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Clinton Thanks Staff, Law Enforcement After Hostage Crisis Resolved

November 30, 2007 7:14 PM

ABC News' Kate Snow and Jennifer Parker Report: Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., emerged from her Washington, D.C. home Friday night to thank her campaign staff and law enforcement officials for resolving the hostage situation in her Rochester, New Hampshire campaign office.

"This has been a difficult day personally and emotionally," Clinton told reporters camped outside her Washington, D.C. home.

"I was in touch during the day with the families of those who were held hostage," she said, saying that was the hardest part of an ordeal that lasted all afternoon.

"I really commend their extraordinary courage under, again, very difficult circumstances."

Clinton was scheduled to speak at the Democratic National Committee Fall meeting Friday afternoon but canceled her appearance after members of her Rochester, N.H., campaign staff were taken hostage by a man with what appeared to be a bomb strapped to his chest.

"Everything stopped and it had to because we had nothing on our minds except for the safety of these young people that work for me," she said.

Saying it had been a hard day for everyone involved in her campaign, Clinton thanked young staffers and volunteers who work on presidential campaigns.

"Every four years extraordinary young people come to places like New Hampshire to campaign because they want to change our country," she said, "they work around the clock and are so committed to their cause."

The Senator thanked local law enforcement officials in New Hampshire and the FBI, who she said lent expertise and help during the hostage situation.

Clinton said she was on her way to New Hampshire to personally thank the law enforcement officials involved with resolving the hostage crisis.

"I'm especially just relieved to have this situation end so peacefully," she said.

November 30, 2007 in Bush, George W., Tancredo, Tom | Permalink | User Comments (8)

Romney: Give Giuliani the 'Benefit of the Doubt'

November 30, 2007 4:14 PM

ABC News' Matt Stuart Reports: Republican hopeful Mitt Romney faced a barrage of questions in Cedar Rapids, IA today regarding the story originally reported in the Politico, suggesting that fmr. NY Mayor Giuliani tried to hide security expenses related to visiting his then girlfriend, now wife, Judith, at her home in the hamptons.

Speaking with reporters, Romney said Giuliani should get "the benefit of the doubt," and that "we ought to give him the opportunity to address that as he feels appropriate."

Romney also suggested that Giuliani's current explanation did not suffice.  When asked if he thought Giuliani's response was adequate. In reports today, Giuliani said, "We've already explained it," Romney stated that "let's let him have an ample chance to look at the history and explain what he feels is needed."

Romney began his press availability by going after Huckabee, claiming "He talks about his desire to reign in spending but as Governor he took spending from just over $6 billion to $16 billion and he financed that by raising taxes time and again."

In facing questions of Huckabee's rise catching up to Romney in the Iowa polls, Romney was silent for a moment before saying, "Sorry.  I don't have any particular comment on that."  Romney has previously boasted that he has spent more time and money in Iowa than other presidential candidate but has tried to brush off questions of whether that means he expects to win in Iowa.

Finally, Romney continued to leave to the door wide open on the issue of waterboarding, saying he "Won't say whether I support waterboarding or whether I oppose waterboarding."

November 30, 2007 in Palin, Sarah, Thompson, Fred | Permalink | User Comments (12)

Clinton Rivals React to Hostage Situation

November 30, 2007 3:40 PM

ABC News' Jennifer Parker Reports: As news spread Friday about the hostage situation at the Rochester, New Hampshire campaign office of Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., the Senator's presidential rivals reacted swiftly, expressing sympathy and taking security precautions of their own.

Clinton's Democratic political rival Senator Barack Obama, D-Ill., placed a call to the Clinton campaign at 3:20pm Friday afternoon but was told she was on the phone with the parents of one of the hostages, reports ABC News' Sunlen Miller.

The Obama campaign said he told Clinton's aide that his thoughts were with the staffers and that if there was anything they could do, to not hesitate to call.

Obama's Rochester, New Hampshire campaign office was evacuated as a precaution Friday afternoon, said Obama campaign New Hampshire press secretary Reid Cherlin. Obama's Rochester office has about three or so staffers and a handful of volunteers.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the Clinton team as we await a safe resolution to this situation," read a statement released by the Obama campaign during the day.

The Rochester, New Hampshire campaign office of Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., also evacuated its two full-time staff members.

