My Thoughts on the Democratic Candidates Debate

I have posted my thoughts on last night's debate in New Hampshire on the Nation sub-page. Otherwise, light posting from me today as I am furiously working to finalize the second half of my interview with Connie Schultz ... stay tuned, it's a good one!

WH2008: Richardson (D) and Guiliani (R) in National TV Appearances Today

Just a heads up - get your fix of White House contenders on TV today as Gov. Bill Richardson (D-NM) appears on the CNN show "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer" at 5:00 pm ET, and former mayor Rudy Giuliani (R-NY) is a guest on CBS' "Late Show with David Letterman" at 11:30 pm ET.

News and Notes: Presidential Candidates UPDATED

This morning's tidbits on some of the White House wannabes:

John McCain - In a speech to the Oklahoma State Legislature today, the GOP senator from Arizona will call for more ethics and efficiency in government. Meanwhile, the Washington Post Capitol Briefing notes that McCain has missed 42 straight roll calls over the past five weeks, a large number even for a presidential contender. He has been missing an extraordinary number of votes ever since his dismal fundraising report for the first quarter was released.

John Edwards - As noted by Joseph on the estimable blog Plunderbund this morning, a new poll from the Des Moines Register shows the former North Carolina senator pulling slightly ahead in the critical state of Iowa:

29% Edwards
23% Obama
21% Clinton
10% Richardson

Jonathon Singer notes on MyDD that Richardson's early advertising has pulled him up into double digits. Will this cause other candidates to unleash a flurry of ads?

Hillary Clinton - The junior senator from New York today will unveil a $5 billion plan for universal pre-kindergarten classes at an elementary school in Miami. The voluntary program would require states match federal spending, which could increase to $10 billion as more states join during the first five years. Teachers funded under the program would be required to have bachelor’s degrees and training in early childhood development, and there would be standards for early learning curriculums and teacher-child ratios. The money could also be used to expand Head Start programs.

Bill Richardson - The Governor of New Mexico is expected to formally announce his candidacy at about 1:00 pm our time:

Richardson, who is currently operating under the rubric of an “exploratory” committee, is due to speak in California at the Los Angeles Press Club on Monday at 10:00 a.m. Pacific time. While his campaign would not confirm the details of his speech, multiple media outlets report the governor will formally enter the presidential race.

If that is the case, the venue is hardly a random choice. Richardson, who is in his second term as New Mexico governor, is the only one of the prominent Democratic contenders who is from the West.

UPDATE: Some highlights from Richardson's remarks:

"I am running for president, because these times call for a leader with a proven track record, and a demonstrated ability to bring people together to tackle our problems at home and abroad. I am that person, not because I say so, but because of what I have done, and what I can do for the American people....

"The challenges we face are not acts of God or accidents of fate. They were man-made and deliberate. Whether it was willful ignorance or an ignorant will, we are left with the ravages of an administration that will take years to rectify."

UPDATE: Mitt Romney - The Des Moines Register poll also show the former Massachusetts governor with a substantial lead over the other two front runners, McCain and Guiliani, with Romney pulling down 30% and the the others at 18% and 17% respectively. The pollster said that Romney's strong lead may be attributable to "solid performances in the two national debates, his work in building a network of supporters in Iowa, his fundraising prowess and money spent on TV ads." It also helps that the new poll does not include the two persistently-popular non-candidates, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA) and former Sen. Fred Thompson (R-TN).

Fred Thompson - And speaking of the former senator from Tennessee, Chris Cilizza reports in The Fix today that Washington veteran Tom Collamore, a former Reagan administration official and aide to Bush I, has become Thompson's "manager in waiting." Since his government service, Collamore has been a corporate officer at tobacco giant Phillip Morris and its successor Altria. Cilizzi takes this move as a sign that Thompson is becoming more and more serious about jumping into the race, probably before the end of June.