April 8, 2008

 

<><>DEMOCRATS<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

 

THE FIELD

 

CLINTON

 

The Gospel, According to Luke

Pittsburgh's Young Mayor Wants City to Line Up Behind Clinton

 

By Eli Saslow

Washington Post

April 9, 2008

 

PITTSBURGH -- In a makeshift auditorium on the banks of the Monongahela River, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton assembled her team of Pennsylvania power brokers. They sat in the front row behind a velvet rope, dressed in dark suits and waving at the crowd. There was the Pennsylvania governor, the county commissioner, a handful of major chief executives . . . and a kid they called Luke. About 300 people filed into the auditorium to hear Clinton's speech on the economy, and Luke walked onstage to introduce her. He had a boyish face and spiky brown hair, and he stuffed his hands into the pockets of a too-big suit. He spoke hurriedly while pacing, persevering through the sort of nervousness one might expect from a college student, or a campaign volunteer, or an enamored Clinton supporter. Then he introduced himself…

 

Colombia trade deal splits Clintons

 

Associated Press

April 8, 2008

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The presidential campaign of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton said Tuesday that her husband, the former president, supports a free trade agreement with Colombia that she strenuously opposes. The acknowledgment adds new hurdles to the New York senator's bid to woo Democratic voters in Pennsylvania and elsewhere who believe free trade agreements have eliminated thousands of U.S. jobs. On Sunday, she demoted her chief campaign strategist for his role in promoting the Colombia pact…

 

OBAMA

 

Leaders turn up heat on superdelegates to back Obama

 

Associated Press

April 8, 2008

 

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Eager to stop intraparty fighting, dozens of local Democratic Party leaders are urging Virginia's superdelegates to unite around Barack Obama for president. The petition was intended to push the state's uncommitted delegates into forsaking Hillary Clinton in her nomination battle with Obama…

 

<><>REPUBLICANS<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

 

McCAIN

 

McCain Raised $15 Million in March, But Still Lags Behind Rivals

 

By Mary Jacoby and T.W. Farnam

Wall Street Journal

April 9, 2008

 

Sen. John McCain raised $15 million for his presidential bid in March, surpassing his haul in each of the past two months. Donors to McCain's defeated rivals and President Bush's 2004 re-election are beginning to line up behind the likely Republican presidential nominee. Donors who gave to Mr. Bush in 2004 sent nearly $4 million to Sen. McCain in January and February, a Wall Street Journal analysis shows, up from about $530,000 a month in 2007. The $4 million includes nearly $2 million from 2004 Bush donors who hadn't given to any candidate in this cycle…

 

McCain stands firm on Iraq

The GOP presidential hopeful says a troop withdrawal, supported by Obama and Clinton, would be 'reckless and irresponsible.'

 

By Johanna Neuman

Los Angeles Times

April 8, 2008

 

WASHINGTON — John McCain, chiding his Democratic presidential rivals for promising to withdraw troops from Iraq, said Monday that it would be "reckless" to leave the combat zone too quickly. "I do not believe that anyone should make promises as a candidate for president that they cannot keep if elected," said McCain, the presumptive GOP nominee for president. "To promise a withdrawal of our forces from Iraq, regardless of the calamitous consequences to the Iraqi people, our most vital interests and the future of the Middle East, is the height of irresponsibility" and "a failure of leadership."

 

<><> PRIMARY CONTESTS<><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

 

<><>RACE TO THE WHITE HOUSE<><><><><><><><><><><>

 

Petraeus's Caution May Roil Election, Rankle Critics

An Indefinite Halt To Iraq Withdrawal Comes as a Surprise

 

By Yochi J. Dreazen

Wall Street Journal

April 9, 2008

 

WASHINGTON -- The top U.S. commander in Iraq said U.S. troop withdrawals should halt indefinitely this summer, a recommendation likely to roil the presidential race and deepen tensions in the Pentagon…

 

Hearings Draw Out Presidential Rivals

 

By Elisabeth Bumiller

New York Times

April 9, 2008

 

Three would-be presidents swooped in from the campaign trail to question Gen. David H. Petraeus…

 

Political campaigns meet military campaign

Clinton, McCain and Obama all return to the Capitol to hear Gen. Petraeus testify about progress of the Iraq War. The hearings give the presidential candidates an opportunity to showcase their views.

