LAKE BUENA VISTA, Florida (Reuters) - Democratic presidential candidates wooed Hispanic voters on Saturday with pledges to keep working for immigration laws that would allow more of those already in the United States to become citizens and voters.

Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and five other Democrats spoke to the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials two days after the U.S. Senate killed a proposal that would have created a path to citizenship for more than 12 million illegal immigrants, many of them Hispanic.

The association had supported the proposal and the candidates said they would keep working for a better version that weighed the contributions of immigrants as heavily as the need for border security.

Clinton, the New York senator who leads the Democratic field in national polls for the November 2008 election, said the United States must find a way to tighten border security while giving undocumented workers a sensible way to become legal workers even if they lack the high-tech skills favored for visa applications.

"Many of us had relatives who came to this country without skills but have made a great contribution to themselves and their families and we're proud of them and we want to give more people that chance going forward," Clinton said.

All four Democratic candidates in the Senate -- Clinton, Obama, Dodd and Joe Biden of Delaware -- voted to advance the now-failed immigration proposal.

A recent USA TODAY/Gallup Poll said U.S. Hispanics, by nearly 3 to 1, are Democrats or lean that way. Two-thirds of U.S. Hispanics live in states that will hold primary elections to choose presidential nominees on or before February 5, 2008, including Florida, California, New York and Texas. In previous elections, the early primaries that weed out the field of candidates were concentrated in states with only small Latino populations.

By Jane Sutton, Reuters, June 30, 2007

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Taking a swipe at a potential GOP presidential rival, Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton on Saturday criticized Fred Thompson for suggesting illegal Cuban immigrants pose a terrorist threat.

"I was appalled when one of the people running for or about to run for the Republican nomination talked about Cuban refugees as potential terrorists," Clinton told Hispanic elected officials. "Apparently he doesn't have a lot of experience in Florida or anywhere else, and doesn't know a lot of Cuban-Americans."

Thompson, who is polling strongly among GOP primary voters and is expected to join the race soon, made the comment at a campaign stop Wednesday in South Carolina. The actor and former Tennessee senator was criticizing an immigration bill in the Senate, contending it would make the country more vulnerable to terrorism. Noting that the United States had apprehended 1,000 people from Cuba in 2005, Thompson said, "I don't imagine they're coming here to bring greetings from Castro. We're living in the era of the suitcase bomb." Fidel Castro is Cuba's leader.

All the major Democratic presidential candidates were at Walt Disney World for a forum sponsored by the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials. Of the GOP candidates, only California Rep. Duncan Hunter accepted the group's invitation to speak.

With the failure of an immigration reform bill in the Senate still fresh, all the candidates vowed to pursue comprehensive immigration reform in the future. All said they support a path to citizenship for the 12 million immigrants living illegally in the U.S.

Illinois Sen. Barack Obama defended his vote last year to build a 700-mile fence across the U.S.-Mexican border, saying it was just one component of a robust immigration bill he had worked hard to negotiate. "Nobody has been a more consistent supporter of comprehensive immigration reform than I have been," Obama said. "Do I believe fences make good neighbors and are the right approach? No, I don't believe that." Clinton and Delaware Sen. Joe Biden also voted for the bill containing the fence provision.

Florida, which intends to hold its important primary Jan. 29, is more than 20 percent Hispanic.

By Beth Fouhy, Associated Press, June 30, 2007

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton is the top-rated presidential contender in the United States, according to a poll by Opinion Research Corporation released by CNN. At least 49 per cent of respondents would support the New York senator in head-to-head contests against three prospective Republican nominees.

Rodham Clinton holds a four-point lead over actor and former Tennessee senator Fred Thompson, a two-point advantage over Arizona senator John McCain, and a one-point edge over former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani.

Illinois senator Barack Obama leads Thompson by 12 points and McCain by four points, but trails Giuliani by two points.

On Jun. 27, Giuliani rejected calls for a U.S. withdrawal from Iraq, declaring, "What happened in Gaza is a microcosm of what's going to happen in Baghdad. It will become something that inflames the entire region." Giuliani also criticized Iran, saying, "You are not going to be allowed to become a nuclear power. No how, no way, just not going to happen."


Angus Reid Global Monitor : Polls & Research, June 29, 2007

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Hillary Rodham Clinton remains the top contender in race for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination in the United States, according to a poll by Rasmussen Reports. 37 per cent of respondents would support the New York senator in a 2008 primary.

Illinois senator Barack Obama is second with 25 per cent, followed by former North Carolina senator John Edwards with 13 per cent. Support is lower for New Mexico governor Bill Richardson, Delaware senator Joe Biden, Ohio congressman Dennis Kucinich, and Connecticut senator Chris Dodd.

On Jun. 27, Edwards expressed dissatisfaction with the behaviour of right-wing writer Ann Coulter, declaring, "When these hatemongers, with their hate language, continue to speak out, we are not going to sit by quietly anymore. We are past the time for caution and calculation." Earlier this year, Coulter referred to Edwards as a "faggot" during a speech in Washington, and said she wished "he had been killed in a terrorist assassination plot."


Angus Reid Global Monitor : Polls & Research, June 29, 2007

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton has become the most popular United States presidential hopeful in the Sunshine State, according to a poll by the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. At least 44 per cent of respondents would support the New York senator in head-to-head contests against three prospective Republican nominees.

Rodham Clinton holds a six-point lead over former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, a five-point advantage over actor and former Tennessee senator Fred Thompson, and is barely ahead of Arizona senator John McCain.

In other match-ups, Illinois senator Barack Obama is tied with McCain, trails Giuliani by eight points, and leads Thompson by two points. Former U.S. vice-president Al Gore leads Thompson, but trails McCain by one point and Giuliani by nine points.


Angus Reid Global Monitor : Polls & Research, June 29, 2007

Thursday night's Democratic presidential debate at Howard University was a lovefest, not a slugfest. The candidates essentially agreed on the issues and frequently displayed a chumminess that suggested most of them would gladly join a ticket led by the eventual nominee. The good will was flowing so freely that, well into the discussion of racial justice, healthcare and education issues. New York Senator Hillary Clinton, D-New York, exclaimed, "It's hard to disagree with anything that has been said."

The candidates vied to impress with rhetorical flourishes rather than jabs.

Even if they had not been appearing on the campus of a historic black university, they would all have expressed appropriate concern about the Supreme Court's ruling Thursday to ease restrictions against segregation in public education. But the fact that the debate took place at Howard brought out the best in the candidates, as they angrily denounced the courts decision to "roll back the clock" on civil rights.

Illinois Senator Barack Obama, the only black candidate on the stage, was especially eloquent in his denunciation of the current court's assault on the protections set in place by the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education ruling that barred state-sponsored school segregation Speaking of the courageous students, parents and civil rights lawyers who fought to bring the Brown v. Board of Education case to the high court more than half a century ago, he mused, "If it were not for them, I would not be standing here." Yet it was not Obama's reference to the civil rights movement, nor former North Carolina Senator John Edwards' "this issue of poverty is the cause of my life" declaration that drew the evening's most passionate response.

Rather, it was a comment by Clinton to the reality of how deeply racial disparities still divide and damage the United States. During a discussion of responses to the AIDS crisis, which had hit young African-American women especially hard, the senator from New York said, "Let me just put this in perspective: If HIV-AIDS were the leading cause of death of white women between the ages of 25 and 34 there would be an outraged, outcry in this country."

