Color Blinded

No repug candidates will be on the stage for the NAACP Annual Convention Presidential Forum this Thursday morning.

Rudy says he can't make it because he has to be in Michigan that night (the convention is in Detroit), Romney says he'll find a scheduling conflict (he's got no events planned for that day, but told the NAACP that he's got something else to do), McCain said that, well, he didn't say anything, and Huckabee -- he announced a month ago that, son of a gun, that happens to be the same date that he'll be in Iowa.

The repugs are following in the tradition established by the Despicable Cretin, who was a no show at the NAACP conventions. After the D.C. pulled in a mere 11% of the African-American vote in 2004, his IRS launched an investigation aimed at stripping the organization of its exempt status.

Detroit political consultant Coit Cook Ford had it right when he said that the no-shows reflected the repug preference to "appeal to white conservative voters who are hostile to immigration and affirmative action than to Hispanics and African Americans."

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Playing the Authenticity Card

Medial Lizzy got it spot on todayyesterday:

AUTHENTIC will be the word that defines the 2008 presidential cycle. The candidate who is the most real, most authentic AND is the least contrived - will be the one who successfully crosses the finish line.

While I can't always agree with her politics (oh, okay, I hardly EVER agree with her politics), when she drops the talking points and personal attacks, Media Lizzy can learn us a lot.

Her assessment of the problem with the GOP field is not much different than mine, despite that we come at the question from opposite ends of the spectrum (putting aside her hots for Fred Thompson, who has nothing to offer and despite his spin, is no RR (not that being another RR is anything worth bragging about)):

If Fred Thompson does not enter the race... Mitt Romney will likely be the nominee. (barring a serious mistake) The press, consultants and voters alike don't like baggage. Being a Mormon is a lot more palatable than a third wife, a mistress, an old sick guy, an angry guy with a shady, baggage laden consultant, or a guy who can't be honest about mob ties that a staffer had. If Fred Thompson does not run, it will be about who McCain endorses - because that person will get the McCain finance Committee. And that is McCain's strongest asset.

Sincerity is the key . . . once you can fake that the rest is easy . . . . At least, that's the way consultants approach campaigns. M.L. is right to call them out on it and to point out that the electorate will be clamoring for true sincerity -- for authenticity this time around. That's why Hilary is going to have problems and that's why Obama has taken off.

What M.L. doesn't explain is the reason why sincerity is going to be so important this time around. One word -- Dubya. Colin Powell -- the closest thing to sincerity out of this cabal -- lost that rep for good when he did the deed in front of the UN. The rest of them? Condi, Wolfi, Rummi, Dicki, Pearle, Rove -- yeah, you get the idea.

{Image Credit: Media Lizzy}

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Obama Bests Hillary vs Republicans in New Hampshire Poll

From Political Grind:

BOSTON – A telephone poll of likely New Hampshire voters, conducted by Suffolk University students from February 24-28, 2007, revealed top Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are statistically tied for the lead among Democratic voters in the Granite State. Republican candidate Rudolph Giuliani had a 10-point lead over John McCain, his nearest rival. The results of the poll were officially announced today.

The poll revealed thatDemocrat Obama would defeat Republican Mitt Romney in a head-to-head match up and tie McCain and Giuliani, while Clinton would only defeat Romney. Republican front-runner Giuliani defeated Democrats Clinton and John Edwards in a head-to-head match up and tied Obama.

The survey of 500 Democratic, Republican, and Independent voters likely to vote in the 2008 presidential election found that Hillary Clinton’s unfavorability rating of 48% was the highest unfavorability rating of any candidate.

There's more.

The poll was conducted by Suffolk University. Crosstabs here.


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