Dubuque, IA
Governor Romney was bombarded by questions at a press availability after an Ask Mitt Anything event in Dubuque, IA. Most of the questions involved one topic only: the allegations that Rudy Giuliani took trips to the Hamptons with Judith Nathan, while he was still married to second wife Donna Hanover, and that the NYPD security detail was paid for out of “obscure” city departments to hide the rendezvous.

Romney went out of his way NOT to attack Rudy personally. Obviously a decision that was made within the campaign after the scandal broke. Romney said several times that people should give Giuliani the “benefit of the doubt.” The Iowa frontrunner evaded the many questions tossed his way on the story, “This is something that the mayor is addressing and I think we ought to give him the opportunity to address that as he felt  appropriate. I really don’t have anything to say or add to the discussion other than let’s give him an ample chance to look at the history and explain what he feels is needed.”

Yesterday, Rudy said the release of the story hours before Wednesday’s debate might be a political hit job. I asked the Governor if he thought that could be possible, “I turn to the source of the story and let the source of the story explain how they obtained the information they did. I have no information that would suggest one way or another what the answer is to his charge in that regard.”

Romney also addressed his security when he was Governor and took personal trips, “Security is associated with your travel and protection wherever you are and that aspect is not something that is unusual or inappropriate. You really couldn’t have security that would only be with you at certain times or you would be very much at risk. “

The Romney campaign likes to press that they are taking the high road and avoiding personal attacks, in contrast they say to Wednesday’s debate when Giuliani  accused Romney of having illegal immigrants do gardening work for him.

Romney and Rudy have been attacking each other back and forth over the last week. This scandal would be a way for Romney to sling some mud and question Giuliani’s ethics, but as of now the campaign has decided to keep things clean.

Okatie, SC — Rudy Giuliani brushed off reporter questions today about a controversial news report detailing potential financial misconduct during his time as New York City mayor, simply telling reporters “we’ve already explained it.”

Hours before Wednesday’s GOP debate, the Politico newspaper reported that “obscure” city offices were billed for NYPD security costs related to Giuliani’s trips to the Hamptons in the summer of 2001, where he was then conducting an extra-marital affair. (See more here and here.)

One day after conducting several interviews about the subject, where Giuliani called the story a “political hit job” given the debate timing and his conduct in office “perfectly appropriate,” he refused to respond to multiple questions as his usually accommodating campaign staff aggressively attempted to prevent access to him as he exited a South Carolina town hall meeting.

While Giuliani does not usually hold a formal q and a period after town halls, the media traditionally are allowed to film him shaking hands with voters following his events and he will sometimes answer reporter questions. But today, campaign staff repeatedly told reporters to keep away from Giuliani–sometimes physically getting in the way of journalists attempting to film or shout questions at the GOP candidate.

Regardless of the fact that Giuliani took a pass today, the campaign says they are confident with their defense of Giuliani’s conduct and made staff available to the media for comment hours after the story was released Wednesday. They maintain:

1. There was no fiscal mismanagement or impropriety.
2. The NYPD reimbursed city offices for any initial costs.
3. Given that he already received 24/7 NYPD security as mayor, there was no need to hide security costs despite the nature of his visits.

The bottom line of course is that they don’t want to keep the negative story alive by having him comment further, but given media interest, it is inevitable that Giuliani will continue to get questions about the matter. Giuliani heads to New Hampshire tonight where he will conduct a weekend swing through the Granite State.

Eyewitness reports say a man walked into Hillary’s campaign headquarters in Rochester with what appeared to be a bomb strapped to his chest, and demanded to speak with Hillary Clinton. He’s now holding at least two hostages in the building.

Clinton was not there; she’s in the Washington, DC area, and was set to speak to a meeting of the Democratic National Committee. She’s since canceled that speech because of the news.

Rochester police have been in contact with the hostage taker, who has released a mother and child.

Both Barack Obama’s Rochester office two doors down, and John Edwards office have been evacuated as well. A campaign staffer in Virginia said they were still working on getting all the details, but as far as he knew no one had been hurt.

We will keep this spot updated with the latest breaking news.

UPDATE: Manchester, NH TV station WMUR reports that around 1pm, a man in his 40’s with salt and pepper hair entered the headquarters. Two volunteers and a woman with an infant were inside; he told the two volunteers to get on the floor and released the woman and her child. She went next door and instructed shop owners there to call 911.