Clinton had to struggle to finish the sentence, as the crowd's applause rose to deafening levels. It was a masterful moment; one that, fairly or unfairly, inspired comparisons with the best performances of her husband, Bill. And, while Clinton did not dominate this debate as she did the last one in New Hampshire, she again came off as the most polished of the candidates.

On the AIDs policy question in particular, Hillary Clinton communicated an understanding of the issue at hand that went far deeper than talking points. She seemed to "get it." And the crowd rewarded her with a genuine embrace.


The Nation, June 29, 2007

WASHINGTON - Not only is Hillary Clinton leading her rivals overall, she is doing surprisingly well among minority voters, a new poll says.

The Gallup Poll's annual minority survey said the New York Democrat is virtually tied with black Illinois Sen. Barack Obama among African-Americans.

And she trounces all her rivals with Hispanic voters - even Hispanic New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson.

"Right now, it's pretty much Hillary, and then all the rest," said Gallup's Jeff Jones.

All eight Democratic candidates looked to build their minority support last night in a debate aimed at African-American voters.

According to the survey, Clinton edges Obama with black voters, 43 percent to 42 percent. Among Hispanics, she gets 59 percent support, compared with 13 percent for Obama, 11 percent for Richardson and 7 percent for John Edwards.

Jones said the likely reason Clinton is doing so well among groups that might be expected to follow the historic pattern of being drawn to one of their own is that Clinton is the best-known.

For instance, Jones said Richardson "does better among Hispanics than any other group, but 70 percent of Hispanics still don't know who he is."

Among African-Americans, Clinton is very well-known and well-liked. "That probably has a lot to do with how popular Bill Clinton was," he said.

Obama is also popular, but 24 percent of blacks still don't know who he is.

It seemed unlikely that Thursday night's debate would have a big impact on those numbers, being broadcast on PBS, which has an influential but relatively narrow viewership.

But with the debate held at Howard University, one of the nation's most prestigious black college, and moderated by black journalists, expectations were high for Obama.

Edwards also hoped to gain in a format focusing on domestic issues. His campaign chairman, ex-Rep. David Bonior, has complained that the first two debates were too heavily focused on Iraq and foreign policy.

Overall in the Gallup Poll, Clinton led with 41 percent, followed by 24 percent for Obama and 14 percent for Edwards.

A Fox News Poll out Thursday gave Clinton a slightly larger lead.

By Michael McAuliff, New York Daily News, June 29, 2007

Opinion on Dem candidates holds steady, while GOP race is more fluid:
WASHINGTON - It is incredibly interesting to look at the vastly different trajectories for each party's 2008 presidential nominating contests, with a dozen Republicans in one contest and eight Democratic candidates in the other. In four Cook Political Report/RT Strategies national polls taken over the last two months, two strong impressions emerge.

The first point that jumps out is that the Democratic contest is remarkably stable, with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York maintaining a consistent 10- or 11-point lead over Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois. Obama, in turn, holds a steady 8- or 9-point edge over former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina. And Edwards is a dozen or so points ahead of the candidate at the top of the second pack.

Over the four Democratic contest surveys, Clinton held 35 percent of the vote, Obama had 24 percent, Edwards had 15 percent, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson had 3 percent and Delaware Sen. Joseph Biden had 2 percent, with 1 percent or less for the others. The most recent sampling showed precisely the same, except that Biden had 3 percent and Richardson had 1 percent.

The four surveys were conducted April 27-29, May 11-13, June 15-17 and June 21-23. A total of 3,439 registered voters were interviewed, including 1,568 Democrats or independents who lean Democratic, and 1,382 Republicans or Republican-leaning independents.

The second strong message is that the Republican race is much more fluid. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani began the year with about 37 percent in Cook/RT polling, staying about 13 to 19 points ahead of Sen. John McCain of Arizona. But in the latest four-poll sequence, Giuliani holds a much narrower lead, 25 percent to 21 percent. The combined sample of Republicans and GOP leaners has a 2.6-point error margin. Former Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney were running about even for third place, with 12 percent and 10 percent, respectively. Other candidates received 2 percent or less.

But in the most recent survey of the four, Giuliani (22 percent) and McCain (21 percent) were virtually even at the top, as were Thompson (14 percent) and Romney (12 percent) one level back.

(The poll results for both parties are based on questions that exclude potentially significant candidates who are not in the race and who, unlike Thompson, have not signaled a strong intention to run -- former House Speaker Newt Gingrich on the Republican side and former Vice President Al Gore, the Democratic presidential nominee in).

Using the full four-poll sample, there was a 32-point gap on the Democratic side between the first- and fourth-place candidates, holding steady, while on the GOP side there was a 15-point gap between first and fourth, with first and second dropping and third and fourth rising. This essentially indicates a flattening in the GOP contest.

The stability and even spacing in the Democratic fight suggests it would take fairly dramatic developments to upset this steady order.

The tightening up of the GOP nomination contest, however, with previous front-runners faltering and relatively newer or fresher faces rising, suggests that this is becoming a fight oriented more toward resources and momentum. This puts pressure on the two early front-runners, Giuliani and McCain, to produce the resources to resurrect their earlier premier status, while Thompson and Romney have to show that they can keep up their upward momentum and produce the resources to continue to fuel it still higher. In short, Giuliani and McCain have to play defense from a weaker position than before, while Thompson and Romney are on offense, needing to build on existing momentum.

In the combined June surveys, which tested 1,699 registered voters with a 2.4-point error margin, Clinton and Giuliani were tied with 43 percent each in a head-to-head matchup. She had a narrow lead against Thompson, 44 percent to 41 percent, and led Romney by 46/38.

By Charlie Cook, National Journal, June 29, 2007

Score one for Hillary Clinton.

The New York senator turned in the single most impressive performance during a debate among the Democratic presidential candidates Thursday night in Washington, D.C.

Clinton was crisp, cogent and methodical in her answers. She understood better than any of the other candidates the need for terse answers when so many candidates are given so little time in which to answer questions.

It's more than just a debating skill. American presidents lead the nation through television appearances, and Clinton's performance Thursday night suggests she can do that. She showed she has mastered the ability to put a lot of information into a few seconds on the tube.

She did that by talking more about solutions instead of yammering about how bad the problems are. Some of her opponents, who've had careers in the U.S. Senate or House, didn't get to the point before their time was up.

Her performance Thursday night was so good it should help her cement her lead in polls of the race nationally. In Iowa, where she's not been doing as well as she is across the country, it should help her break away from Barack Obama and try to overtake John Edwards.

Obama held his own, but at this stage in the race, he needed something more stellar to show he's got some depth on issues. (His most memorable moment came when he made it clear he got his HIV test with his wife.) A big disappointment was John Edwards' performance. He let himself get lost in the shuffle. Joe Biden was sometimes too angry and too hot for television. Chris Dodd looked and sounded presidential, as usual, but he was marginalized by being placed next to the loose cannon of the race, Mike Gravel. Gravel and the other minor candidate, Dennis Kucinich, are given no chance of winning the nomination and seem to be doing little in the campaign except showing up for these debates.

Thursday's event was a refreshing change of pace from earlier forums. It dealt with issues such as education that often are eclipsed by discussions of terrorism and the war in Iraq. Also, all candidates got to answer the same question, which helps voters make comparisons. And the nation got to get a look at some of the special problems facing African-Americans. Questions about AIDS, poverty, the high incarceration rates of blacks, Africa and racial discrimination aren't often discussed in prime-time debates, and they got an airing Thursday night.


