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

Bush Scolds Congress for Inaction
President Demands Lawmakers Pass Military Spending Bill Before Recess

By Debbi Wilgoren
Washington Post
December 3, 2007

President Bush welcomed the Democratic-led Congress back from Thanksgiving break this morning with a stern warning and a blunt to-do list…

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

THE FIELD

Candidates Hold to Their Stances on Iran

By Marc Santora
New York Times
December 4, 2007

The campaigns of the leading Democratic candidates said a new intelligence report justified their more cautious approach to Tehran…

CLINTON

Vulnerable Democrats Fret About Clinton Ticket

By Carl Hulse
New York Times
December 4, 2007

Some House Democrats in Republican-leaning districts are already concerned over the possibility that Hillary Rodham Clinton will be their party’s nominee…

Clinton Aims for Anger Without Making People Mad

By Patrick Healy
New York Times
December 4, 2007

Attack-style campaigning is tricky political territory for Hillary Rodham Clinton in Iowa…

Bail Set in Clinton Standoff

By Katie Zezima
December 4, 2007

A man accused of taking hostages at Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton’s presidential campaign office in Rochester was arraigned on six felony charges…

Unfriendly Skies for Clinton in Iowa

Washington Post
December 3, 2007

MASON CITY, Iowa--The Clinton press charter filled with a hazy smoke here on Monday morning, forcing reporters to evacuate -- and getting in the way of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's own plane, which was forced to circle in the air, delaying her arrival at an event…

Hsu associates touted his connections

By Robin Fields and Chuck Neubauer
Los Angeles Times
December 3, 2007

Documents show how the fundraiser's network pitched the deals that allegedly turned his Clinton ties into gold…

DODD

Chris Dodd update: He's still stuck in neutral

Los Angeles Times
December 3, 2007

Working hard; going nowhere…

EDWARDS

Edwards cracks wise, at the expense of Camp Clinton

Los Angeles Times
December 3, 2007

He reveals his childhood goals…

Heavy doubt for Edwards' big promises

By Scott Martelle
Los Angeles Times
December 3, 2007

In Iowa, he is asked whether it is 'credible' for him to say he'd strip healthcare from members of Congress if they don't vote for universal coverage…

OBAMA

Oprah Overload Alert

By Katharine Q. Seelye
New York Times
December 3, 2007

There are no tickets left for Oprah Winfrey’s appearance in Columbia, S.C., on Sunday with Barack Obama…

A Case of Political Counter-Programming

By Jeff Zeleny
New York Times
December 3, 2007

Barack Obama opted to talk about cracking down on predatory credit card companies during an event today rather than respond to criticism from Hillary Rodham Clinton…

Obama's little sister: He only recently decided to run

By John McCormick
Chicago Tribune
December 3, 2007

Despite occasional family jokes that he might be president someday, Maya Soetoro-Ng said Monday evening in Chicago that her big brother, Sen. Barack Obama, was not serious about it until very recently…

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

GIULIANI

Giuliani Quit Role at His Firm
Presidential Hopeful Left Posts in Spring; Still Has 30% Stake

By Mary Jacoby
Wall Street Journal
December 4, 2007

Rudy Giuliani is no longer chairman and chief executive of Giuliani Partners LLC, the consulting firm he founded five years ago after leaving the New York mayor's office…

Giuliani’s Firm Lobbied for Bill Considered Threat

By Eric Lipton and Russ Buettner
New York Times
December 4, 2007

Although Rudolph W. Giuliani is campaigning as President Bush’s ally in the war on terror, his law firm has lobbied on behalf of legislation the administration calls a threat to antiterror efforts…

HUCKABEE

Huckabee Repudiates Group’s Effort

New York Times
December 4, 2007

Rival campaigns have said an independent group’s calls promoting Mike Huckabee are spreading negative information about their candidates…

PAUL

How Paul Could Change Race
Republican Candidate Is Poised to Win Role as Spoiler

By Susan Davis
Wall Street Journal
December 4, 2007

Manchester, N.H. -- After shocking the Republican Party establishment with a surge in online support, Rep. Ron Paul is trying to translate his Internet revolution into real votes, particularly in New Hampshire…

Backers Anticipate Another Big 'Money-Bomb'

Washington Post
December 3, 2007

Rep. Ron Paul is poised to outraise the rest of the Republican field this quarter, fueled by his rock star status on the Internet…

Adroit online, Ron Paul backers hit the streets of N.H.

By Ari Pinkus
Christian Science Monitor
December 4, 2007

'Paulites' see the first primary state as fertile ground for their candidate's iconoclastic political views…

ROMNEY

Romney, Politics and Religion

By Kate Phillips
New York Times
December 3, 2007

As the Republican candidate limited the scope of his expected speech on religion later this week, he offered writers and religious experts the chance to provide advice…

Playing Catch-Up to Huckabee, Romney Shifts Iowa Strategy

By Chris Cillizza
Washington Post
December 3, 2007

DUBUQUE, Iowa -- Facing a growing threat from conservative Mike Huckabee, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney said economic and security issues should trump abortion and social issues as Republican voters select their presidential nominee next year…

<><>FIRST CONTESTS<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Why Independents Hold the Key

Wall Street Journal
December 4, 2007

Presidential campaigns, like sports events, play out amid a blizzard of statistics. But if you have to keep in mind just one number, make it this one: Almost 45% of New Hampshire's voters are officially registered as "undeclared" -- that is, they are independent voters…

Romney, Clinton shake up tactics

By Peter Nicholas and Peter Wallsten
Los Angeles Times
December 3, 2007

As they slide in polls, he plans to speak on his religion, while she draws pointed differences with rival Obama…

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

Economy Moves To Fore as Issue For 2008 Voters

By Jackie Calmes and Michael M. Phillips
Wall Street Journal
December 4, 2007

For months, Dale Albright, a 30-year-old Tampa, Fla. bankruptcy lawyer, has watched as his clients buckle under mortgage and credit-card debts. After an expensive recent hospital stay, he's worried that a run of bad luck could leave him in financial straits, too…

A voter walks into a bar . . .

By Seema Mehta
Los Angeles Times
December 3, 2007

Presidential aspirants are using lures like beer and TV parties to court young professionals, whose election clout is growing…

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

Iran halted nuclear arms work in 2003, U.S. says

By Greg Miller
Los Angeles Times
December 3, 2007

Intelligence officials say the pace of uranium enrichment could result in a bomb no earlier than 2009…

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

New Allegations Test Craig's New Boldness
Once-Retiring Idaho Senator Keeps Fighting

By Paul Kane
Washington Post
December 4, 2007

On Labor Day weekend, Sen. Larry E. Craig (R-Idaho) told the nation he would resign within weeks because of the uproar over his arrest in a sex sting in an airport men's room. To stay and fight, Craig said in a news conference carried live by cable news channels, would be "an unwanted and unfair distraction" from his work as a senator and his responsibilities to his colleagues.