The Fix - Chris Cillizza&#8217s politics blog on washingtonpost.com - July 20, 2008

McCain Attacks on Troop Issue

UPDATE, Sunday 11:45 am: Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.), a former close ally of John McCain, isn't doing his friend much good in the debate over Barack Obama's canceled trip to visit wounded soldiers. On CBS' "Face the Nation" this morning,...

By Chris Cillizza | July 26, 2008; 7:40 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Eye on 2008
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Who Won the Week Day?

It's hard not to hand a victory this week to Barack Obama. Wall-to-wall press coverage -- most of it highly positive regarding his trip to the Middle East and Europe -- followed by a scheduled appearance on "Meet the...

By Chris Cillizza | July 26, 2008; 12:05 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Eye on 2008
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Veepstakes Line: It's Now or Never?

The excitement over the veepstakes reached critical mass this week -- sparked by conservative columnist Bob Novak's report that John McCain could make his pick as early as this week. (A side note: The Fix is currently reading Novak's memoir...

By Chris Cillizza | July 25, 2008; 2:50 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (172)
Categories: The Line
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Friday House Line: How Big is Big?

Four months before the 2008 election, House Democrats are barely able to contain their excitement about their chances of picking up seats and expanding their majority. At a press briefing earlier this week, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Chris Van...

By Chris Cillizza | July 25, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: The Line
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The Speech: First Thoughts

Barack Obama's just-completed speech in Berlin is sure to be analyzed ad nauseam for some time to come. Below you'll find the Fix's first impressions of the speech. We reserve the right to update and amend these thoughts, but wanted...

By Chris Cillizza | July 24, 2008; 2:50 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Eye on 2008
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Obama Crowd Builds in Germany: Good or Bad?

Crowds gather to hear US Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama's speech in front of the Victory Column in Berlin on July 24, 2008. MICHAEL URBAN/AFP/Getty Images. Barack Obama isn't speaking in Berlin until 1:15 eastern time today but the...

By Chris Cillizza | July 24, 2008; 12:54 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Eye on 2008
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The First Lady Free-For-All: Michelle vs. Cindy

Thousands of words and hours of cable television coverage in this campaign have been dedicated to the spouses of Barack Obama and John McCain. Highlights From Survey Michelle Obama and Cindy McCain have become political figures in their own rights...

By Chris Cillizza | July 24, 2008; 10:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (151)
Categories: Eye on 2008
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The Fix: Huge (Sort of) in Michigan!

Is all publicity good publicity? Check out the latest web offering from the Michigan Democratic Party in which The Fix is prominently featured (and not in a good way) for our analysis in the Veepstakes Line of former Massachusetts governor...

By Chris Cillizza | July 23, 2008; 6:07 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (49)
Categories: Eye on 2008
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Jindal Campaigning for Veep?

UPDATE, 3 p.m.: Yes, we are well aware -- as several of you have pointed out -- that Jindal has said he is not interested in being vice president. And, yes, we saw Jindal's "Fox and Friends" appearance where he...

By Chris Cillizza | July 23, 2008; 2:15 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (70)
Categories: Eye on 2008
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Patriot Majority Wades Into House Races

Patriot Majority, an independent progressive organization, will run a "multi-million dollar" television campaign against Republican congressmen and senators in the coming months -- an effort that begins today in Michigan's 7th district. Craig Varoga, who managed former Iowa Gov. Tom...

By Chris Cillizza | July 23, 2008; 1:15 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (9)
Categories: House
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The Case Against Evan Bayh

Yesterday we made the case for Barack Obama to pick Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh as his running mate. Today we argue the opposite side. What Does He Believe In? Depending on how you look at it, Bayh's centrist approach to...

By Chris Cillizza | July 23, 2008; 9:40 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (97)
Categories: Veepstakes
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McCain Veep Pick: Feint or For Real?

Conservative columnist Bob Novak's piece in which he suggested John McCain might well pick his vice president this week set off a firestorm around political Washington late yesterday afternoon as reporters and operatives scampered to follow the Prince of Darkness's...

By Chris Cillizza | July 22, 2008; 4:49 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Veepstakes
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Ad Wars: Begich's 'Car Wash'

Sometimes a television advertisement can say more than any speech. Take Barack Obama's "Moment" ad during the primary season or John McCain's "624787" ad. Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich (D), who is challenging Sen. Ted Stevens (R) this fall, is up...

By Chris Cillizza | July 22, 2008; 2:25 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Ad Wars
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Analysis: Obama's Gravitas

Barack Obama's press conference this morning in Amman, Jordan, was a major moment -- perhaps the major moment -- of the Illinois senator's much-ballyhooed trip abroad this week. All eyes were on Obama to see how he would perform...

By Chris Cillizza | July 22, 2008; 12:00 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (239)
Categories: Eye on 2008
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The Case for Evan Bayh

There is no hotter candidate in the vice presidential sweepstakes right now than Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh. In addition to taking over the number one slot in last Friday's Veepstakes Line (no higher honor exists), Bayh was also at the...

By Chris Cillizza | July 22, 2008; 8:30 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (93)
Categories: Veepstakes
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McCain To Meet With Jindal

John McCain will huddle with vice presidential aspirant Bobby Jindal during a trip to New Orleans later this week, sources close to the campaign confirm to The Fix. McCain's trip to Louisiana on Wednesday was the cause of much head...

By Chris Cillizza | July 21, 2008; 6:26 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (275)
Categories: Veepstakes
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House Democratic Campaign Arm Broadens TV Buy

Moving quickly to capitalize on their massive financial advantage, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has reserved television time in nearly two dozen more House districts, bringing their total investment in competitive contests to $53 million. The new buy encompasses 20...

By Chris Cillizza | July 21, 2008; 4:26 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (11)
Categories: House
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The Fix: July 20, 2008 - July 26, 2008