Bill Richardson Drops Out of Democratic Presidential Race

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson ended his campaign for the presidency Wednesday after twin fourth-place finishes that showed his impressive credentials could not compete with his rivals’ star power.

http://youdecide08.foxnews.com/2008/01/09/ap-bill-richardson-drops-out-of-democratic-presidential-race/

Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin Endorses Barack Obama

Today, Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin endorsed Barack Obama for President, citing his unique ability to give voice to America's future and his ability to bring the American people together to bring change.

Mayor Franklin said, "Barack Obama is a dynamic, smart, and experienced leader who has demonstrated the capacity to bring people together across party, race and gender lines. He inspires me and has inspired so many others. As a leader I believe he can build consensus to bring Americans together over the issues we care most about like health care, the economy and foreign policy."

"I'm proud to have Mayor Franklin's support," said Senator Barack Obama. "As the first woman to hold this office in Atlanta and the first black woman to be mayor of a major city in the south, Mayor Franklin is a trailblazer. By breaking down these barriers and by working each day to strengthen Atlanta – and to strengthen Atlanta's families – Shirley is helping bring about the America we know in our hearts is possible. And I look forward to fighting side-by-side with her in the months and years to come."

Shirley Franklin has served as Mayor of Atlanta since 2002, being the first female mayor of Atlanta and the first African American woman to serve as mayor of any major Southern city.

Secretary Handel Announces Information for Candidate Qualifying

Secretary of State Karen Handel today announced the following information relating to qualifying for federal and state offices to be filled in the Tuesday, November 4, 2008 General Election.

In accordance with O.C.G.A. §21-2-131, the following qualifying fees have been fixed for 2008 federal and state offices:

Office
Salary
Fee

United States Senator
$165,200.00
3%
$4,956.00

United States Representative
$165,200.00
3%
$4,956.00

Public Service Commissioner
$113,060.40
3%
$3,391.81

State Senator
$400.00

State Representative
$400.00

Justice of Supreme Court
$162,339.60
3%
$4,870.19

Judge of the Court of Appeals
$161,346.00
3%
$4,840.38

Judge of Superior Court
$116,749.57
3%
$3,502.49

District Attorney
$111,023.08
3%
$3,330.69

Qualifying fees are set by O.C.G.A. §21-2-131(a), which states that candidate qualifying fees will be 3 percent of the office’s minimum annual salary, excluding the qualifying fees for State House and State Senate which are $400.

A complete list of offices up for election can be found at: http://sos.georgia.gov/elections/elections/candidate_information/2008%20office%20to%20be%20filled_3.pdf.

Qualifying will be held Monday, April 28 beginning at 9:00 a.m. through Friday, May 2, 2008 at 12:00 p.m. for Republican and Democratic candidates wishing to fill federal and state offices up for election in 2008. As outlined by Georgia law, the qualifying fee will be paid to the applicable state political party. The primary election for these candidates will be held on Tuesday, July 15, 2008.

Qualifying for independent candidates will be held Monday, June 23 beginning at 9:00 a.m. through Friday, June 27, 2008 at 12:00 p.m. in the Secretary of State’s Elections Division Office. As outlined by Georgia law, the qualifying fee will be paid to the Secretary of State. Independent candidates do not have a primary but qualify for placement on the General Election ballot.

Huckabee's latest ad, Understanding

Playing in Michigan

Iowa GOP refuses to report Keyes votes

The Iowa Republican Party has neither counted nor reported the number of votes for Alan Keyes in the GOP caucuses held Jan. 3.

"We didn't have the electronic means to record the tallies for Keyes, so we can't yet report to the public how many votes Keyes got," said John Lund at the Iowa GOP headquarters in Des Moines. "We can't report the Keyes votes until we've double-checked each individual paper ballot."

Meanwhile, the Iowa GOP widely reported the vote tallies of all other candidates, including Tom Tancredo, who got 5 votes despite having quit the race.

"I personally traveled with Alan Keyes across Iowa, and we met scores of Keyes voters. It's totally unfair these citizens' votes are now being withheld from the public," said Chaplain Gordon James Klingenschmitt. "This is tantamount to election fraud."

"I voted for Alan Keyes," said Siena Hoefling of Calhoun County. "It's ridiculous they didn't report my vote. Each precinct could have easily called or emailed the vote tallies to headquarters, so they should have been counted by now."

"County election officials showed me a ballot list of 'suggested' candidates, but Alan Keyes' name wasn't on the list," said Hoefling. "When I asked them if they would include Alan's name, they said they'd have to write it in."

One election official apologized to Hoefling that Keyes' name was omitted, saying "these are just the names we were given by [Iowa GOP] headquarters."

