The Wall Street Journal-20080118-Politics -amp- Economics -- Washington Wire- Insight and Analysis From WashWire-com
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Politics & Economics -- Washington Wire: Insight and Analysis From WashWire.com
Edwards Campaign Plays Up
The Media's Lack of Coverage
John Edwards is battling on three fronts: against Sens. Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and now, the press corps.
While the former North Carolina senator enjoyed more media attention before his losses in Iowa and New Hampshire, he has fallen off the radar in much of the mainstream media -- and he has noticed. Earlier this week, the Edwards campaign drew attention to a report from the Project for Excellence in Journalism that showed 37% of campaign news stories between Jan. 6 and Jan. 11 centered on Mrs. Clinton, 32% focused on Mr. Obama and just 7% on Mr. Edwards. Only Republican Rudy Giuliani, who has largely shunned the early state contests, got less coverage.
The campaign is also having a little fun with those numbers, launching a new "Where Is John" page on its Web site and a video, "What About John Edwards?"
The Edwards site says there's a difference going on between "media perception and reality" in the race. "Even after beating one of the celebrity candidates in Iowa (hint, it was Clinton), the media focused on two. Even after poll after poll shows competitive races in Nevada, South Carolina, and other states, the media focuses on two," it states. "Well, the reality is that there are 3 candidates, but only one who will fight to save the middle class and has led the field with the boldest agenda for change -- John Edwards."
Mr. Edwards is the underdog in nearly every poll conducted nationally and in the early states, including the Feb. 5 "Super Tuesday" contests, according a compilation by RealClearPolitics.com. Mr. Edwards's campaign insists he can overcome the odds and stay in the nomination fight until the convention this summer, if it comes to that.
-- Susan Davis
Jack Kemp Gives
McCain a Hand
After his economic message fell short in Michigan, Republican presidential hopeful John McCain retooled it at an event in Columbia, S.C., yesterday featuring supply-side economics veteran Jack Kemp.
Washington Wire caught the former Buffalo congressman, NFL quarterback and Bob Dole running mate in a rain-soaked alley in Aiken, S.C., and got a quick game plan: cut the corporate tax rate, allow companies to expense investments in equipment, machinery and technology in the first year instead of over several years, implement a tax-credit program for research-and- development spending and offer no taxpayer rebates or subsidies.
"The economy doesn't need a stimulus. It just needs lower tax rates on the factors of production," Mr. Kemp said. "If you cut the corporate income-tax rate, you not only lower the cost of capital, lower the cost of production, lower the cost of labor, you increase the demand for dollars around the world, so it's anti-inflationary by strengthening the dollar."
In jobs-starved Michigan, the Arizona senator's call for revamping job-training programs and investments in technology were too vague and long-term for voters looking for immediate help. The Kemp plan, however, seems squarely directed at the Republican business establishment hungering for a return to President Reagan's so-called trickle-down economics.
Invoking the former president several times, Mr. McCain said cutting taxes on business will help workers. "One of our problems is average workers have not had their incomes increase as fast as we want to," he said. "When corporations make more money, workers make more money." That argument, however, doesn't comport with the recent economic reality keenly felt by many voters. Corporate profits have soared while workers' wages have stagnated.
What about putting money directly in the hands of consumers, as Washington is embracing? "Don't go for any gimmicks like a rebate or subsidies to people," Mr. Kemp said. "They need lower taxes on the factors of production."
-- Alex Frangos
