« July 2007 | Main | September 2007 »

Richardson Says He Must Break Into Top Tier

August 29, 2007 8:31 PM

ABC News' Leigh Hartman Reports: Presidential hopeful Gov. Bill Richardson D-N.M., said in a phone interview Wednesday with the Des Moines Register that, "in order for me to do well, I have to beat one of the top three major contenders" in Iowa. If so, that means that Richardson has a great deal of ground to make up before January caucus.

According to the latest ABC/Washington Post poll Richardson only attracts 11 percent support when matched against the rest of the '08 Democratic presidential field. That's a full 15 points behind the nearest of the three Democratic frontrunners.

Richardson also added in the interview that he hopes to do even better than just beating a frontrunner; he is aiming to, "finish within the top three or higher."

Richardson has spent considerable time campaigning in Iowa where he's run a series of humorous ads touting his years of experiences as a governor, congressman and former ambassador ih the hopes of improving his national poll numbers.

August 29, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (2)

Thompson Committee Hires New Communications Director

August 29, 2007 8:13 PM

ABC News' Christine Byun Reports: The committee testing the viability of a Fred Thompson candidacy has announced Todd Harris as its new Communications Director. Harris replaces Linda Rozett, who left the campaign unexpectedly this week. In an internal memo Committee Manager Bill Lacy called Rozett's departure one of the "tough decision to make (our) venture successful."

In a statement released Wednesday, Lacy said the Thompson team is strengthened with the hire of Harris because of his experience working at the national level.   

Harris served as Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's 2003 campaign, as a press secretary for Sen. John McCain R-Ariz., and on former Florida Governor Jeb Bush's reelection campaign in 2002.

August 29, 2007 in Tancredo, Tom | Permalink | User Comments (1)

Clinton To Give Away Controversial Cash

August 29, 2007 7:24 PM

ABC News' Eloise Harper Reports: Presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Clinton D-N.Y., will give to charity donations from a fundraiser in California who is wanted for failing to appear for sentencing on a grand theft charge, her campaign said Wednesday. Campaign spokesperson Phil Singer told ABC News "In light of the new information regarding Mr. Hsu's outstanding warrant in California, we will be giving his contributions to charity."

In all the Clinton campaign will give away $23,000 from Norman Hsu, whose legal troubles and ties to Democratic donors was first scrutinized by the Wall Street Journal this week. 

The Clinton campaign cited information regarding Hsu's outstanding warrant in California as the reason for the donation. The amount being given to charity includes contributions Hsu made to Clinton's presidential campaign, her Senate re-election campaign, and her political action committee. The campaign does not plan to return any money Hsu raised from other donors.

Hsu responded to the charges that he has an outstanding warrant Wednesday saying he believed he had resolved his legal issues and was unaware that he faced a warrant.

"I believe I properly resolved all of the legal issues related to my bankruptcy in the early 1990s. Therefore, I was surprised to learn that there appears to be an outstanding warrant - as demonstrated by the fact that I have and do live a public life. I have not sought to evade any of my obligations and certainly not the law," Hsu said in a statement.

August 29, 2007 in Tancredo, Tom | Permalink | User Comments (84)

McCain Calls for Craig Resignation

August 29, 2007 4:25 PM

ABC News' Bret Hovell Reports: Sen. John McCain became the first prominent Republican to call for the resignation of his Senate colleague Idaho Republican Larry Craig saying that "when you plead guilty to a crime, then you shouldn't serve in the Senate."

McCain's comments came in a Wednesday interview with CNN's John King where he also clarified that his position wasn't a moral stand.

“That's not a holier than thou. It's just a factual situation,” McCain said. “I don't try to judge people. But in this case, it's clear that it was disgraceful.”

Craig pleaded guilty in court documents at the beginning of August after a June arrest for disorderly conduct in the bathroom of a Minneapolis airport. In the plea papers, Craig stated "I'm pleading guilty" to "physical" conduct that tended "to arouse alarm." Craig entered that plea "freely and voluntarily."

August 29, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (3)

Anti-War Ad Targets Democratic Congressman

August 29, 2007 1:01 PM

ABC News' Jake Tapper reports: A Democratic congressman who recently changed his position on the Iraq war is the target of a new television ad by the anti-war group MoveOn.Org.

MoveOn will air the ad in Democratic Representative Brian Baird's district in Washington State, accusing him of a "flip-flop" on the Iraq war.

Baird voted against the war in 2003 but recently returned from a trip to Iraq earlier this month arguing President Bush's troop surge plan is showing signs of progress.

"I'm saying as a Democrat, who thinks this war was a terrible mistake, that we need to seriously rethink our strategy," Baird said of Democrats in Congress in this week's ABC "Shuffle" podcast.

"Just saying you want it to stop doesn't mean that the sectarian violence will stop, it doesn't mean that the instability won't spread, and it doesn't even mean even if you wanted to that you could immediately withdraw the troops," Baird said.

"I'm so fed up with the politics," Baird said on the podcast, "When I came out with this position I certainly didn't ask my pollsters or my political consultants, I just asked my conscience and my best understanding of the truth on the ground."