By David Yepsen, Des Moines Register, June 29, 2007

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton was the runaway winner over the race's lone black candidate in the Democratic debate, according to groups of African-American voters in Harlem and Washington, D.C.

In the nation's capital, 33 undecided voters who identified themselves as people of color and who supported John Kerry in 2004 scored last night's face-off an overwhelming victory for Clinton.

Twenty-seven participants gave the former first lady the nod, compared to just two who went with Barack Obama.

The voters, gathered in a focus group with GOP pollster Frank Luntz on the Howard University campus outside the debate hall, each evaluated the candidates with a "dial machine" linked to a computer - turning the knobs to the right to 100 for great answers, or to the left to 0 for bombs.

Clinton scored consistently in the 80s, while Luntz's panelists panned Obama as flat.

The Harlem panel, organized by The Post, had a more mixed response but still leaned to Clinton. Of 18 voters - eight of whom were truly undecided - six thought Clinton won, two people gave candidate John Edwards the edge, and one gave Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd a nod. Just one viewer thought Obama won, while eight others picked one of the other of the eight candidates on stage.

"I would have liked to have heard [Obama] give more of [Clinton's] answers," said Ernestine Roach, a 66-year-old Harlem denizen who works for the Sanitation Department. Thomas Donaldson, a 41-year-old lawyer supporting Obama, said, "I think [Hillary] spoke forcefully and with conviction . . . I don't think it's a measure of his candidacy. I just think she's a better performer."

By Ian Bishop and Maggie Haberman, New York Post, June 29, 2007

Candidates' Schedules Show The Hawkeye State Remains A Key:

(CBS) Halfway through this pre-election year election year, one major piece of the primary puzzle appears to be falling into place and campaigns are using their travel habits to answer a major question - whether Iowa and New Hampshire will retain their traditional importance.

While delegate-rich states like Florida, California, New York (and about two dozen others) have done their best to wrest away some of the influence these two smaller states have held in recent years, Iowa and New Hampshire appear well-positioned to retain their status for 2008. If you need any evidence, just look at the candidates' schedules.

The biggest splash on the campaign trail next week will come from Hillary Clinton's campaign, when former President Bill Clinton joins his wife in joint appearances for the first time. The Clintons are not spending three days talking to prospective voters in California or Florida; they'll be rubbing elbows with potential caucus-goers in Iowa. Barack Obama and Mitt Romney aren't walking in Fourth of July parades in Feb. 5 states like New Jersey or New York; they'll be in Clear Lake and Oskaloosa, Iowa.

In fact, just about all the presidential candidates from both parties are scheduled to be in Iowa next week. John McCain, Rudy Giuliani and John Edwards are the only notable candidates we haven't seen scheduled in the state at some point in the next five days - but they haven't been avoiding the state either.

When Giuliani and McCain decided to skip the Republican straw poll this summer, it could have been a blow to Iowa's stature. But both campaigns remain active there, and Fred Thompson's apparent interest in the straw poll might well add some excitement back into the August event. So far, none of the candidates have even hinted at skipping the state altogether.

Many of the other 48 states have long chafed at the prominence given to Iowa and New Hampshire. Critics ask why two small states, with populations that are overwhelmingly white and middle class, should have the major say in determining the president of a huge, diverse nation. The answers this year are the same as they have always been: Candidates simply get more out of campaigning in Iowa than in states like California, which is almost a nation all its own. It's easier and less expensive to organize and reach actual primary participants. The media attention is greater because journalists, like candidates, can travel the states without taking multiple flights to get from one city to the other. And somebody will win Iowa and New Hampshire and grab at least some momentum.

If all the top-tier candidates, or even most of them, skipped one or both of these states, it might well have a large impact. But that's not going to happen. The Giuliani and Clinton campaigns both have exhibited some level of interest in skipping Iowa - but both have since publicly pledged to go all out to win the caucuses.

This cycle may yet prove to be the last hurrah for the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary, especially if that huge block of states coming soon after reverses the decisions made by those early voters. But six months before the voting begins, the candidates themselves are putting their feet where their strategies are.


By Vaughn Ververs, CBS News, June 29, 2007

Here's how fast the money chase has accelerated in the still-early contest for the 2008 presidential nominations: The amounts raised individually between April and June by each of the two leading aspirants for the Democratic nomination appear likely to match or exceed the totals raised in the parallel period by the top five contenders for the party's 2004 nod - combined.

Democratic Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois are among the phalanx of candidates who have stepped-up their solicitations for campaign cash to a crescendo this week. This Saturday marks the end of this year's second quarter, and the cutoff point for next batch of money reports that are due to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) by July 15.

What is known, though, is that the cumulative amounts raised by the Democratic contenders will shatter all records, and then some, for money amassed at this point in a presidential campaign cycle by any previous Democratic presidential candidates - including those seeking to challenge President George W. Bush just four short years ago.

To refresh: The most prolific Democratic fundraiser in the second quarter of 2003 was former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, who raised $7.6 million between the beginning of April and the end of June that year. Dean - who lost his bid and now chairs the Democratic National Committee - was followed by Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry ($5.9 million), the eventual nominee; Connecticut Sen. Joseph L. Liberman ($5.1 million), the 2000 Democratic vice president nominee who is now an independent; then-Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina ($4.5 million), who would become Kerry's vice-presidential running mate; and then-Rep. Richard A. Gephardt of Missouri ($3.9 million). That's a total of $27 million raised by the five leading Democratic hopefuls halfway through the year preceding the 2004 presidential election.

By comparison, Clinton's campaign took in $26 million during the first three months of this year, and expects to report at least as much for the second quarter. "We expect to bring in about what we did in the first quarter, or slightly more, which should put us in the range of $27 million," Howard Wolfson, a longtime Clinton aide, said in an e-mail message to supporters.

Obama's campaign, meanwhile, claims to be approaching a total of 250,000 contributors - an astonishing number that far surpasses that of any other candidate. With the largest contributor base, Obama has the potential to raise even more than Clinton's considerable sums.

Whatever Clinton and Obama report raising in the second quarter, it will not be significantly behind the all-time record-setter for that period in the pre-presidential year: the $34.4 million that Republican George W. Bush raised in the second quarter of 2003.

And, significantly, Bush was the incumbent president at the time and had no competition for campaign funds on the Republican side; Clinton and Obama, on the other hand, are running to succeed Bush in a crowded Democratic field that also includes Edwards, veteran Sens. Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware and Christopher J. Dodd of Connecticut, and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, among others.


By Greg Giroux, Congressional Quarterly, June 28, 2007

Each is favored by 43 percent of voters here, but Giuliani is losing ground in other swing states.

Former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani is tied in a head-to-head contest in Ohio with U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., according to a Quinnipiac University swing state poll released Wednesday. Clinton ties Giuliani in Ohio 43 percent to 43 percent.

Clinton is easily leading the Democratic field in Ohio while Giuliani is tops among Republicans.
Giuliani is slipping in both the 2008 general election and Republican primaries in two other critical states: Florida and Pennsylvania.

Clinton tops Obama
Clinton still holds a commanding lead in her own party, leading the closest challenger, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, by 28 points in Ohio and 23 points in Florida. Cast against Republicans, Clinton topped McCain and Thompson in all three states.

McCain has slipped not only in Republican polls, but has lost significant ground against his Democratic rivals. After leading against Obama and Clinton in Ohio on April 26, McCain now trails both, 43 percent to 38 percent and 44 percent to 42 percent.

While Thompson is gaining ground in his own party, match-ups against the three major Democratic candidates show him trailing significantly.

