Top Items:
The Politico:
Thompson may drop out, back McCain — DES MOINES, Iowa - Several Republican officials close to Fred Thompson's presidential campaign said they expect the candidate will drop out of the race within days if he finishes poorly in Thursday's Iowa caucus. — Thompson's campaign …
Discussion:
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Rasmussen Reports:
As Campaign Season Begins, Only One Presidential Candidate is Viewed Favorably by Majority of Voters — One impact of the long run-up to Election 2008 can be seen in public perceptions of the leading Presidential candidates. After a year of campaigning with no votes actually being cast …
Discussion:
No More Mister Nice Blog, Buck Naked Politics, Taylor Marsh, The Huffington Post, Hullabaloo, Daily Kos and Viking Pundit
Byron York / The Corner:
Team Fred Strongly Denies... Good morning from Des Moines. I just got off the phone with Rich Galen, a top adviser to Fred Thompson, and it would be an understament to say that he is strongly denying the Politico story reporting that Thompson “will drop out of the race within days if he finishes poorly in Thursday's caucus.”
Discussion:
Betsy's Page
Chuck Todd / MSNBC:
Get your post-caucus spin now — With this guide, you can analyze any result — before the Iowans gather — DES MOINES, Iowa - In a matter of hours, following the results of the Iowa caucuses, a contest will begin. It will take place among the slew of national media trying to determine exactly what happened.
Discussion:
Ben Smith's Blogs, Blue Crab Boulevard, RealClearPolitics, Democratic Strategist and Donklephant
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Marc Ambinder:
Caucus: Clinton Revises Turnout Model Up — ** Hillary Clinton's team has revised its turnout model. The same senior campaign source who projected a turnout of 140,000 voters is now predicting that 150,000 voters will show, and says that, according to the turnout model the campaign is employing …
Discussion:
Des Moines Register
Jason George / The Swamp:
Huck yucks it up with Leno — Mike Huckabee, a Republican presidential candidate and a former Arkansas governor, plays the electric bass guitar with The Tonight Show Band's Music Director Kevin Eubanks on January 2, 2008. (Photo by: Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank) — by Jason George
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Chase Martyn / Iowa Independent:
Richardson Set to Send Obama Second-Choice Support — [Exclusive] Gov. Bill Richardson's campaign is expected to direct their supporters to caucus for Sen. Barack Obama in the second round of voting at Thursday's caucuses in precincts where he is not viable.
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John Deeth / Iowa Independent:
Clinton Understood Surface, Not Spirit, Of Caucuses
Clinton Understood Surface, Not Spirit, Of Caucuses
Discussion:
Crooks and Liars
Associated Press:
Manhunt for Father Suspected of Killing Teen Girls — IRVING, Texas — Police continued searching for a man suspected of shooting his two teenage daughters, including one who called 911 about an hour before officers found them dead in his taxi, police said.
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Foreign Policy:
Seven Questions: Gen. David Petraeus on Winding down the Surge — By the end of July, 25 percent of American combat troops are due to withdraw from Iraq. FP sat down with Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, to find out how he plans to draw down without leaving chaos behind.
Zogby:
Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby Daily Tracking Poll: Obama Moves Into Lead Followed by Edwards; Huckabee Lead Widens — Clinton, Romney dip as Ron Paul gains — UTICA, New York - Democrat Barack Obama continued his upward momentum through the evening before the Iowa caucuses, capturing the lead ahead …
Mark Steyn / The Corner:
Re: Fred's end? — It would be a big loss, for reasons Peter Robinson and Michael Ledeen have outlined, if Fred Thompson were to pull out. But in practical terms the timing is everything. A pull-out before Saturday obviously boosts McCain in NH. But the very floating of the rumor …
Shaun Waterman / Washington Times:
Press, political pressure helped ‘lose’ Fallujah, report says — A secret intelligence assessment of the first battle of Fallujah shows that the U.S. military thinks that it lost control over information about what was happening in the town, leading to “political pressure” …
New York Post:
ROCK MAKES THE GARDEN HOWL — RAUNCHY stand-up Chris Rock had Madison Square Garden in stitches Monday night, when he kicked off his six-month tour performing for a sold-out New Year's Eve audience of 20,000 fans who gave him a midnight standing ovation. — The comic from Bed-Stuy proclaimed …
Detroit News:
The Detroit News endorses McCain — The new year begins with the nation on the doorstep of political transition. We look with keen anticipation toward a pragmatic presidency that will set a course of national purpose and prosperity, a presidency that will restore the government's financial discipline …
Walter Alarkon / The Hill:
Democrats say Bush can't pocket veto defense bill — House Democrats and the Bush administration appear on the verge of a new constitutional fight over whether President Bush can pocket-veto the defense authorization bill. — The White House on Monday said it was pocket-vetoing the measure …
Discussion:
TPMmuckraker
The Big Trunk / Power Line:
A WORD FROM PHILIP ZELIKOW — Philip Zelikow is the fomer executive director of the 9/11 Commission. Before returning to the University of Virginia, he served most recently as counselor of the United States Department of State. Among his academic degrees is a law degree from the University of Houston Law Center.
Discussion:
Captain's Quarters