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A veritable who's who of the PUMA wing.

The Caucus Blog - NYTimes.com

The reception for former Clinton supporters, which also was attended by Rick Davis, the McCain campaign manager, was spearheaded by Lady Lynn Forester de Rothschild, a former telecommunications entrepreneur and "Hillraiser" who brought in more than $100,000 for Mrs. Clinton's campaign; Calvin Fayard, also a former Hillraiser and longtime Democratic donor from Louisiana, and Miguel Lausell, a former senior political adviser to the Clinton campaign from Puerto Rico.

Hmmm... I was pretty sure I was told that somewhere along the line, Obama and Hillary had patched things up. $8 million is a lot of money, and McCain sure could use it. But it appears bygones are not exactly bygones with the Hillraisers from the Upper East Side.

Hillary herself has been making the morning news round and declaring that her campaigning for president days are over, (unless Obama messes up the biggest gimme in presidential history). But she doesn't have much pull with her own fiercest supporters... or does she?

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I had the opportunity Thursday to sit with the New Jersey delegation on the convention floor and speak to two delegates that are charged up and ready to go for the McCain-Palin ticket.

Mr. Chris Smith and Mrs. Mary Devon O'Brien of Maplewood, NJ had some very strong feelings about what John McCain need to say to the assembled and were very vocal in their support of Sarah Palin - soundly putting down any doubters in their own party that might think Palin is not the best choice for John McCain's VP.

Me: There have been some conservative media types who have been overheard saying that the choice of Sarah Palin for the VP candidate is purely political choice - that she's not qualified.

Mr. Smith: Well I think they're wrong. I think she's a real good choice for the ticket - she's what we needed. I think she's going to help the ticket win.

Mrs. O'Brien: I agree I think what she does is she brings is good balance, energy and enthusiasm and good small town values as well as big state know-how to the ticket.

Me: What are you hoping to hear from Senator McCain tonight?

Mrs. O'Brien: I'm hoping what he'll do is outline more about his platform and tell us more where he thinks he intends to take the country and where he would like us as citizens to pitch in and help because its not a job for one person alone. And I hope that congress is listening, too because it's not a job that only the president does, congress needs to come and help,too They're the ones that do the bills and the laws and funding and without them on board they're the ones stopping. And may I remind people they're the ones that have the 9% approval - Sarah Palin has an 80% approval rating.

Mrs. O'Brien went on to expand on her thoughts on Congress after I mentioned that it does not look good for House and Senate Republicans this year. She is very disappointed in Nancy Pelosi was hoping for more initiative and leadership from her and less divisiveness. My thanks to Chris and Mary and I will check out the Lion's club...

The "official" New Jersey blog for the RNC, PolitickerNJ, echoes what I found among the state's elected officials, but also found some who were not so enthusiastic:

There were those not ready to sign off resoundingly on the Palin speech, lamenting what they heard as too much attitude and not enough pertinent factual information about their vice presidential candidate.

Some delegates made fast, "no comment" dashes in and out of the bar where a small but enthusiastic crowd drank and chatted while Fox News re-broadcast Palin's speech.

Others were no-shows.

"I'd like to have heard her talk about cutting taxes," admitted Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande (R-Colts Neck).

Casagrande's thought was that Palin has a good story as a public servant. Maybe it wasn't the governor's fault, but the remarks absorbed too much of the culture of politics as celebrity rather than the politics of communicating achievement in government.

But then again, Obama has done the same thing, she conceded.

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I came to office promising major ethics reform, to end the culture of self-dealing. And today, that ethics reform is the law.

While I was at it, I got rid of a few things in the governor's office that I didn't believe our citizens should have to pay for.

That luxury jet was over the top. I put it on eBay.

I also drive myself to work.

And I thought we could muddle through without the governor's personal chef - although I've got to admit that sometimes my kids sure miss her. I came to office promising to control spending - by request if possible and by veto if necessary.

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We were standing on our chairs and still could not get a good view of the platform and our Governor because there were so many arms and signs in the air! It was electrifying. I know the Governor is capable of this kind of speech...the vibe was incredible.

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"The liberal media is engaged in a disturbing sexist double standard against Gov. Palin. This is a clear effort to smear a conservative female star because she does not adhere to the liberal ideology of the elites who run the media. And this is one of the reasons why the American public has lost faith in the media. We predict a backlash."