The anti-war group announced Wednesday they will roll out the ads in Baird's home state by the end of the week.

"MoveOn.org Political Action Committee is sponsoring the ad to call attention to the congressman's decision to go against the views of his constituents, and his previous voting record, to support President Bush's failed policy in Iraq," Nita Chaudhary of MoveOn.org Political Action said in a statement.

"Voters don't want to continue down a failed path. They want representatives who will stand up to President Bush's reckless policy and bring our troops home," she said.

August 29, 2007 in Tancredo, Tom | Permalink | User Comments (3)

Rove's Plastic-Wrapped Surprise

August 29, 2007 9:15 AM

ABC News' Ann Compton and Jennifer Duck report: When out-going White House adviser Karl Rove returns from a trip to New Orleans with the President onboard Marine One Wednesday afternoon, he'll get a surprise when he tries to drive home.

His car, parked on West Executive Avenue in a prime spot near the White House, has been shrouded in plastic wrap, with two stuffed eagles mounted on the trunk and an Obama bumper sticker slapped onto the car.

Watch video of Rove's car HERE.

The prank is a goodbye gift of sorts for Rove, who is retiring on Friday.

However members of Rove's young White House staff are not claiming responsibility ... yet.

At the end of the day, the White House permitted children to unwrap Rove's Jaguar. Like Christmas in August, they peeled away the plastic wrap and post-it notes.

Rove appeared to take the prank good-naturedly, and was seen laughing afterwards with White House economic advisor Al Hubbard and White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten.

August 29, 2007 in Vote 2008: Democrats | Permalink | User Comments (37)

Elizabeth Edwards Responds to Attack Over Parenting Skills

August 28, 2007 7:36 PM

ABC News Sunlen Miller Reports: Elizabeth Edwards is taking some heat about her parenting skills from the mom-friendly website "Silicon Valley Moms Blog."

Blogger "Rebecca" wrote a fiery tirade on the site Monday morning attacking Mrs. Edwards choice to bring her two small children, Jack and Emma Claire, on the campaign trail with her while her husband, John Edwards runs for president.

"…. you are being a terrible mother, forcing your young children, who should be in SCHOOL, to ride in buses and talk to the press when they obviously don't want to. This election is NOT ABOUT THEM, " blogger Rebecca writes.

Responding to the New York Times article over the weekend about the Edwards decision to include their children in campaigning the blog writes, as if speaking directly to Mrs. Edwards, that her kids, "…deserve some peace, not time with nannies and campaign-trail daycare providers, since, as the Times article describes, you don't have time to see them when you are busy campaigning too."

Mrs. Edwards comments about Hillary Clinton in a recent Salon.com interview were also criticized on the blog, "What resonated in my mind was the way that she (Elizabeth Edwards) dissed Hillary Clinton, decrying the "choices" that Hillary has made. The implication, of course, was that Hillary chose to work rather than spend time with her child. But it took all of my self control not to ask her, ‘Was it Hillary's work for the Children's Defense Fund, where she saved millions of lives of poor children, that you thought was a poor choice? Or was it when she went to China and announced, possibly for the first time ever, that women's rights are human rights? Or perhaps was it the way that insisted on being taken seriously, since she too was an accomplished attorney like her husband?’"

The blogger lashed out and concluded, " Elizabeth, I DON'T LIKE the choices you have made! TAKE YOUR KIDS HOME."

The blog-savvy Elizabeth Edwards took only eight hours to respond to this online attack.

Posting in the comments section of the website, Elizabeth Edwards responded with an equally fiery post, "…what I said about Hillary's choices is that I had made the same choices she had made as a parent, and when I changed my choices I was happier. Just like you don't get to decide what makes me happier, I don't get to decide what makes Hillary happier."

And the mother-of-three wrote at length about her choices as a mother, electing to bring along her children on the campaign trail, "….you have no idea what the quality or amount of the time I spend with my children is….You don't get to say I am a terrible mother because you think you wouldn't make my choices in my situation…You don't get to judge me because you think you know exactly what you would do if you had my disease. I want to be really clear: you don't know. And if the sun always shines on you -- and I pray it does -- you will never know."

August 28, 2007 in Tancredo, Tom | Permalink | User Comments (44)

Struggling Chris Dodd Wins Coveted Firefighter Endorsement

August 28, 2007 5:26 PM

ABC News' Teddy Davis, Donna Hunter, and Jan Simmonds Report: Democratic Senator of Connecticut Chris Dodd has scooped up the key endorsement of the International Association of Fire Fighters, the Dodd campaign announced Tuesday. Dodd receives the organization's support at a morning event Wednesday in Washington, DC.

The endorsement of the nation's 281,000-member firefighter union is a highly coveted one in Democratic politics. The union's endorsement of a lagging Sen. John Kerry D-Mass., was instrumental in helping him come-from-behind to win the 2004 Democratic nomination for president. Dodd owes his endorsement to his long record in enacting legislation pertaining to the firefighters. He authored the FIRE Act, which gives fire departments the ability to purchase new equipment and initiate education and training programs, as well as the SAFER Act, which gives fire departments the ability to alleviate critical shortfalls in professional and volunteer personnel.

