Bush Leads In Iowa, New Mexico As Counting Continues.
In New Mexico, the AP reports that President Bush led by about 8,366 votes with "at least" 19,500 uncounted paper ballots still to be tallied. The Des Moines Register reports a similar situation in Iowa, where Bush led Kerry by 14,045 votes last night as counting continues. The Register notes that no one is yet calling Iowa for Bush, despite the fact that his lead there is greater than Kerry's lead in Wisconsin, which stands at 11,813.
Early Look At 2008 Shows Possible Hillary vs. Giuliani Contest.
McLaughlin & Associates polled 1,000 actual voters on Election Day and asked them who they would support in the 2008 party primaries. Rudy Giuliani led the GOP pack, with 34.4% of Republicans and 16.5% of independents backing him, followed by Sen. John McCain, backed by 15% of Republicans and 26.2% of independents. None of the other five candidates listed was in double digits. On the Democratic side, 31.3% of Democrats and 16.3% of independents said they would back Hillary Clinton, while 19.5% of Democrats and 6.4% of independents said they would back Sen. John Kerry. Only 6.2% of Democrats said they would back Sen. John Edwards.
LaHood Says He Is Not To Blame For Crane's Loss.
The Peoria Journal-Star reports this morning that Rep. Ray LaHood (R), whose comments on IL8 Rep. Phil Crane's (R) lack of attentiveness to his district provided fodder for Democrat attacks, said yesterday that he is not to blame for his colleague's ouster. While LaHood said that victor Melissa Bean (D) had taken his comments out of context, he did say that he had apologized to Crane for making them.
Keyes Speaks Out Against GOP, Media, Obama.
Illinois Senate candidate Alan Keyes (R), who was soundly defeated by state Sen. Barack Obama (D), yesterday lashed out at "Republicans in name only" and the traditional media, blaming them for his poor showing. Keyes also said he did not call Obama to congratulate him because Obama stands for "a culture evil enough to destroy the very soul and heart of my country," according to the Chicago Tribune.
NYPD's Kerik May Run For New Jersey Senate In 2006.
Leonard Levitt writes in his Newsday column this morning that former New York Police Department Commissioner Bernard Kerik, a firm backer of President Bush whom rumors have said may be headed to the Department of Homeland Security, may alternately be targeting the seat of New Jersey Sen. John Corzine (D) in 2006.
Gregoire Holds Slim Lead As Counting Continues In WA Governor's Race.
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports this morning that Washington gubernatorial candidate Christine Gregoire (D) led Dino Rossi (R) by about 16,000 votes with more than 640,000 still to be counted. Neither campaign expects there to be a clear winner before early next week.