"If it happened in some place like Rochester you have to think that most all of your offices would be vulnerable," Elizabeth Edwards said in a CNN interview Friday.

"I thought so much as it was going on about how terrified they must be and their families must be and that broke my heart," Elizabeth Edwards said about the Clinton staffers.

At the Democratic National Committee Fall meeting in the Washington, D.C. area where Clinton was scheduled to speak later in the afternoon, DNC chair Howard Dean announced she had canceled her appearance because of the hostage situation.

Many of her Democratic rivals there expressed sympathy for Clinton.

"As I was on the beltway coming from Wilmington, Delaware my home, I heard the news about Hillary's headquarters," said Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., addressing the DNC meeting. "and I'm sure like everyone here, I pray to God it all works out right and I wish Hillary the best of luck."

"We are in solidarity at this moment when we think about what she is going through and what her staff is going through," Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio said at the DNC meeting.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the hostages, their families, Senator Clinton, and her campaign staff," said Democratic presidential candidate Gov. Bill Richardson, D-N.M., in a statement.

"All of us have friends and colleagues on the Clinton campaign and our thoughts are with them," Sen. Chris Dodd's New Hampshire spokesman Bryan DeAngelis said in a statement.

Campaigning in South Carolina, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said he hoped the situation would be resolved quickly.

"It should happen in no place in America," McCain said, "our prayers go out to those people who may be in danger because of what is clearly some kind of lunatic behavior."

The office of Republican presidential candidate Rep. Ron Paul, R-Tex., also expressed sympathy for the Clinton staffers. "Our hearts go out to the hostages," said Paul communications director Jesse Benton.

Other campaigns reported taking increased security precautions.

A spokesman for former Gov. Mitt Romney, R-Mass., said their campaign advised all Romney campaign field offices to lock exterior doors.

"As a security precaution, we have asked all our field offices to lock all exterior doors and be on alert for any suspicious individuals," Romney spokesman Kevin Madden said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with those involved in the situation in New Hampshire. Everyone is hoping for a safe resolution."

The Rudy Giuliani campaign didn't evacuated their New Hampshire offices, saying all their staff are safe and accounted for.

ABC News' Sunlen Miller, David Chalian, Bret Hovell, Brian Wheeler, Matt Stuart, Z.Byron Wolf, Raelyn Johnson, Jackie Klingebiel and Nancy Flores contributed to this report.

November 30, 2007 in Bush, George W., Tancredo, Tom | Permalink | User Comments (11)

Clinton Campaign Responds to Hostage Situation, Cancels D.C. Appearance

November 30, 2007 3:04 PM

ABC News' Jennifer Parker Reports: The presidential campaign of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., has responded to a reported hostage situation at the Senator's Rochester, New Hampshire campaign office.

"There is an ongoing situation in our Rochester, NH office," read a statement from the Clinton campaign. "We are in close contact with state and local authorities and are acting at their direction.  We will release additional details as appropriate."

Law enforcement sources tell ABC News' Pierre Thomas a man walked into Clinton's Rochester, New Hampshire office with what appeared to be a pipe bomb strapped to his chest demanding to speak to the Senator.

Clinton was not at the New Hampshire office at the time. She was scheduled to speak at the Democratic National Committee Fall meeting in the Washington, D.C., area, but canceled her appearance after learning about the situation.

"Unfortunately as some of you might know there is a hostage situation in New Hampshire involving a Clinton campaign staff person," DNC chair Howard Dean told the audience, "The details are sketchy at this time and understandably Senator Clinton is now dealing with this very difficult problem. She is not going to be able to join us today."

The Clinton campaign has 16 New Hampshire offices including the Rochester office. All of the Senator's campaign offices in Iowa, New Hampshire and elsewhere were closed.

ABC News' Kate Snow reports former President Bill Clinton is in New York and is in contact with the Senator. He has suspended his schedule.

At the Senator's residence in Washington, D.C., the lights are on as Secret Service agents stand by outside the entrance.

Staff at Clinton's Senate office on Capitol Hill closed and locked the doors as a precaution Friday afternoon. A uniformed Capitol Police officer was stationed outside the office door.

In New Hampshire, the Democratic Governor said he is monitoring the situation from the state Emergency Operations Center.

"This is a very serious ongoing situation," said Gov. John Lynch, D-N.H. "Law enforcement officials are coordinating closely and we are all hopeful for a quick, safe resolution."

