2008 Presidential Campaign Blog

FEC Launches Enhanced Presidential Campaign Finance Map

FEC Launches Enhanced Presidential Campaign Finance Map

WASHINGTON -- The Federal Election Commission (FEC/the Commission) has introduced a new and improved version of its Presidential Campaign Finance map.  Available on the FEC web site (www.fec.gov), the map now includes detailed information on each candidate’s campaign expenditures.  It also provides a number of enhanced viewing and searching options for information about campaign contributors.  The upgraded map is an easy-to-use online tool for obtaining detailed information about the Presidential campaigns and how they spend their money, including the payee name, purpose, date and amount of each campaign expenditure.  These improved features were included on similar maps for U.S. House and Senate campaigns that were added to the FEC web site late last year.

Introduced in June 2007, the FEC’s Presidential Campaign Finance map has provided information about each candidate’s state-by-state contribution totals, along with a list of contributors sorted by the first three digits of the donor’s zip code.  The latest changes make it easier to view contributions from individual states and to download this information into a spreadsheet.

Additional map features include graphs and charts that summarize each candidate’s campaign finance information.  These displays (such as those below) can be used to compare each candidate’s cash-on-hand totals, receipts, disbursements and debt balance.

The Presidential Campaign Finance Map is updated within one day of the FEC’s receipt of the monthly electronically filed Presidential campaign financial disclosure reports.

Images Of The American Presidency Exhibition At The Minneapolis Institute Of Arts

Images of the American Presidency Exhibition at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts to Coincide with the Republican National Convention

“Hail to the Chief” Features Paintings, Sculpture, Prints, Photographs, and Decorative Arts Representing Our Country’s Presidency from George Washington to George W. Bush

Minneapolis, May 21, 2008—Beginning August 2, the Minneapolis Institute of Arts (MIA) will present an exhibition on our nation’s presidential history through art and artifacts. Featuring paintings, sculpture, prints, photographs, posters, manuscripts, and decorative arts, “Hail to the Chief” represents our country’s presidents from George Washington to George W. Bush. This exhibition is organized by the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. “Hail to the Chief” will be on view at the MIA from August 2 through September 21.

“This presidential-themed exhibition is fitting for an historical moment for our state and country,” said Brian Palmer, Chair of the Board of Trustees at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. “We want to welcome the thousands of people from around the world who will be here in September for the Republican National Convention—delegates, media, and others--in a way only this museum can offer.”

Envisioned as a non-political, bipartisan exhibition, “Hail to the Chief: Images of the American Presidency” draws from major private collections of American presidential material and the museum’s varied permanent collections. More than seventy objects will bring together the artistic and historical focuses of these collections.

“We applaud the Minneapolis Institute of Arts for embracing its role as one of the region’s most important cultural institutions during a time of historical significance,” said Cynthia Lesher, President of the 2008 Minneapolis-Saint Paul Host Committee for the Republican National Convention. “This will compliment CivicFest as another way to give Minnesotans an opportunity to join in the festivities around the Convention.”

Highlights from the private collection include an excellent example of the United States President’s flag believed to be from the Kennedy-Johnson administration. Recently restored and mounted, this flag is richly embroidered with the American presidential seal and is trimmed in gold and silver bullion fringe. Also featured will be an assortment of political convention badges from the past 100-plus years, each a work of art in itself. An exceptional example is a gold delegate pin probably dating from the late nineteenth century, in the form of an eagle holding banners reading “Republican National Convention.” This pin was made by prominent silver firm of Mermod, Jaccard and Co. of St. Louis, whose work was featured in the 1893 and 1904 World’s Fairs.

Material from the MIA’s permanent collection includes John Frederick Peto’s Reminiscences of 1865 (after 1900), which features a portrait of Abraham Lincoln. Others are significant works rarely on view, including Hiram Power’s Bust of George Washington (1853) depicting our first president in Neoclassical drapery. This sculptural portrait graced the interior of the obelisk-shaped Foshay Tower, Minneapolis’s architectural homage to Washington, when the building was finished in 1929.

Showcasing the power of presidential appeal during wartime are a selection of posters from the First and Second World Wars, culled from the museum’s Department of Prints and Drawings. Various photographs, including works by Edward Steichen and Arnold Newman, of modern presidents Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1938) and John F. Kennedy (1953), respectively, show both contemplative and personal sides of our nation’s Commanders-in-Chief.

Curators for this exhibition are Dennis Michael Jon, Acting Co-Curator of Prints and Drawings at the MIA, and Jennifer Komar Olivarez, Associate Curator of Architecture, Design, Decorative Arts, Craft and Sculpture at the MIA.

