N.Y. Mayor Bloomberg Leaves GOP  —  Move Fuels Speculation About Independent Bid for the White House  —  New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg abruptly left the Republican Party yesterday, declaring himself free of a "rigid adherence" to ideology and stoking speculation that he will use …

Billion-dollar elephant inches toward run  —  New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg revealed Monday that he has ended his marriage of convenience with the Republican Party, thrusting himself firmly onto the national stage as a potential independent candidate for president - a billion-dollar elephant in the room of presidential politics.

Clinton Gets Better Reception on Iraq  —  Here's a totally unscientific but not unimportant measure of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton's evolution from Iraq war supporter to antiwar partisan in the last year: She was booed more lightly and gently at this morning's Take Back America gathering of liberal activists than she was a year ago.

Hillary Clinton Booed Again  —  Sen. Hillary Clinton was booed again this morning at the Take Back America conference, sponsored by the lefty activist group Campaign for America's Future here in Washington.  At this same conference last year, Sen. Clinton was booed for her position on the war in Iraq.

Edwards looks to N.H. to stay alive  —  John Edwards, battling signs he may be left behind by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama, is seeking to reinvigorate his candidacy with a new focus on New Hampshire and a renewed emphasis on his populist "two Americas" message, advisers say.