USA Today reports Rep. Tom Tancredo, "who built his longshot presidential campaign on opposition to illegal immigration, dropped out Thursday and endorsed Republican rival Mitt Romney as the best man to carry on the fight." Tancredo "said he decided to drop out in part because of concern that staying in could split the vote for other candidates who have taken a hard line on immigration, helping those who would take a less restrictive approach." Tancredo "identified former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and Arizona Sen. John McCain as two Republican candidates whose records indicate they wouldn't be tough enough on immigration."
The Washington Times reports Tancredo "said that by continuing to run, he feared he would muddle voters' decisions, forcing them to split their votes among several candidates and possibly allowing someone weaker on immigration to gain his party's nomination. 'Unfortunately, several of them have abysmal records on immigration and can't be trusted to do what is needed to preserve this country if they're elected,' he said. 'My fear is that if I were to stay in this race my votes could be the factor in handing victory to a pro-amnesty politician.' He told reporters in Iowa yesterday that" McCain and Huckabee "are the worst of the lot, while Mr. Romney had a record of fighting illegal entry as governor of Massachusetts."
The Los Angeles Times reports, "In a brief written statement," Romney thanked Tancredo "for his support: 'While we don't agree on every issue, we agree on the need to keep America strong. I look forward to working with him and other Republicans to achieve that.'"
Tancredo argued yesterday that his candidacy had been a success, saying on MSNBC's Tucker, "I feel really honestly at great peace. I've done everything I can do. I set out a series of goals for us when we did this thing. ... America has the issue. It's not Tom Tancredo. I don't have to breathe life into it anymore. America has got it and these guys, they've got to respond."
The AP reports Rudy Giuliani "was released from a St. Louis hospital Thursday after spending the night to undergo tests for flu-like symptoms." A "smiling and waving Giuliani" told reporters, "I feel great. Take care. Merry Christmas, I'm feeling fine thanks to the hospital. They did a great job." His campaign "said he would make planned stops in New Hampshire Saturday and Sunday."
ABC World News led with the story, asking, "Just what happened last night to Rudy Giuliani? He was thousands of feet up on a flight headed to New York. The plane was turned around. Giuliani was rushed to a hospital. He's out now. He says he's fine. But in this day when such a spotlight is focused on candidates and their health, there are many questions unanswered." ABC (Tapper) added, "Doctors performed a series of precautionary tests, and the results of all the tests were normal. But they refused to provide any details about those tests, provide medical records or let reporters speak to his doctors." The New York Times reports, "Just what had ailed Mr. Giuliani was unclear," as "the campaign declined to elaborate on what his symptoms were or to specify which tests were performed. Hospital officials said the campaign had asked them not to provide any information about Mr. Giuliani's health and to refer questions to the campaign."
NBC Nightly News reported, "This is the kind of surprise no candidate wants this late in the game. The campaign says Rudy Giuliani is fine, but remember, he had a bout with prostate cancer that once cost him his Senate campaign, forced him out of that race. So today this was the most important political image for the Giuliani campaign. A smile, hearty wave."
The New York Post adds that Giuliani spokeswoman Katie Levinson said that Giuliani would "keep his previously scheduled appearance at a fund-raiser in Rochester tonight. He will then get back on the campaign trail in New Hampshire tomorrow and Sunday."
The AP reports John McCain is airing an ad titled "My Christmas Story" in New Hampshire and Iowa, which features him saying, "One night after being mistreated as a POW, a guard loosened the ropes binding me, easing my pain. On Christmas, that same guard approached me, and without saying a word he drew a cross in the sand. We stood wordlessly looking at the cross remembering the true light of Christmas. I'll never forget that no matter where you are, no matter how difficult the circumstances, there will always be someone who will pick you up."
The New Hampshire Union Leader reports, "Campaign officials were unable to say what year the exchange between McCain and the guard took place. ... But Paul Chevalier of Hudson, inspector general of the VFW and a retired sergeant major in the U.S. Marine Corps, who now chairs McCain's veterans coalition, called it a 'powerful' ad and 'a good example of him being able to forgive and look for a light at the end of the tunnel.' Chevalier said it 'highlights the unwavering faith and courage John McCain has shown throughout his lifetime of service to his country. It tells an important story of a man whose courage in the face of adversity was lifted by a good samaritan during one of his darkest hours in that prison.'"