Duaine Bollwitt of Monticello said, "Alan Keyes was not on the list of Republican Presidential candidates. My vote for Alan Keyes was treated as a write-in. I thought that was odd, but what do I know."

"A presidential preference poll reporting procedure was given to me, explaining how to report the votes to headquarters," said Michael Walsh, a precinct permanent secretary for Windsor Heights. "When we called in the vote tallies by telephone, an electronic voice asked for the number of votes, candidate-by-candidate."

Whether the electronic voice prompt collecting the votes offered Alan Keyes as a choice is unclear.

Tom Youngwirth, recorder for his Windsor Heights precinct, said, "Now that I think of it, I didn't hear Alan Keyes' name on the voice prompt. But John McCain's name was on the voice prompt."

"I know for sure we reported votes for Alan Keyes to headquarters," said Ron Granzow, precinct chair for Windsor Heights. "I don't know why they wouldn't report his votes to the public."

"This resembles a 'communist-style' approach to electoral politics," said Stephen Stone, chairman of Alan Keyes for President. "In the former Soviet Union, political officials limited voters' choices in a way that created merely the illusion of democracy, without the reality. Any undue interference with free and open elections, of the sort we think we just witnessed, is un-American."

Added Stone, "Alan Keyes has been an announced candidate for president since Sept. 14. Yet the state GOP chose to exclude him from the caucus process, claiming he 'announced too late' to be included, so that his name was not even mentioned on official lists of candidates or in reporting instructions. This disenfranchises Iowa voters."

Thompson's Retail Politics

by Martha Zoller

“Normally, lack of money is a problem but in the Iowa caucus, lack of money has forced Thompson to do retail politics, which is what he’s best at. He’s getting a surge from it. In this case, lack of money may make the difference.” -- Steve Gill

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=24222

STATEMENT BY SENATOR SAM BROWNBACK ON MITT ROMNEY'S ATTACK ON JOHN MCCAIN'S LEADERSHIP CREDENTIALS

U.S. Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) today issued the following statement on Mitt Romney's attack on John McCain's leadership credentials:

"Mitt Romney has said for months that he is a good manager, and while we were all pleased to see the success of the 2002 Winter Olympics, our country needs a leader. Events like the assassination of Benazir Bhutto stand as stark reminders that the world is a dangerous place, presenting grave challenges to our nation and demanding experienced, courageous leadership.

"As a soldier and a statesman, John McCain has been involved in every national security crisis for over two decades. He commanded the largest squadron in the United States Navy. He didn't manage for profit, he led for patriotism. Nowhere is John McCain's tough, enlightened and principled leadership more clear than on the issue of Iraq. While Mitt Romney and others passed the buck, John McCain was a lonely voice for change, calling for the surge and counterinsurgency strategy succeeding in Iraq today.

"America needs a Commander in Chief who knows his core values and will not waver in the face of the prevailing political winds. America needs John McCain."

Giuliani Ad: Ready

America's next President must understand that the threats we face are real and require we meet them with strength, not weakness. A dangerous world looms with threats gathering over the horizon and America must stay on offense to keep its people safe.

Click here to watch Rudy's new TV Ad, "Ready"

In these dangerous times, America needs a proven leader. Rudy Giuliani has been Tested by crisis, he is Ready to defend America and he understands that the time to confront this enemy is Now. Rudy will keep us on offense in the Terrorists' War on Us and he supports a policy of victory in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Just as the Greatest Generation defeated Nazi tyranny, and their sons and daughters brought the world in from the Cold, a new generation of Americans must now vanquish a brutal enemy in Islamic fundamentalism. With Rudy Giuliani as President, America will have a Commander-in-Chief committed to that cause.

Sincerely,
Patrick OxfordCampaign ChairmanRudy Giuliani Presidential Committee

P.S. To watch Rudy's new TV Ad, "Ready," please click here.

Paul snub exposes censorship of competitive voices

From the Libertarian Party:

No room for dissent in the ivory tower of politics

Quick Quotes:
Shane Cory, Executive Director, Libertarian Party
• "The Republican establishment shuns Paul for his pro-liberty views, and will do everything it can to marginalize him."
• "There is simply no tolerance of competing voices against the political elite of two-party politics."

Bob Sullentrup, Founder, Rockthedebates.org
• "We have people dying in Iraq to promote democracy in that part of the world, and in this country, we can't even have full, open, inclusive debates."

Washington, D.C. - The Libertarian Party says the decision by Fox News to cut GOP presidential hopeful Ron Paul out of this weekend's debate illustrates the culture of censorship of competitive views in mainstream politics. "There is simply no tolerance of competing voices against the political elite of two-party politics," says Shane Cory, executive director of the Libertarian Party.

