Today on the presidential campaign trail

[Ron Burgundy]

AP - IN THE HEADLINES

Richardson focuses on Iraq in new ad, campaign stops in NH ... Paul tells NH audience he'd lift sanctions with Iran, pull Navy from its shores ... McCain appears at Boston campaign stop with Kissinger ... Clinton endorsed by painters' union

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Richardson focused on Iraq in NH

HUDSON, N.H. (AP) — Democrat Bill Richardson on Wednesday said the latest Senate vote to fund the Iraq war has strengthened his resolve to become president because the current administration and Congress "can't get anything done."

"Just last night the United States Senate gave the president $70 billion more to continue this war... without any restraint, without any timetable to reduce troops, basically a blank check," he told students at Alvirne High School. "This gives me more reason to want to be president — the fact that the president and Congress can't get anything done."

The Senate on Tuesday approved $70 billion for U.S. military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan along with a massive $555 billion spending bill combining funding for 14 Cabinet departments. In condemning the vote, Richardson also criticized his rivals for the Democratic presidential nomination for skipping it.

Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Barack Obama, Chris Dodd and Joe Biden did not vote for the war fund measure. Republican presidential candidate John McCain voted for it.

Richardson, the governor of New Mexico, has been emphasizing Iraq as he campaigns in New Hampshire, which holds the first primary Jan. 8. A recent poll by The Associated Press and the Pew Research Center showed that the Iraq war continued to be the top issue for likely Democratic voters in New Hampshire, though it was about even with health care among Democrats nationally.

Richardson's campaign began airing a new ad Wednesday in New Hampshire in which he takes rivals Clinton, Obama and John Edwards to task for saying they could not commit to removing all U.S. troops from Iraq by 2013.

The ad features the words "repeatedly said will leave thousands of troops in Iraq" superimposed over photos of the three.

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McCain campaigns with Kissinger

BOSTON (AP) — Republican presidential hopeful John McCain said the United States should declare it would never torture anyone in its custody and close its military prison at Guantanamo Bay.

Speaking at an event here with former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, the Arizona senator said tribunals should be set up for those still detained at Guantanamo.

While he has seen no evidence of detainee mistreatment, McCain, a former Vietnam prisoner of war who suffered mistreatment, said the prison is harming the United States' reputation in the world. In addition, the CIA's destruction of videotaped terror interrogations has led to the impression that the U.S. is torturing suspects, he said.

McCain also criticized the release of a recent U.S. intelligence estimate that found Iran halted a nuclear weapons program in 2003, saying it may discourage some countries from continuing to pressure Iran.

"We don't want intelligence agencies to make policy," he said.

Kissinger, secretary of state for presidents Nixon and Ford, said McCain's experience as a prisoner of war helped forge his character.

"The senator had five years in solitary figuring out who he is and why he is serving his country," he said.

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Paul says he'd lift sanctions on Iran

MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) — Republican presidential hopeful Ron Paul, who advocates the removal of U.S. troops from Iraq, said Wednesday he would also lift sanctions on Iran and order the Navy to pull back from its shores.

"People would breathe a sign of relief. I believe interest rates would not go up. I believe oil prices would probably drop," the Texas congressman told a campaign audience.

Paul said the Bush administration has been "looking for war with Iran." Despite White House claims, he said a recent intelligence report says the Iranians stopped working on a nuclear weapons program several years ago. Instead, he said the country has a right under international treaties to pursue a peaceful nuclear power program.

Paul gained notice in early campaign debates for advocating an end to the war in Iraq. While he polls in single digits in New Hampshire, he recently shattered a one-day campaign fundraising record when he collected $6.2 million in online donations.

His campaign plans a 30-minute television program Sunday in Iowa, where precinct caucuses will provide the first test of the presidential campaign on Jan. 3. The New Hampshire primary is Jan. 8.

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Clinton: We've become indifferent

INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (AP) — Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton told an audience Wednesday that she measures her success in public life by helping people.

"That's really all I care about. That's what matters to me," Clinton said. "I want to see more of that in American politics. I think we've become very indifferent and even insensitive to the plight of so many of our fellow Americans."

The New York senator was continuing a five-day campaign blitz through Iowa, which holds its caucuses Jan. 3.

As she has been throughout the week, Clinton was introduced to the crowd by friends paying tribute to her warmth and generosity.

Joe Ward, a New York constituent, was featured in a Clinton campaign ad earlier this year describing how she had helped secure a bone marrow transplant for his son.

The other, breast cancer survivor Fran Visco, said she had worked for 15 years with Clinton on breast cancer advocacy and was struck by how much the former first lady understood the "humanity" of the disease.

Both Ward and Visco choked up as they talked about Clinton.

"I'm here today for my son David," Visco said, noting she'd been diagnosed with cancer when he was 14 months old and never expected to live to see him grow up. "I'm here because I believe Hillary Clinton is going to change the world and I trust her with his future."

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Painters' union backs Clinton

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton was endorsed Wednesday by the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, the 11th major union endorsement for the Democratic presidential nomination.

"Our members have spoken and they have overwhelmingly chosen Senator Clinton as the IUPAT candidate for president," union president James Williams said in a statement.

The union used mail-in ballots to vote for a Democratic candidate, and Clinton won overwhelmingly, Williams said.

The painters union endorsed Howard Dean in the last Democratic presidential primary. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., won the Democratic nomination but lost to President Bush in 2004.

The International Union of Painters and Allied Trades has more than 160,000 members and retirees who work as painters, drywall finishers, wallcoverers, sign makers and convention and show decorators.

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THE DEMOCRATS

Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, Joe Biden of Delaware and Chris Dodd of Connecticut talk to voters in Iowa.

Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards campaign in New Hampshire.

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THE REPUBLICANS

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson campaign in Iowa.

Sen. John McCain of Arizona has an event in Boston before heading to New Hampshire to hold town hall meetings. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas also visits the early voting state.

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani makes several stops in Missouri.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY:

"Somehow the discussion of the war has receded and some are saying it's being replaced by other issues like health care or education. I firmly disagree." — New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, a Democratic presidential candidate, speaking about the Iraq war at a stop in New Hampshire.

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STAT OF THE DAY:

Democrat Bill Clinton won Iowa with 586,353 votes in the 1992 presidential election. Republican George H.W. Bush garnered 504,891 votes, while independent Ross Perot got 253,468 votes.

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Compiled by Ann Sanner.

source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071219/ap_po/2008_race_rundown [link]