Free Republic

And they're off! By Salena Zito TRIBUNE-REVIEW Sunday, June 18, 2006 Sometimes you are a hit. Sometimes you take a hit. One of the golden rules of campaigning is that every poll on the calendar is not a slam-dunk. The Des Moines Register conducted the first poll of the 2008 presidential race last week. It was based on interviews with registered Iowa voters who are likely to participate in the Democratic caucuses two years from now. Much ado has been made about John Edwards' robust first-place showing, Hillary Clinton's second place, John Kerry's distant third, and Iowa homeboy Gov. Tom...

David Wu admits to 'inexcusable behavior' PORTLAND, Ore. - A Democratic congressman in a tight re-election race admitted Tuesday that while he was a college student 28 years ago, he was disciplined by school officials for "inexcusable behavior" toward an ex-girlfriend. The admission by Rep. David Wu, D-Ore., came immediately after a report published in The Oregonian newspaper saying a former girlfriend from college once claimed Wu tried to force her into having sex. The report said the woman, whom the newspaper did not identify, declined to comment, citing privacy concerns. In his statement, Wu said he had a "two-year...

<p>BERGENFIELD - Scott Garrett, a conservative Republican, twice lost bitter primary bids to unseat moderate Rep. Marge Roukema before she decided to retire.</p> <p>So, what did Garrett's strong win Tuesday over a Democrat who styled herself as Rouke ma's heir reflect? Some analysts thought that the race might be close. Rouke ma did not endorse either can didate, but rather told voters to base their choice on the issues. As it turned out, Garrett, 43, of Wantage, received 116,280 votes on Tuesday, or 60 percent of those cast. Anne Sumers, 45, of Paramus, received 74,204 votes, or 38 percent. Indepen dent candidate Michael J. Cino got the remaining 2 percent.</p>

Rabid drug-warrior Bob Barr and the equally avid, though low-key, drug warrior John Linder are in a dead-heat Republican primary this Tuesday in Georgia's newly drawn 7th Congressional District. The question is, if Barr loses how much credit can the national Libertarian Party claim? The LP's fetchingly named "Incumbent Killer Strategy" has -- with good reason -- targeted Barr as the drug war's point man. So the party has purchased nearly $50,000 of airtime on metro Atlanta cable stations (with a few ads on broadcast Fox and NBC slated for this final, pre-primary weekend) for a wrenching, 30-second ad featuring...