South Carolina Poll: Mitt, Huck Up, Rudy Cratering, Race Super-Volatile  —  Greetings from Clemson, South Carolina, where John McCain is scheduled to make an appearance this morning before heading to Florida for the YouTube debate.  —  But the big news here is a new Palmetto Poll …

Head of Rove Inquiry in Hot Seat Himself  —  Bloch Used Private Company,  —  Geeks on Call, to Delete Files  —  On His Office Computer  —  WASHINGTON — The head of the federal agency investigating Karl Rove's White House political operation is facing allegations that he improperly …

Bill Clinton Flatly Asserts He Opposed War at Start  —  During a campaign swing for his wife, former President Bill Clinton said flatly yesterday that he opposed the war in Iraq "from the beginning" — a statement that is more absolute than his comments before the invasion in March 2003.

The GOP and 'the Internets'  —  Tonight in Florida, the Republican presidential field will reluctantly take the stage at the CNN/YouTube debate to answer some of the more than 3,000 questions submitted online from ordinary people over the previous weeks.  —  Just like the Democratic YouTube debate …

Text of Bush's Remarks at Annapolis Conference  —  Here are the remarks President Bush delivered today at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., as transcribed by Federal News Service, Inc., a private firm not affiliated with the government.  —  Mr. Bush's remarks opened a meeting …

Obama Invests in Feb. 5 Strategy  —  When 2008 morphed into the fast-track campaign, it was broadly assumed that the slew of big states holding primaries on Feb. 5 would play into the hands of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.).  Her name recognition alone, this theory held …

Democrats' health plans echo Nixon's failed GOP proposal  —  WASHINGTON — Even before Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton unveiled her new health-care plan, Republicans attacked it as socialized medicine.  They neglected to mention, however, that her plan bears a striking resemblance …

In Iowa, Mormon Issue Is Benefiting Huckabee  —  The religious divide over Mitt Romney's Mormon faith that his supporters had long feared would occur is emerging in Iowa as he is being challenged in state polls by Mike Huckabee, a former Baptist pastor who has played up his faith in his bid for the Republican presidential nomination.

GOP will demand 'oath' of February primary voters  —  RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — If you're planning to vote in Virginia's February Republican presidential primary, be prepared to sign an oath swearing your Republican loyalty.  —  The State Board of Elections on Monday approved a state Republican Party request …

Cabbies, Though Still Wary, Find a Wider Comfort Zone  —  BAGHDAD — Haider Abbas, a 36-year-old taxi driver, had only a few moments to answer what is often a life-or-death question in this city: Would he drive a passenger home?  —  The home, on that scorching afternoon last month …

Rudy and the gays  —  The Empire State Pride Agenda, the main New York gay group, launched a site today with video of Rudy Giuliani's appearances before the group.  —  The best moment — which gives you a feel for who he was as New York's mayor — comes with what his audience took …

BUSTED!!.... ANOTHER BOGUS IRAQI SLAUGHTER STORY!!!  —  LAY THIS BOGUS IRAQI SLAUGHTER STORY TO REST...  Reportedly, on Sunday 11 close family members of Jordanian-based Baathist reporter Dia al-Kawwaz, who runs the online anti-Iraq newspaper Shabeqat Akhbar al-Iraq, were slaughtered in Baghdad.

Caution: Taliban Crossing  —  IN the early 1900s, a crusty British general, Andrew Skeen, wrote a guide to military operations in the Pashtun tribal belt, in what is now Pakistan's North-West Frontier Province.  His first piece of advice: "When planning a military expedition into Pashtun tribal areas …

US public opinion shifts on Iraq 'surge'  —  US public opinion on military progress in Iraq has improved sharply since the troops "surge" started in February but a majority of Americans still want soldiers brought home, according to a new poll.  —  Some 48 per cent of Americans now believe …