The AP reports this morning that Hillary Clinton "warned Iowans" yesterday "against voting for a candidate who doesn't have foreign policy experience, suggesting her leading rivals would be no better than President Bush in that regard." Said Clinton, "It is tempting any time things seem quieter for a minute on the international front to think that we don't need a president who is up to speed on foreign affairs and military matters. ... Well, that's the kind of logic that got us George Bush in the first place." Her comments triggered "laughter from her friendly audience at a high school auditorium." Clinton's advisers "described her speech two weeks before the Iowa caucuses as a closing argument against top rivals Barack Obama and John Edwards, as well as Republican candidates with little international experience." The New York Daily News adds, "Clinton Thursday hurled the dirtiest four-letter Democratic epithet to describe arch-rivals Barack Obama and John Edwards: Bush. With another four-letter word -- Iraq -- fading from headlines, Clinton insisted the world is still too dangerous to trust anyone less experienced than she is."
CNN reported on its 'Political Ticker' blog that Clinton's foreign policy comments constituted "a new line of attack against" Obama, but that "Obama spokesman Bill Burton sounded the campaign's familiar mantra in response - that what Obama lacks in foreign policy experience he makes up in judgment."
ABC News reported on its website on Hillary Clinton is targeting Barack Obama for the number of times he logged "present" votes as a senator of the Illinois legislature, reported by the New York Times as 130. "Anxious to spread the word, the Clinton campaign organized a conference call for reporters with members of Congress who support" Clinton. "On the call, three U.S. Representatives went after Obama's frequent use of the 'present' vote, suggesting he was trying to avoid accumulating any kind of legislative record that could be later open to scrutiny if he decided to run for president one day. 'He took what many of us in public life would say is the easy way out,' said Rep. Anthony Weiner, a Democrat from Clinton's home state of New York."
In a broadcast on NBC Nightly News, Lee Cowan reported, "In the political lead-up to Christmas, increasingly the 'presents' Barack Obama is being forced to talk about are not the kind you put under your tree." Clinton: "A president can't vote 'present.' A president can't pick and choose which challenges he or she will face." Cowan: "And she says the pattern is continuing. Sen. Obama has missed more votes than any other Democratic presidential hopeful in the last few months. All of which critics charge make him sound like a candidate who's about everything but stands for nothing, a junior senator who hails from Chicago who wants to bring change to Washington, but may only bring naivete instead."
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The AP reports that Barack Obama "sought today to shore up support among New Hampshire independents, a key bloc that can vote in either party's presidential primary here and one where he enjoys a slight lead over" Hillary Clinton. Obama, "touting his message of changing Washington, told a round-table of independent voters he would not let his administration's aides lobby him once they leave, would make government transparent and cut out lobbyists' influence. Many of the promises were lifted directly from his standard stump speech but tailored to the six independent voters the campaign picked to meet privately with Obama."
The Politico reports this morning that the Federal Election Commission yesterday "approved more than $19 million in matching taxpayer money for seven cash-strapped presidential candidates." John Edwards will get $8.8 million and John McCain will receive $5.8 million. The funds, which "technically will not be released until March," will be "a boon to Edwards and McCain, whose campaigns have shown renewed signs of life as their respective fields have shifted." The Politico adds, "Other Democratic candidates certified Thursday include Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut at $1.4 million, Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware at $857,000 and Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich of Ohio at $100,000. Among Republicans, Rep. Duncan Hunter of California was certified at $100,000, while Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado, who just dropped out of the race, was certified at $2.1 million." It is not clear what will become of Tancredo's funds now that he has withdrawn from the race.
A new Fox News poll of 900 registered voters taken from December 18-19 shows three top Republicans essentially tied in the race for the GOP nomination nationally. Rudy Giuliani leads the GOP field with 20%, followed by John McCain and Mike Huckabee with 19% apiece. Mitt Romney places fourth with 11%, followed by Fred Thompson with 10%.
