Dem Campaign Chatter 8-7-2008

George Wenschhof

Today, Obama is in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Chicago, Illinois - no public events are planned. The Obama family is off to Hawaii tomorrow for a much deserved vacation.

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New CBS poll has Obama 45%, McCain 39% with 13% undecided - it was conducted from July 31 to August 5 and has a margin of error of 3 points. Read more here. As the polls continue to fluctuate, the important number to look at is the electoral vote. Electoral-vote.com has it Obama with 289, McCain with 236 and 13 ties. 270 are needed to win. Read more here.

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Is Clinton trying to force herself on the Ticket? - more from a woman scorned - latest rumor is she wants to put her name into nomination at the convention leading to a joint press release by Clinton and Obama. Read more here

Time.com has more on the dissatisfaction being shown by the Clintons. Read it here. With Obama so far being unable to exceed 46-47% from polls, Clinton may be having second thoughts about conceding.

Had enough of Hillary? - well it seems on Tuesday August 26, the second day of the convention there will be a "18 Million Voices March" in Denver - yes, she received 18 million votes and is scheduled to speak that evening at the convention, the anniversary of women getting the right to vote. Read more here.

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New movie debuts August 21 spelling out the horrors of the economy and the national deficit - it is called "I.O.U.S.A." and points out the 9.6 Trillion deficit is still rising. As if we need a reminder that we are in tough economic times. Read more here.

Meanwhile the Labor Department announces today new unemployment figures are the highest since March, 2002. Read more here.

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Don't discount Ralph Nader's impact on the election - he just was put on the California Ballot which he was unable to obtain in 2004. He claims he will be on 45 of the states ballots this fall. Will he have as dramatic a effect as he did in 2000 when many say his run kept Gore out of the White House? Stay Tuned. Read more here.

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On the international front, Keep an eye on Pakistan - President Musharraf has refused to step down after Parliamentary elections resulted in opposition parties gaining control. The U.S. continues to send Billions in aid even though the country is under a very unstable political administration and questions remain as to the presence of the Taliban in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border region. Read more here.

Asif Ali Zardari, head of Pakistan's People's Party said the national assembly could move as early as next Monday to impeach Musharraf is he does not call for a vote of confidence. Read more here.

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Rumors continue to surround former Senator John Edwards - tabloids have written he had an affair and fathered a child. He was scheduled to speak at the Democratic Convention but since he has not addressed these rumors, now some are having second thoughts. McClatchy.com has more here.