ABC News' Kate Snow, Pierre Thomas, David Chalian, Eloise Harper, Toni Wilson, Matt Jaffe and Jackie Klingebiel contributed to this report.

November 30, 2007 in Bush, George W., Tancredo, Tom | Permalink | User Comments (59)

Richardson Touts Record During DNC Meeting

November 30, 2007 12:16 PM

ABC News' Sarah Amos reports:  As the first candidate to deliver morning remarks at the fall DNC meeting in Virginia, Gov. Bill Richardson, D-N.M, used the time to reinforce his gubernatorial record talking about the New Mexico's job growth, clean energy policies and economy. 

"I believe it comes down to experience and judgment and a track record of getting things done, and I will put my record up against anyone's,"  Richardson told the crowd.  Richardson used each issue as an opportunity to give hard examples of what he has done as Governor. 

"I'm proud to be the only Democrat in this race with a record of creating jobs and turning an economy around. I know how to do this. I know how to do this because I've already done it. What I've done in my state would be my blueprint for the country. And proving we know how to create jobs is how we win this country," said Richardson when talking about tax-cuts and job growth.

Richardson also focused on his plan for a full-withdrawal of troops from Iraq as soon as possible.

"As long as we have troops in Iraq, it's going to be impossible to achieve a diplomatic solution that leads to peace and reconciliation.  This is the hard reality. You can't say you will end the war in Iraq if you're leaving thousands of troops behind or if you won't even commit to removing them by 2013. The Iraqis sure won't think the war is over," Richardson added, alluding to some of the other candidate's plans.   

Known for his one-liners, Richardson warmed up the crowd by playing off the lack of time he has gotten at some of the previous debates.   

"You know, when we were invited to speak here at the last winter meeting, we were told, Governor Dean, we had seven minutes. Seven minutes to tell you everything we do as president. This time, I was told I'd have 10 minutes. Of course, Wolf Blitzer tells me that before every debate," joked Richardson. 

November 30, 2007 in Obama, Barack, Tancredo, Tom | Permalink | User Comments (4)

Edwards Supporters Rush Door at DNC Fall Meeting

November 30, 2007 11:56 AM

ABC News' David Wright Reports: A riot seems about to break out here at the Democratic National Committee Fall meeting in Vienna, Virginia. 

About a thousand supporters of former Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., have waited Friday for three hours to hear their candidates address members of the Democratic National Committee. 

So many are here that the DNC organized an overflow room for them.  There's a widescreen TV where you can see the candidates clearly enough.

But there's no sound.

Many in the overflow area are trade union veterans and they're not shy about expressing their disappointment about not being able to hear their candidates.

"We want sound, we want sound," they started chanting, just outside the doors to the packed meeting room.

"Let's storm the room!" one of them shouted. 

There was a sudden rush for the door, but so far security guards have managed to keep the mob at bay.

"This is not okay!" John Edwards is saying up on stage -- referring to oil company lobbyists and their hold on US policy.

Edwards appears to be unaware of the scuffle among his supporters outside the door. 

The DNC recently announced it would move its winter meeting from Baltimore to suburban Virginia Sheraton hotel west of Washington because of a labor dispute at the Baltimore hotel.

A DNC official tells ABC News that they only recently booked the Sheraton and there was significantly less space than needed, thus the overflow room.

UPDATE: Apparently someone fixed the sound problem in time for Obama's speech.  As he took the stage, Obama gave a shout out to the overflow room.  Immediately, a cheer went up in the distance … and you could hear the loud stomping of feet.

ABC News' Sunlen Miller contributed to this report.

November 30, 2007 in Clinton, Hillary, Tancredo, Tom | Permalink | User Comments (16)

Two-Story AIDS Ribbon at White House

November 30, 2007 10:22 AM

ABC News' Ann Compton reports: The nation's capital awoke to a surprise at the White House front door. Overnight cranes draped a giant AIDS red ribbon, two stories tall, on the North Portico of the White House. It will remain in place for two days marking World AIDS Day December 1st.

Such a dramatic symbol is a first here, but the Bush administration has long felt it is not getting the credit due for the President's "PEPFAR" initiative (President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) which has spent something approaching $15 billion on HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment in vulnerable African and Caribbean nations. President Bush has also asked Congress to double that amount up to $30 billion over the next five years.