 

By Janet Hook

Los Angeles Times

April 8, 2008

 

WASHINGTON — The top commander of U.S. forces in Iraq traveled to Capitol Hill today for a rare opportunity: He testified before the nation's next commander-in-chief. What wasn't clear, though, was which one of the three presidential candidates sitting in two packed hearing rooms would be occupying the Oval Office this time next year. Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.), Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Barack Obama (D-Ill.) all took a detour from the campaign trail to hear status reports on the Iraq War from Army Gen. David H. Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker…

 

Ads Prod Candidates on Issues Of Trade, Especially With China

 

By Kris Maher and Timothy Aeppel

Wall Street Joural

April 9, 2008

 

A new advertising campaign designed by a coalition of domestic manufacturers and a labor union was unveiled Tuesday, aimed at getting the presidential candidates to take tougher stances on trade, particularly against China…

 

Groups Step Up Efforts to Avert Voting Mishaps

 

By Krissah Williams

Washington Post

April 9, 2008

 

On her way to vote in Georgia's Feb. 5 Democratic primary, the usual music and celebrity gossip on Carcola Tippit's favorite radio show was set aside in favor of host Tom Joyner's repeated calls for listeners to report voting problems. "Report any trickery! Call 1-866-MYVOTE1," implored Joyner, whose show is heard by 8 million listeners nationwide. "Let us know what's happening out there."

 

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

 

Petraeus Urges 45-Day Halt in Weighing New Iraq Troop Cuts

 

By Steven Lee Myers and Thom Shanker

New York Times

April 9, 2008

 

Gen. David H. Petraeus, the senior U.S. commander in Iraq, warned Congress that progress there was “fragile and reversible.”

 

A Plea From Petraeus

Extending the Drawdown in Iraq Could Imperil Gains, General Tells Lawmakers

 

By Peter Baker and Jonathan Weisman

Washington Post

April 9, 2008

 

Army Gen. David H. Petraeus returned to Congress yesterday seeking more time to consolidate security gains in Iraq by halting troop withdrawals this summer, all but guaranteeing that about 140,000 U.S. forces will remain at least through the fall presidential election…

 

Frustrated Senators See No Exit Signs

 

By Karen DeYoung and Thomas E. Ricks

Washington Post

April 9, 2008

 

Asked repeatedly yesterday what "conditions" he is looking for to begin substantial U.S. troop withdrawals from Iraq after this summer's scheduled drawdown, Army Gen. David H. Petraeus said he will know them when he sees them. For frustrated lawmakers, it was not enough. "A year ago, the president said we couldn't withdraw because there was too much violence," said Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.). "Now he says we can't afford to withdraw because violence is down." Asked Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.): "Where do we go from here?"

 

<><>CONGRESS<><><><><>><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

 

Business, Labor Groups Gird for Free-Trade Battle

Colombia Deal Tests Congress's Appetite For Globalization

 

By Greg Hitt

Wall Street Journal

April 9, 2008

 

WASHINGTON -- Business and labor groups are preparing to battle over a trade deal with Colombia after President Bush on Monday gave Congress 90 days to approve or reject it. The deadline leaves a limited time for supporters and opponents of the pact to sway lawmakers, as the Colombia deal shapes up as a major test of how much further globalization and open trade can go now that Democrats are in charge on Capitol Hill…

 

<><>OTHER NEWS<><><><><>><><><><><><><><><><><><>

 

Bush to Expand Homeowner Help

White House Moves In Bid to Thwart Democrats' Action

 

By Damian Paletta and John D. McKinnon

Wall Street Journal

April 9, 2008

 

WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration appears set to support a significant expansion of its assistance for struggling homeowners in a bid to forestall more-aggressive action being contemplated by Democrats in Congress…

 

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