A Reminder: The Dems Debate This Weekend

The Democratic candidates will meet for a debate Sunday morning on a special edition of ABC's This Week with George Stephanopoulos, live from Des Moines.

Fred Thompson Speaks (But Doesn't Declare) In Iowa

Fred Thompson spoke in Iowa today, his first visit to the state, skirting the awkward line between maintaining his undeclared status and trying to build up excitement for his forthcoming campaign. "I am unabashedly pro-life. I am pro-Second Amendment and I don’t apologize for the United States of America," Thompson told a crowd in Des Moines. According to The New York Times, Thompson carefully chose his words to reflect his non-candidate status, even as a voice from the crowd shouted "Hurry up and declare, already!"

Obama Calls For Reform Of Farm Subsidies

Speaking at an Iowa high school, Barack Obama today called for changing agricultural policy to eliminate subsidies for wealthy and corporate farms and instead target small farmers for federal aid. "While you’re working hard to strengthen your farms, your families, and your communities, our government is working for big agribusiness," Obama told the audience. "In the last decade, we’ve handed out $1.3 billion in federal farm money to people who aren’t even farmers. We’ve even got farm money going to Fortune 500 companies." John Edwards advocates similar reforms, and both specifically call for lowering the payment limit to 250,000 dollars per year.

Obama Camp Recruits High-Profile Legal Advisor

The Obama campaign has brought on former federal judge Eric Holder as a legal advisor. Holder served as an assistant attorney general during the Clinton years, and has spent the last six years in corporate. Notably, he is currently involved in the NFL's internal inquiry over the Michael Vick scandal. "Given Holder’s credentials," the Chicago Tribune speculates, "it isn’t outside the realm of possibility to suggest he could wind up the nation’s first African-American attorney general should Obama win the White House."

Heather Wilson Touring New Mexico — Is A Senate Run In The Works?

Courtesy of New Mexico FBIHOP, Congresswoman Heather Wilson (R-NM) has been touring areas of her state outside of her home district — seemingly an indication that she's planning a statewide run. It's possible that 75-year old GOP Senator Pete Domenici will retire, as he has been implicated in the U.S. Attorney scandal — Heather Wilson has also been the subject of similar accusations by former U.S. Attorney David Iglesias.

Kucinich: Solve Infrastructure Problems With New WPA

In an interview with the Boston Globe editorial board, Dennis Kucinich proposes solving unemployment and national infrastructure problems in one blow by bringing back the New Deal-era Works Progress Administration, which put people to work building roads, bridges, buildings and other projects. Kucinich declined to talk about Rosemary Palmer, who is running against him in the Democratic primary for his seat in Congress. Palmer is a former supporter of Kucinich who also lost a son in Iraq, and charges that the presidential candidate is ineffective in his normal job. "Let me be clear," Kucinich said. "I'm here to talk about my candidacy for president."