HOLLYWOOD, Fla.
Thompson woos young Republicans
Not yet a 2008 candidate, Fred Thompson energized young Republicans with a speech Saturday that was heavy on rhetoric and short on policy pronouncements.
He branded Democrats as “the party of despair” as chants of “Run, Fred, run,” greeted the actor and former GOP senator from Tennessee from many among the 350 people at the Young Republicans National Convention. The crowd interrupted his speech with wild applause and mobbed him when he left.
“It makes me feel like the waters are pretty warm,”
Thompson said afterward. He has formed an exploratory committee to gauge support for a White House run and raise money. He is expected to announce a presidential campaign soon.
Hours later, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney addressed the crowd and spoke about foreign policy, Iraq, the economy, health care and other issues. His remarks impressed some undecided voters.
“He touched on a lot of different issues – the terrorists, immigration, families,” said Brianne Goodwin, 24, of Chicago, who is undecided but leaning toward Romney. “Fred
Thompson, he didn’t really provide strong material.”
Thompson’s speech came on the heels of reports that an abortion-rights advocates group hired him to lobby former President Bush’s administration 16 years ago. At issue were attempts to ease a regulation that prevented clinics that received federal money from offering abortion counseling.
Thompson declined to comment on whether he recalled doing the work.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla.
Giuliani’s answer on “fair tax” gets jeered
Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani ran into a buzz saw of opposition Saturday when he explained his opposition to elimination of the federal income tax and replacing it with a so-called fair tax based on consumption.
Giuliani addressed a group of about 500 in a standing- room only crowd at a town hall meeting at the University of North Florida, answering questions for about 30 minutes on topics including Iraq, Social Security and his plan for tax cuts.
Several dozen people jeered when Giuliani, in response to a question, said he would not be in favor of what they call the fair tax.
“I have to study it some more,” the former New York City mayor said. “I don’t think a fair tax is realistic change for America. Our economy is dependent upon the way our tax system operates.”
“Fair tax” proposals would abolish federal income taxes and other federal taxes and replace them with a form of national sales tax.
Giuliani emphasized he supported a simplified tax system and cuts in federal taxes, including elimination of the so-called death tax, but his response to the fair-tax question brought some catcalls and jeers.
DAVENPORT, Iowa
Laptops swiped from Obama headquarters
The Davenport campaign headquarters for Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., was burglarized Friday night.
Tommy Vietor, a spokesman for the campaign, said two laptop computers and campaign literature were taken.
A campaign worker discovered the burglary Saturday morning, and a report was filed with Davenport police.
“It doesn’t appear that it was anything sensitive or irreplaceable,” Vietor said.