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A new Fox News poll of 900 registered voters taken from December 18-19 shows Hillary Clinton leading the Democratic field nationally with 49%, followed by Barack Obama with 20% and John Edwards with 10%. In a similar poll a month ago, Clinton led Obama 44%-23%.
A new poll out this morning from American Research Group shows Hillary Clinton retaking the lead in the key lead-off state from Barack Obama. Clinton now leads with 29%, followed by Obama, 25%; John Edwards, 18%; Joe Biden, 8%; and Bill Richardson, 7%. A similar survey taken in late November showed Obama leading Clinton 27%-25%. ARG surveyed 600 likely Democratic caucus-goers from December 16-19.
McCain Passes Romney For 2nd Spot A new American Research Group poll out this morning shows Mike Huckabee leading in Iowa with 28%, followed by John McCain, 20%; Mitt Romney, 17%; and Rudy Giuliani, 13%. However, while 98% of those backing Romney and 80% of those backing McCain say their support is "definite," only 38% of those backing Huckabee say the same. The poll surveyed 600 likely GOP caucus-goers from December 16-19.
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Two polls out this morning paint contrasting pictures of the Democratic race in New Hampshire.
Clinton, Obama Tied In USA Today/Gallup Poll USA Today reports, "Democratic presidential hopefuls Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama are locked in a dead heat among New Hampshire voters in a statewide USA TODAY/Gallup Poll, underscoring the volatility of the race less than three weeks before the nation's first primary." Clinton and Obama are tied at 32%, followed by John Edwards with 15%. The poll was conducted from December 17-19.
Clinton Up By 14 In ARG Poll The New Hampshire Union Leader reports this morning that an American Research Group poll shows Hillary Clinton leading with 38%, followed by Obama with 24% and John Edwards at 15%. In a similar poll in November, Clinton led Obama 34%-23%. ARG surveyed 600 likely New Hampshire Democratic primary voters from December 16-19.
Candidate Standings In New Hampshire Said To Be Unsettled USA Today reports, "As the Jan. 8 primary draws closer, more political questions seem to be getting raised than answered. The results from New Hampshire likely will propel some candidacies and end others. But the contests in both parties are tightening, making predictions perilous, and more than 40% of those surveyed in a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll this week say they may change their minds. For some independents, that uncertainty extends to whether they'll vote in the Democratic contest or the Republican one."
Two new polls out this morning show John McCain coming on strong in New Hampshire.
Romney Up By 7 Over McCain In USA Today/Gallup Poll USA Today reports that in a new USA Today/Gallup New Hampshire poll, Mitt Romney's "lead has narrowed to single digits over John McCain, who hopes to repeat the victory here that ignited his presidential campaign in 2000." Romney leads with 34%, followed by McCain, 27%; Rudy Giuliani, 11%; Mike Huckabee, 9%; and Ron Paul, 9%. The poll was conducted from December 17-19.
Romney, McCain Tied In ARG Poll The New Hampshire Union Leader reports this morning that an American Research Group poll shows John McCain and Mitt Romney tied in New Hampshire with 26% apiece, followed by Rudy Giuliani with 16% and Mike Huckabee with 11%. ARG surveyed 600 likely New Hampshire Republican primary voters from December 16-19.
The AP reports Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee "are fighting over the lead in Michigan, while Rudy Giuliani has plunged 16 points to third place, according to a poll released Thursday. The survey of 621 likely Republican primary voters shows Romney at 21 percent, Huckabee at 19 percent, Giuliani at 12 percent and John McCain at 10 percent. Ron Paul and Fred Thompson each got 4 percent, while Duncan Hunter and Tom Tancredo each got 1 percent. Tancredo dropped out of the race on Thursday." The poll was conducted by EPIC-MRA, a Michigan-based pollster.
The Detroit News, one of the sponsors of the survey, reports, "There's strong evidence that the candidates have lots of work to do here, and that momentum from the Jan. 3 Iowa caucuses and Jan. 8 New Hampshire primary will loom large in Michigan's primary. A quarter of this state's voters is still undecided or would vote 'uncommitted' -- which is an option on the Michigan ballot -- if the election were held today. And nearly two-thirds of the candidates' support is soft: 39 percent of those voters who have chosen sides say they are absolutely committed and won't change their minds."