"Gov. Plain has a record of accomplishment. She has taken on the corrupt special interest in Washington and in Alaska. And she has a record of achievement. In fact, she is more prepared to be president than Sen. Obama. Palin ran a state, Obama ran a campaign."

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"I know what it takes to be President. In these past eight years, I've sat at the Resolute desk and reviewed the daily intelligence briefings, the threat assessments, and reports from our commanders on the front lines. I've stood in the ruins of buildings knocked down by killers, and promised the survivors I would never let them down. I know the hard choices that fall solely to a President. John McCain's life has prepared him to make those choices. He is ready to lead this nation."

"John McCain's life is a story of service above self. Forty years ago in an enemy prison camp, Lieutenant Commander McCain was offered release ahead of others who had been held longer. His wounds were so severe that anyone would have understood if he'd accepted. John refused. For that selfless decision, he suffered nearly five more years of beatings and isolation. When he was released, his arms had been broken -- but not his honor.

Fellow citizens: If the Hanoi Hilton could not break John McCain's resolve to do what is best for his country, you can be sure the angry left never will.

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"What, after all, is a Democrat like me doing at a Republican convention like this? The answer is simple. I'm here to support John McCain because country matters more than party. I'm here tonight because John McCain is the best choice to bring our country together and lead our country forward. I'm here because John McCain's whole life testifies to a great truth: being a Democrat or a Republican is important. But it is not more important than being an American."

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On the front page of the New York Times this morning, there are three stories dealing with Gov. Palin's children. The New York Times wouldn't know a scandal if it was walking down the street under a spotlight, unless it involves a Republican."

"Our country like never before is going to have to depend on the character, personal history, and experience of the president. With a newly belligerent Russia, an ever aggressive China, this is no time to turn the keys of the car over to a 14-year old in heavy traffic.

The media has no idea about the kind of reception Gov. Palin is getting across the country. She is the kind of public servant that we all claim we want. Outsider, not from inside the beltway, will stand up to authority, will stand up to either side and is successful.

She is a perfect match for McCain and I think they're going to go to Washington, take it by the scruff of the neck and give it a good shaking.

I think that the Sarah Palin overreaction [by the Obama campaign] has allowed [Republicans] to make the comparison of the experience level of our Vice-Presidential nominee and their presidential nominee. You don't get experience by being in the Senate. You don't get foreign policy and national security experience by being in the Senate. The media wants to give a pass to anybody that's ever set foot in the senate. It is in no sense a qualification.

For example, Governor Palin doesn't have experience being wrong about the Iraq war, is that the kind of experience you want? She doesn't have experience being against the surge, which has won the war in Iraq and which the Democrats can't bring themselves to talk about. Is that the kind of experience you want?"

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"The protesters sat down in the street and were physically blocking our way into the center. Several of our delegates were being physically jostled. The police moved in and positioned themselves between the protesters and the delegation and made a wall for us to walk behind as we entered the arena. Then the protesters spat at us. Chairman Healy's 80-year old mother was spat upon by the protesters.

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"When events such as this occur, we are reminded that we are all Americans. The president is speaking with officials at the disaster coordination center in Austin, to be sure that they have what they need from the federal government.

All of the governors from that region are strong leaders and were planning to be with us. They all also happen to be Republicans."

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The Republican National Convention's abbreviated schedule opened here in St. Paul today with all eyes on the Louisiana coast, where Hurricane Gustav made landfall earlier today. None more than in the Louisiana delegation, which despite the storm remains here at the convention, doing its work on behalf of the people of their state.

Delegate Lois Hoover, from Monroe, Louisiana, said that the delegation was very mindful of the goings on back home. "We've been very lucky so far," she said. "In my town in the Northeast part of the state, we have over 7,000 refuges in just our little town." Ms. Hoover said that the preparations for this storm far exceeded those for Hurricane Katrina, something she attributed to the state being in the hands of Republican Governor Bobby Jindal. "He's wonderful," Hoover beamed. "We're glad that he's not on the ticket. We need him home in Louisiana."

