The Los Angeles Times observes that there doesn't appear to be a front-runner in both the Dem and GOP fields. "Far from clarifying things, last week's tally of first-quarter fundraising totals dispelled the air of inevitability that the putative favorites — Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona — spent years trying to create. But enough doubts surround each of the other leading candidates to prevent any from breaking loose and emerging as the one to beat. And enough questions remain about the contours of the race — including which states will vote on which dates and whether anyone else jumps in — that the only certainty appears to be many more months of grind-it-out campaigning."

And the AP notes how few of the major presidential contenders have served in the military. It's one of the least military-experienced fields in memory. "The 2008 lineup of candidates also makes clear that a new generation of political leaders has stepped forward, some too young to have been eligible for the Vietnam-era draft. Beyond that, fatigue with the Iraq war may have dulled the appetite for a warrior in the White House."

The Washington Post front-pages Bush renewing his immigration push, and it notes that Democrats have some conditions of their own. "In contrast to her approach to other controversial issues, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has told the White House that she cannot pass a bill with Democratic votes alone, nor will she seek to enforce party discipline on the issue. Bush will have to produce at least 70 Republican votes before she considers a vote on comprehensive immigration legislation, a task that may be very difficult for a president saddled with low approval ratings."

Yesterday, the New York Times offered an explanation for Bush's recent controversial recess appointments, including the one elevating Swift Boat donor Sam Fox to be ambassador to Belgium. "The recess appointments helped put the White House where it likes to be: in a robust fight with the Democrats that even the president's most dispirited backers can get excited about. As one administration official put it, 'It allows us to get our footing back, at least, on issues that resonate with the public.'"

This could be something to brag about or simply a result of folks being happier because it's spring, but Bush has his highest Gallup job rating in four months: 38%. Considering how bad things are right now for the Bush WH, it's something.

The New York Times takes a look at the House Democrats' effort to address the Alternative Minimum Tax, and the problem it creates for them. "Between now and the end of May, House Democratic leaders hope to draft a permanent overhaul of the tax that would effectively exclude anyone who earns less than about $200,000 a year — about 97 percent of taxpayers. But that plan would leave a $1 trillion hole in the federal budget over the next decade, which Democrats would have to replace with revenues from other places or with spending cuts, under new 'pay as you go' budget rules."

From NBC's Pete Williams
Monica Goodling, the counsel and White House liaison to Attorney General Gonzales, says in a letter that she will resign, effective tomorrow. Goodling, of course, is the Gonzales aide whose lawyers have told Congress that she'll plead the 5th Amendment if called to testify. She has been on a leave of absence.

From Chuck Todd and Mark Murray
*** Their Boogey-Woman: Republicans had been waiting a long time to finally make Nancy Pelosi the issue, and they think they may have finally found their chance with her trip to Syria. After all, it's been a while since we've seen the GOP attack machine running on all cylinders, but it seems everyone (Cheney, Drudge, the RNC, House Republicans) is now ganging up on her (did her folks REALLY not see this coming?). Perhaps Pelosi and the Democrats ought to be glad this is a holiday week of sorts for a lot of people. How will she respond? Will this story get another news cycle? It may depend on how Pelosi reacts.

*** Your Father's GOP? Giuliani's pro-abortion comments and Romney's dubious "I've been a hunter pretty much all my life" remark receive a second day of coverage. We've got to ask again: Just how conservative is this Republican field? And will that change even if Fred Thompson gets in? A frustrated Mike Huckabee seems on the verge of getting personal soon. Also, had another Massachusetts politician -- John Kerry -- uttered those same words about hunting that Romney did, how big would this story be?

***Assessing Bolten: It's been nearly one year since Josh Bolten took over the COO duties at the White House. The Post is the first out of the gate with a one-year-later story, and the report card isn't great.

*** The Land of Ballot Initiatives: California might have a ballot initiative tied to its Feb. 5 primary asking voters if they want to pull out of Iraq.

*** Pyongyang, Here We Come: As the rare oh-eighter active this weekend, Richardson finally seems to have the spotlight to himself. But it's on a trip to isolated North Korea…

*** And Then There Was One: What a difference a few days make. Instead of every top-tier candidate hitting the campaign trail, there's just on the road today -- Obama, who is in Iowa. Clinton vacations with Bill and Chelsea in the Dominican Republic.

