I sincerely hope they wise up and don't run a nasty campaign. I am still not sure who I will be supporting. I don't really like any of the ones mentioned as front-runners. They all have more negatives than they do positives.

From http://www.usnews.com/usnews/politics/bull...etin_070223.htm

CAMPAIGN NEWS

Media Fixated On Obama-Clinton Fight

Coverage of the clash between Democratic presidential rivals Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, over comments made about Clinton by Hollywood's David Geffen, continues, with a lengthy report on NBC and a front-page story in the New York Times. NBC Nightly News said an effort to "tamp down what has been an unusually early and bitter fight between two of the top contenders" for the Democratic nod is underway. NBC (Gregory) added that Obama was "on the campaign trail today trying to clear the air with Hillary Clinton." Obama: "It should be about the issues and not about personalities or what supporters say." Gregory: "The response, an attempt to overcome a rift started by Hollywood mogul David Geffen, longtime Clinton friend and fundraiser turned foe. His attacks this week caused her campaign to lash out" at Obama. The New York Times writes that "after weeks of watching in frustration" as Obama "presented himself as a fresh face gliding above partisan politics," Clinton "has drawn Mr. Obama onto a muddy political field, engaging him in a back-and-forth that recalls the kind of Washington bickering Mr. Obama has decried."

Analysis remains mixed on who won this fight. The New York Times concludes, "When it came to tallying the final score on the most intense engagement so far in the 2008 presidential race, even Mr. Obama, the junior senator from Illinois, seemed to acknowledge that he may have been outmaneuvered." An AP analysis piece says the "Hollywood-style brawl" is just "the latest in a series of speed bumps tripping up Hillary Rodham Clinton's early presidential moves. From the Clinton team's decision to criticize -- and therefore publicize -- producer David Geffen's complaints about both Clintons to increasingly skeptical questions about Sen. Clinton's nuanced explanation of her 2002 vote authorizing the Iraq war, it became apparent even a battle-tested front-runner can fall prey to missteps."

Ultimately, though, it may be both candidates that suffer in this spat, says some observers. In his Washington Post column, E.J. Dionne said the outbreak of the feud "was a good day for Joe Biden, Chris Dodd, John Edwards, Bill Richardson, Tom Vilsack -- and, what the heck, Dennis Kucinich. It was a bad day for Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and David Geffen. It was a good day for the Republican Party, particularly George W. Bush, John McCain and Dick Cheney. It was a bad day for the Democratic Party, opponents of the Iraq war and advocates of national health insurance." Similarly, in an analysis piece in the New York Daily News, Thomas M. DeFrank writes that Clinton and Obama "both emerge as losers from this skirmish, with potentially unsavory implications for the party in November 2008."

Rock Star Giuliani Swarmed In Florida

Rudy Giuliani made his first campaign swing through Florida yesterday, and was treated like a rock star by fans in both parties during a stop there. The Palm Beach Post reports that Giuliani "may be running for president, but to more than 150 former New Yorkers who came to see him Thursday at a popular deli west of Delray Beach, Giuliani was still their mayor. Speaking and often shouting in the unmistakable accents of New York, Giuliani was crushed by a score of fans as soon as he stepped from his car. ... And most of them were Democrats, who will not be able to vote for him in the GOP primary." The AP reports that many fans "rushed toward his car when he arrived at Lox Around the Clock and greeted him with thick New York accents. ... 'You don't know what you did for New York, you just don't know,' said Michelle Landa, a retired New York teacher who spends about a month each winter in Boynton Beach." The Miami Herald reports that the "crush of people" greeting Giuliani "showed Thursday that Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama don't hold the monopoly on celebrity."

The Herald also reports that Giuliani is already making strong inroads in Florida, "even without any visible campaign operation." One of former Gov. Jeb Bush's campaign managers has now signed on as his top advisor in the state, and Giuliani said, "I think that our campaign is right on schedule. This is kind of happening faster than people expected, but I think we have tremendous support in Florida."

McCain Signs On Key Supporter

The Munster (IN) Times reports that Sen. John McCain has secured the backing of Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels ®, who endorsed him yesterday and said, "The term 'great American' applies to very few people, but it indisputably fits John McCain." Daniels' endorsement may also signal a move by the Bush crowd to swing toward McCain, as Daniels was a high-level Bush advisor prior to becoming governor.

Aide Says Johnson May Run For Re-Election

The AP reports this morning that an aide to South Dakota Sen. Tim Johnson (D), sidelined since December as he recovers from a brain hemorrhage, says his boss may to run for reelection in 2008. While a final decision has not been made, Chief of staff Drey Samuelson said "the senator's recovery has been so strong that a re-election campaign is possible."

It's really disheartening. I know every candidate is out for themsellves, but the dems so themselves a disserve by viciously tearing into the other.

Obama and hillary are going to come across as very disingenuous if they were to later down the road join forces.

The two are currently the front runners, but with this livel of vilitrol, their perceived weakness (gender, race, inexperience) will ulitmately lead to them canceling each other out. I like both, but I will throw my support behind Edwards because he is running a smarter campaign. It makes no sense to demonize someone in your own party.

Watch the Reps. retain the White House again....sigh....

I wish to God there were a strong third party that identified with my values, because I'm just so sick of both the Dems and Reps (my preference of the two).

I wish to God there were a strong third party that identified with my values, because I'm just so sick of both the Dems and Reps (my preference of the two).

So do I.

I love Hillary and Obama respectively, but they are just doing the bidding of the Republicans with the smears. Unfortunately, there is no viable third party. The Ross perot's only serve as spoilers to dissent from the lesser of two evils--a wasted vote, essentially.

I wish to God there were a strong third party that identified with my values, because I'm just so sick of both the Dems and Reps (my preference of the two).

Me too. I want the DEMS but they are in such disarray because of Hillary and Obama. I'm almost wishing Al Gore would throw his hat into the ring.

The Ross perot's only serve as spoilers to dissent from the lesser of two evils--a wasted vote, essentially.

As was Ralphie Nader