Cathie Black. (Photo: Wikimedia)

Mayor Michael Bloomberg's administration suffered a blow today with the release of emails surrounding the selection process of Cathie Black, the one-time schools chancellor who was forced to resign in 2011, after just 95 days in office. Ms. Black, who had no prior educational experience, drew widespread controversy amid a number of missteps. The city fought an extended, unsuccessful legal battle to keep the emails from being subject to a Freedom of Information Law request.

Overall, they detail the city's public relations efforts to improve Ms. Black's brand, including outreach to leading female figures like Caroline Kennedy for support. Additionally, the emails reveal debates over how much information about Ms. Black should be provided to reporters.

For example, Harlem Village Academies CEO Deborah Kenny appeared to question a disclosure decision of a screening for Waiting for Superman, a movie accused critics accused of being anti-public education.

"Edit seems fine. One question: are we sure we want to omit hosting the Superman screening?" she asked. “They have been asking for information on involvement as well as donations. Since almost 200 people attended, they will probably find out anyway."

Kate O'Brien Ahlers, a spokeswoman for the New York City Law Department, said she was "disappointed" by today's decision.

"The City believes that the principles permitting government employees to exchange opinions, advice and criticism freely and frankly, without the chilling prospect of public disclosure, should extend to individuals who have been elected or selected to public office but have not yet assumed office," she said in a statement.

View the emails below:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/139155993/Cathie-Black-Emails

Kirsten Gillibrand (Photo: Wikimedia)

CHARLOTTE, NC -- New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand apparently really enjoyed the speech Massachusetts Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren delivered at the Democratic National Convention last night. Shortly after Ms. Warren left the stage, Ms. Gillibrand sent an email to her supporters encouraging them to give money to Ms. Warren.

"I can’t stop thinking about Elizabeth Warren’s speech," Ms. Gillibrand wrote. "You could hear it in her voice and see it in her eyes: Elizabeth will never give up on the middle class. She’ll be relentless in making sure everyone gets a fair shot."

Ms. Gillibrand is also at the convention where she has sparked increased speculation she may be planning to enter the presidential race four years from now. In her email, Ms. Gillibrand noted Ms. Warren is currently behind her Republican opponent, Scott Brown, in both fundraising and polls.

"She’s the fighter I want alongside me in Washington," Ms. Gillibrand said of Ms. Warren. "But right now, the polls show her tied and her opponent has a $2 million cash advantage."

Ms. Gillibrand described Ms. Warren as a "middle-class champion" and said her campaign is vital to the Democrats' hopes of retaining their slim, four seat majority in the Senate. She urged would-be donors to open their wallets "now" so Ms. Warren "can come out of the convention with a wave of momentum that will carry her to victory in November."

Read Ms. Gillibrand's full email below.

"I can’t stop thinking about Elizabeth Warren’s speech.

You could hear it in her voice and see it in her eyes: Elizabeth will never give up on the middle class. She’ll be relentless in making sure everyone gets a fair shot.

For those reasons and more, she’s the fighter I want alongside me in Washington. But right now, the polls show her tied and her opponent has a $2 million cash advantage.

To hold our majority in the Senate, we need to elect Elizabeth. That’s why I’m asking you now to join me in making a direct contribution to her campaign. It has to be now so she can come out of the convention with a wave of momentum that will carry her to victory in November.

Rush $5 or more to help elect Elizabeth Warren to the U.S. Senate. She’s the middle-class champion we need in Washington.

Thanks,

Kirsten "

Mitt Romney campaigning in Wisconsin last weekend. (Photo: Getty)

After Mitt Romney's victories in the Wisconsin, Maryland and District of Columbia presidential primaries last night, he has more than half the delegates he needs to lock up the Republican nomination. According to Mr. Romney's press secretary, Andrea Saul, President Barack Obama has taken notice of Mitt's momentum. In an email to supporters sent after his three wins last night, Ms. Saul said the president is turning to negative ads because it's clear "Americans across the nation are rallying around Mitt's positive vision and plan for our country."

