memeorandum: Inside US poll battle as fight turns dirty for Democrats (Gerri Peev/The Scotsman)

1:55 AM ET, March 7, 2008

Top Items:

Clinton: I've crossed commander-in-chief threshold — In a Cabinet-style setting, surrounded by retired military leaders, Sen. Hillary Clinton said the public should ask whether Democratic presidential rival Barack Obama has met the criteria needed to become the nation's commander in chief.

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, Balloon Juice, TPM Election Central, AMERICAblog, The Reaction, the talking dog, Trailhead, PSoTD, MyDD, Comments from Left Field, Open Left, PunditGuy, Northman's Fury, Shakespeare's Sister, Donklephant, The Mahablog and Redstate

Kate Phillips / The Caucus:

Obama Aide: Neither Candidate Ready for 3 a.m. Call — As Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton prepares for an afternoon news conference here in Washington, where she is to be surrounded by “military officers,” her campaign has put up a YouTube moment that you can bet will be replayed over and over.

Discussion: Outside The Beltway, Wake up America, Redstate, American Spectator, Matthew Yglesias, Patterico's Pontifications, FP Passport, The News Buckit, Commentary and Right Wing News

Kevin Drum / Washington Monthly:
PRIMARY COLLARS....Obama foreign policy advisor Susan Rice …

Discussion: MyDD and The Debatable Land

Sam Youngman / The Hill:
Clinton camp accuses Obama of ‘Ken Starr’ tactics

Discussion: skippy the bush kangaroo, AMERICAblog, Comments from Left Field, Buckeye State Blog and Wonkette

Ben Smith / The Politico:
Clinton aide compares Obama to Ken Starr

Discussion: Chicago Tribune, The Carpetbagger Report, IMAO.US, CNN and Political Punch

Gerri Peev / The Scotsman:

Inside US poll battle as fight turns dirty for Democrats — HILLARY Clinton has been branded a “monster” by one of Barack Obama's top advisers, as the gloves come off in the race to win the Democrat nomination. — In recent TV appearances Mrs Clinton had looked desperate and on the back foot.

Discussion: Political Punch, The Huffington Post, Fox News, TPM Election Central, The Politico, The Jawa Report, TalkLeft, NO QUARTER, Taylor Marsh, Hillary Is 44, Don Surber and The Debatable Land

New Statesman: Interview: Samantha Power

Deacon / Power Line:
THE BOOK TOUR FROM HELL

Discussion: Hugh Hewitt's TownHall Blog

Greg Veis / The New Republic:

BREAKING: MI Caucus Likely, Says DNC Rules Committee Member — A member of the DNC's Rules And Bylaws Committee—the committee that stripped Florida and Michigan of its delegates for moving their primaries before February 5th—told me that Michigan plans to get out of its uncounted delegate problem …

Discussion: TPM Election Central, Open Left, Ben Smith's Blogs, The Caucus, Comments from Left Field, Taylor Marsh, MichiganLiberal, MyDD, TalkLeft, Truthdig, MoJoBlog and Wonkette

Manu Raju / The Hill:

Sen. Bill Nelson paints Florida ‘train wreck’ scenario — Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) warned the Democratic National Committee (DNC) Thursday that it is facing the “biggest train wreck you've ever seen” if a standoff is not resolved over his state's pledged delegates to the party's presidential nominating convention.

Discussion: New York Times, The Campaign Spot, Associated Press, The Nation, The New Republic, The Politico, Democratic Strategist, 2008Central.net, Pajamas Media and Weekly Standard

Leslie Wayne / New York Times:
Party Donations Show G.O.P. Edge

Discussion: A Chequer-Board of Nights …

Mark Schmitt / American Prospect:
WHAT SHOULD OBAMA DO ABOUT MICHIGAN AND FLORIDA?

Discussion: TalkLeft

Jerusalem Post:

‘Terrorist fired 500-600 bullets before he was killed’ — Eight people were reported to be killed and approximately 35 wounded in a terror attack at a seminary located near the entrance to Jerusalem on Thursday evening. — The exact number of people killed was yet to be confirmed …

Discussion: Power Line, A Blog For All, michellemalkin.com, CNN, Debbie Schlussel, Ynetnews, AMERICAN DIGEST, On Deadline, Solomonia and Hot Air

Gateway Pundit:
Thousands of Gazans Celebrate Jerusalem School Slaughter

Discussion: Little Green Footballs, Roger L. Simon and THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS

Haaretz:
At least seven killed in terrorist attack at Jerusalem yeshiva

Discussion: africasia.com, Little Green Footballs, Hugh Hewitt's TownHall Blog and Israel Matzav