By Mike Kelly, Dayton Daily News, June 28, 2007

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton could defeat a Republican United States presidential hopeful in 2008, according to a poll by Rasmussen Reports. 46 per cent of respondents would vote for the New York senator, while 42 per cent would support Arizona senator John McCain.

Support for Rodham Clinton in this match-up increased by four points since late May, while backing for McCain fell by six points. In a separate contest, Rodham Clinton holds a one-point edge against former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani.

Yesterday, Rodham Clinton criticized the current government for giving "six years of silent treatment" to Iran, adding, "In this vacuum, Tehran continues its progress toward developing nuclear weapons and increasing its influence in the region."


Angus Reid Global Monitor : Polls & Research, June 28, 2007

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Billionaire investor Warren Buffett used his business clout and folksy wisdom to raise $1 million for Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Clinton on Tuesday, telling big donors that Democrats are better than Republicans at taking care of the less fortunate.

Buffett has said he admires both Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama and could support either one. He mentioned neither by name as he regaled listeners in the New York event billed as "A Conversation with Hillary Clinton and Warren Buffett." Many of the attendees work on Wall Street. They paid $500 to hear Buffett and the New York senator, $1,000 to attend a separate cocktail party or $4,600 to attend a dinner as well, bringing the take to $1 million, a Clinton spokeswoman said.

The conversation was dominated by Buffett, the Berkshire Hathaway Inc chairman whose investment successes and chatty annual letters have earned him the nickname "The Oracle of Omaha." A relaxed and smiling Clinton said comparatively little and nodded as Buffett spoke.

He recalled a saying, "buy stock in a company that's so good that an idiot can run it, because sooner or later one will." When he added, "now I think that sort of applies to the country too, actually," the audience burst out laughing. "We have an opportunity in 2008 to repair a lot of damage," Buffett said, referring to the election to replace Republican President George W. Bush.

"We have a great economic machine. Our problem is not abundance, but our problem is how we conduct ourselves in the world, what we do for those who don't get the lucky straws in life."
Buffett advocated a beneficent and fair society. "Treat the ones who got the lucky tickets magnificently, but treat everybody at a decent level and just remember, you know, you could have gotten their ticket," he said. "I think the Democrats do a better job of ignoring their own tickets," he said.


By Ellen Wulfhorst, Reuters, June 27, 2007

WASHINGTON - Democratic presidential contenders Hillary Rodham Clinton and Bill Richardson on Wednesday urged the Bush administration to continue a dialogue with Iran as the U.S. tries to thwart the country's pursuit of nuclear weapons. In separate speeches, the candidates offered a broad indictment of President Bush's foreign policies, from the Iraq war to the use of unilateral force to relations with Iran and North Korea.

Clinton said the administration has given Iran "six years of the silent treatment." "In this vacuum, Tehran continues its progress toward developing nuclear weapons and increasing its influence in the region," she told the Center for a New American Security. "After initial talks with Iran and Syria on Iraq, the administration says it isn't sure that we need any more discussions with either of them. I think we should keep talking."

The New York senator said U.S. priorities should be bringing troops home from Iraq, demanding that Iraqis take responsibility for their country or lose U.S. aid and intensive diplomacy to restore frayed relationships. "We have a long road ahead to repair the damage that has been done these past six years," she said.

She said she would introduce legislation soon to deal with nuclear terrorism. She said the administration has abandoned nonproliferation efforts, cutting off dialogue with Iran and allowing North Korea to reprocess enough material to make nuclear bombs and test a nuclear weapon. Clinton said she would increase funds for the global threat reduction initiative, ensure the removal of highly enriched uranium from research reactors around the world and create a senior adviser to the president for nuclear terrorism.

By Nedra Pickler, Associated Press, June 27, 2007

One big factor behind the flight from the GOP: a heated debate over immigration in which congressional Republicans' remarks on illegal immigrants have offended many Hispanic voters. The fallout from that battle, shifting Latino loyalties and a changing political calendar have scrambled political calculations made about Hispanics after the last presidential election - and raised the stakes for their role in choosing the Democratic nominee for the next one. Even though the presidential candidates are frantically raising money in the final days before the end of the month - the second-quarter fundraising totals are seen as benchmarks for their standing - all the Democratic contenders accepted invitations to address NALEO, the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials. They will speak to the group's convention in Orlando on Saturday.

Hispanics will be more wary in 2008, Gilda Lopez, 56, a speech pathologist and reliable Democrat. With a crisis in Iraq and questions at home about the GOP's attitudes toward Hispanics, she says, "I cannot understand how a Hispanic person could vote Republican." The new survey finds fewer who say they will. Only 11% of Hispanics now identify themselves as Republicans, down from 19% in 2005, while the proportion who call themselves Democrats has jumped to 42% from 33%. Including independents who "lean" to one party or the other, Democrats lead Republicans among Hispanics 58% to 20%.

In a matchup between the candidates who lead in national polls, Hispanics overwhelmingly support Clinton over Republican Rudy Giuliani, 66% to 27%.

Patti Solis Doyle, campaign manager for Clinton and the daughter of Mexican immigrants, says the New York senator is determined to reverse the gains Bush made. "We did see President Bush make some real inroads among Hispanics, and she is very aggressively going after those votes," says Solis Doyle, Clinton's former scheduler and the first Latina to head a major presidential campaign. Her office is decorated with photographs of her husband and two children, a Diego Rivera print and framed copies of three Time magazine covers featuring Clinton.

The campaign has hired a leading Hispanic pollster, a director of Hispanic outreach and a liaison to Spanish-language media. Clinton also has landed some prized endorsements from top Hispanic officeholders, including Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and New Jersey Sen. Robert Menendez.

In part, Clinton's strength among Hispanics reflects the fact that she is the best-known candidate. Many Hispanics also have lingering affection for her husband, who got 62% of the Latino vote in the 1992 presidential election and 72% when he was re-elected in 1996. "I like Hillary," Margaret Crutchfield, a 61-year-old Mexican-American, says after the San Antonio rally for Obama, whom she says she also likes. Then Crutchfield adds, brightening: "I love Bill Clinton."

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, the son of a Mexican mother and American father, also sees Hispanic support as "a critical part of his constituency," campaign manager Dave Contarino says.
But Richardson still has to introduce himself. Six in 10 Hispanics polled say they've never heard of the former congressman and Cabinet member, the first Hispanic to seek the Democratic presidential nomination. He has announced key Latino supporters even in New Hampshire, a state that's less than 2% Hispanic.

Obama, meanwhile, is playing catch-up. Nearly half of Hispanics nationwide say they've never heard of the Illinois senator. Among Hispanic Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents, 13% support him. That's his weakest standing among any major demographic group, according to an analysis of combined USA TODAY/Gallup Polls taken this year.

By Susan Page, USA Today, June 27, 2007

PRINCETON, NJ -- The 2008 presidential election has gotten off to an unprecedented early start. Many candidates were off and running as the year began. How much has all of the extremely early campaigning for president at this stage of the 2008 race affected voter preferences? On the Democratic side, not much. On the Republican side, not much more.

The Fight for the Nominations

New York Sen. Hillary Clinton established her lead among the Democratic candidates early in the process. Since January there have been two occasions when Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, who has been in second place during most of 2007, came within striking distance of Clinton in Gallup Polls, but she has otherwise maintained her lead, which has ranged from 9 to 19 percentage points. In Gallup's latest poll, conducted June 11-14, 2007, Clinton leads Obama by 11 points among Democrats (33% to 21%).

Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards (a formally announced candidate) and former Vice President Al Gore (who has not ruled out a bid but has said he has no plans to run at this time) have been competitive for third place among Democrats. Each has the support of at least 10% of Democrats, not too far behind Obama, but there has been little indication that either Gore or Edwards (let alone the other Democrats who will campaign for the nomination) are making significant enough gains to challenge Clinton.

The Republican race has seen a jockeying of candidates for second place, while there has been little serious threat to the frontrunner, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, since January. Giuliani emerged as the GOP leader in early February, after having been closely matched with Arizona Sen. John McCain earlier, and has held that position ever since.

Eight in 10 Democrats nationwide, compared with only 6 in 10 Republicans, are satisfied with the choice of candidates for their respective party's nomination. This relative lack of satisfaction on the GOP side could be seen as a sign of encouragement for unannounced Republicans such as Thompson and Gingrich to officially enter the race. The finding that there is a high level of satisfaction among rank-and-file members of the Democratic Party may suggest less of an opportunity for Gore if he were to decide to enter the Democratic field.

Early Measures on the November 2008 Outcome

Seventeen months before the nation chooses its next president, most signs from the political environment favor the Democratic Party. The Democrats have a clear advantage in party identification among the voting-age population, Americans view the Democratic Party more favorably than the Republican Party, and the basic indicators of the nation's mood are quite negative -- something that typically bodes well for the party not currently occupying the White House. Thus, not surprisingly, when asked for their generic party preference for president earlier this year (April 2007), Americans were much more likely to say they would rather see the "Democratic Party's candidate" win the 2008 election rather than the "Republican Party's candidate." The specific Democratic presidential candidates have capitalized on that underlying advantage when matched up against the specific Republican candidates in trial heat questions for the 2008 election.

McCain and Giuliani would appear to present the toughest match-ups for the Democrats at this point. Giuliani is the most positively rated candidate of either party, with a 57% favorable rating in the latest Gallup survey. And while McCain is not rated as favorably overall (47%), he is potent because he has impressive appeal across political parties -- rated much more positively than negatively by independents, and only slightly more negatively than positively by Democrats. The other Republican contenders, Thompson and Romney, are still unknown to roughly half of Americans and thus are not as well positioned to compete against a well-known Democrat.

2008 Election Issues

The situation in Iraq is overwhelmingly seen as the most important problem facing the country today, and is the top issue Americans at this point say they will take into account in their 2008 presidential vote. The degree to which Iraq will continue to dominate the election by next year is unknowable. A scenario in which U.S. troops have begun to withdraw from Iraq by 2008 is not out of the question, nor is a scenario in which the recent "surge" in troops is seen as a success. Each of these would significantly affect the presidential campaign.

Terrorism will probably continue to be a strong underlying issue in the campaign -- Americans may not talk or even think about it much, but concern can be easily activated, particularly if there is another major terrorist event. The economy is almost always a factor in an election. Consumer views of the economy became more positive in January, but are much more negative in the latest June poll, possibly because of gas prices. Healthcare is a rising concern among Americans and has been a major issue in past election campaigns. Immigration will likely remain a campaign issue unless and until Congress passes legislation to address the subject of illegal immigration. Immigration ranks second behind the war in Iraq in Gallup's latest update on the most important problem facing the nation.

by Frank Newport, Jeffrey M. Jones, Lydia Saad, and Joseph Carroll, The Gallup Poll, June 27, 2007

At the inaugural forum of the Center for a New American Security, Hillary Clinton gave a vast overview of her stances on international policy. In a speech that touched on numerous areas of her foreign policy experience and ideas, Clinton was critical of the Bush Administration's foreign policies, even making a joke at Vice President Cheney's expense. Her speech ranged from topics like Iraq and Afghanistan to China and Darfur.

She stated America must be the world's leader, but must restore its standing in the world in order to do so. She mentioned a big part in foreign policy is to renew alliances around the world and to work on the following issues: genocide, human rights, nuclear proliferation, and global warming.

On Iraq, she repeated her belief that it is time to bring the troops home. "Iraq continues to steal young American lives," Clinton said. She also said the president has been told by numerous generals and the Iraq Study Group there is no military solution to Iraq, only political, and said if the president does not change course, "any Iraqi government is condemned to failure."

The most significant threat, Clinton said, is nuclear proliferation. She said her administration would have a senior adviser to the president on this specific issue. And her speech also touched on Asia and Africa. In Asia, Clinton said its rising technological power may hurt America. In Africa, she called for a no-fly zone, and possible military action with NATO in Darfur if Sudan did not cooperate. She also said there are "good news stories in Africa."


By Mark Murray, MSNBC, June 27, 2007

A new poll of likely New Hampshire primary voters by Suffolk University for WHDH-TV shows Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Mitt Romney holding leads in New Hampshire while some top-tier candidates see their support dangerously dropping.

Clinton picked up nine percentage points from when the same poll questioned voters in February. She now has 37 percent support followed by Barack Obama who has 19 percent.
The poll, for the first time, shows slipping John Edwards and rising Bill Richardson tied with 9 points. The poll showed 16 percent were undecided.

For Republicans, Romney held the lead with 26 percent compared to Rudy Giuliani's 22 percent. John McCain was tied with candidate-to-be Fred Thompson at 13 percent. Of Republicans 17 percent were undecided.

The poll question 500 likely New Hampshire voters from June 20-24. The margin of error was 4.38 percent.

By James Pindell, The Boston Globe, June 27, 2007

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Hillary Rodham Clinton is holding on to the top spot in the race for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination in the United States, according to a poll by Opinion Research Corporation released by CNN. 35 per cent of respondents would vote for the New York senator in a 2008 primary.

Illinois senator Barack Obama is second with 23 per cent, followed by former U.S. vice-president Al Gore with 16 per cent, and former North Carolina senator John Edwards with 13 per cent. Support is lower for New Mexico governor Bill Richardson and Delaware senator Joe Biden.


Angus Reid Global Monitor : Polls & Research, June 26, 2007

(CBS) Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are the favored presidential candidates of younger Americans, according to a poll conducted by CBS News, The New York Times and MTV.

Eighteen percent say they're enthusiastic about Obama and 17 percent are enthusiastic about Clinton - far more than say the same about Republicans Rudy Giuliani (4 percent), Mitt Romney (2 percent) and potential candidate Fred Thompson (2 percent).

Among those who plan to vote in the Democratic primaries, 29 percent are enthusiastic about Clinton and 26 percent about Obama.

Forty-five percent of younger Americans aren't enthusiastic about any candidate.

If the election were held today, a majority of 17 to 29-year-olds (54 percent) say they'd vote for the Democratic candidate, while 32 percent would vote Republican. Nearly eight in ten younger Americans think their generation will have a lot or some impact on who the next president will be.

And even at this early stage, six in ten say they're paying a lot or some attention to the campaign. That's compared with just 35 percent who said they were paying attention in the summer of 2003, the same point before the last presidential election. Most say the 2008 presidential election is the most important, or one of the most important, in their lifetime. Nearly three-fourths of 17 to 29-year-olds say they're registered to vote, and most of those who aren't say they plan to register before the 2008 election. Not surprisingly, many are using the Internet to learn about the candidates. One-third say they've been to a candidate's Web site and 15 percent have connected to a candidate through social networking sites like MySpace or Friendster.