"Mitt is well on his way to the nomination. And given the sudden increase in excuses and blame from President Obama, it's apparent President Obama's team is aware of that as well," Ms. Saul said.

As evidence the president is noticing her candidate, Ms. Saul cited a recent ad in which the Obama campaign accuses Mr. Romney of being beholden to "Big Oil.

"President Obama dipped into his soon-to-be $1 billion war chest yesterday to air an ad talking about high gas prices. And guess who he blamed? Mitt Romney. Does the President honestly believe Americans are that naïve?" Ms. Saul wrote. "He is the President of the United States. He is responsible for high gas prices, an anemic economic recovery, record home foreclosures, and trillions in debt on his watch. There are a lot of qualities that you look for in a president -- blaming other people is not one of them."

Ms. Saul finished her email by warning her readers to "get used to these types of ads from the Obama political machine" because "this is how they will run their campaign."

"And this is why they'll lose," she added.

Like almost all messages from political campaigns, Ms. Saul's email ends with a request for donations.

Mitt Romney (Photo: Wikimedia)

Mitt Romney's campaign manager, sent an enraged email to supporters tonight accusing "President Obama's re-election team" of trying to get Democrats to vote for Rick Santorum in tomorrow's influential Michigan primary and vowing to take revenge.

"This is politics at its worst. It doesn't get much more pathetic," Mr. Rhoades wrote.

Both the liberal blog Daily Kos and Mr. Santorum's campaign have encouraged Democrats to vote for Mr. Santorum. Daily Kos founder Markos Moulitsas launched "Operation Hilarity" on February 15 with a blog post encouraging Democrats in states with open primaries to "head out and cast a vote for Rick Santorum" in order to force a longer Republican contest that would force the GOP candidates to spend time and money attacking each other rather than President Obama. Earlier today, Mr. Santorum's campaign took responsibility for a robocall, which similarly encouraged Democrats to vote for Mr. Santorum in Michigan.

Mr. Rhoades didn't mention Mr. Moulitsas or the Santorum campaign in his email this evening. Rather, he described the push for Democrats to support Mr. Santorum as coming from "the DNC and President Obama's liberal allies."

"This is a new low. President Obama's reelection team is now actively engaged in changing the outcome of the Republican primary," Mr. Rhoades wrote.

Mr. Rhoades' email ended with a request for donations to support Mr. Romney.

"The Democrats are proving yet again that they will say, spend, and do anything to avoid facing Mitt in the general election. They rightfully recognize that President Obama's record is so abysmal that the only way to continue their grasp on power is by making sure Mitt Romney is not the Republican nominee. It's up to us to make President Obama's greatest nightmare a reality," he wrote.

Tomorrow's primary in Michigan could return Mr. Romney to frontrunner status or set the stage for a protracted battle with Mr. Santorum. The Michigan primary is shaping up to be a tight race. Neither Mr. Romney or Mr. Santorum has more than a single digit lead in any of the major polls.

Read Mr. Rhoades' full email below.

Hunter,

Just last week, I emailed you about the billion dollar Obama machine taking its "kill Romney" campaign to Michigan.

Now their shameful desperation has reached a new low.

The DNC and President Obama's liberal allies are now urging Michigan Democrats to vote for Rick Santorum in the state's open primary on Tuesday.

They have spent the last few months savagely attacking Mitt Romney's conservative record. But this is a new low. President Obama's reelection team is now actively engaged in changing the outcome of the Republican primary.

This is politics at its worst. It doesn't get much more pathetic.

OperationStopMitt

The Democrats are proving yet again that they will say, spend, and do anything to avoid facing Mitt in the general election. They rightfully recognize that President Obama's record is so abysmal that the only way to continue their grasp on power is by making sure Mitt Romney is not the Republican nominee.

It's up to us to make President Obama's greatest nightmare a reality.

Donate $20 today to help Mitt fight back against the Democrats' dirty tactics.

http://mittromney.com/donate

Thanks,

Matt Rhoades
Campaign Manager

Gov. Rick Perry (Photo: Wikimedia)

Texas Governor Rick Perry finished in sixth place in New Hampshire tonight, scoring last among the main candidates for the GOP nomination. As the rest of the field is making their concession speeches on television, the Perry campaign phoned it in, so to speak, by conceding electronically.