About the Minneapolis Institute of Arts

The Minneapolis Institute of Arts (MIA), home to one of the finest encyclopedic art collections in the country, houses more than 80,000 works of art representing 5,000 years of world history. Highlights of the permanent collection include European masterworks by Rembrandt, Poussin, and van Gogh; modern and contemporary painting and sculpture by Picasso, Matisse, Mondrian, Stella, and Close; as well as internationally significant collections of prints and drawings, decorative arts, Modernist design, photographs, textiles, and Asian, African, and Native American art. General admission is always free. Some special exhibitions have a nominal admission fee. Museum hours: Sunday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.; Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; Thursday, 10 a.m.–9 p.m.; Monday closed. For more information, call (612) 870-3131 or visit www.artsmia.org.

Senator Barack Obama's Remarks From Des Moines, Iowa

Senator Barack Obama's Remarks From Des Moines, Iowa (As Prepared For Delivery)

You know, there is a spirit that brought us here tonight – a spirit of change, and hope, and possibility.  And there are few people in this country who embody that spirit more than our friend and our champion, Senator Edward Kennedy.  He has spent his life in service to this country not for the sake of glory or recognition, but because he cares – deeply, in his gut – about the causes of justice, and equality, and opportunity.  So many of us here have benefited in some way or another because of the battles he’s waged, and some of us are here because of them. 

We know he is not well right now, but we also know that he’s a fighter.  And as he takes on this fight, let us lift his spirits tonight by letting Ted Kennedy know that we are thinking of him, that we are praying for him, that we are standing with him, and that we will be fighting with him every step of the way.

Fifteen months ago, in the depths of winter, it was in this great state where we took the first steps of an unlikely journey to change America.  

The skeptics predicted we wouldn’t get very far.  The cynics dismissed us as a lot of hype and a little too much hope.  And by the fall, the pundits in Washington had all but counted us out. 

But the people of Iowa had a different idea.

From the very beginning, you knew that this journey wasn’t about me or any of the other candidates in this race.  It’s about whether this country – at this defining moment – will continue down the same road that has failed us for so long, or whether we will seize this opportunity to take a different path – to forge a different future for the country we love. 

That is the question that sent thousands upon thousands of you to high school gyms and VFW halls; to backyards and front porches; to steak fries and JJ dinners, where you spoke about what that future would look like.

You spoke of an America where working families don’t have to file for bankruptcy just because a child gets sick; where they don’t lose their home because some predatory lender tricks them out of it; where they don’t have to sit on the sidelines of the global economy because they couldn’t afford the cost of a college education.  You spoke of an America where our parents and grandparents don’t spend their retirement in poverty because some CEO dumped their pension – an America where we don’t just value wealth, but the work and the workers who create it. 

You spoke of an America where we don’t send our sons and daughters on tour after tour of duty to a war that has cost us thousands of lives and billions of dollars but has not made us safer.  You spoke of an America where we match the might of our military with the strength of our diplomacy and the power of our ideals – a nation that is still the beacon of all that is good and all that is possible for humankind.

You spoke of a future where the politics we have in Washington finally reflect the values we hold as Americans – the values you live by here in Iowa: common sense and honesty; generosity and compassion; decency and responsibility.  These values don’t belong to one class or one region or even one party – they are the values that bind us together as one country. 

That is the country I saw in the faces of crowds that would stretch far into the horizon of our heartland – faces of every color, of every age – faces I see here tonight.  You are Democrats who are tired of being divided; Republicans who no longer recognize the party that runs Washington; Independents who are hungry for change.  You are the young people who’ve been inspired for the very first time and those not-so-young folks who’ve been inspired for the first time in a long time.  You are veterans and church-goers; sportsmen and students; farmers and factory workers; teachers and business owners who have varied backgrounds and different traditions, but the same simple dreams for your children’s future. 

Many of you have been disappointed by politics and politicians more times than you can count.  You’ve seen promises broken and good ideas drown in the sea of influence, and point-scoring, and petty bickering that has consumed Washington.  And you’ve been told over and over and over again to be cynical, and doubtful, and even fearful about the possibility that things can ever be different. 

And yet, in spite of all the doubt and disappointment – or perhaps because of it – you came out on a cold winter’s night in numbers that this country has never seen, and you stood for change.  And because you did, a few more stood up.  And then a few thousand stood up.  And then a few million stood up.  And tonight, in the fullness of spring, with the help of those who stood up from Portland to Louisville, we have returned to Iowa with a majority of delegates elected by the American people, and you have put us within reach of the Democratic nomination for President of the United States.

The road here has been long, and that is partly because we’ve traveled it with one of the most formidable candidates to ever run for this office.  In her thirty-five years of public service, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton has never given up on her fight for the American people, and tonight I congratulate her on her victory in Kentucky.  We have had our disagreements during this campaign, but we all admire her courage, her commitment and her perseverance.  No matter how this primary ends, Senator Clinton has shattered myths and broken barriers and changed the America in which my daughters and yours will come of age.