"The leading GOP fundraiser for the fourth-quarter is being snubbed from the debates for nothing more than having political views outside of mainstream Republicanism," says Cory. "The Republican establishment shuns Paul for his pro-liberty views, and will do everything it can to marginalize him. Unfortunately, this is nothing new. There is a long-standing culture of censorship among the political elite when it comes to competing viewpoints."

Third party candidates, such as those from the Libertarian Party, are routinely denied participation in political debates, both locally and nationally. The Libertarian Party claims the competition of opinion is vital for healthy and open debates, which are essential to democracy.

Despite the institutional bias against competing viewpoints, one group has taken up the charge to try to open debates to third party candidates.

"We have people dying in Iraq to promote democracy in that part of the world, and in this country, we can't even have full, open, inclusive debates," says Rockthedebates.org founder Bob Sullentrup. "There is something fundamentally wrong with that."

Rockthedebates.org is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to opening up debates to all candidates. Rockthedebates.org has asked presidential candidates if they would be open to debating a third party candidate. Of those that have responded, Ron Paul and Mike Huckabee are the only two current GOP candidates that have agreed to do so. Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney have said they are opposed to open debates. Democrat Barack Obama has also said he is opposed to debating a third party candidate, while Hillary Clinton has been ambiguous with her answer and John Edwards has yet to respond.

"The Republican and Democratic Parties may say they are dedicated to open and democratic debates," Cory concludes, "but their track records with limiting competition in debates shows the hypocrisy of their rhetoric."

The Libertarian Party is America's third largest political party, founded in 1971 as an alternative to the two main political parties. You can find more information on the Libertarian Party by visiting www.lp.org. The Libertarian Party proudly stands for smaller government, lower taxes and more freedom.

Bloggers on McCain

Union Leader: John McCain: A Trusted Leader
By kmorrison(kmorrison) John McCain for President by the Boston Herald, Boston's conservative newspaper, is so good we wanted to be sure our readers could see it for themselves. We reprint it here, edited for length, with permission. ...New Hampshire 4 McCain - http://nh4mccain.blogspot.com/

John McCain, true Masculinity
John McCain is a true mature man. This is a person who has managed a life as a warrior and a humanitarian. He is a man of solid values. A man of strength and resolve. A man of compassion. A man of the world. And a man of common people.Digg / upcoming - http://digg.com/

Defrost Ted Williams, voter asks McCain
By Claudia Parsons LACONIA, NH - US presidents are pretty powerful but this was the first time White House hopeful John McCain was asked to defrost a dead baseball legend who was placed in cryonic suspension. Voter Jack Polidoro appealed to McCain to have ...Tales from the Trail: 2008 - http://blogs.reuters.com/trail08

On The Nature Of John McCainO
ver the last few weeks, people have been focusing heavily on Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee while giving John McCain a pass. During that time, he has managed to get back into contention and now has an excellent chance to...Right Wing News - http://www.rightwingnews.com/

John McCain News Roundup

McCain leading Republican field
The Australian - Sydney,Australia
MAVERICK former prisoner-of-war John McCain has revived his once moribund presidential campaign and now leads the Republican field in the crucial state of ...

The Secret Anti-War McCain
Atlantic Online - USA
Ramesh Ponnuru makes the case that the GOP would be in better shape had they gone with John McCain in 2000. That seems plausible to me. ...

ON THE ROAD
Dallas Morning News - Dallas,TX,USA
JOHN McCAIN: He and wife Cindy campaigned in New Hampshire, contrasting his leadership with what he called Mr. Romney's "managerial experience. ...

McCain Rises in NH And National Polls
CQPolitics.com - Washington,DC,USA
By CQ Staff John McCain has rebounded in New Hampshire to make it a close race on the GOP side in the nation’s first primary, and he has also made a big ...

McCain backers hit Romney
Boston Globe - United States
John McCain -- or at least his surrogates and endorsers -- continued the assault on Mitt Romney today. Lindsey Graham, McCain's US Senate colleague from ...

McCain addresses age issue
Boston Globe - United States
By Michael Kranish, Globe Staff PEMBROKE, NH -- John McCain is 71 years old, but the issue of his age comes up only occasionally at his town meetings. ...

New Poll Shows Tight Races in NH
The Associated Press - John McCain are tied. McCain, who is focusing heavily on New Hampshire, has gained recently at the expense of former New York Gov. ...

John McCain on a roll
Guardian Unlimited - UK
At a Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Merrimack, crowds are being turned away an hour before John McCain appears. The interior of the post is packed ...

McCain packs venue
Portsmouth Herald News - Portsmouth,NH,USA
John McCain speaks at the home of Bill Gilmore in Rye Monday evening. McCain spoke about earmarks, climate change and the war in Iraq as part of his visit ...