The Chairman of the Louisiana Delegation, Bryan Whener, agreed. "He was made to prepare for hurricanes," Mr. Whener said. "Jindal's done a wonderful job. He's the real deal." Whener is from New Orleans, but said that he declined the opportunity to go home to prepare for the storm in order to fulfill his duties to the delegation.

"People have to decide what their duties are. While I'm here, I'm doing my business. On my own time, I call home and handle the storm. The most important thing I can do for my city and state is to be here. Last time, for Katrina, we didn't have our act together in terms of what we needed. Here our delegation can get the word out as to what we have and what we need."

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By Mark Impomeni
(St. Paul) - The Republican National Convention was rocked today by the revelation that Vice-Presidential nominee Governor Sarah Palin's eldest daughter, 17 year-old Bristol, is pregnant. The Palin family put out a statement saying that they are proud of their daughter and asking the media to respect her privacy.

"We have been blessed with five wonderful children who we love with all our heart and mean everything to us. Our beautiful daughter Bristol came to us with news that as parents we knew would make her grow up faster than we had ever planned. We're proud of Bristol's decision to have her baby and even prouder to become grandparents. As Bristol faces the responsibilities of adulthood, she knows she has our unconditional love and support.

Bristol and the young man she will marry are going to realize very quickly the difficulties of raising a child, which is why they will have the love and support of our entire family. We ask the media to respect our daughter and Levi's privacy as has always been the tradition of children of candidates."

Palin's nomination has brought a renewed energy to McCain supporters, especially among the religious and Evangelicals, important parts of the Republican base. Thus far, initial reports are that the story will not hurt the McCain campaign politically among this all-important group. Reached at the convention site, Erick Erickson, Editor of the influential RedState.com, said that the story may actually help McCain with the religious right. And Steve Dillard, a member of the National Catholic Steering Committee for the McCain campaign said that families of faith would embrace the Palins over the way they have handled the matter. "I think the daughter made the right choice and it shows that Gov. Palin has raised her daughter to respect the sanctity of life. Character is shown with how you act under difficult circumstances."

"I don't know the family well enough to comment beyond what Governor Palin has told Alaskans and Americans. What I'm pleased about is that Bristol was not afraid to talk with her parents about the pregnancy and I hope that other young women facing a similar situation would take courage in Bristol's decision to tell her parents. I've known a few young women who have faced this situation and I know it was difficult for them to discuss with their parents, but ultimately they and their parents were stronger for it."

Voters want to be able to identify with political candidates, and this story gives the Palin family something in common with thousands of American families. While no political campaign wants to lose control of its message, and there are indications that this story came out earlier than the McCain campaign might have liked, ultimately it does not appear to be one that the campaign should fear.

By Denise Williams

The news today that vice presidential hopeful Sara Palin's teen-aged daughter is pregnant without the benefit of marriage was released to quell rumors that Governor Palin was actually the grandmother of infant Trig.

The fact that Palin was still picked as McCain's running mate and that the campaign was fully aware of this situation when it made the offer to the Alaska Governor, in itself is quite interesting. The Palin family, full-throated Evangelicals, are experiencing what thousand of other families go through each year - the unexpected out-of-wedlock pregnancy.

The family's decision is a private and personal matter - as much as it can be. Despite the rumors and innuendo and the need to release this information for that reason, how long does anyone think it could have been hidden from the public? It was bound to come out sooner or later and better sooner lest the public continue to think there was very little vetting process with this candidate.

Palin's daughter will keep the baby and marry the father - the family-friendly answer to this vexing issue. Will this development make any difference at all to the Evangelical community? It's hard to see that it would with marriage as the expected outcome. Despite religious convictions of any kind - kids have sex and kids get pregnant.

I see that this might actually be a good place to open up dialogue about teen pregnancy, abstinence and birth control. If an Obama candidacy can make us more open about race and Clinton's run focus the dialogue on sexism and glass ceilings, perhaps the Palin family experience help us reflect on the fact that the US has the highest incidence of unplanned teen pregnancy in the developed world.

---

Mark Impomeni, a Republican, and Denise Williams, a Democrat, are on the ground in St, Paul to bring you their dueling political perspectives throughout the Republican National Convention. Check back to follow their feature, "Floor Fight."

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"We've learned a lot of lessons that will serve the United States very well in any kind of disaster and not just a hurricane. This time people evacuated and I think that's going to make a huge difference to keep people safe."

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