November 2007 - Posts
On Thursday's "Hardball," Chris Matthews explained why two was the Hardball Big Number.
"Two is the number of times the Republican presidential candidates mentioned President Bush during last night's debate. And, to add insult to injury, both instances were used to criticize the president - first on illegal immigration, then on spending." Watch Video
John Reiss has been named executive producer of "Hardball with Chris Matthews," it was announced today by Phil Griffin, Senior Vice President, NBC News and Executive in Charge of MSNBC. Reiss will also play a critical role in MSNBC's political coverage throughout the election year. The appointment is effective immediately.
"I'm tremendously excited to have John join 'Hardball' as the 2008 election season heats up," said Griffin. "He's a terrific producer who knows politics and knows how to find and tell the big stories. He's the perfect person to have in place at this critical time."
"Hardball is incredibly fortunate to have recruited someone of John Reiss' professional caliber," said Chris Matthews, anchor and managing editor of "Hardball." "He has the expertise, the experience and the imagination to give Hardball what it needs."
CONTINUED >>
On Wednesday's "Hardball," Chris Matthews explained why 95 was the Hardball Big Number of the day.
"During a big speech in Iowa on Tuesday, former president Bill Clinton mentioned the word "I" 95 times during the first ten minutes of his speech!" Watch Video
“Hardball's” Chris Matthews takes a daily look at significant numbers in the world of politics. On Tuesday's "Hardball," Matthews explained why five was the Hardball Big Number.
"Five is the number of Republican presidential candidates that Hillary Clinton "trails" in the November match-ups, according to the new Zogby poll. She falls behind Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney, Fred Thompson, John McCain, and Mike Huckabee. Those five Republicans are ALL beating Clinton." Watch Video
“Hardball's” Chris Matthews takes a daily look at significant numbers in the world of politics. On Monday's "Hardball," Matthews explained why four was the Hardball Big Number.
"Four is the number of campaign spectacles that Oprah Winfrey is going to headline for Barack Obama on December 8th and 9th. Can it keep his momentum going? Can she deliver votes the way she sells books? Four big events in Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina." Watch Video
Former Republican presidential candidate Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., talked to MSNBC’s “Hardball with Chris Matthews” on his endorsement of Sen. John McCain for the presidency. Below is a transcript.
CHRIS MATTHEWS, HOST, 'HARDBALL': Sen. Brownback, you ran a tough campaign. You were in there for the longest time. Now you are supporting one of the guys who survives you in this contest, John McCain. Why him, among all your rivals, have you chosen him to endorse?
SEN. SAM BROWNBACK, R-KAN.: You know, there's a number of good candidates on the Republican side, Chris, but I think John is the full package. He's a fiscal conservative. He's got a 24-year pro-life voting record. He's a pro-life candidate that can beat Hillary Clinton in the fall. He has foreign policy experience, which I think is important. And the guy is clearly ready to be commander in chief. I had real questions about the surge, but this is the McCain surge. It's working in Iraq.
And I think that full package is such that I think I ought to support him. And, on top of that, he's a legitimate American hero. He put his life on the line. He was in a Vietnam prisoner of war camp. He's done it all. And I think he deserves my support and I think he deserves the support of the country.
MATTHEWS: Is this a personal endorsement of a man you respect, as you have said, or is it an endorsement of his policy on Iraq?
BROWNBACK: Well, it's a personally endorsement, but it is also saying that the surge is working. Now, I don‘t think we have gone far enough. I think we need a political surge, as you have heard me say before.
I think that's starting to actually happen organically now in Iraq, is what I‘m seeing coming forward. But there's also a voting record here on life. There's a strong fiscal conservatism record that I have witnessed in the United States Senate. Like I say, I think the guy is the full package.
And there's no surprises in this package. You know pretty much John McCain. He has been around on the national scene for a long time. I just think it's time, really, for our team and our side to give him a second look. And you're seeing that surge, that McCain momentum really pick up now.
MATTHEWS: Are you for a constitutional amendment, Senator, that would basically ban abortion generally?
BROWNBACK: I am, Chris. I believe that life begins at conception...
MATTHEWS: I'm just trying to figure out if you think McCain is with you. Is McCain with you on that?
BROWNBACK: I believe he is. As a matter of fact, I know he is on that issue. And he's got a long voting record on the life issue. We have had some differences on other topics before, but he has had a consistent pro-life voting record.
MATTHEWS: Are you going up to New Hampshire for him? It seems—the way we all look at these things, we keep looking where a candidate has a real shot to break through.
And everybody around here seems to think, although McCain has fallen back in the pack, largely, he‘s not one of the front-runners right now, he has a lot of support nationally, just not in some of these early states.
Where do you think, as a political person, he has his chance to break through and win this nomination?
BROWNBACK: Well, I think New Hampshire really is probably the best spot, but I wouldn't give up on Iowa. I think, if John would invest the time and the organization, invest the resources in Iowa, I think he has got a real chance in Iowa, because of the full package.
But I think the breakthrough moment is probably more in New Hampshire. And I think there‘s a good chance for him to continue that momentum into South Carolina. He was pointing out today that the nominee in the past 20 years on our side of the aisle has won two of the front three states. That's been the person that‘s won two of the front three has gone ahead to be the nominee.
I think he has a real chance of being able to do that. Plus, I think he's got a package that the whole of the Republican Party can support, and that can reach out to moderates and independent voters and some Democrats in the fall. He can beat Hillary.
MATTHEWS: Well, I'm always impressed, in those rare moments, Sen. Brownback, when one U.S. senator endorses another U.S. senator, because it seems so rare. But congratulations. You have joined the pack again. You're back in there for a man we all respect around here, Sen. John McCain.
“Hardball's” Chris Matthews, a former speech writer, offered his advice to Sen. Joe Biden on what he should say to rank higher in the polls. Read his suggested speech.
Matthews spent 15 years in politics, working in the White House for four years under President Jimmy Carter as a Presidential speechwriter, as the top aide to Speaker of the House Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill, Jr. for six years and in the U.S. Senate for five years on the staffs of Senator Frank Moss (Utah) and Senator Edmund Muskie (Maine).
On Thursday’s “Hardball,” Chris Matthews, a former speech writer, offered his advice to Sen. Hillary Clinton on what she should say regarding the negative backlash to her performance at NBC’s Democratic Presidential Candidates Debate. Read his suggested speech.
Matthews spent 15 years in politics, working in the White House for four years under President Jimmy Carter as a Presidential speechwriter, as the top aide to Speaker of the House Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill, Jr. for six years and in the U.S. Senate for five years on the staffs of Senator Frank Moss (Utah) and Senator Edmund Muskie (Maine).
