Did Stevie Wonder feel like a freshman at the senior prom? (AP photo)

Barack Obama is now turning Wednesdays into his own upscale version of Chamber of Commerce/Rotary Club mixers, serving up cocktails, Maryland crab, Wagyu beef, Nantucket scallops and citrus salad — according to a recent Associated Press review of 2009 White House parties.

I confess to not knowing what Wagyu beef is, but I do know the Cardinal Law of Networking: Never act too excited or overeager, regardless of how powerful your potential contact is.

The last thing you want is to be perceived as a fan instead of a potential business partner.

Apparently, several congressmen who have been invited to nibble on Maryland crab this year have been too starstruck to care.

Check out what U.S. Rep Mike Honda (D-Calif.) told the AP about his experience being in the same room as Barack Obama:

“People like me felt comfortable in his presence,” said Rep. Mike Honda, D-Calif., a self-described “poor country boy” who said he felt like a “freshman going to the senior prom” when he attended a White House reception for leaders of the congressional caucuses.

“Sometimes when you’re in the presence of the most powerful person in the world, in the most powerful democracy in the world … I was in awe that I was comfortable,” said Honda, chairman of the Asian Pacific American Caucus. “I think that’s his style and how he grew up, who he is.”

OMG, Mike, please text me and let me know what you’re gonna wear the next time you meet the president!

U.S. Rep Trent Franks (R-Ariz.) is blown away that Obama watched a football game with him.

Smitten even more is U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), a guest at the same Super Bowl party.

“My favorite part was when he personally served us cookies — oatmeal raisin — when we were watching the game,” she said.

It is true that relationships and status can dramatically change when your colleague gets a big promotion. But Klobuchar served for two years in the Senate with Obama, likely rubbing elbows with him before at left-wing ice cream socials.

Now, she’s openly gushing about him serving her cookies.
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Darren Garnick is a Boston-area freelance writer and documentary filmmaker. For more political schlock, visit www.cultureschlock.com

As I mentioned earlier, John McCain welcomed the news that the Arizona Governor was going to take the spot at the Department of Homeland Security, but there are some who want her to stay in the state.

From New Republic:

Napolitano, a widely popular Democratic governor in a red state, has two years left in Phoenix’s executive office. During her tenure, Napolitano has broken the Right’s iron grip on both houses of the state legislature by vetoing several Republican-backed bills. [...]

Not only will Democrats lose Napolitano as a crucial ally–they will also have to contend with her constitutionally mandated successor, Secretary of State Jan Brewer, a rank-and-file Republican elected in 2002.

“The population needs to be more careful in whom they elect secretary of state,” said Democrat Marsha Arzberger, minority leader in the state senate. “I do not think she’s a leader, I do not think she’s prepared for the task, and I don’t think she has a vision in mind.” Silverman added, “She’s from the same cloth–literally, she came from the legislature–as the wing of the GOP Napolitano has battled with for years.”

This is definitely troubling for Arizona, especially if somebody who isn’t ready to be Governor gets appointed because of a line of succession. But if that’s the way it is, what else can Dems do? Oh yeah…win the election in 2010.

So buck up Arizona Dems and get a game plan. You can’t wrap up your hopes in just one person. Time to get serious and start winning back those legislature seats. Napolitano didn’t get elected by simply appealing to the far left so take a page out of playbook and start taking the state back.

Why?

Well, this surely isn’t the only reason, but he’s up for reelection in 2012 and Napolitano was seen as his chief rival. Now, for all intents and purposes, she’s off the table unless she wants to leave the DHS after a few years and start running for the Senate. That’s certainly not unthinkable, but definitely not as likely as if she stayed Governor.

In any event, here’s his statement from The Page:

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) today commended the announcement of Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano as top contender for Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and made the following statement:

Today, Senator McCain called and congratulated Governor Janet Napolitano on her emergence as top contender for Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Senator McCain said “Governor Napolitano’s experience as the former U.S. Attorney for Arizona, Arizona’s Attorney General, and as Governor warrants her rapid confirmation by the Senate and I hope she is quickly confirmed.” Senator McCain looks forward to working with her throughout the nomination process.

By the way…so far everybody’s playing nice during this process and we’re definitely still in that honeymoon period. But…when do you think the other shoe will drop? Will it be a policy matter or a staffing selection?

The Arizona Governor came out early for Obama, and she’s certainly known as a “no bull” type of politician, so this could be a good fit.

Still, taking over the troubled DHS is not an enviable position and she’s definitely got her work cut out for her.

From Politico:

Napolitano brings law-and-order experience from her stint as the Grand Canyon State’s first female attorney general. One of the nation’s most prominent female elected officials, she made frequent appearances on behalf of Barack Obama during the campaign. She was re-elected to a second four-year term in 2006.

Transition insiders have long expected that she would be offered a Cabinet slot, although she had also been mentioned for other posts, including attorney general. [...]

In 2005, TIME magazine named her one of America’s five best governors, calling her “A Mountaineer on the Political Rise.”

Now, word is she hasn’t actually been offered the job yet, but if the reports are correct it’s more of a formality at this point and it’s a no-brainer that she’ll accept.

More as it develops…

What’s more, Research 2000’s numbers are showing that McCain’s lead has shrunk to just 1 point.

Here are the numbers…

Total voters (600 likely voters)
McCain: 48%
Obama: 47%

Early voters (17% of sample)
Obama: 54%
McCain: 42%

Pretty intense.

If Obama can pick off McCain’s home state, then he may have a chance at locales like Montana, North Dakota and Louisiana.

More as it develops…

Pennsylvania: Obama +4
Obama: 47%
McCain: 43%

Minnesota: Obama + 8
Obama: 48%
McCain: 40%

Arizona: McCain +4
McCain: 48%
Obama: 44%

Frankly, I don’t buy the PA or MN numbers since they are the first to show a really tight race. Especially when you have roughly 10% undecideds in your sample at this point.

Still, Mason/Dixon is well respected, which is why I chose to share it all with you.

Prediction: Obama will take Pennsylvania and Minnesota. McCain will take Arizona.

You heard it here first! :-)

This after he was leading by 20% in April.

Once again, McCain wins men handily, but Obama is doing better than expected among women…

McCain leads by twenty-seven points among men but trails by six among women.

The Arizona Senator is supported by 81% of Republicans and enjoys a twelve point lead among unaffiliated voters.

Obama gets the vote from 75% of Democrats.

And about Iraq…

Forty-seven percent (47%) say it is more important for the U.S. to win the war in Iraq than to get the troops home. A virtually identical number—46%–disagree and say that getting the troops home is more important.

I don’t think there’s any doubt that McCain will win his home state in November, but for it to be this tight is a bit surprising.

Could they literally split the states tonight with 12 for each?