 

GINGRICH: For a guy supposedly not thinking about a presidential campaign, he's sure got an orderly rollout planned for September. "Gingrich is planning Internet-based workshops on Sept. 27 and 29, inviting officials from every level of elective office more than half a million people to learn about his proposed solutions. He is seeking change on a tremendous scale, similar to the economic and social reforms of the Progressive Movement at the turn of the 20th century. He wants the Contract With America on steroids. ... For the next six months, Gingrich will be offering ideas to Republicans and Democrats alike in hopes they will adopt his vision. His advice isn't limited to the current crop of White House hopefuls; Gingrich plans to debate Sen. John Kerry, the Democratic nominee in 2004, on global warming next week."
http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=578432&category=&BCCode=&newsdate=4/5/2007

GIULIANI: A smart friend of First Read has been watching Rudy on the trail all week and notes: "This may have already occurred to you, but Rudy is now the straight talker. A day after saying we may need new off shore drilling while campaigning in Florida, he told South Carolinians that he's pro-choice and supports funding for poor women to have abortions." Anyone else agree? What do McCain supporters think of that observation?

The New York Times: "Aware of the damage his position might do to him among some conservative voters, Mr. Giuliani said that if someone was inclined to vote against him solely because of his stance on abortion, then so be it. 'I think abortion is wrong,' he said. 'But ultimately, I think it is a woman's right, a woman's choice. And government should not interfere with it by imposing criminal penalties on people.'"

What's interesting is that in defending his position on abortion, Giuliani also came out for, essentially, states' rights when it comes to abortion laws." Giuliani said states should make the call on such issues. "The legislature of South Carolina should make its decision about that," he said. He also said states should make the decision on whether to use public money for abortions. However, Giuliani's campaign aides say that if elected, Giuliani won't seek to change current federal law, which only allows public funding for abortions in the cases of rape and incest or when the mother's life is in jeopardy."

Meanwhile, Giuliani was asked about his status in his consulting firm yesterday. "'I'm largely out of it and I'm pretty much going to be out of it at some point pretty soon,' he said."

And could it be that ex-New York Gov. George Pataki might support Giuliani's presidential bid? Yesterday, he said he could be happy to support either Giuliani or John McCain. By the way, Pataki is still not ruling out his own run.

HUCKABEE: Are straight up attacks on Giuliani coming? Huckabee all but implied that yesterday, saying that if Republicans overlook "character" in the GOP nomination fight, then Republicans owe Bill Clinton an apology.

ROMNEY: Romney's I've-been-a-hunter-pretty-much-all-my-life remark receives a second day of coverage. With the headline -- "Is Romney a Hunter? Depends on What Hunt Is" -- the New York Times writes: "But on Wednesday, The Associated Press reported that Mr. Romney had in fact been hunting only twice: once during that summer when he was 15 and spending time at a relative's ranch in Idaho, and again on the occasion last year, a quail shoot at a fenced-in game preserve in Georgia with major donors to the Republican Governors Association."

For some reason, Romney tried to RE-address his hunting issue yesterday. (Because one day of bad press wasn't enough?) "Campaigning in Indianapolis on Thursday, Romney said he has hunted small game since his youth. 'I'm not a big-game hunter. I've made that very clear,' he said. 'I've always been a rodent and rabbit hunter. Small varmints, if you will. I began when I was 15 or so and I have hunted those kinds of varmints since then. More than two times.'" (No wonder we never see a lot of squirrels on Beacon Hill.)

Romney's wife, Ann, is starting to campaign on her own. She'll be in Alabama next week.

F. THOMPSON: The Politico writes that Fred Thompson begun assembling the nucleus of a campaign should he decide to run, according to people involved in the effort… Thompson's coming-out as a candidate-in-waiting will be a May 4 appearance at the 45th annual dinner of the Lincoln Club of Orange County in the heart of Ronald Reagan country in Southern California." More: "Thompson will also stoke speculation with a meeting of House Republicans April 18 at the Capitol Hill Club, organized by Rep Zach Wamp (R-Tenn.), the most vocal promoter of a Thompson candidacy."

In the most recent Diageo/Hotline poll, the Democrats lead the generic presidential ballot by 18 points (47-29). And yet in national match ups between the top three Democrats (Clinton, Obama, and Edwards) and the top two Republicans (Giuliani and McCain), the Democrats run no better than even -- or even slightly trail. As one Dem strategist (unaffiliated with any of the top-tier Democratic candidates) notes: "Our 'top tier' candidates may be the only Democrats in existence who can't win in 08."