On the issues, younger Americans name the economy (23 percent) and Iraq (20 percent) as their top concerns, followed by education and the environment. But two-thirds of 17 to 29-year-olds say the candidates aren't paying enough attention to some of their specific topics of concern: student loans, job training, health care for the uninsured and reducing oil use.

Most young Americans don't think being black or female would affect how people they know would view a candidate, but being Mormon or gay or lesbian might.

Only 28 percent think most people they know would vote for a Mormon, and only one in four think most would vote for a gay or lesbian.



CBS News Polls, June 26, 2007

U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown announced Monday that she is backing U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton for president.

The Jacksonville Democrat saluted Clinton as having "the best combination of strength, experience and intellect to be president and lead from her first day in the White House. ... As she's repeatedly done as senator, she will bring people together to get results."

The former first lady, in turn, saluted Brown's "tireless work on behalf of our veterans to ensure they get the health care and benefits they need and deserve ... I am honored to have her support."

Brown is a member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. She was elected to Congress in 1992 after 10 years in the Florida House.

She represents the 3rd Congressional District, which covers parts of Duval, Clay, Putnam, Alachua, Volusia, Marion, Lake, Seminole and Orange counties.

The Florida Times-Union, June 26, 2007

All the campaign visits to California from Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Rudy Giuliani appear to be paying off, according to a new poll released Monday, and Democrat Barack Obama - despite being greeted like a rock star at recent Bay Area rallies - is falling farther behind.

Clinton, who was in Los Angeles last week, is widening her lead among California Democrats to 37 percent, earning overwhelming support from women and non-whites, according to a random survey of 663 California registered voters conducted early last week by San Jose State's Survey and Policy Research Institute.

The former New York mayor, meanwhile, who is planning a trip to Northern California on Thursday, is maintaining a strong, but tighter, lead among the Republican pack with 25 percent support.

With California's primary scheduled for earlier than ever - in February, along with two dozen other primaries and caucuses - the front-runners are quickly solidifying their support and lesser-known candidates are barely registering. "This is one of the outcomes of the early primaries," said survey director Melinda Jackson, an assistant political-science professor at San Jose State University. "We're seeing so much money being raised so early in the race that Bill Richardson and Chris Dodd aren't even able to compete. We're seeing the field shake out pretty quickly."

In a distant second to the New York senator, U.S. Sen. Obama of Illinois and former U.S. Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina are tied with 15 percent. Obama is down from a high of 33 percent support in January, when he was running a close second to Clinton. Edwards, whose wife spoke at San Francisco's gay pride parade on Sunday, is slowly moving up.

"Clinton is being swept along by her support among women," said Philip Trounstine, director of the research institute that conducted the survey. "If Edwards, Obama or any other candidate can peel women away from Clinton, the Democrats could have a competitive race in California. But if Clinton keeps her grasp on women, it's not going to be much of a contest here." If she maintains the hold on women - where she has 45 percent support - "she may have this wrapped up already," Jackson added.

In the more competitive Republican field, actor and former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson, who hasn't formally announced his candidacy, has inched into second place with 16 percent support, with a statistically insignificant lead over U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona.

Although California generally tracks three or four points to the left of national polls, Clinton's support appears to be gaining hold across the country. A CNN poll conducted during the weekend shows Clinton at 35 percent support. Obama has a strong presence in second place at 23 percent, followed by former Vice President Al Gore, who hasn't entered the race. Edwards is running fourth at 13 percent.

The San Jose State poll also found President Bush's approval rating in California plummeting to near-historic lows. Among Republicans, his approval rating is no more than 46 percent, and his approval on Iraq among Republicans is no more than 50 percent. Fifty-three percent of Republicans say they believe the president tells the truth, according to the survey. "The American people have been loud and clear in expressing their growing dissatisfaction with the president's performance over the course of his second term," Jackson said. "At the same time, President Bush has remained steadfast in pursuing his chosen policies while ignoring this downward spiral in public opinion."

By Julia Prodis Sulek, San Jose Mercury News, June 26, 2007

There are no surprises in this week's polling on the race for the Democratic Presidential nomination. For the sixth straight week, New York Senator Hillary Clinton is in the mid-30s, Illinois Senator Barack Obama is in the mid-20s, and former North Carolina Senator John Edwards is in the mid-teens.

This week's numbers are Clinton 37% Obama 25% and Edwards 13%. A week ago, it was Clinton 38% Obama 27% and Edwards 16%. Clinton has been within three points of the 35% level in seventeen of the last eighteen weekly updates. However, she has been at 35% or above for six of the past seven weeks. Prior to that, she had been under 35% for six weeks.

Clinton is viewed favorably by 80% of Democrats while 69% have a favorable opinion of Obama and 73% say the same about Edwards.

Clinton, in addition to solidifying her role as the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination, now leads Arizona Sen. John McCain by four percentage points in a general election match-up. That's a net gain of ten percentage points for Clinton over the past month. Clinton continues to trail another New York politician, former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, by a single point. That's little changed from a month ago.

In this week's poll, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson and Delaware Senator Joe Biden each attract 4% of the vote. Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich earns 3%, Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd is the choice of 1%, and former Alaska Senator Mike Gravel attracts about half a point. Thirteen percent (13%) are undecided.

The current survey of 763 Likely Democratic Primary Voters was conducted June 18-21, 2007. The margin of sampling error is +/-4 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. The Rasmussen Reports sample includes not only Democrats, but also independents who say they are likely to vote in a Democratic Primary.


Rasmussen Reports, June 25, 2007

THE RACE: The presidential race for Republicans and Democrats in Nevada:

Democrats
Hillary Clinton, 39 percent
Barack Obama, 17 percent
John Edwards, 12 percent
Bill Richardson, 7 percent

Republicans
Fred Thompson, 25 percent
Mitt Romney, 20 percent
Rudy Giuliani, 17 percent
John McCain, 8 percent

"Law & Order" actor Thompson has not declared his candidacy, yet the former Tennessee senator's ranking in the poll indicates a lack of enthusiasm for other GOP candidates. McCain, an Arizona senator, is at odds with GOP conservatives over his support for immigration legislation, and saw his support fall to single digits.

On the Democratic side, New York Sen. Clinton has had between 37 percent and 40 percent of Nevada Democrats in every poll so far. Gov. Richardson came in fourth despite his focus on Nevada from his neighboring state of New Mexico.

The poll was conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research. The survey was conducted Wednesday through Friday among 400 likely Republican caucus-goers and 400 likely Democratic caucus-goers. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points.


The Associated Press, June 24, 2007

It's one for the record books. Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton showed up at Saturday night's Jefferson-Jackson fundraiser dinner for the Arkansas Democratic party. And the turnout of more than 4,000 people made it the largest paid political event in Arkansas history. There was plenty of time to catch up with the former Arkansas first lady, but the presidential campaign naturally still dominated her address.

"When I am president we will have health insurance for every single American. That is a pledge," Senator Clinton told the audience who responded with a roar of applause. She was back in the Natural State for the first time as a presidential candidate. She made her positions known on numerous issues including her desire to bring troops home from Iraq, and the need for independence from foreign oil. She said Arkansas farmers will play a vital role in producing crops to help solve fuel problems. "I'd rather be thinking about Arkansas when I fill up the tank, than folks across the ocean who don't even care about America," she said.

Supporter Jerry Todd said, "I think she's sincere in what she wants to do and I think she has the experience to do it." Those behind the New York senator were thrilled to see her back in Arkansas. State Senator Shane Broadway said, "any time you have a former first lady as prominent as Senator Clinton come to town there's a lot excitement around that."
And supporters' opinions reflect the most recent polls showing Clinton in the lead for the democratic nomination.

