York, PA:

In a wide ranging interview, John McCain talked to Carl Cameron about a host of issues including his desire to see off-shore drilling now;  his use of humor in his ads; if he is close to making a decision on his VP pick; he also talked about the situation in Georgia.

Listen to the extended interview:

Mitt Romney’s latest TV ad jabs at Rudy’s liberal social views and McCain’s original opposition to the Bush tax. Without naming them, Romney casts himself as most sound on Reagan coalition social and economic conservatism.

(Also see McCain’s latest ad in the post below)

Fred Thompson’s lagging campaign finds solace in the latest Rasmussen poll in South Carolina which shows he is TIED with Huckabee and Romney for SECOND.

His campaign launched a new ad in South Carolina on the heels of the good news.

The Rasmussen Report in announcing the latest numbers says:

“Over the past several days, the only real movement in South Carolina’s Republican Presidential Primary has been a four-point gain for Fred Thompson and a five-point decline for Mike Huckabee.

The big winner from that trade-off is John McCain.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey shows McCain at 28%, Huckabee at 19%, Mitt Romney at 17%, and Fred Thompson at 16%. Rudy Giuliani and Ron Paul are tied with 5% support. Giuliani is betting his entire campaign on a strong showing in Florida, where he is now tied for the lead with three others.”

 

Fred Thompson is not competing in Michigan which holds it’s primary on Tuesday, January 15th and it is hard to gauge how his showing there will effect momentum and ultimately his turnout in South Carolina.

John Edwards will be airing a new ad over the Thanksgiving weekend in three early primary states, Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina. It focuses on what he is most thankful.

Edwards Campaign Statement on Ad:

Today, as American families begin to gather together to celebrate Thanksgiving, the John Edwards for President campaign announced a new television spot, entitled “Thanksgiving,” which will go up on the air Wednesday in three early primary states.

In the 30-second spot, which will run in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina through the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, Edwards tells voters what he is most thankful for – a loving family and the promise of America, “a nation filled with the most optimistic people on Earth.” Edwards also delivers a personal message of thanks to the thousands of people he and Elizabeth have met on the campaign trail this year who have welcomed the Edwardses into their “homes and hearts.”

Watch Ad Here:

The Romney campaign launches their new television ad today airing in the first in the nation states of Iowa and New Hampshire. The ad called “American Family” shows Governor Romney and his wife Ann talking to parents and voters about strengthening families. This is one pillar of his three-pillar platform along with a stronger economy and stronger military.

In the ad, the early state frontrunner says, “The future of this country is more affected by the work that goes on within the four walls of the home than anything else.” This is something that is often part of his daily stump speech and an essential element to his campaign. Romney’s wife Ann is in the ad talking about their family with voters sat at a table. Romney often says while campaigning that the cause his wife champions is helping young people make good decisions. This is something she would continue to pursue if the Romneys make it to the White House. The ad continues with Romney saying, “It’s just essential to have a home where faith, where love of country, where determination, where all of these features that are so much a part of America’s culture are tied to our kids. And without them, I don’t see how a society continues to lead the world.”

The ad closes with the words pro-life and then pro-family flashing over video of children pledging allegiance to the flag and then a much younger Romney sitting outside with two of his sons on his lap.

WATCH “AMERICAN FAMILY” HERE:

Romney campaigned in Wyoming yesterday, including an Ask Mitt Anything in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He rarely mentions the President and Vice President on the stump, but in Cheney’s home state he told the crowd they should be thankful, “It’s popular in some corners of this country to be critical of the president and vice president. Let me tell you President Bush and Vice President Cheney need to be appreciated for keeping us safe these last six years.” This enthusiastic crowd of supporters erupted in claps and cheers.

Romney also mentioned that he thought his rivals’ condemnation of the push polling attack calls on him were sincere, “I don’t think anybody can celebrate the idea of religious attacks on another candidate. “

This was the former Massachusetts Governor second time campaigning in Wyoming. It only has a tiny population that will participate in the caucus, around 1000, but it is the second voting state. Romney made it clear he wants to win here and for the Romney campaign doing well in the early states is essential. Romney will campaign later today in Idaho and Seattle before heading back to Iowa for a pre-Thanksgiving push.