OBAMA: In Iowa yesterday, the Illinois senator addressed the fact he still hasn't released many policy details. "Obama acknowledged he was moving cautiously in assembling a health care proposal to ensure he can build the political support needed to move the plan forward if he's elected president. Obama noted that in previous campaigns, presidential candidates have offered detailed proposals without building that political support, only to see the issue fade after the election." Obama: "'Every four years presidential candidates trot out their plans, then nothing happens,' Obama said. 'How do we build a movement for change so that when a president is elected there is actually a constituency and a consensus that is built so we can move the agenda through Congress.'"

RICHARDSON: The Boston Globe's Lehigh gives him a positive review but concludes on this note: "Richardson dismisses the notion that he's threatening or vindictive – 'that's just ludicrous' -- as well as complaints, notably from his female lieutenant governor, that he's annoyingly physical, always touching and poking. 'I never did it inappropriately,' he says, exasperation creeping into his voice. No, he's not a celebrity candidate, but give him a closer look, see how he stacks up, he urges his college audience. The hard-driving Richardson deserves one -- his rough edges and all."

Bloomberg writes, "The Pentagon provided 'inappropriate' analysis for its reports of a strong link between Saddam Hussein and Al Qaeda, a finding that was cited by the White House as a rationale for invading Iraq, a report by the Pentagon inspector general says. The declassified report said Defense Department officials 'undercut' the intelligence community." More: "By coincidence, it appeared on the day Vice President Cheney again drew a link between the war and Al Qaeda, telling the radio host Rush Limbaugh that 'to advocate withdrawal from Iraq at this point seems to me simply would play right into the hands of Al Qaeda.'"

As if California Democrats aren't about to get enough influence on the WH Dem primary, there is now the possibility the state could have a ballot measure on the February 5 primary ballot that would ask voters whether they want troops out of Iraq immediately. To get on the ballot, the proposal would have to pass the Democratic-controlled legislature and then be signed by Gov. Schwarzenegger. Supporters of the measure acknowledge the measure would have no teeth, but they simply want presidential candidates to be forced to address the withdrawal issue.

Has it really been a year since Josh Bolten became White House chief of staff? While Bolten did try to reshape the Administration over the last year, there have been setbacks, the Washington Post writes. "The setbacks suggest the limits of what colleagues and friends describe as Bolten's quiet drive to recast the administration along more pragmatic lines. Put in place to try to bring order to the administration, the low-key Bolten has found even incremental progress difficult to achieve, especially in a White House that has often valued political loyalty over competence, according to many lawmakers, political strategists and administration officials."

More: "Much of Bolten's energy has been expended on raising the quality of senior appointments, which even administration critics say have been surprisingly strong for a second term. They include new White House counsel Fred F. Fielding, press secretary Tony Snow, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, intelligence chief John M. McConnell and Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson Jr."

Democrats -- including Chris Dodd and John Kerry -- aren't going to let Bush's recess appointment of Swift Boat supporter Sam Fox as ambassador to Belgium to go down without a fight, the Hartford Courant says. Dodd claims what Bush did may have been illegal.

And Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D) postponed a hearing next week with Attorney General Alberto Gonzales because she didn't think it was appropriate that he make a pitch for the Justice Department's budget needs until he faced the music over the US attorney firings. Also, Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats are not happy over what access they are getting to some DOJ communications.

The White House early morning email excerpts this USA Today editorial entitled "Pelosi steps out of bounds on ill-conceived trip to Syria." The paper says, "Pelosi surely knew that as speaker — third in the succession line to the presidency — her high-profile presence in Damascus would be read as a contradiction of Bush's no-talk policy. No matter that she claimed to have stuck closely to administration positions in her conversations with Assad, smiling photos of Pelosi and the Syrian president convey the unspoken message that while the U.S. president is unwilling to talk with Syria, another wing of the government is. Assad made good use of the moment."

From NBC's Mark Murray
In the latest issue of Time, GOP presidential candidate Mike Huckabee is asked in an interview what kind of judges he would appoint, if he's elected president. His response: "People who believe that the purpose of the judiciary is not to make law but to properly apply it. My own personal hero on the court is Scalia, not least because I duck-hunted with him."

From NBC's Patrice Fletcher and Mark Murray
The first fundraising quarter may be over, but that doesn't seem to have stopped Barack Obama from raking in more political contributions. Yesterday -- the very day his campaign reported taking in at least $25 million -- Obama attended a fundraiser in Chicago at the Palmer House. Per co-organizer John Levi, an attorney at Sidley Austin, Obama raised anywhere between $500,000 and $1 million. Levi said he was very happy with the results, especially given that the fundraiser was thrown together in just 3 1/2 weeks.