McCain Tours Friendly New Hampshire
FOX News - USA
by FOXNews.com John McCain is polling third or fourth in Iowa, with very little chance of overtaking Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee in Thursday’s caucuses, ...

Mike Huckabee News Roundup

Huckabee's Last Laugh
Yahoo! News - USA
The Nation -- DES MOINES -- There is nothing quite so amusing as the media's struggle to wrap its head around the campaign of Mike Huckabee. ...

Huckabee plans quick foray from Iowa to Leno show
Reuters - USA...
comedian Jay Leno's studio in Burbank, California, Republican Mike Huckabee's upstart presidential campaign was taking a roundabout route on Wednesday. ...

Candidates enter last full day of campaigning
MSNBC - USA
On the Republican side, two former governors, Mike Huckabee of Arkansas and Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, are vying to finish first in Iowa. ...

Huckabee leaves Iowa to visit Leno
Fort Wayne Journal Gazette - Fort Wayne,IN,USA
SERGEANT BLUFF, Iowa – On the eve of the Iowa caucuses, Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee will trade jokes with Jay Leno on NBC’s “Tonight Show. ...

Tactics clash in Huckabee camp
Seattle Times - United States
By DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee greets bloggers at the Blogger Bash in Des Moines, Iowa, on Tuesday. ...

Huckabee Insists No Trick With Ad
The Associated Press - CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee insisted he wasn't trying to pull a fast one when he played a negative TV ...

Huckabee's Web site continues to host comments posted by ...
Salt Lake Tribune - United StatesMike Huckabee Battling Romney for GOP ticket DES MOINES, Iowa - Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee personally apologized to rival Mitt Romney previously ...

Huckabee and Consultant Form an Uneasy Alliance
New York Times - United StatesBy DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK About three weeks ago, Mike Huckabee received an unexpected e-mail message from the veteran political consultant and television ...

Hollywood Huckabee
Austin American-Statesman - Austin,TX,USA
By Ken Herman Tuesday, January 1, 2008, 06:55 PM GOP presidential candidate Mike Huckabee’s schedule for Wednesday, the day before the Iowa caucuses, ...

Huckabee's Final Publicity Push
TIME - USAMike Huckabee's campaign manager, Chip Saltsman, stopped shaving last week, like a superstitious quarterback not wanting to jinx the big game. ...

Camped Out (Democrat) Senate Candidate Will Remain on Atlanta Tower

ATLANTA — A television reporter turned political candidate said he plans to remain on a small scaffold near the top of a tower to focus attention on his long-shot bid to unseat a U.S. senator.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,319410,00.html

RNS Note: Currently there are two publicly declared candidates on the Democratic side vying to face Republican Saxby Chambliss: Dale Cardwell is running against DeKalb's Vernon Jones.

Rumors are rampant that Vernon will be backing out of the race to run for a different, more winnable, seat.

Duncan Hunter Round-Up

Ron Paul Excluded from Fox DebateBy James Joyner Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, John McCain, Mitt Romney and Fred Thompson received invites, leaving Paul and Duncan Hunter on the sidelines. The network said it had limited space in its studio — a souped-up bus — and that it invited ...Outside The Beltway OTB - http://www.outsidethebeltway.com

Some Guy Urges Iowegians To Vote For Duncan HunterBy The Anon Guy Congressman Duncan Hunter is a representative from California's 52nd legislative district. Mr. Hunter put his college career on hold to volunteer with the 173rd Airborne Rangers to fight the communists in Vietnam. ...Campaign Emails - http://campaignemails.blogspot.com/

Open Letter to the New Hampshire GOP – Choose the Real ...By Cyber Patriot(Cyber Patriot) And aside from assuring complete victory in the battles for Afghanistan and Iraq, Duncan Hunter is the one man who will not bow to liberal and world opinion on how to fight this long war. Real human intelligence is one of the keys, ...News Which Cannot Lose - http://newswhichcannotlose.blogspot.com/

Open Letter to the Iowa GOP – Choose Wisely, Choose HunterBy Cyber Patriot(Cyber Patriot) Congressman Duncan Hunter is a representative from California ’s 52nd legislative district. Mr. Hunter put his college career on hold to volunteer with the 173rd Airborne Rangers to fight the communists in Vietnam . ...News Which Cannot Lose - http://newswhichcannotlose.blogspot.com/

Northern Nevadans Listen to Duncan HunterBy thelastinkling After making a round of campaign stops in Northern Nevada after the Christmas holiday, Congressman Duncan Hunter found that Nevadans support his run for President. Congressman Duncan Hunter attended a townhall meeting in Reno on ...The Duncan Hunter Grass-Revolt:... - http://dhgrassrevolt.wordpress.com