Entries for March 09, 2007

Last Friday, we gave you arguments for why John McCain had either a good or bad week on the campaign trail, depending on who you ask. Today, we'll close out with another multiple-choice item from White House Correspondent Kenneth T. Walsh, this time on whether Hillary Rodham Clinton or Barack Obama stole the week.

First, take a look at this NBC/Wall Street Journal Poll (pdf, page 13). Hillary leads Obama 40 points to 28 among Democratic voters.

Advantage Clinton, right? Not necessarily. Here's a rundown.

This item comes from reporter Will Sullivan, who has covered crime for U.S. News:

To hear Chuck Wexler tell it, American cities are at "the front end of a tipping point in violent crime." And as executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum, which seeks more federal funding for law enforcement, he has the numbers to back it up. A new report published today by PERF found increases in both robbery and homicide in 2006 compared with 2005. (Text here).

But here's a thing or two to consider:

In January, after hearing rumblings about a violent crime surge, U.S. News collected the homicide totals from the 20 largest American cities. Like the PERF report, the numbers told of a noticeable uptick in murder in 2006. But talk of a tipping point seems premature.

As we mentioned this morning, a report from the Office of the Inspector General for the Justice Department that was just declassified today has revealed frequent gaps in the FBI's reporting of its use of the U.S. Patriot Act to obtain private information, such as telephone and e-mail records, in national security cases. These requests are known as "national security letters." The full report is here.

U.S. News chief legal correspondent Chitra Ragavan is at a press conference being held by FBI director Robert S. Mueller, III and is reporting develpments to News Desk. Here are some highlights:

Mueller called the IG report "exceptional" and said that he is concerned about the lapses. "How could this happen and who should be held accountable?" Mueller asked. "The answer is I am to be held accountable." He said he is "committed" to fixing the problems.

However Mueller said National Security letters remain a crucial tool for the FBI. "Rarely a day goes by," Mueller said, ina terrorism case that "an NSL has not been used."

Mueller said there was "no discussion" about his resigning over this issue.

Video of Mueller here.

Etc.: One More Act for the Patriot Act, on USNews.com

It's a busy day today on the campaign trail as candidates scramble to the early primary states for a frantic weekend.

Democrats:

• Joe Biden is in Iowa today and tomorrow for a town hall meeting on Iraq and a house party Saturday night.
• Hillary Rodham Clinton is in New Hampshire tomorrow for the 100 Club's fundraising dinner.
• John Edwards makes two stops in Iowa today and three more tomorrow as he pitches his plan for universal healthcare.
• Dennis Kucinich campaigns in Montana today, Texas tomorrow, and Minnesota on Sunday.
• Barack Obama is holding two fundraisers in New York City today, then heads to Iowa for the weekend for "meet the candidate" events around the state.

Republicans:

• Rudy Giuliani holds a fundraiser in Arizona today and Nevada tomorrow.
• John McCain fundraises in South Carolina today and will speak at a Republican club tomorrow before heading to California for a fundraiser on Sunday.
• Mitt Romney is in Florida today and tomorrow.
• Tommy Thompson makes four stops in Iowa tomorrow.
• Tom Tancredo is in New Hampshire today.

From the U.S. News Political Bulletin:

Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska is expected to announce whether he will make a bid for the presidency early next week.

Meanwhile, Newt Gingrich's odds of running for president may have been affected today after he admitted to having had an affair in 1998 while investigating President Clinton's own transgressions.

Etc.: Hagel Has a Message for the Prez, on USNews.com

Etc.: Political Bulletin: Media Discounts Dems' Ability to End War, on USNews.com