The Buzz

• All eyes will be on Rick Warren’s Saddleback mega-church in California tomorrow night as both McCain and Obama attend a live televised “conversation” with Warren on religion, values, and other topics pertinent to the ‘08 race. Warren is the superstar pastor of Saddleback and best-selling author of “The Purpose Driven Life” as well as other books. He’s best known for his decision to stay away from the outright partisan proselytizing and political hardball that other evangelical leaders take part in; names like Dobson, Pat Robertson or the late Jerry Falwell. Warren is a values conservative and supported George W. Bush’s reelection bid in ‘04, but he is enough of an open-minded moderate at this point that Obama is counted as a close friend of his and the image-focused Obama campaign has no problem sending their candidate out to Saddleback for what will be a major campaign event. Topics are said to be wide-ranging for the two separate conversations Warren will have with the candidates, but there is little doubt that both McCain and Obama will be going after evangelicals and values voters who have strayed from the GOP for whatever reason.

• Battlegrounds are popping up across the country as the polls shows tighter races than anticipated in several states. Obama appears to be losing his grip on what had been Dem-leaning states, including blue state Minnesota. Both campaigns are prepared to fight hard for MN, with the ultimate wild card still on the table in McCain’s potential choice of Governor Tim Pawlenty as his running mate. Obama had built up the strongest grass roots organization from his primary win in the state, but McCain has been inching up in the polls and his campaign staff are set to reverse course and again launch intensive ground efforts after they had initially given up Minnesota for dead. They’re optimistic with the recent trends in the polls and whatever boost a possible Pawlenty Veep choice would bring.

• Talk of a McCain-Lieberman ticket is running rampant among highly concerned Republicans and conservatives.Tensions are even higher after McCain himself foolishly admitted that his running mate could be pro-choice and campaign indications that his Veep could be someone chosen less for party unity and more for his record and personal relationship with McCain. While evangelicals are screaming their heads of about Tom Ridge or Lieberman, some conservatives are preparing to bite the bullet and are accepting a scenario similar to one put forth by Rich Lowry. Lowry sees a possible “desperation” move by McCain in picking Lieberman as VP, something that would be an admission of a weak Republican Party message to voters and general hostility to hard-line GOP politicians by swing voters following eight years of Pres. Bush. Lieberman’s choice would basically destroy the GOP in order to save it; and one-up Obama’s so-far empty rhetoric of true bipartisanship. It’s more than intriguing…

• More disruptive outrage from angered supporters of Mike Huckabee (and maybe Huck himself). A powerful band of Huckabee followers calling themselves “Huck’s Army” have sent email blasts demanding that McCain either name Huckabee his running mate or give him a top speaking slot the convention; and at the very least urging McCain not to pick Mitt Romney as Veep. Huck’s backers are livid that Romney has been “shoved down (their) throats” and are responding with greater demands for a Huckabee role in the McCain campaign. The important thing is that, for now, there have been no outright calls of boycotting the convention or somehow disrupting that event or the McCain campaign in general.

• He’s baaaack: Phil Gramm  - he of the “nation of whiner” and “mental recession” remarks many weeks ag0 - has resurfaced as a fixture within the McCain inner circle. Though he insists that he is not back in either his old role as economic adviser or some lesser spot in the campaign, Gramm was spotted at the Aspen forum visited by McCain yesterday and received warm acknowledgment from McCain himself as he spoke before guests at a dinner for fundraisers. - “Thank you, Phil, for all your friendship and support,” McCain said.- Now it’s up to the Obama campaign to break from their stupor and take advantage of this lovely opportunity given them by McCain…

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