<><>2008/CONGRESS<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Comedian Says Minnesota Run Is a Serious One

By Monica Davey
New York Times
December 5, 2007

Al Franken, candidate for the United States Senate, with a voter at Nina’s Coffee Cafe in St. Paul.
Al Franken, the former “Saturday Night Live” star, is performing an odd balancing act as he runs for Senate…

Senate Republicans Face Leadership Choice

By Paul Kane
Washington Post
December 4, 2007

In less than 48 hours the Senate Republicans will gather in an ornate room just off the chamber floor to hold their secretive internal caucus leadership elections. Though incredibly arcane to outsiders, these races are the congressional equivalent of papal elections -- intramural affairs that often define the future direction of a party…

<><>DEM<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

THE FIELD

In Muted Forum, Democrats Settle For Gentle Debate
Clinton, Rivals Spar On Recent Iran Vote At Low-Key Event

By Christopher Cooper
Wall Street Journal
December 5, 2007

DES MOINES, Iowa -- Seven Democratic presidential candidates squared off in a radio debate here, trading mild jabs on the issue of Iran's nuclear ambitions but showing little of the fire that has characterized the campaign in recent weeks…

Which Democrat's Health Plan Really, Truly Covers More People?

By Laura Meckler
Wall Street Journal
December 5, 2007

While the leading Democratic presidential candidates agree on most policy issues, a sharp dispute has emerged: Who would do more to provide health coverage for the uninsured?

For Democrats, a Strained Debate on Immigration

By Adam Nagourney and Jeff Zeleny
New York Times
December 5, 2007

The candidates were confronted with a provocative question: Should U.S. citizens turn in someone they know to be an illegal immigrant?

Clinton Rivals Hammer Her Iran Vote During Iowa Radio Debate

By Dan Balz and Anne E. Kornblut
Washington Post
December 5, 2007

DES MOINES, Dec. 4 -- One day after a new U.S. intelligence report said that Iran had halted work on its nuclear program, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) faced repeated criticism in a debate here for supporting a Senate resolution her rivals said encouraged saber-rattling rhetoric from President Bush toward the Middle Eastern nation…

In Iowa debate, Democrats rip policy on Iran

By Scott Martelle and Robin Abcarian
Los Angeles Times
December 4, 2007

Candidates say the recent nuclear intelligence report shows the Bush administration has been talking too tough…

Abortion, Iran dominate Democrats' radio debate

By Jill Lawrence
USA Today
December 5, 2007

DES MOINES — Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton portrayed herself as a full member of her husband's foreign-policy team and defended her approach to Iran in a genteel radio debate Tuesday dominated by international issues…

'Now the fun part starts' in Iowa
Clinton and Obama launch sharp attacks

By Rick Pearson and Mike Dorning
Chicago Tribune
December 4, 2007

DES MOINES - A Democratic presidential contest that had focused on high-minded qualities of leadership, experience and change has whiplashed into sharp attacks between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama over courage, character and kindergarten writings amid ever-tightening polls and the ever-closer Iowa caucuses…

CLINTON

Mum’s the Word for Student Who Asked Clinton Question

By Jeff Zeleny
New York Times
December 4, 2007

Remember the story of the college sophomore who asked a planted question to Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton? She was at an Obama event tonight at Grinnell College…

Clinton on the Dynasty Question

By Katharine Q. Seelye
New York Times
December 4, 2007

Hillary Rodham Clinton thinks it was not a good idea for one Bush to follow another into the White House, but having one Clinton follow another is apparently a different matter…

Bill Clinton: Media Critic

By Sarah Wheaton
New York Times
December 4, 2007

Former President Bill Clinton told students at Keene State College in New Hampshire yesterday that too much focus is put on “pure politics” and not enough on the candidates’ experience…

Clinton Attack on Obama Overlooks Some Realities

By Katharine Q. Seelye
New York Times
December 5, 2007

Hillary Rodham Clinton is right that Barack Obama’s health care plan would leave out millions, but her plan probably would as well…

As Iowa Race Tightens, Clinton Decides the Best Defense Is a Good Offense

By Dan Balz and Anne E. Kornblut
Washington Post
December 4, 2007

DES MOINES, Dec. 3 -- Just two months ago, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York appeared to have turned a corner in Iowa. Now, as the race here enters its final month, she is once again fighting to fend off concerns that have dogged her from the start of her campaign in the state…

EDWARDS

Edwards Takes Step Back as Two Others Slug It Out

By Julie Bosman
New York Times
December 5, 2007

As Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama exchanged jabs this week, John Edwards found himself on the sidelines. And enjoying it…

<><>REP<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>>

GIULIANI

Giuliani Steps Back From Firm

By Russ Buettner
New York Times
December 4, 2007

Will Rudolph W. Giuliani’s decision to pull back from the direct management of his consulting and law firms insulate him from questions about the firms’ activities?

