Mark Towner's Political Spyglass: McCain's Prospects Look Pretty Grim

(The New Republic) This column was written by John B. Judis.
The release of the second-quarter fundraising totals spells trouble for two presidential candidates: Democrat John Edwards and Republican John McCain. Edwards has always been a long shot for the nomination, but McCain was once the Republican frontrunner and expected (by me, among others) to have an easy path to the nomination. His candidacy is in now a shambles — and for more reasons than money. When former Senator Phil Gramm was running for the Republican presidential nomination in 1996, he used to cite "Huckaby's Law," named after political consultant and fundraising expert Stan Huckaby. Huckaby's Law said that the presidential candidate who raised the most money by January 1 of election year would inevitably win the nomination. John Connally had defied the law in 1976, but that was before public financing kicked in.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/07/06/opinion/main3023853.shtml

Mark Towner's Political Spyglass:Poll: Bloomberg Takes From Giuliani

THE RACE: Support for former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Sen. Hillary Clinton in a theoretical general election matchup in New Jersey, with and without an independent candidacy by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
THE NUMBERS - WITHOUT BLOOMBERG
Rudy Giuliani, 47 percent
Hillary Clinton, 44 percent
THE NUMBERS - WITH BLOOMBERG
Rudy Giuliani, 36 percent
Hillary Clinton, 36 percent
Michael Bloomberg, 18 percent
OF INTEREST:
If Giuliani were to become the GOP nominee for president, he might look to New Jersey as a place to pick up electoral votes that have gone to Democrats in recent elections. A Bloomberg candidacy, however, might siphon off more support from Giuliani than Clinton. New Jersey hasn't supported a Republican for president since 1988. But the new poll has 61 percent of the state's voters holding a favorable view of Giuliani, higher than any other presidential contender.

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/07/05/ap3887934.html

Mark Towner's Political Spyglass: Giuliani: Money drives campaign schedules

By SEANNA ADCOXAssociated Press Writer
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. Support in early voting states such as South Carolina, Iowa and New Hampshire is important, but Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani explained Friday that he has to follow the money."You have to raise an enormous amount of money to do this. Everybody knows that. We'd all like it to be different, but that's the reality of it. That drives a lot of the scheduling," the former New York mayor said after he greeted about 250 people at a pancake house here.Giuliani, who raised $15 million for the primaries during the last three months, has made more visits to Florida and California than to other early voting states. He said he considers South Carolina important to his White House bid, and that he plans to make more visits.
http://www.wilmingtonstar.com/article/20070706/APP/707060727

Mark Towner's Political Spyglass: Presidential Campaign: McCain in flux

Presidential Campaign: McCain in flux
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER EDITORIAL BOARD
Brother, can you spare a million?
Expect that to be Sen. John McCain's campaign slogan now that The Associated Press has reported that his campaign is "trailing top Republican rivals in money and polls, is undergoing a significant reorganization with staff cuts in every department."
With $2 million in the coffers, about 50 staffers will be let go while others face pay cuts.
So, what happened to the guy who was in third place, cash-wise? Perhaps it was backing the president on the troop surge in Iraq, joking about bombing Iran and making comments to the press that made it clear he had no idea of how bad things are in Iraq that made him seem like a poor choice for a campaign donation.
Maybe.
And if money talks, then we're liking what people are saying these days.


http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/322614_mccained.html

Mark Towner's Political Spyglass: Money Needs Take Giuliani to Big States

Money Needs Take Giuliani to Big States
Friday July 6, 2007 6:16 PM

By SEANNA ADCOX
Associated Press Writer
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (AP) - Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani knows where the money is - that's why he's been campaigning more in California and Florida and less in early voting states like South Carolina.
``You have to raise an enormous amount of money to do this. Everybody knows that. We'd all like it to be different, but that's the reality of it. That drives a lot of the scheduling,'' the former New York mayor said after he greeted about 250 people at a pancake house here.
Giuliani, who raised $15 million for the primaries during the last three months, has made more visits to Florida and California than to other early voting states. He said he considers South Carolina important to his White House bid, and that he plans to make more visits.


http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6762053,00.html

Mark Towner's Political Spyglass: Bush Got It Right... Unlike Mr. Clinton

Jack Kelly Thu Jul 5, 12:30 AM ET
"Scooter" Libby will serve as much time in prison for lying under oath to a federal grand jury as Bill Clinton served for lying under oath to a federal grand jury.
Mr. Libby, who was chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, was convicted in March of lying about from whom he learned that Valerie Plame Wilson worked at the CIA. Last month Judge Reggie Walton sentenced him to 30 months in prison and a $250,000 fine.
On Monday, President Bush commuted the prison sentence. His conviction still stands, and Mr. Libby still must pay the fine.
Democrats were outraged. "As Independence Day nears, we are reminded that one of the principles our forefathers fought for was equal justice under law," said Sen. Charles Schumer of New York. "This commutation completely tramples on that principle."


http://news.yahoo.com/s/realclearpolitics/20070705/cm_rcp/libbys_punishment_worse_than_t

Mark Towner's Political Spyglass

By Andrea Hopkins 1 hour, 17 minutes ago
CINCINNATI (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court ruled on Friday a lawsuit challenging the domestic spying program created by President George W. Bush after the September 11 attacks must be dismissed, in a decision based on narrow technical grounds.
The appeals court panel ruled by a 2-1 vote that the groups and individuals who brought the lawsuit, led by the American Civil Liberties Union, did not have the legal right to bring the challenge in the first place.
The surveillance program was authorized by Bush to monitor the international phone calls and e-mails of U.S. citizens, without first obtaining a court warrant. A lower court had ruled in August 2006 that the program was unconstitutional.
The Bush administration appealed, and the appeals court in Cincinnati set aside the decision.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070706/ts_nm/bush_eavesdropping_dc_3