Edwards to visit IOWA city

Edwards to visit city

Sen. John Edwards, a Democrat from North Carolina and potential 2008 presidential candidate, will visit New Hampshire on Friday, Dec. 29, at 12:30 p.m., and hold a special town hall-type meeting in Portsmouth.
Edwards will hold the meeting at the Little Harbour Elementary School, at 50 Clough Drive. Doors open to the public at noon.
Vilsack to McCain: Rethink troop levels
On Monday, Gov. Tom Vilsack, D-Iowa, called on Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., to rethink his proposal to increase troop levels in Iraq by as much as 100,000. McCain's call for more U.S. troops in Iraq is opposed by the Iraqi prime minister and U.S. military commanders on the ground.
In a Dec. 18 letter, Vilsack wrote, "Your suggestion to deploy additional American servicemen and women to Iraq would make a big mistake even bigger and send the wrong message to President Bush, who has stubbornly refused to recognize that his administration's military and diplomatic failures in Iraq have recklessly endangered America's national interests.
"Additional troop deployments would also make the Iraqi government more dependent -- instead of less dependent --- on the American military presence.
"Our efforts should be focused on including more countries in the reconstruction effort and strengthening local governments across Iraq," the Democrat said.
Vilsack also commented on Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh's announcement that he has decided not to run for president in 2008.
"As Indiana governor and a U.S. senator, Evan has been an influential leader in our party, in his state and in our country," the Iowa governor said.
"Although he has decided not to run for president in 2008, Evan's voice and perspective as a successful Midwestern governor will be needed to ensure that Democrats retake the White House."
Sullivan is thanked for Democratic leadership
New Hampshire U.S. Rep.-elect Carol Shea-Porter thanked outgoing state Democratic Party Chairwoman Kathy Sullivan for her efforts on behalf of the party.
"Kathy Sullivan has been a strong leader for New Hampshire Democrats and we have made incredible progress during her tenure," Shea-Porter said. "We are thankful for her determination, her vision and her service to New Hampshire. She holds a wealth of political knowledge, and I hope she continues to share that wisdom and experience with others."
Clinton: No more troops without a plan for Iraq
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., said Monday she would not support a short-term increase in American troop presence in Iraq unless it was part of a more comprehensive plan to stabilize the country.
Clinton also offered the broadest indication yet that she was close to a decision on whether to enter the 2008 Democratic presidential field.
"I want to make sure the decision is right for me, my family, my party and my country," Clinton said during an interview on NBC's "The Today Show." She appeared on the show to promote the rerelease of her best-selling book on child rearing, "It Takes a Village."
The former first lady said she knew more than any other potential candidate how hard it was to be president. "I saw it in an up close and personal way for eight years," she said.
New poll shows Clinton could win White House
Clinton has enough public support to go all the way to the White House, another new poll said Tuesday.
It's the second time since the weekend that a national survey found the New York Democrat can beat or tie Rudy Giuliani and Arizona Sen. John McCain, the top two Republican White House contenders.
In the latest, CNN found Clinton even with McCain at 47 percent and topping Giuliani, 48 percent to 46 percent. Over the weekend, Newsweek found Clinton leading McCain 50 percent to 43 percent, and edging Giuliani 48 percent to 47 percent.

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