Nissan Ratzlav-Katz / Arutz Sheva:
Arab Terrorist Attacks Jerusalem's Merkaz HaRav Yeshiva: 8 Dead

Discussion: Haaretz, Israellycool, The Jawa Report, Wake up America, Israpundit, Atlas Shrugs, Gateway Pundit and Israel Matzav

Ali Waked / Ynetnews:
Gaza: Thousands celebrate Jerusalem attack

Discussion: Pajamas Media, Commentary, Yourish.com, Doug Ross and The Jawa Report

SurveyUSA:

Electoral Math as of 03/06/08: Clinton 276, McCain 262 — SurveyUSA interviewed 600 registered voters in each of the 50 states. A total of 30,000 interviews were completed. If John McCain faces Hillary Clinton, Clinton wins 276 to 262. Clinton carries 20 states. McCain carries 30 states.

Discussion: Real Clear Politics, Burnt Orange Report, protein wisdom, THE LIBERAL JOURNAL, DownWithTyranny!, Below The Beltway, Daily Kos, Hot Air, Middle Earth Journal and race42008.com

SurveyUSA:

Electoral Math as of 03/06/08: Obama 280, McCain 258 — SurveyUSA interviewed 600 registered voters in each of the 50 states. A total of 30,000 interviews were completed. If John McCain faces Barack Obama, Obama wins 280 to 256. McCain carries 26 states.

Discussion: The Reaction, Attytood, Below The Beltway and TPM Election Central

Chris Bowers / Open Left:
New General Election Maps From Survey USA

Discussion: LiberalOasis, Booman Tribune, Talking Points Memo and Texans For Obama

Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:
STATE BY STATE — It's early; it's just a snapshot …

Discussion: SurveyUSA and Buckeye State Blog

John Bresnahan / The Politico:

Pre-bombing photos mailed to House Dems — A number of House members were mailed a letter and photo of a Times Square recruiting station in Manhattan before it was bombed on Thursday morning, according to House insiders and law-enforcement officials. — Initial information …

Discussion: Hot Air, Associated Press, Power Line, American Power and Sister Toldjah

Matt Apuzzo / Associated Press:

‘We Did It’ letters eyed in NY bombing — WASHINGTON - Capitol Hill offices received letters Thursday containing a photo of the Times Square military recruiting office before it was bombed and including the claim “We Did It.” — The manila envelopes contained a photo of a man standing …

Discussion: Hot Air, Little Green Footballs, New York Post and Macsmind

Tahman Bradley / Political Radar:

Ron Paul Moves on From Presidential Campaign — ABC News' Z. Byron Wolf reports: “Elections are short-term efforts,” Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, told supporters in a Web video tonight. “Revolutions are long-term projects.” — Paul indicated that the 2008 presidential campaign portion of his revolution is over.

Discussion: Hot Air, Political Machine, The News Buckit, Salon and Liberal Values

Associated Press:
Ron Paul signals to supporters that he's quitting his race for the presidency

Discussion: Say Anything

Neil McCormick / Telegraph:

‘We Are The Chosen Ones’: A new hymn to Barack Obama — Simon Woods, a volunteer for Hillary Clinton, explains how music reveals the strength and weakness of Barack Obama's campaign — I've been volunteering for Hillary Clinton across America, knocking on doors and handing out flyers …

Discussion: Is Barack Obama the Messiah?

Michael Goldfarb / Weekly Standard: L. Ron Obama

Hindrocket / Power Line:

HE DEBATED FIRING THE EMPLOYEE BEFORE HE FIRED HIM — The Washington Times reported today on an odd legal maneuver by former Minnesota Senator Mark Dayton. Dayton has been sued by a former employee, who claims that Dayton fired him when he told the Senator that he needed heart surgery:

Discussion: Washington Times and Say Anything

Glenn Greenwald / Salon:

Why do conservatives really find the Obama campaign “scary”? — (updated below - Update II) — I'm anything but a fan of the various music videos floating around which promote the Obama campaign. For many reasons, they just don't personally appeal to me.

Discussion: The Impolitic

Hillary Clinton / CNN:

Obama radio ad targets Clinton's Mississippi comments — (CNN) - Barack Obama's campaign has debuted a new radio ad in Mississippi called “Respect,” highlighting what they call “derogatory” remarks Hillary Clinton made about the state late last year. — The ad also argues that Obama will …

Domenico Montanaro / MSNBC:

OBAMA GAINS MORE SUPERS — From NBC's Domenico Montanaro — Obama gained two more superdelegates today — NV State Party Vice Chairwoman Teresa Benitez-Thompson and Rep. Nick Rahall (D-WV). — This brings the delegate total to: Obama 1,581-Clinton 1,481 — Superdelegates: Clinton 254-Obama 215