CANDIDATES HEADLINES with excerpts:

Rudy Giuliani

Giuliani vows to 'get it done', morphs into Larry the Cable Guy'

"The American people are angry that the federal government has failed to protect and secure our borders. And they’re telling us 'get it done' And we will!," he went on to add with a Larry the Cable Guy
"Git-R-Done" shouted out from a gentlemen in the crowd when he completed his list.

Giuliani retools stump speech in Florida 

Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani's "bold" vision for the nation sounded a lot like the same ideas he's been talking about for months, but delivered in a new package Saturday.

Giuliani's address before about 200 people was billed by his campaign as a new speech that shows the former New York mayor's bold vision for the future of the country. 

But the 30-plus minute speech hit on similar themes

 

 

Mike Huckabee

Huckabee fights back on multiple fronts

Also of note from Huckabee, ever the storyteller, was a new element in his stump speech. He told the story of learning to steer an Olympic-style bobsled several years ago. During his tutorial, the 16-year-old instructor told Huckabee to "steer for the curve ahead." "The ice behind me can’t hurt me anymore...steer for the curve ahead," Huckabee recalled. Perhaps we witnessed a new campaign theme

Huckabee campaigns in New Hampshire 

Despite the crowds, Huckabee took almost as much time to meet and speak with people individually as he did speaking to entire groups. 

"He seems like a real warm, genuine guy," said Danny Schmidt, a 28-year-old graduate of Bob Jones University.

Schmidt, who recently began looking at Huckabee's candidacy and his Christian values, watched closely as the governor worked the room.

"He's more important than I am and the fact he'd ask a question about how I'm doing "" that's something," Schmidt said.

As newcomers find out who Huckabee is, people following his every move have grown more excited with the mounting attention.

"He's had a respectable turnout but now it's really extraordinary," said Jim Coburn, a former Republican candidate for New Hampshire governor. "He knows how to get out and talk to the people, and he's done an excellent job. He's earned his media."

Huckabee tries to catch up in New Hampshire

With three weeks left before the New Hampshire primary, Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee is still trying to introduce himself to Granite State voters...

"You will hear a lot of stuff about me," he said. "My opponents have taken out all the sharp knives in the kitchen, make sure they get them all nice and ready to slice and dice." 

Thank goodness for Chuck Norris!" Huckabee exclaimed, turning to the "Walker, Texas Ranger" actor who joined him on the campaign trail. 

Norris, who appeared in Huckabee's first campaign commercial in Iowa, was a big draw in New Hampshire, too.

"That's why my kids are here," said Sandy Patrick, who works for the local Chamber of Commerce.

Huckabee faces old queries in new spotlight 

As Mr. Huckabee moves to the top tier of Republican candidates, his involvement in Action America and accusations of ethical lapses while he held office in Arkansas are drawing new scrutiny. In all, at least 16 ethics complaints, including the one involving Action America, were filed against Mr. Huckabee, with violations found in five of them and a $1,000 fine assessed.

Huckabee camp shifts focus for New Hampshire 

Asked by reporters if his increased focus on economic issues meant he would be playing down the born-again credentials he displayed in Iowa in appealing to evangelical Christian congregations and home-schoolers, Mr. Huckabee said, “I’ve never downplayed or up-played my religious convictions.”

Huckabee denies involvement in reported push-polls 

Huckabee strongly denied Saturday any involvement in push-polling in New Hampshire that reportedly is conducted by a group supporting his presidential bid. 

"As I've said before, our campaign has nothing to do with push polling, and I wish they would stop," Huckabee said in a statement. “We don't want this kind of campaigning because it violates the spirit of our campaign."

 

 

Mitt Romney

Romney wept when church ended discrimination

Romney said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” today that he wept with relief when the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the Mormons, announced a 1978 revelation that the priesthood would no longer be denied to persons of African descent.

Bork endorses Romney 

Noted conservative jurist Judge Robert Bork endorsed Governor Mitt Romney for President of the United States Saturday.

Romney: Huckabee wrong on Bush

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney took aim at Mike Huckabee's grasp of foreign affairs Saturday, complaining that his Republican rival was sounding like a Democratic presidential candidate in criticizing President Bush.

Romney cited published remarks by Huckabee in which the former Arkansas governor said "the Bush administration's arrogant bunker mentality has been counterproductive at home and abroad."

Romney:  Huckabee acts like a Dem, but we're 'great friends'

Just minutes after Romney's initial criticisms of his GOP rival, he told a questioner wanting to know more about the differences between him and Huckabee that the two men were "great friends."

 

 

John McCain

Anti-McCain push-poll hits N.H. 

