2008 Presidential Campaign Blog

Brownback Expands Exploratory Committee in Iowa and Kansas

BROWNBACK EXPANDS EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE
Kevin McLaughlin of Iowa and Dave Mugler of Kansas Sign On

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Sam Brownback today announced that Kevin McLaughlin of Des Moines, Iowa, and Dr. Dave Mugler of Manhattan, Kansas, have joined his presidential exploratory committee.

"Kevin and Dr. Mugler bring experience and ideas to the table," said Brownback. "Kevin's leadership on tax reform in Iowa speaks to a broader need for federal tax reform, and Dr. Mugler's extensive knowledge of agricultural issues will be crucial as we face changes and opportunities in agriculture and energy."

Kevin McLaughlin was born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa, and has worked in the financial services and investment industry for 30 years. In 1996, he served as the Polk County Chair for Steve Forbes' presidential bid, and in 2000 as the Iowa Vice Chair for Forbes.

"Senator Brownback understands the critical need for tax, Social Security, and health care reform," said McLaughlin. "Anti-growth taxes and the massive cost increases predicted for entitlement programs represent the greatest threat to the well being of young generations of Americans and our future economic health."

"Senator Brownback grew up on a farm and understands firsthand the issues that farmers are facing," said Mugler. "As new opportunities in energy and agriculture bring on the largest changes to farming in a generation, Senator Brownback has the background to embrace the future while respecting the past."

John Edwards Coming To Iowa In Late December

Senator Edwards is going to be in Des Moines for a special event and town hall meeting on Thursday, December 28th. The event will take place at the Iowa Historical Building in Des Moines.

Iowans For Edwards Blog

"Football" Duncan Hunter PAC 2008 TV Ad

"Football" Duncan Hunter 2008 Peace through Strength PAC TV Ad

These new commercials focus on fair trade and national security.

"I’m Congressman Duncan Hunter. Americans start a football game with a clean scoreboard, but China starts a game against our businesses with a 74 point advantage.
The give a 17% subsidy to their guys, they penalize our guys 17%, and they devalue their currency by 40%. That’s cheating and China is buying ships and planes and missiles with America trade dollars. Join me at Peace through Strength for fair trade."

Jim Gilmore Exploring 2008 Bid

Gilmore, Courting Conservatives, Explores 2008 Bid
By Adam Nagourney

James S. Gilmore III, a former Virginia governor and chairman of the Republican National Committee, announced today that he would form a committee to explore a presidential bid in 2008, saying the Republican field lacked a “committed conservative” capable of making a credible campaign for the White House.

NY Times Article

New Rudy Giuliani 2008 Exploratory Committee Website

As you may know, I've been traveling the country campaigning for Republicans and listening to Americans across the nation. With the midterm elections over, now is the right time for me to seriously consider running for President of the United States in 2008.

Let's Keep Moving Forward,

Rudy

New York Area Finance Chairs Join McCain 2008

New York Area Finance Chairs Join Supporters of McCain in 2008

ALEXANDRIA, VA – Today, U.S. Senator John McCain’s presidential exploratory committee announced the formation of the New York Area Finance Team, a fifty-seven member leadership team working to support McCain in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and across the country. The New York Area Finance Team is the most recent group of notable supporters to join the Senator’s growing grassroots organization for a 2008 presidential run.

The New York Area Finance Team includes four national co-chairs, three honorary New York co-chairs, and fifty New York, New Jersey and Connecticut finance committee members. New members include New York Area National Co-Chair Larry Bathgate and Honorary New York Co-Chair Henry Kissinger.

Senator McCain said, “I am honored to have the support of so many talented and experienced professionals. New York is the heart of the financial world, and this team’s work on behalf of my exploratory committee will be indispensable as we move forward.”

McCain 2008 Team Adds Michigan Grassroots Chair

McCain 2008 Team Adds Michigan Grassroots Chair

ALEXANDRIA, VA – U.S. Senator John McCain’s presidential exploratory committee announced today that Michigan Third District GOP Chairman Dave Dishaw will serve as the state grassroots chairman, leading McCain’s team of supporters in Michigan should he decide to pursue the Republican nomination.

“John McCain is the straight-talking, authentic leader our nation needs right now,” said Dishaw.  “He won the Michigan Primary in 2000 and his team will be many times stronger here in 2008.”

Dave Dishaw supported George W. Bush in the 2000 Republican Primary, serving as the statewide Michigan chairman of the Bush-Cheney ‘04 grassroots operation.

McCain said, “Dave Dishaw is one of the very best grassroots organizers in the country and I am proud to have him building our ground organization in Michigan. He is an excellent addition to the team and I look forward to working with him.”

A Second Run At The White House For 2008 Hopefuls

Second Runs

In the last 7 WH races, at least one of the major parties has nominated someone who was making at least their 2nd run.

For now, at least 3 candidates are embarking on 2nd runs in '08: McCain, Edwards and Biden (with Gore a possible 4th)...

Hotline Article

Future Political TV Ads On Your iPod

The Future of Politics in an iPod

"It wasn't long ago that we told you of how the Democrats and Republicans were preparing a new way to reach voters in 2008 through their mobile technology and iPods. Well, now we know why. Republican pollster David Winston tells us that new research found that 40 percent of 2006 voters ages 18 to 34 own iPods. And many don't make time to watch lots of tv, choosing instead to TiVo their faves or record podcasts."

Washington Whispers by Paul Bedard Permalink

Newsweek Takes An In-Depth Look At 2008 Hopefuls

Newsweek Takes an In-Depth Look at 2008 Hopefuls, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama

NEWSWEEK POLL: 50 Percent of Americans Would Most Like To See Hillary Nominated; 32 Percent Say Obama
OBAMA TELLS NEWSWEEK: 'I Have Tremendous Respect for Hillary Clinton. She's an Outstanding Leader in the Democratic Party. She's Earned Her Stripes'

NEW YORK, Dec. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- For 220 years, Americans have elected only white male Christians with no hint of ethnicity to the White House, and no one knows yet whether we are ready to break the chain now, reports Newsweek. As part of the cover package, "The Race is On," Senior Editor and Columnist Jonathan Alter explores whether America is ready for a historic
first in the White House in 2008: the first woman president or the first black president - New York Senator Hillary Clinton or Illinois Senator Barack Obama. "He [Obama] reminds me in many ways of Kennedy in 1960. The pundits said he was Catholic and too young and inexperienced and wasn't a
member of the party's inner circle. They forgot that the nomination wasn't decided in Washington but out in the field," Theodore Sorensen, John F. Kennedy's adviser and speechwriter, tells Newsweek in the December 25, 2006 - January 1, 2007 issue (on newsstands Monday, December 18).

(Read entire cover package at http://www.Newsweek.com.)
Cover: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16238556/site/newsweek/
Barack Obama Interview: 'The Challenges We Face':
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16242286/site/newsweek/
What We Learned the Hard Way:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16242285/site/newsweek/