New polling data out this morning from Zogby International shows that Barack Obama fares the best against top Republicans in 2008 general election trial heats, while Hillary Clinton fares worse than both Obama and Edwards. Obama leads Mitt Romney (53%-35%), Mike Huckabee (47%-42%), Rudy Giuliani (48%-39%), John McCain (47%-43%), and Fred Thompson (52%-36%). Edwards leads Romney (50%-38%), Huckabee (47%-41%), and Thompson (51%-35%), but trails Giuliani (45%-44%) and McCain (46%-42%). Clinton leads Romney (46%-44%) and Thompson (48%-42%), but trails Huckabee (48%-43%), Giuliani (46%-42%), and McCain (49%-42%). Zogby surveyed 1,000 likely voters from December 12-14.
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Coverage of President Bush's Thursday press conference tends to portray an elated chief executive, following what most analysts view as his success in major legislative battles with Democratic majorities on Capitol Hill. Moreover, the reinvigorated President seemed to open the door yesterday to the possibility of erasing some of the earmarks in the recently-passed spending bill a move likely to provoke a strong reaction from members of Congress. ABC World News, whose introductory graphic included the text "Bush Wins" reported that in "the year-long showdown with Congress, this lame duck President faced down the Democrats and he won. In his year-end news conference, the President tried not to gloat." Bush was shown saying, "I really don't sit here and say, 'well, you know, he won. They lost. Or they won. He lost.' It's just not my nature, because I think what ended up happening was good for the country."
The AP says that "what began as a troubling year for Bush, facing a new, energetic Democratic Congress, ended in triumph for the president as frustrated Democrats nursed their losses." The Washington Times says Bush "promised to crack down on wasteful spending in the just-passed federal budget." The President "could instruct federal agencies to ignore the earmarks in this current budget and spend money on projects that they deem to be higher priorities." On that issue, the AP notes Bush "could simply refuse to carry out congressional earmarks," but "that also has perils. Agencies take earmarks seriously. To ignore them is to invite retaliation by lawmakers" who also will be setting agency budgets next year.
The Washington Post says Bush's "sharp message on earmarks...stirred consternation on Capitol Hill and anticipation among fiscal conservatives." USA Today describes Bush as "at times conciliatory and at times confrontational," and noted that another theme of the press conference was "his view that $70 billion in war spending and $50 billion to shield 21 million taxpayers from the alternative minimum tax should be added to the deficit, rather than raising taxes to pay for them." The New York Times notes Bush "offered no indication that he would be any more compromising with the Democrats."
The Wall Street Journal, under the headline "Sentiment Aside, Bush Scores Wins," reports Bush "is ending the year with the approval of just one in three voters, according to the Wall Street Journal/NBC poll." But "he is enjoying a string of legislative successes in Congress, on matters from Iraq-war funding and the federal budget to energy policy, tax increases and mortgage relief."
In a similar analysis piece, titled "Bush Remains Thorn In Democrats' Side," the Los Angeles Times says Bush's "own second-term domestic agenda is a shambles," but "on a host of foreign and domestic policy issues, backed by a remarkably disciplined Republican Party in the House and Senate, Bush has been able to confound Democrats."
In an analysis, the New York Times reports "Republicans were able to slow and sometimes halt Democratic momentum by refusing to break with...Bush and his war strategy, no matter how unpopular, and by resisting social initiatives, no matter how appealing." In doing so, they defied "expectations" and surprised "even themselves."
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said on CNBC's Kudlow and Company, "I think, here at the end of the session, the majority finally realized that if they wanted to accomplish things like getting an energy bill the President might actually sign, like getting an alternative minimum tax fix that the President would sign, they needed to deal with Republicans in the Senate. We also are very proud of the fact that we insisted on holding to the President's top line on the various appropriation bills."
