Clinton Advisers Say Edwards Is a Threat

Thursday, December 20, 2007

2-WAY RACE? DO I HEAR 3?

Clinton Advisers Say Edwards Is a Threat

INDEPENDENCE, Iowa -- Advisers to Hillary Clinton have been pushing the notion that John Edwards poses a growing threat in the Iowa caucuses, suggesting their internal data show something of a mini-surge for the former senator from North Carolina. Barack Obama's advisers have countered that it makes for a convenient story line -- and is evidence that the Clinton campaign is threatened by a two-way race with Obama.

On Wednesday, Clinton took Edwards on over his signature issue, indicating that she may view the Edwards improvements as quite real. "People talk about poverty in this campaign," Clinton said during a crowded event here, noting that her husband's administration was an era of great progress on the issue. "Well, we lifted more people out of poverty during the 1990s than at any time in our history.

"We had policies that actually helped to create 22.7 million new jobs. The typical Iowan family saw an increase of $7,000 in their incomes during the '90s."

During an appearance in Portsmouth, N.H., on Wednesday, Edwards responded sharply. "There are 37 million people living in poverty in America. Alleviating poverty is the cause of my life," he said. "What I would ask Hillary Clinton and the other candidates to do is to join me for calling for an increase in the minimum wage to $9.50 an hour, and to put forth a comprehensive plan to eliminate poverty, which I have done."

Clinton is continuing a five-day blitz across Iowa, where a new Washington Post-ABC News poll shows her in a statistical tie with Obama, with Edwards close behind.

-- Anne E. Kornblut

'BUNKER MENTALITY'?

Attacking Huckabee, Romney Defends Bush

DAVENPORT, Iowa -- In his pursuit of ways to criticize Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney has to say thank you to none other than Huckabee himself.

Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor and new Iowa front-runner, blasted President Bush in a recent article, saying that Bush has pursued foreign policy with an "arrogant bunker mentality." Romney has seized on that phrase, using it at almost every stop in an attempt to appeal to the many Republicans who still like the president.

Standing across the Mississippi River from the Rock Island Arsenal, a major Army weapons-manufacturing facility that employs more than 6,000 people, Romney praised Bush and said Huckabee made "a significant error" by "insulting the president."

"It's one thing to be critical" of policy, said the former Massachusetts governor. "It's a very different matter to suggest that the cause of missteps or mistakes are the result of arrogance or a bunker mentality."

Bush's approval ratings remain historically low. But Romney is hoping to point out Huckabee's "insult" to the Republicans who are likely to participate in the Iowa caucuses in 15 days. Among that group, the president's popularity rating is high.

"The president is a person who is deeply devoted to this country," Romney said. "He is not a person who acts out of arrogance or a bunker mentality."

Romney's message has become all Huckabee, all the time. He no longer mentions Rudy Giuliani on the stump. He doesn't talk about John McCain much. His advisers barely mention Fred Thompson.

The message is being boosted by the efforts of the media, which have also turned their focus to Huckabee's record in the past several weeks. It's working, according to the Romney folks, who say their internal polls show Huckabee's negatives are rising quickly.

But even if Huckabee should win in Iowa, Romney's advisers have a steely confidence that their candidate is still in a good position to win the nomination. They believe Huckabee is a flash in the pan whose rise is similar to that of McCain in 2000, when he gave then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush a scare but ultimately petered out. They note he is struggling in New Hampshire.

McCain is making a similar run in New Hampshire this time, but Romney's advisers, while eyeing him cautiously, don't describe him as a major threat.

They are convinced that Giuliani is too liberal to win, and they are buoyed by recent national polls that show him continuing to drop, and by the former New York mayor's schedule, which has him abandoning Iowa and New Hampshire. During the final push after Christmas, Giuliani is scheduled to go to Florida for three solid days.

-- Michael D. Shear

BAD NEWS FROM HOME

Brother of Kucinich Is Found Dead

Dennis Kucinich's youngest brother was found dead at his home in Cleveland on Wednesday, the Associated Press reported.

Perry Kucinich, 52, was found face down by another brother, Larry, at about 9 a.m., a spokesman for the Cuyahoga County coroner's office told the wire service. There were no signs of foul play, said Powell Caesar, a spokesman for the coroner's office. An autopsy was being performed.

Natalie Laber, spokeswoman for the Ohio congressman and Democratic presidential candidate, told AP that Dennis Kucinich flew immediately to Cleveland. "He was very close to Perry, and he's taking this very hard," Laber said.

-- Matthew Mosk