Sen. John Kerry endorsed Sen. Barack Obama for president at a South Carolina rally today.
That will carry some weight with Democratic voters — Kerry was, after all, their 2004 presidential nominee and narrowly lost to President Bush.
But others wonder whether Obama really gains anything by associating himself with Kerry’s losing reputation.
I think it can’t hurt Obama, who needs some support from party leaders at this stage to counter Clinton campaign charges that his candidacy is a “fairy tale.â€
What do you think?
Bill Richardson’s resume should have been enough to make him a serious candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination. But the New Mexico governor did not inspire much confidence on the stump or in the debates. He placed fourth in Iowa and New Hampshire and is expected to drop out of the ’08 race this afternoon. His Hispanic ancestry and foreign policy and executive experience certainly fit the moment, but it’s even difficult to see him ending up a vice presidential pick this year. What do WE Bloggers think was his problem? Is there such a thing as too much affability?
How did Hillary Clinton beat back Barack Obama in the New Hampshire primary? In part by using the same two-pronged strategy that George Bush employed in 2000 to stop John McCain’s surge: co-opt your opponent’s message, and raise doubts about him with the party faithful. Clinton adopted Obama’s “change†theme, arguing that she was the only one who could produce it, and she attacked Obama for waffling on issues, the New York Times politics blog reported.
Here’s to the Sedgwick County stakeholders who’ll come together today for a mini-summit on access to health care the county. Five years in the making, this process has three groups working on issues big (such as how to ensure the safety-net clinics have the capacity to meet the need) and small (such as how to transport ambulance users home from the emergency room). The estimated 40,000 to 60,000 residents in the county who are uninsured or underinsured are counting on the county-led effort’s success, as are the area hospitals who end up writing off so many dollars in uncompensated care each year.
When it comes to providing residents with primary care, as Jon Rosell, executive director of the Medical Society of Sedgwick County, told The Eagle editorial board this week, “The emergency room is not the appropriate way. It’s a very poor medical home.â€
And as Sedgwick County Commissioner Tim Norton said, everybody should be able to answer the question of “Who’s your doctor?â€
Here’s hoping that the $33.3 million drop in expected state tax revenue collections in December was due to the bad weather and not the slowing national economy. Due to higher than expected collections from July through November, the state’s revenue estimate for this fiscal year is still on target. But if the December drop is part of a downward trend, expect a painful legislative session this year.
Sen. John Kerry endorsed Sen. Barack Obama for president at a South Carolina rally today.