Senator Mark Pryor said, "my guess is right now it looks like Senator Clinton will be the democratic nominee and she'll be the next president of the United States." While there's a long way to go in this presidential election, supporters have high hopes for her success. But for now, they're just pleased to see someone with Arkansas ties making a name for herself in the race.

Senator Blanche Lincoln said, "I think Arkansans are very proud. They're very proud of the independent-minded ideas and quality of candidates that come from Arkansas."


By Justin Earley, Fox16 .com, June 24, 2007

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Hillary Rodham Clinton holds a large lead in the national race for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination in the United States, according to a poll by Princeton Survey Research Associates released by Newsweek. 43 per cent of respondents would support the New York senator in a 2008 primary.

Illinois senator Barack Obama is second with 27 per cent, followed by former North Carolina senator John Edwards with 14 per cent. Support is lower for Ohio congressman Dennis Kucinich, New Mexico governor Bill Richardson, New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, Delaware senator Joe Biden, and Connecticut senator Chris Dodd.

On Jun. 22, Biden discussed the current state of affairs in the U.S. Congress, saying, "We do not have effective control of the U.S. Congress. There are 49 Democrats, 49 Republicans, and two independents who caucus with the Democrats, to give the party a majority. You need 60 votes to proceed and 67 votes to prevail over a presidential veto. It's an unrealistic expectation that Republicans will give us enough votes to do that."

Angus Reid Global Monitor : Polls & Research, June 24, 2007

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton is the most popular presidential hopeful in the Empire State, according to a poll by the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. At least 52 per cent of respondents would support the New York senator in head-to-head 2008 presidential contests against three prospective Republican rivals.

Rodham Clinton holds a 15-point lead over former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, a 24-point advantage over Arizona senator John McCain, and a 27-point edge over actor and former Tennessee senator Fred Thompson.

Illinois senator Barack Obama is tied with Giuliani, but leads McCain by 15 points and Thompson by 24 points. Former U.S. vice-president Al Gore holds the upper hand against the three prospective Republican candidates.

In a separate contest-which ponders the possible candidacy of current New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg as an independent-Rodham Clinton is first with 43 per cent, followed by Giuliani with 29 per cent, and Bloomberg with 16 per cent.

In 2004, Democratic nominee John Kerry carried New York's 31 electoral votes, with 58 per cent of the vote. No Republican has won the Empire State since Ronald Reagan in 1984.

Angus Reid Global Monitor : Polls & Research, June 24, 2007

NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Hillary Rodham Clinton returned Saturday to Arkansas, where she spent 12 years as the state's first lady, to rally Democrats as she seeks her party's presidential nomination. The New York senator and wife of Arkansas' political son Bill Clinton"I just remember people wanting to achieve things together," she said, standing on a stage in the center of Alltel Arena. "That's the way Arkansas worked best and that's the way America will work best." recalled her days traveling Arkansas and the feeling of camaraderie she had with the people she met.

Clinton called upon an audience of about 4,000 at the Democratic Party of Arkansas' annual Jefferson-Jackson fundraiser to work with her. "I want to be a president who sets goals for America again," she said. "And I want to ask everyone to work together to achieve those goals."

Gov. Mike Beebe, who has not yet announced an endorsement for the 2008 race, told Clinton, "Senator, on behalf of almost three million Arkansans, welcome home."

Unlike her husband, who was governor of Arkansas before he was elected president, Hillary Clinton isn't a native of the state. Still, her supporters say voters will embrace her as one of their own. "Arkansas is in you and we know it and we see it every day," said Rep. Vic Snyder. Sen. Mark Pryor said: "I think she has a special relationship with the state of Arkansas and the people of this state. I think she has a big advantage over anyone, Democrat or Republican, in this state."

By Andrew DeMillo, Associated Press, June 24, 2007

Rep. Albio Sires on Friday joined the growing list of elected New Jersey officials to endorse Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., for president.

Earlier this month, Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., endorsed Clinton and was named a co-chairman of the campaign. In April, Governor Corzine endorsed Clinton along with a large group of officials that included Reps. Frank Pallone, D-Long Branch, and Rob Andrews, D-Haddon Heights.

Sires met with Clinton on Thursday in Washington in advance of the announcement. "I've seen firsthand Hillary Clinton's tireless efforts to help the people of New York affected by the attacks of 9/11," Sires said in a news release. "It's just one example of her strength and leadership that make her uniquely suited to be president." Sires became the first Hispanic speaker of the state Assembly in 2002 when James E. McGreevey, then governor-elect, backed him for the post. Sires served as speaker through 2006, when he was elected to fill Menendez's seat in the House.

Clinton noted Sires' work in the Legislature to raise New Jersey's minimum wage and his work as mayor of West New York to increase the availability of affordable housing. "Congressman Sires has been a tireless advocate of initiatives that make a real difference in the lives of working families," Clinton said in a release. "I am honored to have his support."


By Herb Jackson, NorthJersey.com, June 23, 2007

As Fundraising Quarter Ends, Presidential Campaigns Scramble For Dollars:

AP) Republican John McCain and Democrat John Edwards are in danger of losing their place among the leading presidential contenders if their spring fundraising falls too short of earlier totals.
Next weekend marks the end of the latest fundraising period, covering April through June, and the new finance reports will set a benchmark by which to measure the campaigns. Candidates in the crowded field raised a combined $133.5 million over the first three months of the year.

The latest numbers could further cement Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., and Barack Obama, D-Ill., as the masters of political money. In the January-March period, those two White House hopefuls combined to raise more than $50 million; each is believed on track to match or exceed their first-quarter total.

For Republicans, Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani are at the top of the money race. But the picture is blurred by the potential entry Fred Thompson, the actor and former senator from Tennessee.

A look at the fundraising picture ahead of the latest reporting period, which ends June 30:

John McCain's stance in support of President Bush's immigration policies has hurt his fundraising. But the Arizona senator has packed his schedule with an average of more than one fundraiser a day this month in hopes of approaching the $13.6 million he raised in the first quarter.

John Edwards' campaign says he will fall $5 million short of his $14 million first-quarter total. On Friday, the former North Carolina senator and 2004 vice presidential nominee sent an appeal to donors that sets a $9 million goal for April through June. While that message probably is an attempt lower expectations, no one disputes that Edwards will fail to keep pace with the earlier total.

Hillary Clinton's campaign promises to match her $26 million haul from the first quarter. She is ending the current reporting period with fundraisers in Chicago, New York and Miami. On Sunday, she planned a large gathering of Indian-American supporters and then a more intimate event hosted by Charles Dolan, the founder and chairman of Cablevision Systems Corp., a New York area cable TV provider. The event of this upcoming week is on Tuesday in New York, hosted by billionaire Warren Buffet and a who's who of investment bankers, hedge fund managers and private equity investors. They include Morgan Stanley's chief executive, John Mack, a fundraiser for President Bush in 2004.

Obama, who raised $25.7 million from January through March, could surpass that total, though aides say they have no chance of beating Clinton. Obama amassed a stunning list of 104,000 donors in the first three months and since has expanded that base. Buffet has offered to raise money for Obama, too, and is expected to do an event for him soon, but not this month.

Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, led all Republicans with $20 million last quarter. He might fall short of that tally as the campaign tries to expand its list of 30,000 donors from the first quarter. On Sunday, Romney planned to rent Fenway Park for a barbecue for donors. Aides expected to take in at least $1 million from an event Monday at the TD Banknorth Garden, where the Boston Bruins and Celtics play. A similar fundraiser in January amassed more than $6 million.

