TEDDY KENNEDY TO JOIN OBAMA BANDWAGON
WHAT’S THE NEXT ECO CRISIS?
REPORTING FROM SANTA CRUZ MEDIA CONFERENCE

SANTA CRUZ CA: January 27 3:43 PM: Teddy Kennedy to endorse Obama. Caroline too. See Below. The Clinton campaign immedaiatly released this statement from Kenndy family member Kathleen Kenndy Townsend:

“I respect Caroline and Teddy’s decision but I have made a different choice. While I admire Senator Obama greatly, I have known Hillary Clinton for over 25 years and have seen first hand how she gets results.

Menwhile, Maureen Dowd writes what amounts to an obituary for the Giuliani campaign.

His deep investment in one state and a one-dimensional message do not seem to have paid dividends. He needs to quit talking about 9/11 and dial 911. His numbers have dropped by half in the year he has campaigned here. The more he has wooed, the less he has won. His campaign may have always been doomed, given that he was unacceptable to so many other Republicans. But the final act seems sad — sputtering, stalling and dying like a bad engine on an old car.

There was a report on the weekend that one of the old Rudy’s old cars is about to be auctioned off on EBAY. Perhaps he will be auctioned off next.

MEDIA TENOR: MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE RACE

Clinton and Obama: Mrs. Leadership vs. Mr. Personality - Policy platforms still play a minor role in candidate coverage

Media Tenor’s Content analysis results that networks’ coverage in January presented two different types of candidates in the Democrats’ race: Clinton was better rated when leadership issues were mentioned, Obama had an advantage when personality topics were raised and in pure campaign and horse race coverage. “It’s “Mrs. Leadership running against Mr. Personality”, says Roland Schatz, President of Media Tenor International.

But Obama can win support from voters who have little interest in political platform and make up their mind by a personal decision. Furthermore, candidates’ platforms still play a minor role in TV coverage of candidates. Political platforms and policy issues count for less than one fifth of all statements by or on candidates of both parties. “It’s mostly campaign hoopla and horse race,” Schatz says. In previous y ears, Media Tenor’s International research has repeatedly shown that media coverage had an impact on voters’ decisions – and it was rarely issue-oriented coverage.

“Nevertheless, we will have a close look at whether economic crisis will push the interest in the candidates’ platforms,” Schatz says. Fears of recession and economic crisis might help Clinton to present herself as the leader into a better future. There’s no clear winner, but a clear loser, when policy issues are covered in January: Barack Obama. He could not overcome the image of one lacking experience.

For the third time, International Media analysis company Media Tenor is offering a detailed analysis of the U.S. presidential campaign. TV news coverage of the leading Presidential contenders is scrutinized at a detailed level. “The methodology was developed 15 years ago and has been successfully used not only to analyze the 2000 and 2004 U.S. Presidential campaigns but also for International politics as well,” Schatz explains. Media Tenor’s Presidential Campaign Watch focuses not only on Candidate standings, but also on topics and sources, while adding on an international perspective. Results of Media Tenor studies will be regularly published on MediaChannel.org.

CHAVEZ QUESTIONS US ROLE IN COLUMBIA

Chavez said the United States and the Colombian “don’t want peace in Colombia because it’s the perfect excuse to have thousands of soldiers there, the CIA, military bases, spy planes and who knows what other trash operations against Venezuela.” President Hugo Chavez on Friday accused neighboring Colombia and the United States of plotting a military “aggression” against Venezuela.

Rice Lobbies for Colombia Trade Deal (AFX-ASIA)

MEDELLIN, Colombia (AP) - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Thursday the challenges facing Colombia will only get harder if a trade deal with Washington doesn’t pass, as she met with union members during a visit to try to revive the pact.The delegation met late Thursday in Medellin with unionists who oppose the deal.Rice told reporters she was in Colombia ‘to say very strongly that whatever the challenges facing Colombia they are not going to be easier if this FTA does not pass.