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

THE FIELD

Lenders Agree to Freeze Rates on Some Loans

By Edmund L. Andrews and Vikas Bajaj
New York Times
December 6, 2007

Democratic lawmakers and presidential contenders quickly criticized the White House plan to freeze interest rates for some distressed borrowers as too timid…

CLINTON

Slapping Down a Viral Smear

By Jeff Zeleny
New York Times
December 5, 2007

Hillary Rodham Clinton’s campaign distanced itself from an Iowa volunteer who forwarded an e-mail message making false allegations about Barack Obama…

OBAMA

Change of Venue for Oprah-Obama Event

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

The Obama campaign has just moved its Oprah event on Sunday to a football stadium with a capacity of more than 80,000…

Looking for a free seat to see Oprah Sunday?

Los Angeles Times Top of the Ticket
December 5, 2007

Demand for tickets to her Carolina rally with Obama forces a move to a larger place -- much larger…

RICHARDSON

Bill Richardson: a negotiator's faith in fairness and finding the common good

By Jane Lampman
Christian Science Monitor
December 6, 2007

The Democratic presidential hopeful, perhaps best known for his success in hostage-rescue missions, says he's motivated by 'a big desire to resolve problems.'…

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

HUCKABEE

Pulpit Was the Springboard for Huckabee’s Rise

By Jodi Kantor and David D. Kirkpatrick
New York Times
December 6, 2007

Mike Huckabee’s campaign has been shaped by his two decades as a pastor and broadcaster in Arkansas, where winning souls trained him to win votes…

Huckabee on Rapist, Murderer

By Kate Phillips
New York Times
December 5, 2007

This is an episode in the career of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee that probably will not go away soon. It has all the markings of salacious, tabloidian detail that can haunt a candidate, a lawmaker, an elected official, who walks and stalks the halls of criminal justice, who has, as he has said, weighed decisions on whether to impose capital punishment, and has ordered death…

No Time for Sleep or News

By Julie Bosman
New York Times
December 5, 2007

Mike Huckabee had an embarrassing moment on the campaign trail, his first since sprinting up in the Iowa polls…

For Huckabee, it's fun at the top

By Seema Mehta
Los Angeles Times
December 5, 2007

The candidate's entourage of supporters and reporters grow, a far cry from earlier in the year…

McCAIN

Schilling Joins McCain in New Hampshire

By Marc Santora
New York Times
December 5, 2007

Curt Schilling, Red Sox pitcher and McCain booster, joined John McCain on the campaign trail in New Hampshire…

From McCain to Schilling to NH voters...

By Jill Zuckman
Chicago Tribune
December 5, 2007

MANCHESTER, N.H. - The talk at the town hall forum Wednesday night ran the gamut: Iraq, Ted Williams, Iran, A-Rod, global warming, Red Sox manager Terry Francona, health care, and left-fielder Manny Ramirez…

ROMNEY

Romney to Take on Issue of Faith -- Vaguely
Speech Aims to Ease Uncertainty Over Mormonism and to Sway Evangelicals

By Elizabeth Holmes
Wall Street Journal
December 6, 2007

WINDHAM, N.H. -- The bustling activity of the Windham Junction Country Store stopped suddenly Tuesday morning when Tom Eifler addressed Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney. "Later this week you'll be talking about your Mormon background," the 62-year-old said hesitantly and then asked Mr. Romney to comment on the "risk factor" of the speech…

Crucial Test for Romney in Speech on His Religion

By Michael Luo
New York Times
December 6, 2007

Mitt Romney’s advisers say that in his address he will emphasize religious liberty and make a case for the robust role of faith in public life…

Fix Picks: Reading Up on Romney

By Chris Cillizza
Washington Post
December 5, 2007

For the next 24 hours, College Station, Texas, will be at the epicenter of the Republican political world…

It's about voters' faith in Romney

By Peter Wallsten
Los Angeles Times
December 5, 2007

Religion aside, the GOP presidential candidate hasn't overcome what many see as shifting positions…

What Romney won't be saying about Mormonism

By Mark Silva
Chicago Tribune
December 5, 2007

COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- A low brick Institute of Religion for the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints sits a mile down the wide boulevard -- George Bush Drive -- from the modern stone presidential library where Republican Mitt Romney will deliver a speech on "Faith in America'' in the morning. An Episcopal Center sits here, too. And a Hillel House…

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

Judge Rules for DNC in Calendar Fight

Washington Post
December 5, 2007

In the ongoing war between the Democratic National Committee and its state affiliate in Florida, score one for the national party…

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

The Candidates’ Tough Stances, on TV

By Jacques Steinberg
New York Times
December 6, 2007

An organization asked candidates seeking the Democratic and Republican nominations about the policies they’d imagine implementing in regard to children and the media…

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

As N.H. Primary Nears, Clinton Clings to Narrow Lead

By Dan Balz and Jon Cohen
Washington Post
December 6, 2007

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton holds a narrow lead over Sen. Barack Obama among Democratic presidential candidates in New Hampshire, a state whose primary her campaign has viewed as a potential firewall should she stumble in the Iowa caucuses, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll…

Poll Shows Romney With Wide Lead in New Hampshire
Huckabee at 9% In Contrast to Advance in Iowa

By Jon Cohen and Dan Balz
Washington Post
December 5, 2007

Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney holds a wide lead over his Republican rivals in New Hampshire, where he is seen as the strongest leader and most electable presidential candidate in the field, but the GOP race there remains unsettled a month before the nation's first primary, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll…

Parsing the new N.H. polls

Los Angeles Times Top of the Ticket
December 5, 2007

The key numbers may not be the obvious ones…

Poll finds conflicted feelings on immigration

By Janet Hook
Los Angeles Times
December 5, 2007

1 in 3 want no social services for illegal immigrants, but 60% favor a path to citizenship for non-criminals…

Huckabee surges toward Giuliani

By Janet Hook
Los Angeles Times
December 5, 2007

Among GOP-leaning voters, the former Arkansas governor's campaign for president is catching fire beyond Iowa…

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

Justices Leery of Bush's Guantanamo Stance

By Jess Bravin
Wall Street Journal
December 6, 2007

WASHINGTON -- A majority of Supreme Court justices seemed skeptical of Bush administration arguments yesterday that Guantanamo prisoners have no right to challenge their detentions before a neutral judge…

Cheney expects Iraq to self-govern by '09

By Mike Allen, Jim VandeHei and John F. Harris, The Politico
USA Today
December 6, 2007

Vice President Cheney today predicted Iraq will be a self-governing democracy by the time he leaves office, calling the current U.S. surge strategy "a remarkable success story" that will be studied for years to come…

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

Concerns Raised on Border Fence
Lawmaker Seeks To Delay Handover Of the Boeing System

By August Cole
Wall Street Journal
December 6, 2007

The chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee is pressuring federal officials to delay acceptance of Boeing Co.'s high-tech border-surveillance system because he isn't confident it will work as promised on the Arizona-Mexico border…