Some may see the millions upon millions of votes cast for each of us as evidence that our party is divided, but I see it as proof that we have never been more energized and united in our desire to take this country in a new direction.  More than anything, we need this unity and this energy in the months to come, because while our primary has been long and hard-fought, the hardest and most important part of our journey still lies ahead.

We face an opponent, John McCain, who arrived in Washington nearly three decades ago as a Vietnam War hero, and earned an admirable reputation for straight talk and occasional independence from his party. 

Clinton Campaign Raises $22 Million in April

Clinton Campaign Raises $22 Million in April
Fundraising pace represents campaign’s 2nd best month of the campaign

The Clinton campaign tonight announced that it raised approximately $22 million in the month of April.

“Senator Clinton’s game-changing victories last month turned the tide for this campaign and resulted in an outpouring of grassroots support,” said Campaign Chairman Terry McAuliffe. “Just like Hillary, our supporters continue to fight. The support for Hillary continues to grow with each month and we are so thankful to the army of supporters who have assured that we’ll have the resources needed to win the upcoming contests.”

Included in the $22 million total, representing the campaign’s second best fundraising month to date, is $10 million raised by the campaign in the 48 hours after Hillary’s significant Pennsylvania victory. This total is in addition to a loan to the campaign of $5 million.

Additional details will be available in the campaign’s FEC report, to be released later this evening.

Transcript: Hillary Clinton Delivers Remarks At Louisville, KY Celebration Event

Transcript: Hillary Clinton Delivers Remarks at Louisville, KY Celebration Event
Hillary Clinton delivered the following remarks at a victory celebration in Louisville, KY tonight:

Thank you, Kentucky. Thank you all very, very much. I am so grateful for this victory. And I am so appreciative, because tonight I am thinking about why we are all here. It is not just to win a primary, or even just to win an election; what propels us is the struggle to realize America’s promise. A nation where every child can achieve his or her God-given potential, where every man and woman has a fair chance, where we fulfill the ideals our founders pledged their lives to defend and our nation was born to uphold.

I want to say a special word this evening about someone who has spent his whole life dedicated to realizing the promise of America. Senator Ted Kennedy is one of the greatest progressive leaders in our party's history, and one of the most effective senators in our country's history. He’s my friend, and he’s my inspiration. More than that, he is a hero to millions of Americans whose lives he has fought to better.

I am proud to have stood side-by-side with Ted Kennedy to increase the minimum wage, to extend health insurance to millions of children, to help stop insurance companies from discriminating against the sick. But the privileges that I have had and so many others have had because of the battles we have fought side-by-side with him are just a mere handful of what he has done during his entire public service; five extraordinary decades devoted to America.

And as a lifelong champion for social justice and equality, his work has made the path easier for me, for Senator Obama, and for countless others. He has been with us for our fights and we're with him now in his. And I know he is going to fight with all of his legendary might, supported by his wonderful wife Vicki and his entire family against this latest challenge. And we wish him well and send our thoughts and prayers to him.
Tonight we've achieved an important victory. It is not just Kentucky bluegrass that is music to my ears. It is the sound of your overwhelming vote of confidence even in the face of some pretty tough odds. Some have said your votes didn't matter, that this campaign was over, that allowing everyone to vote and every vote to count would somehow be a mistake. But that didn't stop you. You’ve never given up on me because you know I’ll never give up on you.

This is one of the closest races for a party's nomination in modern history. We’re winning the popular vote and I’m more determined than ever to see that every vote is cast and every ballot counted. I commend Senator Obama and his supporters and while we continue to go toe-to-toe for this nomination, we do see eye-to-eye when it comes to uniting our party to elect a Democratic president in the fall.

But I need your help. Your support has made the difference between victory and defeat. Though we have been outspent massively, your support has helped us make our case on the air and on the ground, and your help will keep us going. We’ve made it this far together, so please go to HillaryClinton.com and together we will make history. And I can't do it without you.

Now, you know that the stakes are high. After all this country has been through the past seven years, we have to get this right. We have to select a nominee who is best positioned to win in November, and someone who is best prepared to address the enormous challenges facing our country in these difficult times. That is what this election is all about.

New John McCain Website Launched

New John McCain 2008 Website Launched..

Clinton Campaign Accepts McGovern Proposal

While Obama Camp Moves to End Campaign Before South Dakotans Voices are Heard, Clinton Campaign Accepts McGovern Proposal

Last Tuesday, Senator McGovern laid out a proposal for concluding the primary process that included joint appearances and party-building efforts by Senator Clinton and Senator Obama in the remaining primary states. At the time, Senator Daschle indicated that the Obama campaign had “interest in joint appearances.”

The Clinton campaign today released the following statement from state director Geoff Wetrosky on Senator McGovern’s proposal:

“The Clinton campaign in South Dakota believes Senator McGovern’s proposal is in the best interests of both the party and the nation.