HUCKABEE

Huckabee Chafes at 'Front-Runner' Label
Come-From-Behind Candidate Seeks to Temper Expectations, Placing Himself 'Second'

By Perry Bacon Jr.
Washington Post
December 4, 2007

DES MOINES, Dec. 3 -- Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, for months cast as a "second-tier" candidate, now finds himself with another label he is not eager to have: "front-runner."

Huckabee's rise extends beyond Iowa, poll shows

By Janet Hook
Los Angeles Times
December 4, 2007

A Times/Bloomberg Poll shows the Arkansas ex-gov. now threatens GOP front-runner Giuliani's national lead…

Huckabee says he's unfamiliar with intel report

By Rick Pearson
Chicago Tribune
December 4, 2007

DES MOINES - Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee said Tuesday he was unfamiliar with the National Intelligence Estimate that reported that Iran had not had a program to develop nuclear weapons since 2003, and he questioned the intelligence work behind it…

ROMNEY

Romney Faces New Questions on Illegal Workers at Landscaping Firm

By Michael Luo and Marc Santora
New York Times
December 5, 2007

The landscaping company at Mitt Romney’s home in Massachusetts was found for a second time to be employing illegal immigrants…

Romney axes grass cutters

Los Angeles Times Top of the Ticket
December 4, 2007

He takes action in his own backyard…

Mormonism not focus of Romney speech

By Michael Finnegan
Los Angeles Times
December 4, 2007

The GOP candidate's address this week will be on his concern that 'faith has disappeared from the public square.'

<><>2008/PRESIDENT<><><><><><><><><

Fund-Raising Brokers Reshape U.S. Campaigns

By Christopher Cooper
Wall Street Journal
December 5, 2007

The spiraling cost of campaigning has sent American politicians at all levels on a near-perpetual quest for money. Increasingly, they are outsourcing this task to free-lance fund-raising consultants, who specialize in vacuuming up the maximum legal contribution from hundreds of donors all across the country…

<><>NATIONAL POLLS<><><><><><><><><><><><><

Watch out Rudy, here comes Huck!

Los Angeles Times
December 4, 2007

New Times Poll reveals Giuliani support fades while Huckabee surges to within six points nationally…

<><>WAR/TERROR<><><><><>><><><>

New Assessment Of Iran Redraws Political Lines
Key Powers Are Averse To Further Sanctions; Clinton Faces Attacks

By Jay Solomon and Siobhan Gorman
Wall Street Journal
December 5, 2007

U.S. intelligence's surprising conclusion that Iran halted its nuclear-weapons program four years ago started redrawing political lines yesterday, as Democratic presidential candidates clashed over the issue and major powers stated their aversion to coercive action against Tehran…

Detainee Issue Reaches Climax
Bush's Antiterror Legacy at Stake In Supreme Court Challenge

By Jess Bravin
Wall Street Journal
December 5, 2007

WASHINGTON -- Nearly six years after the Bush administration began shipping alleged terrorists to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the Supreme Court will today hear arguments over a basic question: Do its prisoners have a right to challenge their detentions before a neutral judge?

U.S. Renews Efforts to Keep Coalition Against Tehran
Bush Says New NIE Shows Iran Is Still a Threat

By Peter Baker and Robin Wright
Washington Post
December 5, 2007

President Bush scrambled yesterday to hold together a fragile international coalition against Iran, declaring that the Islamic republic remains "dangerous" and that "nothing has changed" despite a new intelligence report that Tehran halted its nuclear weapons program four years ago…

<><>OTHER NEWS AND VIEWS<><><><><><><><><><><><>

Ex-Ambassador Criticizes Rice
Envoy Unhappy With State Department's Treatment of Gays

By Glenn Kessler
Washington Post
December 5, 2007

Michael E. Guest, a tall, soft-spoken man with salt-and-pepper hair, looks every bit the diplomat. At the young age of 43, at the start of the Bush administration, he was named ambassador to Romania, and since he returned in 2004 he has trained new ambassadors before they ship out overseas…

New CAFE standards wouldn't push SUVs off the road

By Mark Clayton
Christian Science Monitor
December 4, 2007

The House is poised to pass a stricter set of efficiency rules that would require automakers to achieve a fleet average of 35 miles per gallon by 2020…