UPDATE 2: Police say the two hostages have been released, and the situation is fluid but stabilized. No one has been hurt.

Check out some of Carl Cameron’s reporting from the scene.

Clinton campaign manager Patti Solis Doyle has written a letter to her counterpart at the Obama campaign, asking the Illinois Senator to stop running what she calls a “false ad” in NH that claims his health care plan would cover everyone.

Solis Doyle writes, “Your advertisement not only contradicts the judgment of health care experts, but public statements by your campaign and your candidate,” adding, “Senator Obama has pledged to put “honesty first” in this campaign. In that spirit I respectfully request that you stop running this ad which is misleading voters in New Hampshire. “

Clinton’s camp often cites experts who say Obama’s plan would leave out 15 million people out of the 47 million who are currently uninsured, and notes that even Obama himself has called the plan “virtually universal.” Solis Doyle says “It’s not enough for Senator Obama to say he covers everyone, especially when that is inaccurate. The American people need a President who will take the action necessary and fight for health care for every single man woman and child.”

Watch the ad for yourself here:

The Obama campaign says Hillary is playing politics, pointing out that the ad in question is old news. “The Clinton campaign didn’t say a word when this ad was released a month ago,” Obama’s New Hampshire press secretary tells Fox News’ Obama producer Bonney Kapp. “The only thing that’s changed since then is the poll numbers.”

“The truth is, Barack Obama’s universal plan will provide coverage to every single American who can’t afford it and do more to cut the cost of health care than any other plan in this race. Rather than spending their time attacking Barack Obama, the Clinton campaign should explain how exactly they plan to force every American to buy health insurance even if they can’t afford it.”

Clinton’s policy director took steps to address that question today, saying Hillary’s plan aggressively cuts costs, and would cap the percentage of income every American would pay in health care premiums — something no other Democrat would do. She also said she’d use “default enrollment” to sign up every uninsured American for health care, getting them into one of many coverage options when they come into contact with the health care system, go to school, or get a job. But Clinton still hasn’t said how she’ll penalize people who still don’t enroll, saying only that she’ll work with Congress on the issue.

UPDATE: Obama’s national spokesman just put out a statement that’s word-for-word the same as the New Hampshire statement, but does NOT call the plan “universal.” instead, Bill Burton writes Obama “would offer health coverage to every single American,” rather than saying his universal plan will provide coverage to every single American.”

At a trade and foreign policy event, hosted by the Iowa City Foreign Relations Council,presidential aspirant John Edwards hammered Bush’s foreign policy, and even took a swing at Fox News.

In describing how difficult it is for viable, Russian presidential candidates , who are not supported by Vladimir Putin, to receive media access in that country, Edwards brought up Fox News Channel.

” It’d be like running against Bush, when Bush owns the media, you know? ,” Edwards told the audience of over 300 people.

“Well, they do have Fox News.”

Interesting that on the same day that CNN was receiving criticism for their debate tactics that he would take a shot at FNC.

During the 45 minute session, Edwards was especially pugnacious against White House foreign policy under President Bush, discussing many contentious areas, including Iraq, Iran, and Pakistan. Edwards was in full attack mode. He said that the Bush policies negatively affected the United States ‘ standing around the globe, and was not representative of what most Americans believe. Bush, Edwards argued, had “dissed” and destroyed” America’s leadership role in the world.

” George Bush does not represent me, and I doubt he represents many people in this room”, Edwards said to applause.

Here are some highlights from Edwards last night:

Backup tonight for Rudy Giuliani and his argument countering yesterday’s Politico story, which alleges that he billed “obscure” city offices to hide NYPD costs associated with trips to the Hamptons. (See Carl’s earlier Vlog)

The office of current New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg issued a statement Thursday night stating, “during the Giuliani Administration, we believe that security expenses that were originally paid by the Mayor’s office were ultimately reimbursed by the Police Department.”

Giuliani asserts that he received 24/7 NYPD security as mayor and they followed him regardless of where he went, so there would have never been a need to hide security costs. For budgeting reasons, the mayor’s office would sometimes temporarily pay security expenses after which the NYPD would then reimburse his office, Giuliani explained yesterday. With this latest Bloomberg statement, Camp Rudy can continue to fend off charges of any fiscal impropriety.

