Secret Service Denies Romney Security Sweep
By David M. Drucker
Roll Call Staff
August 28, 2008, 4:07 p.m.
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The Secret Service is denying that it conducted a security sweep of the Michigan home belonging to the sister of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R).
Roll Call earlier reported that the sweep took place, suggesting that it might be an indication that Romney was in line to be selected as Sen. John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) vice presidential running mate.
“The Secret Service did not conduct any advance, sweep or security assessment at the residence of former Governor Romney’s sister, as referenced in [the] Roll Call article. We have no knowledge of any security sweep taking place,” read a statement from the Secret Service.
Sources with strong Michigan ties earlier told Roll Call that the Secret Service conducted a sweep of the home of Romney’s sister. Romney was raised in Michigan, where his father served as governor.
However, one campaign operative familiar with the workings of a presidential-level campaign cautioned that a sweep of such a location could have been conducted in advance of Romney appearing as a surrogate — not the vice presidential nominee — at an upcoming McCain campaign stop in Michigan.
Any McCain campaign appearance in Michigan would likely include Romney, who remains popular there.
Other sources and some news reports have also suggested that Romney in the last few days might be traveling with a security detail, although exactly who employs this security detail could not be confirmed.
Romney finished first in Michigan’s January GOP presidential primary. McCain finished second in that race.
http://www.rollcall.com/news/27749-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS
*****McCain’s newest ad revealed******
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McCain’s mystery ad to Obama revealed: Congratulations; Update: “We wish more of his ads took that tone,” says Team Barry
posted at 4:40 pm on August 28, 2008 by Allahpundit
Job well done, Maverick.
http://hotair.com/archives/2008/08/28/mccains-mystery-ad-to-obama-revealed-congratulations/
McCain says: “Senator Obama, this is truly a good day for America. Too often the achievements of our opponents go unnoticed. So I wanted to stop and say, congratulations. How perfect that your nomination would come on this historic day. Tomorrow, we’ll be back at it. But tonight Senator, job well done.”
Not just classy but shrewd, as it’ll buy back some of the goodwill he may have squandered over the past month by hitting Obama so hard. McCain’s done an admirable job during the campaign of trying to rehabilitate the GOP’s image on race to what little extent he can, made more admirable by the fact that in this year of all years it won’t do him any good with black voters.
I’m relieved my prediction was wrong and our e-mailer’s was right.
Update: Here’s the video. Belated exit question: Which nutroots blogger will be the first to call him “patronizing”?
http://hotair.com/archives/2008/08/28/mccains-mystery-ad-to-obama-revealed-congratulations/
Update: One other shrewd aspect to this is that if Obama attacks him in the speech, it makes him look ungracious.
Update: The Obama camp grumbles an obligatory thank you.
Obama campaign manager David Plouffe — who did not know the content of the ad until we read him the script — just told us that the McCain ad is “a very nice gesture. We wish more of his ads took that tone, but it’s a very nice gesture.”
Plouffe said the Obama campaign would run a similar ad next week congratulating McCain on his nomination.
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EXTREMELY classy, gracious and savvy!! Well done, indeed.