"Tonight's results in New Hampshire show the race for 'conservative alternative' to Mitt Romney remains wide open," the statement read. "I skipped New Hampshire and aimed my campaign right at conservative South Carolina, where we've been campaigning hard and receiving an enthusiastic welcome."

Governor Perry's focus on South Carolina is more than rhetoric, they appear to be staking their entire campaign on the Palmetto State after finishing last in the Iowa caucus, when he announced he was "reassessing" his campaign.

He's currently winning less than 1% of the vote in New  Hampshire.

Mr. Perry is hardly the only candidate whose fortunes seem to be wed to the South Carolina primary. Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich, who are still competing for fourth place in the Granite State, are also hoping the more conservative state delivers them a big win. South Carolina votes on January 21st.

Rick Perry on stage at the CNBC Republican Presidential Debate at Oakland University. (Getty)

Texas Governor Rick Perry's campaign sent an email to supporters shortly before three this morning attempting to spin his "oops" moment in last night's CNBC Republican Presidential Debate when the Texas Governor said he wanted to eliminate three government agencies and was only able to name two. "We’ve all had human moments. … Just goes to show there are too damn many federal agencies," the email said.

"And I will tell you it's three agencies of government when I get there that are gone," Governor Perry said. "Commerce, education and the, what's the third one there let's see," the Governor trailed off.

Debate moderator John Harwood pressed Governor Perry on the issue, but he was still unable to name a third government agency.

"The third agency of government I would do away with--the education, the commerce and, let's see," Governor Perry continued before giving up. "The third one, I can't. Oops,"

Governor Perry already had a streak of poor debate showings heading into last night's event. His fumble immediately dominated debate headlines and left observers wondering if his White House bid is toast. His campaign dismissed the media's focus on his gaffe in the email, which was signed by "Team Perry." They also used the blunder as an excuse to ask for money.

"While the media froths over this all too human moment, we thought we would take this opportunity to ask your help in doing something much more constructive: write us to let us know what federal agency you would most like to forget. … And, if you could, throw in a $5 contribution for every agency you would like to forget," the email said.

A onetime frontrunner, Governor Perry immediately began slipping in the polls once the debate began. He took the stage last night trailing Mitt Romney, Herman Cain and Newt Gingrich.

Read the Perry campaign's email about his "oops" moment below:

"Friend & Supporter,

We’ve all had human moments. President Obama is still trying to find all 57 states. Ronald Reagan got lost somewhere on the Pacific Highway in an answer to a debate question. Gerald Ford ate a tamale without removing the husk. And tonight Rick Perry forgot the third agency he wants to eliminate. Just goes to show there are too damn many federal agencies.

The governor said it best afterwards: “I’m glad I had my boots on, because I sure stepped in it tonight.”

Team Perry"

President Obama (Getty)

The Obama campaign doesn’t want you listening to Nate Silver. In an email sent out earlier this afternoon, campaign manager Jim Messina urged voters to disregard the statistical guru’s article in this past weekend's New York Times Magazine, which gives President Obama slim chances of retaking the White House. 

Mr. Messina claims that Silver's article ignores "the obvious reality that there has been virtually no difference among the GOP candidates--or between them and the Republican congressional leaders who refuse to do anything to restore economic security for the middle class."

"It says neither you nor Barack Obama has a role to play in this election, because the outcome is essentially predetermined. We disagree,” Mr. Messina wrote.

In the offending article, which is ever-so-subtly entitled "Is Obama Toast?," Silver presents a formula of his own design that seeks to determine the probability of an Obama victory based on three factors: the President’s approval ratings, his economic performance, and the ideological positioning of the Republican candidate. Silver's analysis results in a grim forecast for President Obama in a variety of scenarios. For example, Silver gives President Obama only a 17 percent chance of winning if pitted against Mitt Romney in a stagnant economy.

Mr. Messina's email closes with a postscript telling voters "this election is in your hands" before, of course, asking for contributions.