Recently in Ben Goad Category

The Howard "Dean scream" it was not. But John McCain's dismissive reference to Barack Obama as "that one" during last night's debate is the talk of the political news world this morning. McCain, talking about an energy bill that he opposed and Obama supported, uttered the phrase while gesturing toward the Illinois senator.

Some are decrying the remark as racist (akin to "those people"), or at least as a sign of how agitated a down-in-the-polls McCain has become. According to Politico, a Washington politics journal and website, McCain's camp defended the line as the best of the debate.

Missed the debate? Watch the exchange yourself and decide.

—Ben Goad
bgoad@PE.com

Inland homeowners don't need to look too far past the brown lawns and "For Sale" signs littering their neighborhoods to see that the region has been hit about as bad as anywhere in the nation by the foreclosure crisis.

But the Web site hotpads.com puts the area's housing turmoil in sobering perspective: four of the five congressional districts that make up the majority of Inland Southern California are among the top ten in terms of forclosure rates.

According to their rankings, Reps. Joe Baca, D-Rialto, Mary Bono Mack, R-Palm Springs, Ken Calvert, R-Corona, and Jerry Lewis, all represent one of ten districts hit hardest by the crisis. That's out of 435 districts nationwide.

—Ben Goad
bgoad@PE.com

Much has been made in recent months of whether Barack Obama or John McCain will win the coveted Hispanic vote next month. But few people seem focused on the Asian American vote.

A new survey shows that Obama is leading among most Asian subgroups (with the interesting exception of the Vietnamese vote, which almost always goes for the GOP candidate).

Overall, Obama leads McCain 41 percent to 24 percent among Asian likely voters, according to the survey put out by professors from four universities, including UC Riverside.

But importantly, a whopping 34 percent of Asian voters remain undecided with less than a month before Election Day. Check out the story in this morning's P-E.

—Ben Goad
bgoad@PE.com

Democrat Bill Hedrick, the longtime Corona-Norco school board member vying to oust Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Corona, in November, is getting an assist from Rep. Loretta Sanchez, D-Lakewood.

Sanchez is headlining a fundraiser for Hedrick at the El Adobe de Capistrano Restaurant
in San Juan Capistrano on Oct. 19, just two weeks before the election. Those wanting in will have to shell out $75 a head ($125 a couple).

But, according to the invitation, "support ensuring victory" is a bit pricier ($500), and "true believers" in Hedrick are asked to pay $1,000.

—Ben Goad
bgoad@PE.com

The $700 billion federal Wall Street rescue plan narrowly failed in the House of Representatives Monday by a vote of 205 to 228. Here's how Inland Southern California's House delegation voted on the controversial bill:

Rep. Joe Baca, D-Rialto: No
Rep. Mary Bono Mack: R, Palm Springs: Yes
Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Corona: Yes
Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista: No
Rep. Jerry Lewis, R-Palm Redlands: Yes

-Ben Goad

Inland Rep. Mary Bono Mack has had little trouble getting re-elected during the course of her decade in Congress.

The Palm Springs Republican has only won less than 60 percent of the general election vote once - in 2000, when she was elected with 59 percent of the vote.

But this year, she faces Democrat Julie Bornstein, a former state lawmaker and housing official. Bornstein remains at a large disadvantage in terms of fundraising, with roughly $120,000 on hand - as compared with Bono Mack's $420,000 - according to the candidates' most recent Federal Election Commission filings.

But the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has taken note of Bornstein - and the group's wallet is bulging these days. The DCCC, which has far more cash to spend going after seats than does its GOP counterpart, has listed the Bornstein-Bono Mack contest as one its "races to watch."

The distinction doesn't mean they're going to start throwing money at the 45th Congressional District, but it means they're paying attention, and that's good news for Bornstein. Bornstein said she's received no financial commitment from the DCCC, but her campaign is in regular communication with the group.

"We've been getting a lot of attention," Bornstein said. "Things are decidedly different this year."

—Ben Goad
bgoad@PE.com

Tina Fey is no longer on the cast of Saturday Night Live, but she couldn't pass up the oppurtunity to return to the show over the weekend to poke fun at Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

Fey, a virtual dead-ringer for Palin, didn't need much of a costume to play the GOP vice presidential-nominee. In a red dress, trademark glasses and best Alaskan accent, Fey made fun of Palin's stance on global warming, her relatively short political resume and her recent interview with Charlie Gibson.

—Ben Goad
bgoad@PE.com

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has accepted the Republican nomination for vice president.

"I accept the challenge of a tough fight in this election... against confident opponents ... at a crucial hour for our country," Palin said in a speech late Wednesday at the Republican National Convention.

"And I accept the privilege of serving with a man who has come through much harder missions, and met far graver challenges, and knows how tough fights are won - the next president of the United States, John S. McCain," she said.

McCain himself took the stage alongside Palin for the briefest of cameos at the end of her address.

"Don't you think we made the right choice for the next vice president of the United States?" McCain asked to an ear-splitting roar before leaving the stage ahead of his running mate.

—Ben Goad
bgoad@PE.com

In perhaps the clearest sign yet that the Republican Party supports offshore drilling to expand the nation's oil supply, thousands of Republicans exploded into a frenzy Wednesday at the mere mention of it.

The moment came during former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani's speech here in St. Paul on the third night of the Republican National Convention. Giuliniani was sent out to warm the crowd up for the highly anticipated speech from vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin.

The Republicans go wild for increased drilling

"She's actually done something about moving America toward energy independence - taking on the oil companies while encouraging more energy exploration here at home," Giuliani said of Palin.

The crowd on the floor reacted with a prolonged and thunderous chant.

"Drill, baby, drill!" they yelled in unison. "Drill, baby drill!"

Apparently caught off guard by the reaction, Giuliani couldn't help but chuckle.

—Ben Goad
bgoad@PE.com

After a sluggish start due to Hurricane Gustav, the Republican National Convention in St. Paul has gone into high gear.

The Texans whoop it up.

Thousands of delegates and alternates flooded into the city's Xcel Energy Center late Tuesday afternoon, ready to yell. And yell they did, after remaining mostly sedate the day before out of respect to those in the path of Gustav.

The delegation from Texas gets the prize for loudest cheering - and loudest shirts, as they arrived clad in red with white cowboy hats.

Front and center is Cindy McCain, who hasn't stopped smiling since she arrived, likely because she's constantly being shown on the big screen.

Cindy McCain takes it in from a private box.

Tonight's big speakers were former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson and Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn, but President Bush easily got the longest and loudest ovation from the Republican faithful.

Bush was scheduled to speak Monday, but his appearance was cancelled due to Gustav. He appeared larger than life on the giant screen via a live satellite feed gave his unequivocal endorsement to one time rival John McCain for president.

Bush recounted McCain's military service and his time as a prisoner of war. Of course he didn't pass up an opportunity to take a shot at the Democrats.

"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," Bush said.

—Ben Goad
bgoad@PE.com

Bush appeared via video feed Tuesday.