Romney wins straw poll of conservatives
WASHINGTON — Mitt Romney, who dropped out of the Republican presidential race on Thursday, won a straw poll of conservative activists on Saturday, edging out likely nominee John McCain.
Ballots for the straw poll conducted at the Conservative Political Action Conference were collected Thursday morning through Friday afternoon.
In the straw-poll vote, Romney got 35 percent and McCain 34 percent. Mike Huckabee and Rep. Ron Paul of Texas tied at 12 percent.
Paul dismisses idea of third-party run
HOUSTON — Presidential hopeful Ron Paul said he will not run as a third-party candidate in a new message to supporters that seems to recognize his slim chances at getting the Republican nomination.
The Texas congressman wrote on his website Friday that he is making cuts to his national campaign staff and that he also must stay focused on not losing the primary for his House seat.
Comment on Chelsea Clinton risks debates
SEATTLE — A distasteful comment about Chelsea Clinton by an MSNBC anchor could imperil Hillary Rodham Clinton’s participation in future presidential debates on the network, a Clinton spokesman said.
In a conference call with reporters, Clinton communications director Howard Wolfson excoriated MSNBC’s David Shuster on Friday for suggesting the Clinton campaign had “pimped out” 27-year-old Chelsea by having her place phone calls to celebrities and Democratic Party “superdelegates” on her mother’s behalf.
Wolfson called Shuster’s comment “beneath contempt” and disgusting. “I, at this point, can’t envision a scenario where we would continue to engage in debates on that network,” he added.
MSNBC said Shuster, who apologized on the air for his comment, has been temporarily suspended from appearing on all NBC news broadcasts except to offer his apology.
McCain rebuffs talk of running mate
NORFOLK, Va. — On his first full day as the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, John McCain fended off discussion of specific potential running mates but made clear he sees no requirement to pick someone from a different region.
“I don’t want to in any way sidestep the candidacy of Gov. Huckabee,” McCain told reporters in Norfolk before flying off to Wichita and Seattle. “He’s in this race, and for me to dismiss him would be inappropriate and unrealistic.”
Since Mitt Romney suspended his campaign Thursday, some party figures and commentators have suggested McCain might select rival Mike Huckabee as a vice-presidential nominee to benefit from the Arkansas governor’s appeal in the South, where McCain has less support.
