Statement by the President on the Passing of Arlen Specter
Arlen Specter was always a fighter. From his days stamping out corruption as a prosecutor in Philadelphia to his three decades of service in the Senate, Arlen was fiercely independent – never putting party or ideology ahead of the people he was chosen to serve. He brought that same toughness and determination to his personal struggles, using his own story to inspire others. When he announced that his cancer had returned in 2005, Arlen said, “I have beaten a brain tumor, bypass heart surgery and many tough political opponents and I’m going to beat this, too.” Arlen fought that battle for seven more years with the same resolve he used to fight for stem-cell research funding, veterans health, and countless other issues that will continue to change lives for years to come. Michelle and I send our thoughts and prayers to Joan and the rest of the Specter family.
Source: White House
At a private fundraiser in Litchfield County, CT, last night, Vice President Biden had more to say about the differences between the two Presidential tickets:
“This election — this is not hyperbole — presents the starkest choice in my memory for who is going to lead this country,” Biden told the audience. “In every area, we have such a fundamentally different vision...than Gov. Romney and Congressman Ryan.”
And those stark differences were display during Thursday’s vice presidential debate, he added. “If anyone had any doubt about what’s at stake on everything from marriage equality to women’s rights, they didn’t have to look very far beyond the debate on Thursday night,’’ Biden said in his speech. “Both Gov. Romney and Congressman Ryan don’t believe that protecting women’s access to health is a priority. They want to turn back the clock.”
[snip]
“Presidential campaigns are different than any other campaign in one fundamental regard. Every presidential race always comes down to who the American people think possesses the character and conviction,’’ he said, “and it will not surprise you on that score, I don’t even think it’s close between President Obama and Gov. Romney.”
I do love Joe Biden, but Morgan Freeman's voice just makes my knees melt as it did in this new Obama for America ad:
President Obama has been holed up at a golf resort in Williamsburg, VA prepping for Tuesday night's debate.
During a quick stop at a local campaign office, where he delivered pizzas to volunteers and called supporters by phone, Obama had an enthusiastic take on his practice sessions.
"It is going great," Obama told reporters.
Before his debate in Denver, Obama held a similar "debate camp" in the swing state of Nevada. During a visit to a campaign office there, he called the practice sessions "a drag."
Also from
Reuters, this tidbit from David Axelrod of the President's plans:
"But the other thing he's going to certainly do - I mean, we saw Governor Romney sort of serially walk away from his own proposals - certainly the president is going to be willing to challenge him on it as we saw the vice president challenge Paul Ryan," Axelrod said.
The
Huffington Post is reporting on the ad war going on during this final month of the campaign.
WASHINGTON -- Mitt Romney's campaign and its Republican allies are set to outspend the president's campaign and allied Democratic groups by more than $18 million on the airwaves just this week, according to data provided by a Democratic source.
[snip]
The Republican source, who like all others would only discuss ad buying strategy and details on condition of anonymity, put the ad disparity at somewhat smaller than $18 million. The source offered the following data for the money being spent on both national cable and swing state television ads between Oct. 8 and Oct. 14.
1. Romney campaign: $17.7 million
2. Obama campaign: $16.5 million
3. The Karl Rove-started American Crossroads: $7 million
4. The Romney supporting super-PAC Restore Our Future: $6 million
5. The Obama supporting super-PAC Priorities USA: $4.2 million
6. The National Rifle Association: $1.3 million
7. The conservative American Future Fund: $400k
And, if that isn't bad enough, Restore our Future is planning even more spending, according to the
UPI:
Restore Our Future, a Romney-backing super PAC, plans to spend $14 million in ads in nine states, such as Colorado, Florida and Virginia, in October's final week, Politico reported Friday. That is more than the group spent in September.
Faced with the enormity of the spending, our advantage lays, as it always has, on the sholders of those who knock on doors and dial telephones. For a special bit of Sunday inspiration, be sure to read
The Troubadour's Diary, "To the 16-Year-Old Who Knocked on My Door, Asking That I Vote for Obama."
And be sure to read the front page article by Dante Atkins about the work of Marta Evry.
But what sets Marta apart from many others is the recognition of a simple fact: No matter what happens online, the essence of being a community organizer usually involves getting off of the blogs and into the streets. That's why every two years, she organizes a voter registration drive at a well-attended local streets festival in her neighborhood of Venice, California.
Link to
Transcripts and Documents.