In addition, the Chicago Tribune writes that in the 24 hours since the annoucement of Obama's fundraising haul, his campaign is now reporting taking in an additional $435,000 over the Internet -- from 4,600 people, including 4,300 who had not previously given to the campaign.

From NBC's Mark Murray
Has Mitt Romney's impressive early fundraising haul helped him in the polls? It seems so, at least according to a new Zogby survey measuring the Republican field in New Hampshire. In the poll, which was conducted April 2-3 (just as the GOP fundraising numbers came out), Romney ties McCain at 25%, while Giuliani is third at 19%.

By comparison, a January Zogby New Hampshire poll had McCain at 26%, Giuliani at 20%, and Romney at 13%. So that's a 12-point increase for Romney.

From Chuck Todd and Mark Murray
*** A New Day? We certainly know that money isn't everything in presidential politics (remember Presidents Connally, Gramm, and Dean?), but the 1st quarter fundraising numbers seem to have recalibrated the Dem and GOP races, especially when it comes to the people who were considered their party's front-runners a year ago. Clinton no longer seems invincible, while McCain is desperately in need of some good news. If anything, both fields now appear more wide open than they've ever been before. Perhaps the bigger story, though, is the enthusiasm gap between Democrats and Republicans.

*** A Word of Caution: Be careful of reports claiming they know for sure Obama topped Clinton in primary money. It's likely -- but the reason the Clinton camp has not released any detailed figures is because it truly may not know its primary-general split. Here's why: One professional Democratic fundraiser not affiliated with the Clinton campaign speculates that if he were in their shoes, he'd be feverishly calling the maxed-out general election donors and seeing if there's any way their money can be credited to a spouse or a child to get it back in the primary column.

*** Mark Your Calendars: McCain's newly announced speeches and travel this month -- capped off with his official announcement April 25-27 -- means he's going to be a busy man in the next three weeks. Is that what he needs to get his groove back?

*** You Do the Math: Here's a fun fact -- both Clinton and McCain had about the same number of donors (approx. 50,000), although she outraised him ($26 million vs. $12.5 million).

*** Sly Like a Fox: The recess appointment installing Swift Boat donor Sam Fox as ambassador of Belgium outrages Democrats. Question: If you're the White House, and if you truly want the Senate to pass a clean Iraq supplemental, do you poke the Senate in the eyes with this move?

*** Cramming for the Final: The Washington Post reports that Alberto Gonzales, who has stayed out of the spotlight this week, has been studying very hard for his upcoming Senate testimony -- even participating in mock hearings. We'd love to know who's playing Schumer…
 
*** On the Trail: Heading into the Easter weekend, Obama is in Iowa, Giuliani stumps in South Carolina, Romney visits Indiana, and Richardson spends his day in New Hampshire. Clinton is down.

 

A New York Times analysis notes that the Democratic presidential candidates, combined, grabbed about $80 million, compared with about $50 million for the GOPers -- "remarkable because Republicans have historically proved better at collecting contributions… The new numbers offered what even Republicans described as measurable evidence that Democrats today are more confident about their prospects of winning back the White House, and — not typically for their party — satisfied with their candidates. That enthusiasm gap is emerging as one of the early dynamics of the 2008 campaign.

The rest of today's coverage of the money race focuses on Clinton vs. Obama. Another New York Times article: "If there was any doubt that … Obama could stand toe to toe with … Clinton, at least in raising money, the matter was settled on Wednesday as Mr. Obama's presidential campaign announced raising $25 million in the first three months of the year."

The Washington Post smartly reminds analysts of all that money Clinton spent beating John Spencer -- who? -- in 2006. "The neck-and-neck financial showings also drew fresh attention to the $37 million that Clinton spent on her easy reelection victory in New York last year, money that could have been rolled into her presidential account. Clinton ended up transferring $10 million from the Senate fund to her White House bid."

And in a sign of things to come, the Los Angeles Times notes that Obama has to start filling in the blanks now, and the paper includes quotes from many key Democratic special interest leaders, who expressed disappointment that Obama hasn't talked specifics yet.

 

GINGRICH: While not exactly sour grapes, Newt Gingrich does come across a bit bah-humbugish with his complaint yesterday that all this money being raised in the first quarter was going to be "wasted" and that it was an "absurdity."

GIULIANI: The Washington Post nabbed some time with Giuliani and explores his position on abortion. "If the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, he said, he would oppose any effort by states to put women in prison for seeking abortions. But he said he has not considered whether he would sign federal legislation aimed at codifying abortion rights nationally. 'That's so hypothetical, it's impossible to answer,' he said."