The Christian Science Monitor presents a slightly more positive portrayal of Democratic accomplishments, saying that although "the signature issues of the new majority changing course in the Iraq war and pledging to pay for all new spending and tax cuts hit major setbacks this week," Democrats "are quietly shifting the agenda on Capitol Hill."
Congress' Approval Near 1992 Lows The Wall Street Journal reports in its "Washington Wire" column that Congress "struggles with growing public disdain." Seven in 10 "disapprove of lawmakers' performance, while 18% approve. That means catcalls approach the all-time WSJ/NBC lows from 1992 amid House bank scandal and the elder Bush's failed re-election bid."
McClatchy reports that at his year-end news conference on Thursday, President Bush said "he won't give an opinion on the administration's destruction of CIA interrogation tapes until numerous investigations into the matter are finished." The Los Angeles Times says Bush also "insisted...that he did not personally know about the existence or destruction of CIA interrogation videotapes until briefed on the matter earlier this month." The Washington Post notes Bush "revealed nothing new about White House involvement yesterday," instead "repeating what his spokeswoman said last week." But he "used a question about international criticism of the case to describe opponents of his policies as isolationists."
The New York Times says "Bush's comments came after reports this week that several top White House lawyers were involved in discussions about the tapes between early 2003 and their destruction in November 2005."
House Panel Subpoenas Former CIA Official The AP reports the House Intelligence Committee "issued a subpoena Thursday for Jose Rodriguez, the former CIA official who directed that secret interrogation videotapes of two suspected terrorists be destroyed." The panel "ordered Rodriguez, the former head of the CIA's National Clandestine Service, to appear for a hearing on Jan. 16." The New York Times notes "Robert S. Bennett, an attorney for Mr. Rodriguez, declined to comment about the subpoena."
Justice Probes Vocal Former Agent McClatchy reports the Department of Justice is "investigating whether a former intelligence officer illegally disclosed classified information in interviews he gave on how the CIA interrogated a suspected senior al Qaida member." In "interviews with ABC News and The Washington Post earlier this month," former CIA officer John Kiriakou "gave detailed descriptions of how a detainee known as Abu Zubaydah was waterboarded."
The Los Angeles Times reports that in his press conference Thursday, President Bush "defended the Environmental Protection Agency's decision to deny California's bid to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles, saying that a national strategy toward climate change is more effective than a state-by-state approach."
But a major political and legal battle appears to be brewing over the EPA's decision. The AP reports Congressional Democrats, led by Rep. Henry Waxman of California, "announced an investigation" of the EPA's ruling. Meanwhile, the Financial Times reports "California is heading for a showdown with the government," and "the rejection of the request is likely to cause friction between Arnold Schwarzenegger, California governor, and George W. Bush who have, thus far, enjoyed a close relationship." Schwarzenegger "said on Thursday he would sue to overturn the decision."
NBC Nightly News reported Schwarzenegger "had some unusually harsh words for the Bush Administration today over greenhouse gases and global warming." Schwarzenegger was shown saying, "I cannot call it the Environmental Protection Agency any more. I have to call it the 'Environmental Destruction Agency.'" On the CBS Evening News, Schwarzenegger was shown saying, "I have no doubt that we will prevail because the law, science and the public's demand for leadership is on our side." The Washington Post reports that among the states joining California's lawsuit will be the state of Maryland.
The Christian Science Monitor says the EPA's "move might be struck down or an injunction granted in months, if courts find the EPA acted against the advice of its own lawyers, legal experts say." The New York Times says the EPA ruling "answered the pleas of industry executives. They reluctantly accepted the fleetwide standard of 35 miles a gallon by 2020, the centerpiece of the energy bill, but feared even tougher rules under the proposed California standard." Automobile executives "specifically cited apprehension over the California rules at meetings in October and November with Vice President Dick Cheney, other top White House officials and influential members of Congress."
The New York Times editorializes, "The Bush administration's decision to deny California permission to regulate and reduce global warming emissions from cars and trucks is an indefensible act of executive arrogance that can only be explained as the product of ideological blindness and as a political payoff to the automobile industry."
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The late night shows continue to be in reruns due to the ongoing writers' strike.
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