Debate Torture for GOP Hopefuls

Actor and ex-senator has GOP royalty in his camp, frontrunners in his sights

(NEWSER) - Fred Thompson will enter the 2008 presidential race in early July, the Politico reports, bolstered by millions of dollars in contributions and the support of key Republican insiders. The "Law & Order" star and former Tennessee senator, a hard-line conservative, will pitch himself as a steady, consistent presence who can bring his disaffected party together. More»

GOP turns to popular VP candidate to help Chambliss, stave off Dem supermajority

(NEWSER) - Sarah Palin will lend her star power to Saxby Chambliss in his Senate runoff battle against Democrat Jim Martin, Politico reports. Palin will appear with Chambliss at rallies across Georgia the day before the Dec. 2 runoff, capping a GOP full-court press that has seen Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney and John McCain drop by to try to keep Chambliss’ seat in Republican hands. More»

Many pundits ruled out Obama victory early

(NEWSER) - With the election over, what's more fun than calling out all those whose predictions were off—way off. Der Spiegel lists some highlights:

• "He cannot win, Bill. He cannot win." Hillary Clinton, on Barack Obama
• "We'll win Florida." Rudy Giuliani
• "Virginians are really getting fired up for this ticket of McCain and Palin." George Allen
• "Romney for the Republicans, Hillary for the Democrats." Ann Coulter, on the nominees

Nobody's out of it in wide-open race

(NEWSER) - Just days before the primary polling starts, the GOP presidential race is so unsettled, there's a plausible scenario that gives any of the top four candidates—and even the trailing Fred Thompson—the nomination. Politico plays out what would have to happen for each of them to prevail. Romney needs Iowa; if he gets it, with New Hampshire a quick follow, he's on a roll. More»

Poll puts him in statistical dead heat with Giuliani nationally

(NEWSER) - Former second-tier candidate Mike Huckabee has jumped to top spot by virtually tying Rudy Giuliani in a national poll today, CNN reports. Mired at 5% of GOP votes only two months ago, Huckabee leaped to 22%, just 2% shy of Giuliani—well within the CNN poll's range of error. What's more, Huckabee is now number one among GOP hopefuls in Iowa. More»