The IAFF have had a well-publicized campaign toward diminishing former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani’s bid for the presidency. A few months ago they began running a web-page entitled Urban Legend and have released a 13 minute video outlining how Giuliani failed fire fighters before and after 9/11. The Giuliani Campaign contends that their attacks are purely partisan, backed up by their history of endorsing Democratic candidates.

Dodd wlll use this much needed endorcement to try to improve his weak national poll numbers. Dodd and Union President Harold Schaitberger will begin a three day tour through Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada.

With a hint of nostalgia John Kerry, who keeps a picture at home of Union Leaders Harold Schaitberger and Dave Lang, told ABC News he'll always be grateful for the Fire Fighters Union's intense loyalty and friendship. "They were by my side in good days and bad days. There's no doubt in my mind that when they endorsed my campaign early – when I was lagging in the polls, during some real bumps in the road – they helped keep my campaign going and helped spread our message," Kerry said.

August 28, 2007 in Tancredo, Tom | Permalink | User Comments (1)

McCain Qualifies for Public Campaign Funding

August 28, 2007 5:06 PM

ABC News' Bret Hovell reports: Senator John McCain, R-Ariz., became the first presidential candidate to qualify for public financing for his campaign Tuesday.

The Federal Election Commission announced McCain is eligible to receive the money, which would be disbursed from the federal treasury.

However McCain campaign spokesman Brian Rogers said no decision has been made about whether the campaign will apply for the matching funds.

"This simply allows us to move forward in the process, should we decide to do that," Rogers said.

To qualify for public matching funds, a presidential candidate must raise $100,000 by collecting $5,000 from any twenty states from contributions totaling no more than $250 each. If the FEC determines that money has been collected, the candidate is eligible to apply for matching funds.

But there's a catch. Public matching funds would be capped, and the candidate would have to abide by spending limits.

The McCain campaign has had money troubles in recent months. During the second quarter of 2007, the campaign spent more money than it raised, and finished the quarter with less than $2 million in the bank when its debts are factored in.

McCain acknowledges his campaign's financial problems, arguing it was a problem with spending rather than raising money, a problem that he says has been fixed.

According to the FEC, Former Vermont Governor Howard Dean was certified to receive matching funds in July of 2003, a month earlier in that cycle than McCain got certified this time around. The former Vermont Governor did not end up taking the federal money.

August 28, 2007 in Thompson, Fred | Permalink | User Comments (2)

Craig: 'I Am Not Gay'

August 28, 2007 4:53 PM

ABC News' Z. Byron Wolf Reports: Senator Larry Craig, R-Idaho, made a public statement to cameras Tuesday to declare that he is not gay, regrets pleading guilty to a misdemeanor for disorderly conduct this summer at the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport, intends to pursue the matter legally, and may yet seek reelection in 2008.

Here is the statement in full as posted on the Senator's website:

"First, please let me apologize to my family, friends, staff, and fellow Idahoans for the cloud placed over Idaho. I did nothing wrong at the Minneapolis airport. I regret my decision to plead guilty and the sadness that decision has brought to my wife, family, friends, staff, and fellow Idahoans. For that I apologize.

In June, I overreacted and made a poor decision. While I was not involved in any inappropriate conduct at the Minneapolis airport or anywhere else, I chose to plead guilty to a lesser charge in the hope of making it go away. I did not seek any counsel, either from an attorney, staff, friends, or family. That was a mistake, and I deeply regret it. Because of that, I have now retained counsel and I am asking my counsel to review this matter and to advise me on how to proceed.

For a moment, I want to put my state of mind into context on June 11. For 8 months leading up to June, my family and I had been relentlessly and viciously harassed by the Idaho Statesman. If you’ve seen today’s paper, you know why. Let me be clear: I am not gay and never have been.

Still, without a shred of truth or evidence to the contrary, the Statesman has engaged in this witch hunt. In pleading guilty, I overreacted in Minneapolis, because of the stress of the Idaho Statesman’s investigation and the rumors it has fueled around Idaho. Again, that overreaction was a mistake, and I apologize for my misjudgment. Furthermore, I should not have kept this arrest to myself, and should have told my family and friends about it. I wasn’t eager to share this failure, but I should have done so anyway.

I love my wife, family, friends, staff, and Idaho. I love serving Idaho in Congress. Over the years, I have accomplished a lot for Idaho, and I hope Idahoans will allow me to continue to do that. There are still goals I would like to accomplish, and I believe I can still be an effective leader for Idaho. Next month, I will announce, as planned, whether or not I will seek reelection.

As an elected official, I fully realize that my life is open for public criticism and scrutiny, and I take full responsibility for the mistake in judgment I made in attempting to handle this matter myself.

It is clear, though, that through my actions I have brought a cloud over Idaho. For that, I ask the people of Idaho for their forgiveness.

As I mentioned earlier, I have now retained counsel to examine this matter and I will make no further comment."

August 28, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (5)