After he told the automated caller that he intended to vote in the Jan. 8, 2008, New Hampshire GOP primary, that he considers himself pro-life, and that he intends to vote for McCain, the poll took on a decidedly negative tone, Campbell told ABC News.

McCain urges classes in strategic interrogation

McCain said he wants "a crash program" in civilian and military schools that emphasizes language and creates a "new specialty in strategic interrogation" so the nation never feels the need for torture.

McCain wins military endorsements

McCain has won the backing of over 100 retired admirals and generals

McCain is asked: Is Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior?

"Sir, I attend North Phoenix Baptist Church which is my church of choice, and I also believe that talking too much about one's faith and religion in my view is something between me and God," said McCain, to audience applause.

 

 

Fred Thompson

Thompson rallies conservative Christians

Reverend Phillip Knight, who says he has prayed with Thompson and his wife, Jeri, believes Thompson has been “mischaracterized” by Christian conservative leader, Dr. James Dobson, who questioned Thompson’s faith and candidacy in an email a couple months ago.

Thompson on Romney's irony

Fred Thompson sends along some Youtube links (HERE, HERE, and HERE) pointing out what he sees as the irony of Romney being the arbiter of what is or isn't "Republican."

 

 

Duncan Hunter

 

 

Ron Paul

The man behind Paul's fundraising curtain

Trevor Lyman, who had never voted, used his Internet savvy to raise millions in pledges for his candidate...

Lyman, a 37-year-old musician and Internet entrepreneur, didn't finish college. He was living in balmy Florida -- running a website called musicsubmit.com that enables artists to bypass major record labels and market their songs -- when he caught the Ron Paul bug.

He recently relocated to snowy Manchester and shares a house with several other Paul devotees.
 

 

Tom Tancredo

 

 

 

Hillary Clinton

Clinton says she knows how to compromise, when to stand firm

"We need a president with a lifetime of experience in making positive change," she said, citing as examples her work for the Children's Defense Fund after college, her unsuccessful universal health care plan while her husband was president, and her work as a U.S. senator to expand health benefits for National Guard members

Hillary vs. Hillary 

There are now two very different Clinton campaigns being run. One is pushing a quite possibly very effective message, depicting her as loveable (thanks, mom), experienced (thanks, Bill), and effective agent of change. (New line: "Yes, it takes some perspiration.")

The parallel campaign is trafficking in political nonsense, stirring up non-stories about one opponent in particular who is Clinton's biggest threat.

Iraq vote dogs Clinton (again) 

While critics of Mrs. Clinton used to denounce her for voting to authorize the Iraq war in 2002, today the challenge came from an otherwise enthusiastic supporter of Mrs. Clinton, Barbara Dennett, a math teacher and field hockey coach. 

At a town hall meeting in a middle school gym here, Ms. Dennett first hailed Mrs. Clinton’s health care reform effort in 1993-94, then said “I also completely trust you on the social issues, women and children and family.” 

“My concern is your voting record on war,” Ms. Dennett said. “The friends I talk to, to get them on board, they don’t trust you because of your voting issue on war.” She added that she and her friends did not want Mrs. Clinton to be “a war president.”

Clinton goes door to door in N.H. 

Clinton met two dogs on her walk through town. The first one was named "Samantha." Clinton said to the dog, "Samantha, I will be a good president for dogs." The second dog, "Wolfgang," barked Clinton off the steps of a house. His owner seemed excited to see Clinton as she circled back to return to the door.

 

 

 

Barack Obama

This is the first time Obama has responded, on camera, to Hillary’s apology over the Shaheen controversy: 

On the Clinton tarmac apology: “We were both getting on our planes on our way to the debate. She asked my staff if I would come around the plane to speak to her. We met on the tarmac. She apologized for Billy Shaheen’s remarks. I said I appreciated the apology. I suggested that both, that all candidates have surrogates that are eager to have their campaign win, and it was important for us as the heads of our campaigns to make sure that we are sending a clear message that this is not the kind of tone we should tolerate. And at that point she got on the plane.”

Obama leads Clinton 2-to-1 in Illinois

Obama 50%, Clinton 25%, Edwards 7%, Richardson 2%, Biden 2%, Kucinich 2%, Dodd 1%

Giuliani 23%, Huckabee 21%, Romney 14%, McCain 12%, Thompson 11%, Paul 3%, Tancredo 1%

Obama: I won't negotiate with Osama 

Q: “would [you] bring Bin Laden to the table for talks?”

A: “No, of course not,” Obama said. “We would hunt him down.”

