his trademark speeches about monumental changes, he employs a different approach, making himself look more familiar and familial.

9. Young Obama Backers Twist Parents’ Arms

With his largest audience being in the under-30 range, young Barack Obama supporters have been pestering their parents with a barrage of e-mails, videos, quotes, etc. to try and win them over to Obama. So far, their wheedling strategy is working and there hasn’t been a time in recent memory when the opinions of the young have influenced those of the old this heavily.

10. For McCain, Little Talk of a Controversial Endorsement

John McCain has won the endorsement of Reverend John C. Hagee, but everyone has stopped talking about it all together since then. Hagee and McCain have shown some differing religious views, especially over Catholics and Jews. McCain’s campaign hoped to reign in support in the evangelical community by gaining Hagee’s endorsement, but both parties have been avoiding talk of their collaboration.