Happy Turkey Day

Due to the Thanksgiving Holiday, blogging will be light. Have a safe and blessed Thanksgiving!!

Rudy Goes Federal

According to ABC News, Rudy Giuliani has formed a presidential exploratory committee with the FEC. "The move, which clears the way for Giuliani to begin organizing as he continues to mull over a presidential bid, comes less than two weeks after he first established an exploratory committee in the state of New York and convened a team of potential fundraisers at a midtown Manhattan restaurant to discuss the financial viability of such a run." Rudy is now seriously considering entering the race. The federal committee will have less restrictions than the one who filed with the state of New York.

Newt's Visit

Here are the details for Newt Gingrich's visit to New Hampshire. The former House speaker will be participating in an "Issues & Answers Series" sponsored by the NH GOP. The event will be taking place on Tuesday, November 28th, from 12:00-2:00. It will be at the Bektash Temple in Concord. In the morning, he will also be participating in a "politics & eggs" session. Newt will also be in the state again in a couple of weeks for the Manchester GOP Christmas party.

Hillary Goes On A Spending Spree

New York Senator Hillary Clinton spend more money to get re-elected than any other Senate candidate. However, her efforts has resulted in a depleted campaign war chest. Clinton now has $14 million on had. Compared with Kerry's $13.8 million and Bayh's cool $10.6 million. Hillary's advisors claimed "much of the spending amounted to an investment in voter and fund-raising databases that could form the basis of a presidential campaign. Others said the money went to ensuring as convincing a victory as possible." Women going on spending sprees, that's unthinkable. So much for Hillary going against women stereotypes. Yea, I went there!

Dodd Sents His Turkey Day Greetings

The Hotline is reporting that Senator Chris Dodd mailed a Thanksgiving card to a New Hampshire family. The card reads, "Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Its demands are few. The simple purpose of the day is to take time out to be grateful for the joy of family and friends, remember someone no longer here, feel the bliss of a child's laughter, pause for a moment, and despite what's wrong, to be thankful for what is right and good. Jackie, Grace, Christina and I send our warmest wishes and blessings."

Brownback Makes Some Noise

Kansas Senator Sam Brownback is starting to make some noise. In an AP interview, Brownback said "I think there's room for a full-scale Ronald Reagan conservative in the field. ... I fully agree that other people have much higher name identification than I do. ... But I think what you have to look at is the policy positions they get out once you have an effective campaign." Is Brownback that Ronald Reagan conservative?? He has visited the Granite State twice. Once at St. Anselm College and another visit to SNHU, both are located in Manchester.

Wendelboe's Ankel Biting

Ankel Biting Pundits conducted an interview with New Hampshire GOP Chairman candidate Fran Wendelboe. In the interview Wendelboe laid out the reasons why the GOP should support her for Chairman:

*the experience, historical perspective, and wide view of the challenges that currently face, and will face, the Republican party in NH and on a national level

* a comprehensive understanding of state legislative issues and the budget

* a demonstrated record of support for the Republican principles and the Republican platform

* a hands on intimate knowledge and understanding of the importance of the grassroots network

* the time and energy that will be required to put in the long hours necessary for success

*wide and extensive experience in being an effective and articulate spokesperson for all types of media

*possesses the background, talents, and skills needed to reach fund-raising goals and to motivate and bring together a team of volunteers to implement a variety of innovative programs to involve potential activists and supporters

The full interview can be found here: http://www.anklebitingpundits.com/content/?page_id=1221

Clark's Chess Match

General Wesley Clark, and 2004 presidential candidate, had an op-ed piece in today's USA Today. The article is entitled, "The Next Move." In it, Clark lays out his plan for Iraq. He writes:

The right approach is a coordinated diplomatic, legal, economic and security campaign drawing upon broader dialogue in the region and intensified political work inside Iraq.

Here is how to do this:

•Establish an effective, sustained shuttle diplomacy within the region.

•Form a high-level interagency diplomatic team, representing the White House and secretaries of State and Defense and led by an experienced, respected diplomat.

•Begin talks within Iraq, and with all its neighbors, based on a clear set of principles outlined by the team. The goal would be to seek the commitments necessary to achieve our aims inside Iraq and also advance U.S. interests in the region.

Romney's Albatross

A Rasmussen polled reveiled that: Forty-three percent (43%) of American voters say they would never even consider voting for a Mormon Presidential candidate. Only 38% say they would consider casting such a vote while 19% are not sure. Half (53%) of all Evangelical Christians say that they would not consider voting for a Mormon candidate. Will Romney's religion continue to hinder his presidential ambititions or will his meetings with Evangelical leaders improve his standing?

Romney: I'm A Conservative Republican

Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney has labeled himself "a conservative Republican." In an interview with the DC Examiner, Romney said, "I’m a conservative Republican, there’s no question about that.” Romney went on to criticize Rudy Giuliani and John McCain. Of the two he said “We’re in a different place on immigration; we’re in a different place on campaign reform; we’re in a different place on same–sex marriage; we’re in a different place on the president’s policy on interrogation of detainees." Romney is clearly positioning himself as the conservative alternative to Rudy and McCain.

Dornan: I'll Be Running Against Adulterers

Andrew Cline of The Union Leader reports that former Congressman Bob Dornan is thinking about running for President. Dornan has been contemplating running as a candidate for the Constitution Party. Dornan told Cline, "I can’t stand the thought of my party having as its three front-runners three open adulterers, Newt Gingrich, Giuliani, and McCain. I’ve got one mission left in me, to come up to New Hampshire and tell the truth, and tell the Republicans you better find yourself a fresh face and not Rudy Giuliani who took his mistress around with him and then divorces Donnna who learns she was divorced sitting at home watching TV with her children. We need a fresh face if the Republican Party is going to appeal to an Orthodox Jewish, Evangelical or practicing Catholic.” Dornan/Hunter For President!!! They sure would make the race an entertaining one.

Edwards Encourages Obama

In an interview with the AP, former North Carolina Senator John Edwards encourages Barack Obama to run for President. "I hope he runs. I think he should run. This is such an important job that I would urge anybody who can make a serious contribution to the campaign and the dialogue either in our party or the other party to run." Although, Edwards might be thinking that an Obama run could ruin Hillary and help Edwards gain the nomination. Is an Edwards/Obama ticket possible??

Huckabee: McCain For Veep

This weekend, Governor Mike Huckabee took a swipe at John McCain's campaign finance reforms. Huckabee said "If you're a senator, you can take the money you raise in a Senate campaign and transfer it to a presidential, but you can't take money you raise in a state campaign and transfer that to a federal campaign." When DNC Vice President Lottie Shackelford mentioned a McCain presidential run, Huckabee quipped, "I think McCain would be a wonderful vice president."

McCain's A Federalist

Today Arizona Senator, and presidential wanna-be, said that he is a federalist. McCain's quoted as saying, "Just as I believe that the issue of gay marriage should be decided by the states, so do I believe that we would be better off by having Roe v. Wade return to the states. And I don't believe the Supreme Court should be legislating in the way that they did on Roe v. Wade." McCain's move to the right continues, as Rudy's stock rises.

Newt Hearts Romney

Former House Speaker Newt Gringrinch said that he will not announce his presidential intentions until September 2007. However, Gingrich did say that GOP voters will be looking for a conservative voice that McCain or Rudy does not fill. Besides himself, who does Newt think could fill the conservative void. Gingrich said, "I think Mitt Romney has an opportunity to fill that."