‘What is it exactly that the VP does every day?’

McCain V.P. pick younger, less experienced than Obama

McCain and Palin disagree on arctic drilling

Very little talk about the historic pick that he had made (in terms of the Republican party at least), or the accomplishments that she definitely can point to.  I think she delivered a solid acceptance speech and deserves more respect.  I think it was a solid pick by McCain.

Governor Palin is a tough executive who has demonstrated during her time in office that she is ready to be president. She has brought Republicans and Democrats together within her Administration and has a record of delivering on the change and reform that we need in Washington.

Governor Palin has challenged the influence of the big oil companies while fighting for the development of new energy resources. She leads a state that matters to every one of us – Alaska has significant energy resources and she has been a leader in the fight to make America energy independent.

In Alaska, Governor Palin challenged a corrupt system and passed a landmark ethics reform bill. She has actually used her veto and cut budgetary spending. She put a stop to the “bridge to nowhere” that would have cost taxpayers $400 million dollars.

As the head of Alaska’s National Guard and as the mother of a soldier herself, Governor Palin understands what it takes to lead our nation and she understands the importance of supporting our troops.

Governor Palin has the record of reform and bipartisanship that others can only speak of. Her experience in shaking up the status quo is exactly what is needed in Washington today.

“Barack has chosen Joe Biden to be his running mate,” Obama’s official Web site announced early Saturday. “Joe Biden brings extensive foreign policy experience, an impressive record of collaborating across party lines, and a direct approach to getting the job done.”

Obama was expected to break the news of his selection via text messages and e-mails to supporters on Saturday. While supporters who signed up for the announcement still received them, the Associated Press reported the selection of Biden late Friday. ABC News reported that the U.S. Secret Service had sent a protective detail for Biden to his residence late Friday and that family members appeared to be gathering there.

Biden, 65, is chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and considered one of the leading Democrats on foreign affairs issues–an area in which Obama has been criticized as lacking experience. Although he voted for the Iraq war in 2002, Biden has since become a vocal critic of U.S. involvement.

At first glance at a General Motors auto plant in Lordstown, Ohio, on Friday, McCain’s push for fuel-efficient cars was not just about the cars, it was about the workers — blue-collar voters.

They are the kind of voters who Clinton won in the Democratic primary and who McCain wants badly.

• Young voter turnout was nearly triple this mirrors the huge turnout in Iowa the 2004 numbers. Could the increased interest in this election cycle be tied to a desire not to return to the Clinton years?
• Obama won an estimated 78 percent of the black vote, according to exit polls. This will prove to be a major factor throughout the February 5 voting.
• Total turnout for Democrats in their primary was greater than the turnout for the Republican primary in this state, which is one of the most loyally Republican in the nation. This does not bode well for the GOP candidates. The desire for change from the current administration leaves the Republican nominee fighting with one arm tied behind their back.

The surprise of the night was Giuliani failed to draw any clear differences between himself and his other leading rivals.  If Giuliani was still considered to be the frontrunner his performance tonight would have been adequate, but considering what was at stake for him personally he didn’t break away from the pack like he needed to do. 

Tonights report card:

Mitt Romney A-

John McCain B

Mike Huckabee B-

Rudy Giuliani C+

Ron Paul C+

Let me know your thoughts.  What are your reactions to tonights debate?

You see the stakes couldn’t be higher than they are tonight.   Should John McCain go on to win Florida it is game over for Rudy Giuliani and will narrow this campaign to a two candidate race–between McCain and Romney–with McCain having the definite edge.

Don’t expect the fireworks of Sunday night’s Democratic presidential debate, but tonight will have the pressure that no previous GOP debate will have.  Look for Romney and Giuliani to talk taxes and McCain to try and couch every question in national defense and steer clear of the economy–his Achilles heel.

Thompson’s fate was sealed last Saturday in the South Carolina primary, when he finished third in a state that he had said he needed to win.

In the statement, Thompson did not say whether he would endorse any of his former rivals. He was one of a handful of members of Congress who supported Arizona Sen. John McCain in 2000 in his unsuccessful race against George W. Bush for the party nomination.

“A 50-seat plane for 15 people doesn’t make sense,” Huckabee said, noting that his press coverage has thinned since his Iowa caucus victory was followed by losses to Arizona Sen. John McCain in New Hampshire and South Carolina and losses to Mitt Romney in Nevada, Wyoming and Michigan.

“I don’t want to abandon Florida yet,” Huckabee told reporters Monday on a late-night flight from Orlando to Atlanta, where he planned to campaign Tuesday. “We have not come to the conclusion that Florida is out of play.”

Huckabee is instead focusing his efforts on other February  5th  states Alabama, West Virginia, Tennessee, Missouri Arkansas, and Oklahoma where his core of evangelical support is highest.

Hillary Clinton and John Edwards met privately backstage following a very contentious Democratic presidential debate in this coastal city, sources with both campaigns confirm to CNN.

The meeting took place in the Edwards campaign green room.

One of the sources said the meeting happened by chance and the conversation consisted of light chatter. The source added that Clinton did jokingly take a jab at Edwards about his beating up on her during the debate. In fact, the real fireworks were between Clinton and Barack Obama.