Given the disturbing reports that the Obama camp intends to unilaterally declare this process over before June 3, Senator McGovern should be commended for fighting to ensure that thousands of South Dakota voters get to have their say.

With only a few states remaining, we believe this is a workable proposal that will greatly benefit the citizens of South Dakota.  Hillary has already visited the state twice to discuss her plan to invest in alternative energy and her rural agenda, and she is expected to return; we would welcome a joint appearance where both candidates discuss their plans for South Dakota.

In short: we accept. Given Senator Daschle's comments at the time and Senator Johnson's declaration that the primary should continue through June 3, we hope Senator Obama will join us.”

2008 Republican National Convention Hosts Media Walk-Through

2008 Republican National Convention Hosts Media Walk-Through

Hundreds tour Xcel Energy Center to get close-up look of 450,000 sq. ft. work area

SAINT PAUL, Minn. - The 2008 Republican National Convention today welcomed hundreds of news media representatives to the Xcel Energy Center for an informational briefing and tour of the convention complex. The Committee on Arrangements, the MSP 2008 Host Committee, and other local officials are rapidly preparing to accommodate the 15,000 members of the media expected in Minneapolis-Saint Paul for the nominating convention.

 
"In just over 100 days our convention will showcase the Republican party's strong, united message as we nominate Sen. John McCain to be the next President of the United States," said convention President and CEO Maria Cino. "Through new and traditional mediums, the news media will play a critical role in sharing our party's message with millions of Americans, and billions more around the world."
This is the second media walk-through in the year leading up to the convention. In December 2007, the convention hosted an initial briefing and walk-through of the full convention complex, including the Xcel Energy Center and media workspace that will be developed in the neighboring Saint Paul RiverCentre convention center and Roy Wilkins Auditorium.
"The convention staff is in the process of allocating more than 450,000 square feet of working space for the anticipated 15,000 members of the media who will cover the 2008 Republican National Convention - ranking it just behind the Olympics in the level of media interest," said Director of Communications Matt Burns. "When Senator McCain takes to the podium in September to accept our party's nomination, the entire world will truly be watching - and we look forward to that historic moment."
Today's walk-through and informational briefing addressed the issuance of media credentials and provided an opportunity for members of the media to view their broadcast suites and positions in the Xcel Energy Center as well as their assigned workspace in the neighboring Saint Paul RiverCentre and Roy Wilkins Auditorium.

 
"Throughout the last five months, convention staff has worked closely with the media to finalize and prepare each organization's credentials, assign on-site workspace, and accommodate all housing requirements," said Mike Miller, the convention Director of Operations. "We look forward to working with the media throughout the next three months to finalize all remaining details."
Convention staff has already completed contracts with more than 100 hotels and nearly 50 venues throughout Saint Paul, Minneapolis, and Bloomington that will host convention guests and official events. From the 45,000 expected guests and participants, the host cities of Minneapolis-Saint Paul are projected to receive an estimated $150-$160 million positive economic boost. To date, more than 70 convention staff reside in the host cities and are contributing to the local economy. In addition, pre-convention guests have already logged an impressive 1,200 nights in area hotels.

In First South Dakota Ad, Hillary Vows To Stand Up For Working Families

In First South Dakota Ad, Hillary Vows To Stand Up For Working Families

Hillary makes clear that her campaign is about providing solutions for working Americans in a new ad airing statewide in South Dakota today.

The 30-second spot, entitled "Falling Through" comes two weeks before South Dakota voters head to the polls on June 3rd.

Following is the script for the ad.

"FALLING THROUGH"

TV :30

Hillary Clinton:  The Bush economy is like a trapdoor. 

Too many families are one pink slip, one missed mortgage payment, one medical diagnosis away from falling through and losing everything.

The oil companies, the predatory student loan companies, the insurance companies and the drug companies have had seven years of a president who stands up for them.

I intend to be a president who stands up for all of you.

I'm Hillary Clinton and I approved this message.

John McCain 2008 Launches New TV Ad: "Leading"

JOHN MCCAIN 2008 LAUNCHES NEW TV AD: "LEADING"

ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain's presidential campaign today released a new television ad, entitled "Leading," focusing on John McCain's plans to solve some of America's most pressing problems. The ad will air in Iowa.

"Leading" -- (TV:30)

ANNCR: While Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama argue and fight with each other, John McCain leads.

John McCain leads the fight against wasteful government spending. He has a plan to stop it.

John McCain understands the pain people are feeling at the pump. That's why he wants a gas tax holiday to provide needed relief.

A real plan for health care that provides $5000 tax credits -- no mandates.

John McCain -- leadership, not politics.

JOHN MCCAIN: I'm John McCain and I approve this message.