CBS Reporter Lashes Out At McCain
Another reporter is ridiculing John McCain's statement that one could easily walk through neighbordhoods in Baghdad. "It's disgraceful for a man seeking highest office, I think, to talk utter rubbish. And that is utter rubbish," said CBS foreign correspondent Allen Pizzey in an interview. "It's electoral propaganda. It is simply not true. No one in his right mind who has been to Baghdad believes that story."

Jesse Jacson Backs Down From Fox-Black Caucus Debate Criticism
The New York Times reports that Jesse Jackson is toning down his position from a statement last week criticizing the Congressional Black Caucus for agreeing to hold a debate with Fox News. Jackson now says he is deferring to the Caucus's decision, and that debate negotiations can be used as an opportunity to pressure all news organizations, including Fox, to hire more black staffers and pay better attention to issues in the black community. "So while we may challenge some of Fox’s politics, none of them can celebrate the alternative of fairness and opportunity — none of them,” Jackson said.

Giuliani To Quit Consulting Firm
The New York Times reports that Rudy Giuliani will officially leave his corporate consulting firm, Giuliani Partners, to devote his full energies to the Presidential campaign. "I’m largely out of it and I’m pretty much going to be out of it at some point pretty soon," Giuliani said. Giuliani also described the Presidential campaign as like running "two marathons": The race to the nomination on Feb. 5, and then from there to the general election in November, each involving a different set of pressures and strategies.

Poll: Generic Dems Beats Generic GOPer By 18 Points For President
A new Hotline/Diageo poll finds that a generic Democrat would lead a generic Republican for President by a margin of 47%-29%. Along with a generic GOP candidate running below 30%, the poll also finds President Bush with an approval rating of only 35%, and a disapproval of 61%. Even worse, 45% of the country strongly disapproves of the President, ten points ahead of the total who approve to any extent.

Obama Working On Health Plan — To Focus On Efficiency Rather Than Taxes
The Des Moines Register reports that Barack Obama will roll out in the next few weeks a plan for every American to have health coverage by 2012. Obama stopped short of advocating tax increases for the goal, instead hinting that a focus on more efficient electronic record-keeping and preventive care could produce savings that could be leveraged to expand coverage. "We shouldn't just put more money into a system that isn't efficient," Obama said. Rival John Edwards has already advocated tax increases to pay for increased health care.

Thompson To Test Potential Candidacy At Big GOP Dinner
The Politico reports that Fred Thompson's testing of the 2008 Presidential waters is becoming more serious, with the actor and former Senator set to speak at the Lincoln Club of Orange County in California on May 4. Thompson will reportedly use the occasion not to actually announce a candidacy, but to test the receptiveness of an activist audience to him.

Gingrich To Debate Kerry On Global Warming
The Hill reports that John Kerry will debate Newt Gingrich on how to best address global warming, this Tuesday at the Russell Senate Office Building. Kerry will reportedly argue for stronger government action on climate change, while Gingrich is set to promote his "Contract With The Earth," calling for a bipartisan approach that stresses market incentives for conservation and the development of new energy sources.

Elizabeth Edwards To Appear On Oprah Today
Elizabeth Edwards will be appearing on the Oprah Winfrey show today, where she will likely talk about living with cancer on the campaign trail.

Richardson Trip To Focus On Soldiers' Remains, Not Nukes
Bill Richardson's insists that his trip to North Korea will not cover the subject of the country's nuclear program, the Associated Press reports. Instead, Richardson says the trip will be limited to recovering the remains of American Soldiers who were lost in the Korean War. "I assume the North Koreans will raise other issues like the nuclear agreement, but I am not planning to negotiate on that," said Richardson.