Barack Obama will make a forceful thrust against the war in Iraq with an Iowa speech today detailing the ways Americans are suffering, partly because of the hundreds of millions spent on the war, reports the Des Moines Register's Jason Clayworth.
A group of military veterans will also be campaigning for Obama in Iowa beginning next week, creating a "one-two punch to knock out notions" that Obama is "weak on defense because of his longtime stand against the war and his call to bring troops home." (Hillary Clinton will also address Iraq today in Iowa at 10 a.m local/11 a.m. EST.)
USA Today's Jill Lawrence writes Obama's "making a habit of telling people things they don't necessarily want to hear on subjects ranging from fuel standards and fatherhood to homophobia and teacher pay." On AIDS, Obama said homosexuality carries a stigma in black communities; told men that "responsibility does not end at conception" on the issue of fatherhood and "scolded the auto industry" for not making enough cars with great fuel efficiency.
On the Republican side, the Los Angeles Times' Janet Hook writes that Fred Thompson has not always been the GOP hero he's been in recent months. During his time in the Senate, Thompson "infuriated conservatives" with his support of campaign finance regulations (he was an original co-sponsor of McCain-Feingold) and expanded the focus of a fundraising investigation of President Clinton to include some Republicans.
Thompson stood athwart the GOP on other issues: he was one of 10 Republicans to vote against convicting Clinton on one of two impeachment counts, and though he built a "consistent antiabortion voting record" he also opposed a constitutional amendment to ban abortion. Thompson, a former trial lawyer, opposed the GOP's efforts to curb lawsuits.
Should Thompson campaign in Michigan during its primary, he'll be left to gain only two uncommitted Republican elites in the endorsement race. The Washington Post's Chris Cillizza reports Betsy and Dick DeVos (former 2006 gubernatorial candidate) are uncommitted as well as the Michigan secretary of state. Rep. Pete Hoekstra of Michigan's strongest GOP enclave has endorsed Mitt Romney, while Rep. Candice Miller backs Rudy Giuliani. Long-time National Republican Committeeman and player in state politics, Chuck Yob, supports John McCain.
In Senate news, the big story today is the admission of Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) that his telephone number is in the records of the "D.C. Madam" who is accused of running a prostitution ring "catering to Washington's elite," The Politico's Carrie Budoff. Vitter apologized for the incident and said it took place prior to his 2004 election to the Senate. In 2002 and 2004 Vitter was accused visiting a bordello, both of which he denied. Vitter supports Rudy Giuliani and has been one of the mayor's ambassadors to social conservatives.
Meanwhile, Al Franken raised $1.9 million in the 2Q, bringing him to nearly $3.3 million for 2007, reports the Minneapolis Star-Tribune's Jake Sherman. Sen. Norm Coleman raised about $1.5 million in 2Q, totaling about $3 million for the year. Franken's leading rival for the DFL's nomination, attorney Mike Ciresi, raised $735,000 in this quarter. Franken has 36,000 contributors to date and 82 percent of them live outside Minnesota. More than 50 percent of Coleman's contributions are from Minnesota. The Star-Tribune's Kevin Diaz reports the DSCC is attacking Coleman in a new ad on Iraq at the same time the antiwar group Americans United for Change is running a six-figure ad campaign against him.
Get these and today's other election stories at RCP's Politics and Elections page.
