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First Read: The day in politics by NBC News for NBC News
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FIRST THOUGHTS.
*** Et Tu, Scott? The news of Scott McClellan's new book on President Bush -- first reported by the Politico's Mike Allen -- guarantees one thing: There is NO CHANCE Bush fixes his perception problems in the public and the media anytime soon. He's a political pariah, pure and simple. In the book, according to reports, McClellan says that Bush "was not open and forthright on Iraq"; that the president sold the war through a "political propaganda campaign"; that he took a permanent campaign approach to governing; and that the White House mishandled Hurricane Katrina, both governmentally and politically. For McCain, the timing of the news of this book couldn't have been worse. On the very day that the Arizona senator broke with Bush on nuclear proliferation, he not only held a closed-press fundraiser with the president (that produced just one photo-op), but also came news of the McClellan book. Now will come constant cable news chatter about the book, an interview with McClellan himself tomorrow on TODAY, as well as the inevitable questions from the traveling press corps following McCain. Meanwhile, Bush today hits two more fundraisers (in Salt Lake City and Park City, UT) for McCain and the RNC; Romney joins the president at these events.
*** Over The Top: As NBC's Tim Russert reported on Nightly News last night, the Obama campaign will claim a majority of all delegates -- whether it's 2,026, 2,210, or a number in between -- next Tuesday night or Wednesday morning. According to our sources, Obama's been making calls on the Hill this week (the place where more undeclared superdelegates live than any other in the country) in an attempt to gather the number he needs, probably around 45 supers in order to declare Tuesday night or Wednesday morning. The campaign is hoarding commitments from undeclared superdelegates to hit these magic numbers once the nominating contests come to a close on June 3. The actual choreography, however, hasn't been agreed to yet; it depends on what happens at Saturday's DNC meeting. Here's one scenario: Obama announces enough supers on Monday June 2 to bring him within 10 delegates of the new magic number. Then on Tuesday evening, just as the polls close in Montana, Obama thanks that state for putting him over the top as the small state is one the Obama camp is hoping to put in play for the fall. Sure, it's three electoral votes but every EV may matter if he's got to make up for not winning Florida and (maybe) Ohio.
*** A Blueprint For Saturday? Speaking of Saturday's DNC meeting. A packet sent around to members of the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee has some neutral opinions about the various challenges. One thing folks ought to not miss is the fact that the DNC rules had called for an automatic 50% delegate cut for states that violate the window. The Rules committee went beyond that -- which was within its rights -- and took away ALL of the delegates. Doesn't this provide the blueprint for what's likely to happen on Saturday -- a reinstatement of 50% of the delegates in both states? In fact, if we're interpreting this right, and if the Rules committee follows the letter of the law on this issue, they can't reinstate 100% of the delegates because of the initial violation. For those following the FL/MI fight closely, realize that a Florida compromise seems to be fairly easy to come to; frameworks are being developed as you read. But Michigan is the real riddle. The biggest impediment there are those "uncommitted" delegates; If the Rules committee decides to accept the January primary results then it's not clear, via the DNC charter, that it's within the party's rules to assign uncommitted delegates to Obama. Of course, as multiple members of the Rules committee told NBC News, there's such a thing as "political will," which could trump the DNC charter. Oh, the joys of what we'll be watching on Saturday.
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LOOKING BACK AT TODAY.
Former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan dropped a blockbuster book on the news cycle. (Check out his exclusive appearance on TODAY tomorrow.) The White House's response, in part: "Scott, we now know, is disgruntled about his experience at the White House. For those of us who fully supported him, before, during and after he was press secretary, we are puzzled. It is sad -- this is not the Scott we knew." firstread.msnbc.msn.com
Obama and Bill Clinton also weighed in on McClellan's book. Obama used it to pivot to McCain and tie him to Bush's policies. firstread.msnbc.msn.com
The Clinton and Obama campaigns held competing conference calls to try and preview Saturday's DNC Rules and Bylaws meeting. Clinton camp reiterated a hard line on its desire for full delegations from Michigan and Florida to be seated according to the discounted primaries in those states. firstread.msnbc.msn.com
The Obama campaign, meanwhile, tried to show it as the campaign calling for unity and compromise -- as opposed to the Clinton campaign. There are expected to be pro-Clinton protests outside the meeting. "We are not encouraging our people to gather and protest," Campaign Manager David Plouffe said in a conference call with reporters, adding this warning shot. "With a click of a mouse in the Mid-Atlantic, we could get thousands of people there. But in the interest of party unity we are not encouraging a protest. We don't think a scene is helpful as we try to bring the party together." firstread.msnbc.msn.com
With the delegate math -- plus more and more superdelegates -- looking to be on Obama's side, Hillary Clinton is making what seems to be a final pitch to all superdelegates before the last primary contests that end on June 3. Her argument: that she's more electable than Obama is. firstread.msnbc.msn.com
Clinton pledged that Indian Country "will have a seat at the table in my White House." She also argued that the "ultimate question" facing primary voters is which candidate can win in November. firstread.msnbc.msn.com
Clinton stood before the four former presidents and listened in as a park ranger explained some of the history. At one point, she was asked if she could one day picture herself up there. She smirked and shook her head as she contemplated whether to offer a quick soundbite. "I ." she started to say, before throwing her hands up.
firstread.msnbc.msn.com
McCain went after Obama at a town hall, asking why Obama would sit down with Iran's president but won't sit down with the leader of our troops. McCain also hit Obama over his one visit to Iraq and says the Illinois senator has "never seized the opportunity" to meet with Gen. Petraeus except for a hearing in Washington. "I will never surrender in Iraq," he added, "I will not let that happen." firstread.msnbc.msn.com
The DNC and RNC came out with competing gaffe lists of McCain and Obama. firstread.msnbc.msn.com and firstread.msnbc.msn.com
PA Gov. Ed Rendell, a Clinton backer, said he thinks Clinton should be on the ticket as No. 2 if she doesn't get the nomination. firstread.msnbc.msn.com
Day in Delegates: Obama 1-0. Obama got one superdelegate -- the Oregon party chair. The NBC NEWS Delegate Counts: PLEDGED: Obama 1649 to 1500; SUPERDELEGATES: Obama 318.5 to 283.5; EDWARDS PL.: Obama 12 to 0; TOTAL: Obama 1,979.5 to 1,783.5. firstread.msnbc.msn.com
For more: The latest edition of First Read is available now at
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