A New York Post piece about Giuliani's possible exit from Giuliani Partners also has this: "[O]n the eve of a trip to socially conservative South Carolina, Giuliani told CNN yesterday that he would support public funding for abortion in certain cases. The comment could pose a problem with right-wing voters. Giuliani later issued a clarification, saying he does not want to make changes to the current laws governing taxpayer funding for abortions."

Meanwhile, campaigning in Florida, Giuliani may have caused himself a big problem should he end up as the GOP's nominee. He appeared to be open to allowing oil drilling off Florida's Gulf coast -- something that Florida Democrats and Republicans have opposed for years.

And Bernard Kerik continues to garner headlines.

ROMNEY: The AP says that Romney "may have shot himself in the foot. The Republican presidential contender has told audiences on several occasions, most recently this week in gun-savvy -- and early voting -- New Hampshire, that he has been a longtime hunter. But it turns out he has been on only two hunting trips."

T.THOMPSON: During his announcement tour in Wisconsin and Iowa, Thompson said Iraqis ought to vote on whether they want a U.S. presence in Iraq -- and if they don't, the US should leave.

EDWARDS: Here's an interesting nugget from a Washington Post profile of Elizabeth Edwards: "'I am an Internet junkie and a news junkie,' she said in an interview after the final campaign event Monday. 'I'd be lying if I didn't say I have a Google alert on every member of my family. That includes my brother who teaches film, my sister, my daughter. I have a Google alert on me. Honestly.'"

RICHARDSON: One candidate, not named Obama and Clinton, was trying to make sure he wasn't being ignored. Richardson yesterday in New Hampshire: "'All I want is for you to keep your powder dry. Wait until you see all the candidates. Wait until you see the debates. Wait until you see who has the best record and the best plan to lead our country,' Richardson said... 'Don't get swayed by rock-star status or polls or how much money we've raised. I did OK in that area, but I'm not in the stratosphere."

If you like litmus-test politics, then you'll love what the New Hampshire state House did yesterday: It approved civil unions, which could set up an over-the-top political litmus test primary on both sides of the presidential race. If passed by the state Senate and signed by the governor, the bill would become law on Jan. 1, 2008 -- about 2-3 weeks before the New Hampshire primary.

Speaking of New Hampshire, a new CNN/WMUR poll has McCain and Giuliani tied at 29%, with Romney not that far behind at 17%.

The Washington Post also got Giuliani to talk about Iraq. "Asked what he meant when he said during an interview on CNBC that too much time was being spent on Iraq, he offered a clarification. 'I didn't mean to suggest at all that Iraq isn't terribly important and you've got to spend a lot of time on Iraq,' he said. But he said the nation must 'multitask' in the fight against terrorism. 'You've also got to spend time on Iran, Syria -- not losing sight of the fact that we've got to get Pakistan and Afghanistan right. We've got to make sure that the great efforts that our military made in the Afghan war are completed so that we crush al-Qaeda, the Taliban can't reemerge. I think we should put a tremendous amount of effort on trying to catch [al-Qaeda leader Osama] bin Laden.'"

Iraq Study Group co-chair Jim Baker uses a Washington Post op-ed to plea for some sort of common ground between congressional Democrats and Bush on Iraq. For what it's worth, the White House liked parts of the op-ed enough to include it in its morning clips.

The liberal group Americans United for Change is launching ads this week in New Hampshire and Maine targeted GOP Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and John Sununu of New Hampshire -- both up for re-election next year -- for voting against the Iraq supplemental and its withdrawal timeline.  The ads, which will run for the next week in Maine and the next 10 days in New Hampshire at the cost of more than $200,000, blast Collins and Sununu as being "loyal Bushies" on Iraq. You'll recall that, last week, the group launched an ad buy targeting Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell in Kentucky, who's also up for re-election in 2008.

With his recess appointment, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports, Sam Fox will serve as the ambassador to Belgium until the end of Bush's term. The paper also gets a comment from Fox, the first time he has spoken publicly about the controversy. "'This whole thing was political, it's partisan, and it's a shame,' Fox said. 'What you just referred to was political rhetoric. I made a contribution to Swift Boat Veterans, one of many, many contributions I make a year. They're perfectly legal, there's nothing wrong with them. Kerry wanted me to apologize, and I didn't think I had any reason to apologize. If I thought I did, I would.'"

