Passport Hubbub, Endorsement Offer Needed Relief for Obama
Barack Obama picks up the endorsement of Bill Richardson, right, at Portland's Memorial Coliseum in Oregon Friday. (AP Photo)
Good Friday was a very good Friday for Barack Obama, as news of passport breaches in the State Department and a much-sought endorsement from New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson shifted the focus away from the racial controversies that have dogged him for more than a week.
Obama tried to put to rest discussions of race on the campaign trail Tuesday, when he gave a speech addressing his relationship with the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, whose anti-U.S. sermons dominated campaign coverage for days.
The Wright controversy proved difficult to shake, however. Obama’s speech did not immediately stop the media replay of Wright’s most heated sermons, and polls indicated the Illinois senator was losing ground because of the focus on the issue.
But as reports of high-profile passport breaches developed between Thursday evening and Friday afternoon, the presidential candidates were handed a common target: the State Department. And the endorsement from Richardson, the nation’s only Hispanic governor, also helped Obama move on.
“This is a real good thing for the Obama campaign, GOP strategist Andrea Tantaros said of the endorsement from Richardson, who called Obama a “once-in-a-lifetime leader.”
“They change the subject … it also sends a message to other superdelegates that Obama still has strength, still has power to move ahead,” Tantaros said. “This is bad news for the Clinton campaign. It’s just another crack in her political dam.”
Democratic strategist Julia Piscatelli said the endorsement from Richardson, who was the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations under Bill Clinton, helps Obama with his foreign policy credentials.
And political analyst Keli Goff said the endorsement helps deflect reports that Obama is not popular among Hispanics, as well as shift focus away from Wright.
Speaking Friday at a town hall meeting in Salem, Ore., Obama referred to the Wright controversy as a “bunch of turbulence” for his campaign.
The passport flap — in which the files of Hillary Clinton, John McCain and Obama were improperly accessed — brings a new set of turbulence, and could offer at least a temporary sense of relief to Obama’s campaign, which until recently was basking in the glow of front-runner status.
Clinton is still trailing in delegates, and Politico reported Friday that un-named campaign aides were giving her no more than a 10 percent chance of winning the nomination.
A photo was also posted on The New York Times’ Web site Thursday night showing Bill Clinton and Wright shaking hands at a White House prayer breakfast 10 years ago.
The Times site said the Wright photo was provided by Obama’s campaign, and in a statement Friday morning the Clinton campaign accused Obama of straining to shift the tide.
“It’s no secret that the Obama campaign is in political hot water given the news stories of the last few weeks and is desperate to change the subject,” the memo said. It accused Obama of peddling the Wright-Clinton photo and blasted the campaign for suggesting they were involved with his passport breach.
Obama’s campaign released a statement Thursday suggesting political motives were behind the breach, but on Friday it was clear the violations were not limited to Obama himself.
But if Obama is consciously trying to steer the political discourse away from the race topic, it’s an effort he proved only partially committed to Friday, when he responded to more questions about Wright at a press conference in Portland, Ore.
Obama said again that he was not aware of the most offensive Wright statements until they were broadcast on the Internet and TV, and especially was not aware of Wright’s claims that the government was responsible for HIV.
Obama called that “completely out of line and off the wall.”
FOX News’ Bonney Kapp contributed to this report.
CNN played more extensive tapes of Reverend Wright last night. It definitely shows that Wright is anti-White and American. Because this guy is Obama’s spiritul advisor And Obama refers to his grandma as a “Typical White Person”…PLEASE do not let this issue REST. It is imperative that this reflects Obama’s character.
Jimmy Carter….Oh help us Lord!
If Edward Peck was an Ambassador to Iraq under Jimmy Carter (who cares whether he was white or black…means absolutely nothing)…and Peck was the man that inspired Rev. Wright…. well if that is true, we have the beginings of DISASTER. Jimmy Carter was absolutely disastrous! Our country does not need a foreign policy anywhere close to Carter’s Foreign policies.
His speech wwas excellent, but Rev Wright’s comments that I found disheartenting were more the I hate America issues. The media and barack supporters seem to missing the point. He has put a temporary stop to the Rev Wright issue ut I am sure there will e m ore to follow. A typical white person who just happens to really love her Country
Go mccain
“My maker was divine authority,
The highest wisdom, and the primal love.
Before me nothing but eternal things were made,
And I endure eternally.
Abandon every hope, ye who enter here.” Dante, “The Devine Comedy”
Next to Satan at the very bottom of the deepest recess of Dante’s Inferno Hell is the place for the worst of the worst sinners, the betrayers. This, according to Dante is where Richardson is now. Of course he feels bad, he knew better but still he betrayed the people to whom he owes everything, the Clintons. I once admired him, but not any more. He was even too weak and cowardly in character to make his annoucement before Texas where it could have done some good. He also doubled back on his own state voters who supported Hillary.
I am 59 and am a successful family member, parent and business person. I have had many loyal friends, family and business associates. I have also been betrayed by the weak and self serving. These folks usually have limited success and happiness. It is their charater weakness exposed in the betrayal that causes their downfall.
oh obama is sincere right when he siad he didn,t hear about the sermons then redactid you must think I can,t hear see a bunch of hipocrits. can,t see the back peddaling wow it just blows me away unbalievable
Fox has put Senator Obama and his family in more danger by announcing where they would be on their one day of peace.The fact that Clinton’s and McCain’s passport file was also pulled was just a diversion.As a old ,black ,Alabama born,grandmother,I know all to well the many dangers that lie ahead of this brave young man.These things his white grandmother could never teach
I can,t understand why all these people that voted for obama didn,t do there research first than vote I don,t know about all these folks but I DON,T TAKE hate America very lightly at first I thought that anyone that hates the US leave I have grandpas and uncles who served this country just like the reverand and they have always been proud of there country now I will vote for jhon mcain a patriot who never gave up on america. someone who die for his country and respect for country It hurts to see someone lambasts my country and still go,s and listens to the garbage bieing siad It makes me sick.
you guys dont get it
Obama is now up 3 points in the Gallup poll, an 8 point swing since the articles saying that Clinton had taken the lead in the poll earlier this week. It appears that folks are moving on.
Obama’s “chickens have come home to roost”! I think all politicians are annoying most of the time but at least Hillary or McCain would stand up for Old Glory if some fool was pushing an Anti-American agenda. That cannot be said for “spineless” Obama, who sat through 20 years of hate-speak. He either agrees with his pastor, or is afraid to stand up to him! The snippets Fox have been running are from his church’s PROMOTIONAL video. How could an Ivy Leauge boy not be aware? (Ooops I said “boy” I must be a racist?)