Bill Clinton says Obama isn't ready - Obama fires back

Former President Bill Clinton made an unusually direct attack Friday night on Senator Barack Obama, one of his wife’s leading rivals for the Democratic presidential nomination, suggesting that voters who would support someone with Mr. Obama’s experience were willing to “roll the dice” on the presidency... 

When asked about Mr. Clinton’s comments Saturday in Waterloo, Iowa, Mr. Obama smiled and read words Mr. Clinton used in 1992 — “the same old experience is irrelevant” — to answer questions about his own presidential candidacy. It is the second time recently Mr. Obama has used that remark to push back against the former president. 

“I’ve been involved in government for over a decade,” Mr. Obama said. “The notion that there is a particular kind of experience that he has had or his wife has had that is more relevant, I would dispute. I believe that I have the experience that the country needs right now.”

Obama showing new confidence with Iowa sprint

“A month ago, I was an idiot,” he said. “This month, I’m a genius.”... With one week remaining before the campaign pauses for Christmas, Mr. Obama is dashing through a 22-city tour from the Mississippi River in the east to the Missouri River in the west, rushing to lock in voters before a holiday interlude...

“I recall the Clintons themselves calling it the politics of personal destruction, which they decried. My suspicion is that’s just not where the country’s at right now. They are not interested in politics as a blood sport.”

Obama: "Stoop so low as McDonalds" 

Obama recalled a conversation he had with another senator who was giving him grief about working for the meal ban.  The other Senator questioned to Obama, “What do you expect me to just start eating at McDonalds all the time?” 

Obama recalled his response, “You get paid $160,000 a year, you can even afford Applebee's, you don’t even have to stoop so low as to eat at McDonalds.”

Obama is hitting his stride in Iowa

The candidate once criticized for lacking specifics now peppers his speeches with policy proposals -- and confidence

Obama takes a curveball at an Iowa Q & A

"I was just wondering your personal viewpoint on everything Mitt Romney?"

The crowd –- and Obama –- laughed.

"He's accomplished," the senator answered, overcoming his earlier reluctance to comment. "He's very wealthy. He's a good-looking guy. He's got nice hair."

 

 

John Edwards

Obama, Edwards spar over health care 

Obama and John Edwards are sparring with each other in their town hall meetings over the issue of negotiating healthcare. 

While campaigning Friday in Manchester, Iowa, Edwards reissued his criticism of Obama's position to allow drug and insurance companies to have a seat at the table telling supporters, "I think that'll never work. If that would work, it would have worked years ago.  If that worked, we'd have universal health care. We don't." 

At a Saturday town hall in Independence, Iowa, Obama directly responded to Edwards saying, "He argued that, that, 'you know, Barack, the problem is he thinks you can negotiate with insurance companies and drug companies,'" but added, "The notion that they will have no say so at all is just not realistic.  It's just not true."

Clinton team kept pushing Obama coke story, says Edwards camp

Edwards strategist Joe Trippi called Mark Penn, his counterpart on the Clinton campaign, "unconscionable" on Saturday for dropping the word "cocaine" during a Thursday television appearance.

"On Thursday, as many of you know, on 'Hardball,' I was there when I thought [Clinton strategist] Mark [Penn] raised it again in a way that I thought was unconscionable and makes you wonder," Trippi told ABC News.

Elizabeth Edwards: "Republicans scare me" 

Republicans should scare us in a lot of ways," Edwards said as she was introducing her husband at a town hall in Dubuque, Iowa.  

Speaking about Republican candidate Mike Huckabee, who recently surged ahead in Iowa polls, Elizabeth noted, "He seems like a nice charming guy," before saying that Huckabee, "doesn’t believe in evolution and has some nutty views about what it is we should do about ending violence in our inner city — we should make sure all of our young people are armed. Republicans scare me."

Edwards' wife returns to Iowa to share stage 

Elizabeth Edwards' role includes introducing her husband before stump speeches and keeping him loose and focused in front of the voters. 

When she thinks he's veering off point, she's been known to cup her hands around her mouth and assertively remind him of a fact or urge him to keep moving. In response, he sometimes plays the part of the henpecked husband, drawling, "I'm gettin' there, I'm gettin' there," as the audience guffaws. 

Voters tend to react warmly to the interplay between the Edwardses. In Elkader, they repeatedly applauded when Elizabeth Edwards stood to add something to her husband's words.

 

 

Chris Dodd

 

 

Joe Biden

 

 

Bill Richardson

Richardson tells Democrats to stop 'food fights'

Richardson criticized the past week's "nastiness," saying the Democrats have gotten into "irrelevant food fights about who said what in kindergarten."

 

 

Dennis Kucinich