After Fox's recess appointment was announced, John Kerry put out a statement saying that Fox's nomination was withdrawn earlier "because the Administration realized it would lose in the Foreign Relations Committee. Unfortunately, when this White House can't win the game, they just change the rules, and America loses."

Chris Dodd, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a presidential candidate, added: "I seriously question the legality of the President's use of the recess appointment authority in this instance. I intend to seek an opinion on the legality of this appointment from the General Accountability Office and invite other Senators to join with me in that request. This is underhanded and an abuse of Executive authority -- sadly this behavior has become the hallmark of this administration."

The New York Times writes about two other controversial recess appointments, in addition to Fox's. Bush named Andrew Biggs, a champion of private accounts, as the deputy commissioner at the Social Security Administration. And he also appointed Susan E. Dudley as administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at OMB. "Ms. Dudley has written that government regulation is not warranted 'in the absence of a significant market failure,' alarming consumer and environmental groups."

The Washington Post reports that Alberto Gonzales is taking his upcoming Senate testimony very, very seriously. "Gonzales has retreated from public view this week in an intensive effort to save his job, spending hours practicing testimony and phoning lawmakers for support in preparation for pivotal appearances in the Senate this month, according to administration officials. After struggling for weeks to explain the extent of his involvement in the firings of eight U.S. attorneys, Gonzales and his aides are viewing the Senate testimony on April 12 and April 17 as seriously as if it were a confirmation proceeding for a Supreme Court or a Cabinet appointment, officials said."

In fact, the article adds, Gonzales has even scheduled three days of mock testimony. And he's also receiving advice from ex-RNC chair/VA GOP chair Ed Gillespie, who was very instrumental in some previous key Bush confirmation battles.

And the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee this morning is launching a new Web site, which contains a timeline on Rep. Wilson's (R) involvement in the US attorney controversy, a petition to fire Gonzales, and even an online poll that makes a reference to American Idol's Sanjaya Malakar.

From NBC's Mark Murray
The White House has just announced that it has used a recess appointment to install Sam Fox as the ambassador of Belgium. Fox's nomination was withdrawn right before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee was about to vote on him -- and shine light on his $50,000 donation to the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, which criticized John Kerry's military record in 2004.

From NBC's Mark Murray
Dogged by his support for the Iraq war and most recently by his less-than-stellar fundraising haul, John McCain has planned an ambitious schedule of speeches and travel in the next three weeks to regain the presidential mojo he had just a year ago. It concludes with his official announcement for the presidency on April 25.

Per an email from his campaign, McCain will start with a speech on Iraq at the Virginia Military Institute on April 11. He then will give an economic speech on April 16 (from Memphis, TN) and a domestic policy speech on April 23. Finally, McCain will officially announce his candidacy with a tour that begins in New Hampshire on April 25, that takes him to South Carolina the next day, and that ends in Iowa and Arizona on April 27.

From NBC's Mike Viqueira
Another day, another dust up over the Iraq supplemental bill. Today, it's from the chief sponsor of the House legislation, Appropriations Chairman David Obey (D), who called on President Bush to compromise on the withdrawal timeline issue -- but not without first taking a few shots at the "crocodile tears" Bush shed yesterday at his press conference.

"The president is crying crocodile tears about the fact that the Congress has not yet passed his take-it-or-leave-it spending request for the Iraq war," Obey said at a forum at the University of Wisconsin-Marshfield. "The president said we left Washington without finishing our work, complaining that it has taken us 57 days to process his 'my way or no way' request. Let me remind the president that last year, the Republican Congress took 118 days to pass his supplemental request. Further, let me remind the president that his Republican party in Congress left Washington for the year without finishing their work on the entire $463.5 billion domestic budget. If we had not had to spend the first month of this new session finishing the work they should have done last year, we might have had more time to turn to the president's 'my way or no way' request, but we first had to clean up their last year's leftovers.

More Obey: "The president needs to stop his huffing and puffing and recognize that he is no longer dealing with a rubber-stamp Congress. There must be compromise. We have already adjusted our proposal by giving him a waiver on troop readiness. When are we going to hear any talk of reasonable compromise from him?" Bush will have an opportunity to respond when he delivers remarks today to US soldiers and their families in Fort Irwin, CA.

From NBC's Andrea Mitchell
Obama also has displayed an ability to have a broad base of smaller donors, who can be hit up again for more contributions as the campaign progresses -- compared with wealthier donors who have already given the maximum amount.

The Obama campaign claims it received contributions from 100,000 people, and that $6.9 million was raised over the internet.