Giuliani, who raised $16.1 million last quarter, is expected to be in the same range this time. The former New York City mayor is ending the month with several fundraisers in California.

It would be difficult - but not impossible, some Democrats say - for either Clinton or Obama to match Bush's second-quarter mark of $35 million in 2003 as he marched unopposed to the Republican nomination. Clinton "has locked down the institutional Democratic Party money," said Democratic strategist Anita Dunn, who is not aligned with a candidate in the 2008 race. "And Obama is proving there is actually a universe out there, beyond that, and a very potent one."

Edwards' aides say they are satisfied raising $9 million, with a goal of $40 million by the Iowa caucuses, the leadoff state, in January. The $14 million that Edwards raised early this year doubled the amount he took in during the comparable period in 2003, when he made his first presidential bid. The $9 million target set by the campaign is twice the amount Edwards raised in the second quarter of 2003. "This is not about outraising our opponents in a meaningless fundraising arms race or what any of the other campaigns are doing around us," said Edwards' spokesman, Eric Schultz. "This is about executing our plan, which is raising enough money to push our message in the critical early states, and building strong operations around the country." But Edwards will have to show progress to keep his donors involved. He had led in polls in Iowa, but those surveys have tightened. What's more, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, who raised $6.2 million last quarter, could surpass that total and draw within striking distance of Edwards. That would vault Richardson's standing in the contest at Edwards' expense.

Among Republicans, the candidate with the most at stake is McCain. He began the year as the GOP front-runner, yet now trails in national and state polls. He recast his money operation after his third-place finish in the January-March period. But just as he was stepping up his effort, the Senate began to debate changes in immigration law. In the Republican field, McCain is the only candidate who supports the legislation, which conservatives have panned. Over the years, McCain has taken policy positions that, at times, have been in conflict with his own party. A spokesman, Brian Jones, acknowledged that the senator's stands "present some challenges in terms of fundraising." "You have to work harder for the dollars," Jones said. Republican pollster Tony Fabrizio, who is not involved in the presidential contest, said he believes McCain's campaign is "hanging by the fingertips." But he said that even if McCain stumbles, he has a chance to recover. "John McCain has the political capital with the media that before they write him off they will give him the benefit of the doubt," he said.

CBS News, June 23, 2007

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Democrat Barack Obama exploded into the 2008 White House race on a crusade to cleanse politics: nearly five months of campaign trail rough-and-tumble later, he is still in Hillary Clinton's shadow. Senator Obama, 45, second in national polls in the Democratic race, has yet to puncture the aura of inevitability the pace-setting former first lady is building around her campaign.

Vying to become America's first black president, Obama has dealt in trademark charisma and soaring rhetoric, but shown inexperience, and his lofty idealism has been tested in the brutal arena of national politicking. "He came into the race with such a big bang, but there is a learning curve on the campaign trail," said Dan Shea, a professor of political science at Allegheny College, Pennsylvania.

On average, in national polls in June Clinton led in the Democratic race for nomination with around 35 percent, followed by Obama at 23 percent and former 2004 vice presidential nominee John Edwards at 12 to 14 percent -- roughly where the race has been for months.

In states hosting early nominating contests next year, the race is also forming. A CNN/WMUR poll this month in New Hampshire had Clinton on 36 percent Obama on 22 percent and Edwards on 12 percent.

In Iowa, a recent Mason-Dixon poll put Clinton on 22 percent, Edwards on 21 percent and Obama on 18 percent. Obama led Clinton 34 percent to 25 percent in a snapshot of the race by the same firm in South Carolina, where African-American support is key.

There have also been missteps. Obama recently had to apologize after aides sent out a memo questioning Clinton's ties to India and the Indian-American community. Questions have also been asked in the media over Obama's inexperience, as the next president may have to extricate the United States from Iraq, with the Middle East in flames.

By Stephen Collinson, AFP, June 23, 2007

LITTLE ROCK -- Sen. Hillary Clinton, who spent 12 years as first lady of Arkansas, returned Saturday to rally fellow Democrats and to campaign for president. "I think American is ready for a change," she said during a speech at the Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner, the state Democratic Party's biggest event of the year. "Arkansas runs deep in me and always will," she said to the roaring applause of about 4,000 people who attended the event at the Alltel Arena in North Little Rock.

Clinton, D-N.Y., a top candidate for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination, entered the arena to a standing ovation and the Jon Bon Jovi song "Who Says You Can't Go Home?" During her 30-minute speech, the wife of former President Bill Clinton asked Arkansans to support her in her run for the Democratic Party nomination, and she spoke highly of Gov. Mike Beebe and the state's congressional delegation. She said Beebe had specific goals when he ran for governor last year, including reducing the sales tax on food and increasing funding for pre-kindergarten programs, and that she will also have specific goals she will implement if elected president.If elected president, Clinton pledged to make quality and affordable health care available to everyone in the United States.

Clinton recalled her days in Arkansas, both as a law professor at the University of Arkansas, as a lawyer and as first lady. "I am so grateful for the friendships that have really been just part of my heart for so many years," she said.

She also said pledged to address the country's energy needs, and said one way would be to develop more biodiesel fuels using Arkansas crops. "We'll have a new energy policy," she said. Clinton also pledged to bring U.S. troops home from Iraq, and to improve America's image around the world. She said the Bush administration will "go down in history as probably the most ill-prepared to govern or at least indifferent to govern that we've ever had."

Beebe and the state's three Democratic congressmen and two U.S. senators all addressed the crowd on a stage in the center of the arena before Clinton. "She has a brilliance that few people can match," Beebe said. "Senator, on behalf of almost 3 million Arkansans, welcome home." Second District Rep. Vic Snyder, D-Little Rock, told the crowd that she may be a senator from New York now, but she will always be an Arkansan. "Arkansas is in you and we know it and we see it every day," Snyder said. "She will be the next president of the United States." Pryor said before the fundraiser he also thought Clinton would win the presidency, and she will do well in Arkansas and other key states, including Florida. "I think she has a special relationship with the state of Arkansas and the people of this state," Pryor said.

By Rob Moritz, The Morning News, June 23, 2007

WASHINGTON -- Barack Obama is running well among high-earning, well-educated Democrats in the race for his party's 2008 presidential nomination. But unless he can broaden his appeal, he risks mimicking past flameouts by Gary Hart, Paul Tsongas and Bill Bradley. Those three highbrow Democrats found support from the party's upper-echelon voters and, like Obama, created a lot of early buzz. In the end, all lost the presidential nomination to rivals with wider followings.

A recent Associated Press-Ipsos poll showed Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York leading Obama by 33 percent to 21 percent among Democrats and those leaning toward the party, with other candidates dividing the rest. A major source of Clinton's lead was women, who favored her over the fledging Illinois senator by 2-to-1. But Clinton also held big advantages over Obama among lower-income, less educated Democrats. That included a 4-to-1 edge among people earning less than $25,000 a year and a nearly 3-to-1 margin with people who have not attended college. With the two roughly splitting support from the best-educated, highest-earning Democrats, that spells potential trouble for Obama.

The gap is becoming too wide between the upper middle class and everyone else," said Richard Underwood, 50, of Carbondale, Ill., assistant manager of a video store and a Clinton supporter. "I think she understands that, at least I hope she does, and maybe will keep the rich from gathering up all the mon