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Giuliani Nabs Jeb Bush's Former Campaign Manager And Other Campaign Updates

Here are a few updates on the movements of the Presidential candidates:


* Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani nabbed a key Florida staffer for his campaign today: Karen Unger, Jeb Bush's former campaign manager, who has agreed to serve as the senior Florida adviser for Rudy's exploratory committee.


* Meanwhile, Giuliani is drawing criticism for purportedly limiting his appearances "to events with narrowly defined, friendly audiences, avoiding the kind of uncomfortable interrogations his rivals have occasionally faced."


* Sen. John McCain's campaign announced today that fellow Arizonian Sen. Jon Kyl will serve as the chairman of his exploratory committee in Arizona.


* McCain will be the featured speaker at a Seattle luncheon tomorrow co-sponsored by the Discovery Institute, one of the leading proponents of "intelligent design" in the nation.


* In an interview with Indian Country, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson declared that if elected President, he would create "a cabinet department for Native American affairs."


* Meanwhile, Richardson has hired Lachlan McIntosh, the executive director of the South Carolina Democratic Party, to run his primary campaign in the state.


* The Federal Election Commission released a draft proposal yesterday that said Sen. Barack Obama would be able to raise private funds for the general election, but with the possible option that he could return that money if he chooses to accept public financing at a later date.


* More than 30,000 people have created profiles on Obama's campaign website.


* Speaking in South Carolina yesterday, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney described heterosexual marriage as a key component to improving education in America. Romney is in New Hampshire today, where he toured a company that develops solar energy.


* Former President Bill Clinton has earned nearly $40 million in speaking fees during his six years out of public office. Due to her expected forgoing of public financing, the Clinton's nest egg could potentially be used by Sen. Hillary Clinton in her campaign for President.


* Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee has signed up Rep. Don Young as the congressional chairman of his exploratory campaign. Election Central readers might remember Young as the man who famously uttered the fake Lincoln quote on the floor of the House of Representatives.


* State senators in Kansas voted yesterday to strip the governor of the power to select who fills an unfinished term in the U.S. Senate. The bill was only supported by Republicans and is seen by some as a bulwark against Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius replacing Sen. Sam Brownback with a Democrat should Brownback somehow win the White House. Brownback is set to campaign in Iowa tomorrow.


* Rep. Ron Paul will be in New Hampshire today, speaking to the “Alliance of Derry Taxpayers." He'll be in the Granite State for the duration of the weekend.


* Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson told reporters after speaking at the Marquette University Law School that he has no desire to be Vice President if he is unable to reach the top office. Thompson also admitted that his campaign was sunk if he can't win in Iowa, a state he has been visiting on a weekly basis. He's back there this weekend.


* Rep. Dennis Kucinich will be campaigning and fundraising in Southern California both today and tomorrow.


* Democrats are holding a fundraiser in Washington, DC on March 4 in order to raise the money needed to pay for the South Carolina primary. Expected to appear are Sens. Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden and Christopher Dodd as well as former Sen. John Edwards and former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack.


* Pennsylvania is now considering moving its primary date up from April 22 to February 5.


* The Texas Republican Party is planning to hold a Presidential straw poll on September 1.


4 Comments

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Are there states that aren't planning to move their primary to Feb. 5th?

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Guam?

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The netroots are having an impact...30K profiles on Obama's site? Great!

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Good, let's have one giant primary day and stop messing around with tiny states determining the candidate before the primaries in the larger states roll around. Folks would be more pleased with the choice, more likely to work in the campaign, and more likely to turn out and vote.

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