Sources in Bloomberg’s office also tell Fox News that they take issue with Politico’s characterization of some of the offices that were billed by the NYPD as “obscure.” While current officials can’t explain why the NYPD would have initially billed offices like the City Loft Board and Office for People with Disabilities for police costs, they assert that the offices fall within the mayor’s budget and are not “disparate” or “obscure.” In sum, if a mayor was trying to cover up costs, he would not use those offices.

But, even as the Giuliani campaign continues to refute any wrongdoing, they are still left tacitly acknowledging the former mayor’s then extra-marital affair with Judith Nathan, whom he would visit on these trips to the Hamptons. (See today’s NY tabs here and here.) Turmoil from his personal life is not quite the part of his New York City record the campaign wants to be discussing with just a little more than a month to go before the first primaries.

Senator Barack Obama held a fundraiser/rally at the Apollo Theater in Harlem Thursday night after spending a day fundraising in Manhattan.

The crowd gathered at the Apollo early, and was treated to a long warm-up act prior to the Senator’s speech while he and Reverend Al Sharpton dined in Harlem’s famous soul food restaurant, Sylvia’s. While the capacity crowd waited, they heard a Harlem-based choir, a fiddler/violinist (this reporter doesn’t know the difference), local politicians, a preacher, and author Dr. Cornel West.

It was a long pre-show, to be sure, and when West concluded his animated remarks with, “I don’t want to go on too long; you didn’t come here to hear me run my mouth,” the crowd laughed appreciatively. He then added, “But I do want to introduce you all to somebody just before brother Barack Obama.” The crowd turned quickly and booed the author. Until, that is, he announced it was none other than comedian Chris Rock.

Rock, never one to shy away from blunt language, told the crowd that he was glad to see the crowd “on the right side of history.” Because, he said, “You’d be real embarrassed if he won and you wasn’t down with it. ‘I can’t call him now! I had that white lady. What was I thinking? What was I thinking,” he joked, referring to Obama’s main rival for the Democratic nomination, Hillary Clinton.
Here are his opening remarks:

Hillary Clinton laid out her plan to end global poverty and fight disease in Africa during a visit to the Global Summit on AIDS at Saddleback Church in California — the home parish of pastor Rick Warren, author of “The Purpose Driven Life.”

Amid numerous Biblical references, Sen Clinton proposed $50 billion over five years for providing universal access to treatment, prevention, and care for global HIV/AIDS, and vowed to stamp out malaria deaths in Africa by the end of her second term.

Of course, she has to win one term first, and visiting the largest megachurch in California won’t hurt that cause. Warren is something of controversial figure in evangelical circles; some more conservative critics say hosting Barack Obama at this forum last year, as well as Warren’ signature on a Global Warming Pact and what they say is his tendency to play fast and loose with some Biblical tenets in favor of a more broad message of love, have shown his true liberal colors.

But there’s no question as to Warren’s influence in the Christian community. More than 400,000 ministers and priests have been trained in his methods at seminars, and nearly 200,000 subscribe to the weekly newsletter.

A visit to his church allows her a safe forum to talk about and display her faith, as well as reach out to that vast network of Christians.

Watch her entrance, and her explanation about why she showed up. done

(from C Cameron, Great post Shush, Here’s another angle of the take down)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zPEmSLOqAk

I’ve seen some serious New York City press gaggles, but nothing like what happened in the spin room after the debate when a reporter slugged Governor Huckabee’s aide trying to get an interview with the Presidential hopeful. Chaos ensued and CNN’s Dana Bash called security. You can overhear the reporter, identified as Joe Shea of The American Reporter online newspaper, denying the punch saying the aide fell to the ground. Security came and threw out the man who is definitely in need of some anger management training.Afterwards Huckabee said, “I’m going to send Chuck after him.” Referring to Chuck Norris who has endorsed Huckabee for President, but wasn’t breaking up fights instead was talking to media in another part of the spin room unaware that he was actually needed to keep the press off the Governor.

I asked the former Arkansas governor if he ever thought the press would be fighting to talk to him. He chuckled, “ I’m just glad they aren’t fighting to get to me so they can fight me. I’m not that good. Chuck’s the fighter. I’m the nice guy.”

Click below to see the chaos!

Chuck Norris spoke to the press about his now famous commercial with Huckabee and how he doesn’t like to listen to mudslinging saying, “I just tune out.” As for his reputation as a fighter he told me he doesn’t think the other candidates are scared of him because “they know how tough I am.”

On a more serious note, Huckabee who is head to head with Governor Romney in the first caucus state of Iowa addressed how his campaign brings hope back to politics and how his surging poll numbers have transformed the race. He has spent dramatically less than his Republican rivals, “this should be an affirmation that American politics has some hope left in it. It isn’t just driven by money. . . It’s just not always for sale.”

Huckabee is clear that he’s the one that can win in a general election, “I have more executive experience than anybody running for President and the only person who has defeated the Clinton political machine not once but 4 times and if you understand what we are going to be up against next year and I maybe the only one who truly fully understands it I think that’s going to matter when people make their decision.”

The campaigns are using today to spin the debate in their favor. The candidates are heading off to different parts of the country to continue campaigning. There is only 35 days to the Iowa caucus and 40 to the New Hampshire primary.

****UPDATE JOE SHEA OF THE AMERICAN REPORTER RESPONDS:

From his American Reporter Blog, Joe Shea “the
reporter” behind the scuffle:
http://www.american-reporter.com/3,305/1.html
“Unfortunately, before we could get a few more words
out of him a Huckabee campaign aide who had repeatedly
jumped in front of me to block my access (apparently
so the candidate would step up to the tv platform)
chose that moment to block me for the final time,
rising up under my arm and forcing me sideways. I
guess he moved to my left, and I tugged his sleeve
sort of abruptly; he went flying into the crowd of
photographers and fell onto his back. I couldn’t
believe he had actually fallen down – he was several
inches taller than me, and an awful lot younger.

Then Gov. Huckabee suddenly turned around, saw his man
on the ground and pointing at me said “Get the
security!” I tried to protest that I hadn’t meant to
put his aide on the ground, to no avail – everyone had
seen me tug his sleeve downwards, I guess. But they
hadn’t seen me trying time and again to get to the
left or right of his back. He had no right to block
anyone’s access to Huckabee, and certainly not when
the Governor was in the middle of answering my
question.

But there we were, and dozens of photographers and tv
cameras started taking pictures as the police, called
by some ditzy blonde on her cell phone, decided to
take me away. They were generally very well-behaved,
but did threaten to taser me, and I ended up getting
ushered out of the the Spin Room with nothing worse
than bruised elbow. (Later on, I looked at the debate
transcript. The very first question Anderson Cooper
had was for CNN correspondent Gloria Barger: “Gloria,”
he said, “a lot of elbows being thrown on the campaign
trail the last couple of days. What are you expecting
tonight?” “Well, I think tonight you might see a lot
of elbows being thrown at Mitt Romney,” she replied.). . .
So who won the debate? Not me. I apologized as
strenuously as I could to CNN’s p.r. person, a
marvelous auburn-haired woman who brought my wife and
I water and was very solicitous, and she understood
what I was saying about the affair. The police said
the video proved that I was at fault, but I don’t know
whether they believed there was a provocation or not

Senator Clinton devoted much of a speech here in Ankeny, IA, to blasting her chief rival Barack Obama for failing to cover every American under his health care plan. In her harshest criticism yet, Clinton said Obama was betraying Democratic principles by leaving 15 million uncovered, adding “just because it’s controversial or ambitious, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do it. The time is now.”

“If we don’t move toward universal health care coverage now, if we don’t have an election about it where I stand against whoever the Republicans nominate and let them answer the questions about why they won’t take care of covering every single American, why they want to still be in bed with the health insurance companies, that is an election we will win,” she said. “

But we’ve got to put up a candidate that’s willing to stand for it and fight for it

.”

Responding to Hillary’s attacks, Obama spokesman Bill Burton released a statement saying, “Another day, another desperate attack.”

“Demonizing anyone who doesn’t share her exact plans on health care is exactly why Hillary Clinton flunked the opportunity she had to pass universal health care in 1993. The truth is, Barack Obama’s universal health care plan makes coverage affordable for every single American, he just doesn’t agree with Hillary’s plan to start by forcing everyone to buy insurance they can’t afford,” he said.

What follows is a “greatest hits” compilation from the event, including her comparison of the fight for universal health care to FDR and LBJ’s battles for Social Security and Medicare — in which she plays the role of the strong, principled president, and Obama is (by implication) not up to the same level. The entire Obama-related portion of her speech is after the jump.

(more…)