The Story of Wife No. 3

"This year, they were tablemates at the White House correspondents dinner, which Mr. Giuliani attended as a guest of Fox's parent company, News Corporation.

"Now these allies and friends find themselves on largely uncharted political turf. Mr. Giuliani, 63, is a leading Republican candidate for president. Mr. Ailes, 67, as head of Fox News, runs the pre-eminent media outlet for likely voters in a Republican primary.

"Whether their friendship would ever affect coverage -- Fox insists it has not and will not -- it is nonetheless the sort of relationship that other campaigns have noted and are watching, though none wanted to speak publicly for fear of offending Fox News.

"So far this year, one political journal found, Mr. Giuliani has logged more time on Fox interview programs than any other candidate. Most of the time has been spent in interviews with Sean Hannity, an acknowledged admirer of the former mayor, according to the data compiled by the journal, known as The Hotline."

You know who else has favored Hannity with his rare interviews? Fred Thompson.

The focus on Rudy makes sense if a new NBC/WSJ poll is any indication. Giuliani leads Thompson 33 to 20, with McCain at 17 and Romney at 8. (So why does the press describe McCain as toast and Romney as strong again?) Hillary nearly doubles Obama's support, 43 to 22, with Edwards at 13.

All right, time for a little substance. Obama is making waves with a foreign-policy speech, with dramatically different reactions on the left and right.

"The United States must add at least 7,000 troops in Afghanistan, double foreign aid spending to $50 billion, and be prepared to strike unilaterally against terrorist sanctuaries in Pakistan, Senator Barack Obama of Illinois said yesterday in a major speech laying out his counterterrorism plan . . .

"Political analysts interpreted Obama's speech as a pointed message to his presidential competitors: that he will not accept being portrayed as weak or inexperienced on terrorism and world affairs," says the Boston Globe.

Captain Ed has lost all confidence in Obama, if he ever had any:

"Democrats have been demanding a withdrawal from Iraq for the past two years, and Barack Obama knows exactly what he'll do with the troops once they withdraw. He'll send them on an invasion of Pakistan:

"In a strikingly bold speech about terrorism scheduled for this morning, Democratic presidential candidate Illinois Sen. Barack Obama will call not only for a withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, but a redeployment of troops into Afghanistan and even Pakistan -- with or without the permission of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf.