National Politics
The Voter Targeting Battle
Marc Ambinder, in a NationalJournal.com column, documents how the national political parties are becoming much more sophisticated in “microtargeting” voters who are likely to support their candidates. The Republicans used these advanced targeting techniques very successfully in 2004 to turn out record numbers of GOP voters, while Democrats are playing catch-up in 2006 and are making a major push for 2008.
This an important column for politicians and campaign managers to read, because these campaign techniques will become more commonplace in national, state and local races all over the country and will make the difference in winning or losing close contests.
Blog Watch
At the Senate Site blog, Senate President John Valentine, in response to the U of U's decision to temporarily suspend enforcement of its guns-on-campus policy, says: "The feeling here in the Senate is appreciation of the University's willingness to engage in the democratic process, and recognition that this probably should have taken place a long time ago. There is no good reason sharp minds can't craft a common sense policy that respects both academic and constitutional freedoms. We appreciate President [Michael] Young, the productive relationships he has built and the work he has done on behalf of the U." (see also here and here)... Tom Gregory says of the income tax proposal being discussed in today's special legislative session: "I've heard more than once that this is the 'first step' in true tax reform. I haven't heard what the next step is. What is our goal? Before we start the journey we should be comfortable with the destination. If you don't know where you're going, any road will do. My end goal is public education funding in the context of a society with multiple needs (transportation, safety, health care, etc.). I don't think this road will get us there" (see also here)... At Evengelicals for Mitt, Nancy French says: "I went swimming at the YMCA this afternoon, before realizing I needed to pick up some things from Wal-Mart. My hair was soaking wet, even though it wasn't raining outside, and my clothes looked like I'd grabbed them from the washer without letting them dry. It was there, in the camera section, that I saw the two young men dressed in short sleeved button downs, dark pants, and brass nametags. Mormons! They looked so crisp compared to my disheveled, dripping self -- but I swallowed my pride and approached them anyway. I told them that Gov. [Mitt] Romney might be running for President and that we had an evangelical organization of support. This caused them to look perplexed and then gratified. 'Wait, you mean you're supporting him?' they asked. They didn't try to convert me, and I didn't try to convert them. We left with a damp handshake and mutual enthusiasm for '08. But, I bet they left thinking that evangelicals are a pretty weird bunch."
Washington Watch
Bennett Proposes Energy Saving Plan
Sen. Bob Bennett proposes legislation "that would reward drivers for buying more fuel efficient cars, trucks and SUVs. The Oil Independence, Limiting Subsidies and Accelerating Vehicle Efficiency (OILSAVE) Act would offer consumers a tax credit for purchasing qualified energy saving vehicles. The credit would be fully funded by eliminating a single, unneeded tax deduction currently available to oil companies" (see press release).
Group Hails Monument Anniversary
The Wilderness Society says: "Ten years after former President Clinton designated Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, the area has become one of the nation's iconic destination landscapes, attracting world class scientists from numerous fields, serving as an unmatched educational backdrop, drawing hundreds of thousands of tourists, and winning committed friends" (see press release).
Political Memories
Who You Callin’ A Sumbitch?
In Utah, candidates who run against each other usually (but not always) remain reasonably good friends, win or lose. But apparently not in some other states.
I had lunch the other day with Ted Wilson, former Salt Lake mayor and veteran of various campaigns. We started exchanging war stories. Ted recalled that after he lost to Sen. Orrin Hatch in 1982, he and Hatch were asked by Sam Skaggs to do a TV spot encouraging citizens to check-a-buck for wildlife on their tax returns. They agreed to do the spot and were both in Washington, D.C., at a convenient time so Hatch arranged to tape the spot in the Senate TV studio.
They sat in front of the camera and talked and laughed a bit in between takes, when in walked North Carolina Sen. Jesse Helms, awaiting his turn to do a TV spot. Helms watched with some interest as Hatch and Wilson bantered and joked. He then frowned and turned to Mike Graham, who had managed Wilson’s campaign and had accompanied Wilson.
“What they doin’ here together?” Helms demanded.
Graham replied that they were shooting a TV spot for a charitable cause.
Helms looked incredulous and said, “But ain’t that the sumbitch who ran against Orrin?”
Love at the Office
Leigh Buchanan, Inc. magazine editor-at-large, recently wrote a column about the problems and pitfalls of office romance, which included this passage: “A woman I knew at another publication once described to me a tryst she had enjoyed with one of our consultants on the conference room table. This didn’t change my opinion of her (it was characteristic behavior), but I never felt the same about the table.” |