Along with the humanitarian cause, there is a strategic political motivation for President Bush. AIDS is so rampant in some African countries it could become a political destabilizing force in nations where a significant percentage of adults fall ill and die, weakening an entire generation.

November 30, 2007 in Vote 2008: Democrats | Permalink | User Comments (13)

Watchdog Group: Most Lobbyists Giving to Clinton Don't Represent 'Real People'

November 30, 2007 9:08 AM

USA TODAY's 'On Politics' Blog Reports: The Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks money in politics, today investigates what it calls the "lobbyist lobs" among Democrats Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards.

"Lobbyists do represent ordinary Americans, as Hillary Clinton claims, but those contributing to her campaign mostly represent big industries," the nonpartisan center reports in its Capital Eye publication. The group says lobbyists who have donated to Clinton and other candidates are "largely advocating for big industries such as pharmaceutical, automotive and computer companies."

Case in point: The group said lobbyists representing health professionals, "including the nurses Clinton singled out (as real people), account for $82,805 in contributions to her, while those representing the pharmaceutical industry paid out $562,900."

How pure are Edwards and Obama? Their vow not to accept contributions from lobbyists "isn't a foolproof plan," the center said. "Both still accept money from state and local lobbyists, employees at law firms that offer lobbying services, family members of lobbyists and former lobbyists. Contributions from Washington lobbyists have still managed to seep into both Democrats' coffers."

November 30, 2007 in Bush, George W., Kucinich, Dennis, Tancredo, Tom | Permalink | User Comments (1)

Late Night at the Apollo with Barack Obama

November 30, 2007 6:47 AM

ABC News' Sunlen Miller Reports: Senator Barack Obama stepped on the stage in Harlem Thursday night, the stage "where stars are born, and legends are made."

The Senator was introduced by an always sassy Chris Rock, who told audience members they’d regret and be embarrassed of voting for Clinton instead of Obama, "You'd say, 'I had that white lady! What was I thinking?"

Obama gave a shout out to another prominent African American who took the stage before him, Dr. Cornel West, and made fun of his large hairstyle.

"I’ve been away from Chicago for so long I haven’t gotten a haircut," Obama joked, "Been looking like him." Obama said Cornel had whipped out a hair pic when he had told the joke earlier in the night.

Obama told a sold-out crowd of 1,400 that he’s running for president because he’s "I’m tired of reading about Jena, I’m of reading about nooses, tired of reading about justice department that doesn’t understand justice," a line which prompted the most boisterous applauses of the night.

Flubbing one of the most symbolic lines of the night, Obama referenced Martin Luther King, "Dr. Kill -- Dr. King," Obama corrected himself, and went on evoking the late civil right’s leader’s words of the "fierce urgency of now."

Obama said he won’t ever forget "the only reason I am standing here today is because somebody, somewhere decided to stand up for me when it was hard," and called on the crowd to join with him in continuing the fight together, "we have some unfinished business here in America."

The speech, delivered just blocks away from Former President Bill Clinton’s Harlem office, drew a large, appreciative crowd in the African American community.

But for some, this was Clinton country.

"We love Billy … we would definitely support Hillary Clinton," Harlem resident Herbert Matthews said, "Obama now, we never seen him out here, for him to come out of the blue because it’s primary time and now we need the votes, we’re not with that, we need people that’s here to support the people here in the community."

November 30, 2007 in Kucinich, Dennis | Permalink | User Comments (5)

Edwards Slams Bush and Fox News

November 29, 2007 9:17 PM

ABC News' Raelyn Johnson Reports: At an event with a focus on foreign policy, former Sen. John Edwards D-N.C., chose to take issue with President Bush, rather than his top Democratic rivals who have been sparring of late..

After slamming Bush on trade issues during a speech to the Iowa City Foreign Relations Council Edwards was asked how he would try to evolve governments such as those as Russia and it's eastern European neighbors.

Talking about Putin Edwards quipped, "I know George Bush looked into his eyes and saw his soul, that gave me great comfort.," adding "I wonder if he saw in his soul that he was going to completely take over the governement."

Edwards went on to talk about how he once met with a Russian presidential candidate who was faced with the challenge of campaigning with no access to major media as it is controlled by the Kremlin.

Said Edwards, "It would be like running against Bush when Bush owns the media you know," adding," they do have Fox News.

November 29, 2007 in Clinton, Hillary | Permalink | User Comments (19)