PBS NewsHour: U.S. Presidency Archive | 2007

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U.S. PRESIDENCY


	2007 DECEMBER Dec. 31, 2007 Candidates, Voters Prepare For Critical Iowa Caucus The 2008 primary election season kicks off with Iowa's Thursday caucus, as presidential candidates make their final efforts to sway voters. NewsHour Senior Correspondent Judy Woodruff reports from Des Moines on the final days of the campaign.

	Dec. 28, 2007 '08 Candidates Speak Out on Pakistan, Prepare for Iowa After a report on how presidential candidates are responding to the week's events in Pakistan, analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks consider the news of the week, including the assassination of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto and the upcoming Iowa caucuses.

	Dec. 28, 2007 Win Early or Go Long? '08 Calendar Forces New Innovations After years of planning and months of campaigning, Republican and Democratic candidates now face a brutal five-month run where voters in some 30 states will decide which standard-bearer will be their party's nominee for the White House.

	Dec. 26, 2007 Polls Gauge Voter Sentiment Before Primary Season Kicks Off After a holiday break, election campaigns resumed Wednesday as candidates try to sway still-undecided voters before the critical Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary next week. Pollsters from each state examine the latest data in the 2008 presidential race.

	Dec. 24, 2007 Religion Becoming Political Tool and Hot Topic in Presidential Race From Mitt Romney's Mormonism to Mike Huckabee's Baptist roots, religion has become a popular topic throughout the busy 2008 presidential election race. Ray Suarez sits down with political and religious scholars to compare this season to those of the past.

	Dec. 24, 2007 Candidates Take a Breather Most of the candidates for the presidential primaries are taking a few days off from the campaign trail this Christmas, but the Iowa and New Hampshire news still buzzes with primary fever. The NewsHour talks to two media veterans of political campaigns about the situation.

	Dec. 21, 2007 Campaigns Launch Holiday Ads; Dems Assess Year in Power As presidential candidates grappled with shifting polls and new strategies for a condensed primary season, Democrats in Congress squared off with a unified Republican minority over spending priorities. Analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks examine the week in the news.

	Dec. 19, 2007 Tancredo Sticks by His Tough Immigration Talk on Campaign Trail For presidential candidate Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., his trademark support for tough immigration policies has nothing to do with race or ethnicity -- it's an issue, he says, that has everything to do with defining what being an American "actually means today."

	Dec. 17, 2007 New Endorsements Help Heat Up '08 Race With just over two weeks before Iowa's presidential caucus, several candidates have picked up key endorsements, including Democratic hopeful Hillary Clinton and Republican John McCain. The chief political columnist for Politico assesses the latest election developments.

	Dec. 17, 2007 In Iowa, GOP Candidates Tout Conservative Values In the second of a series of reports on the tightening presidential race in Iowa as the state's Jan. 3 caucus grows closer, Ray Suarez looks at how Republican candidates are focusing their efforts on courting conservative voters in the state.

	Dec. 14, 2007 Shields and Brooks Mull Iowa Election Push, Baseball Scandal The final Republican and Democratic debates took place in Iowa this week ahead of the state's Jan. 3 caucus, a spending fight continued in Congress and a report brought new focus on the use of steroids in professional baseball. Analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the events of the week.

	Dec. 14, 2007 Democrats Appeal to Iowans as Polls Show a Tight Race In the first of two reports on voter sentiment in Iowa ahead of the state's early caucus, Judy Woodruff examines how the Democratic candidates are approaching the state's voters and the influence of the women's vote.

	Dec. 13, 2007 Democrats Talk Taxes and Trade in Iowa Debate In their last debate before the key Iowa Caucus on Jan. 3, six of the the Democratic presidential candidates outlined their policies on tax reform and trade in hopes of swaying Iowa voters.

	Dec. 13, 2007 Pelosi Aims to Set 'New Direction' Amid Legislative Battles Just over a year into her term as House leader in the new Democratic-majority Congress, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D- Calif., discusses the latest developments from Capitol Hill, including spending bill battles, new energy legislation, the controversy over CIA interrogation tapes and U.S. policy on Iran and Iraq.

	Dec. 12, 2007 GOP Candidates Debate in Iowa in Pre-caucus Push The wide field of Republican presidential candidates sparred on the issues in a debate Wednesday, the last such meeting in Iowa before the state's Jan. 3 caucus. Kwame Holman reports on the highlights of the debate.

	Dec. 10, 2007 Oprah Backs Obama, Huckabee's Star Rises on the Campaign '08 Trail Over the weekend, Oprah Winfrey threw her support behind Democratic candidate Barack Obama, while the GOP's Mike Huckabee has been enjoying a steady rise in the polls. Campaign reporters look at the latest developments in the presidential primary campaigns.

	Dec. 7, 2007 Shields and Brooks Weigh CIA Tapes, U.S. Policy on Iran CIA Director Gen. Michael Hayden said his agency had destroyed tapes of terror suspect interrogations, a new report revealed surprising information on Iran's nuclear program and presidential candidate Mitt Romney discussed his Mormon faith in a key speech. Analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the week in the news.

	Dec. 6, 2007 In Speech, Romney Attempts to Define Lines Between Religion, Politics Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney confronted the issue of his Mormon faith in a speech Thursday, saying that as president he would "serve no religion." Newsweek editor Jon Meacham offers analysis of the role religion plays in politics.

	Dec. 3, 2007 Presidential Candidates Face Tight Race in Iowa Caucus With just one month to go before Iowa's presidential caucus, candidates are beefing up campaign efforts in the Hawkeye State while see-sawing polls show that some Iowans may still be wavering on their picks. Political reporters look at the polls and campaign tactics.



	NOVEMBER Nov. 30, 2007 Shields and Lowry Weigh Republican Debate, Mideast Summit Republican candidates clashed over immigration issues in a heated debate this week, a U.S.-backed Mideast peace summit was held in Annapolis, Md., and Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., announced he would step down from a 35-year career in Congress by the year's end. Mark Shields and Rich Lowry offer analysis of the week in the news.

	Nov. 29, 2007 GOP Candidates Talk Immigration, Iraq, Religion Republican presidential candidates went toe-to-toe with one another in Wednesday night's CNN-YouTube debate with field front-runners Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani trading sharp words on immigration policy. Kwame Holman looks at the Florida debate's highlights.

	Nov. 28, 2007 Dodd Reflects on Political Experience, State of the U.S. Economy In the latest in a series of in-depth interviews with 2008 presidential candidates, Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., reflects on his extensive political experience, why he's chosen to run for the White House in 2008 and the volatile state of the U.S. economy.

	Nov. 27, 2007 Biden Gives His Take on Iraq Policy, Pakistan, Campaigning in Iowa In the latest in a series of in-depth interviews with 2008 presidential candidates, Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., talks about his views on the road to the White House, including campaigning in Iowa, U.S. involvement in Iraq and Pakistan's political turmoil.

	Nov. 26, 2007 Giuliani Turns Up the Campaign Heat in New Hampshire Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani traded barbs with rivals in New Hampshire this weekend as his camp turned a new focus on the early primary state. A Giuliani biographer and a political reporter look at the candidate's background and his campaign strategy.

	Nov. 23, 2007 Shields and Brooks Mull '08 Race, Pace of Economy With Iowa's Jan. 3 presidential caucus quickly approaching, new opinion polls show a tightening Democratic race and quickly changing Republican field. Analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks assess the latest news from the 2008 campaign trail and other news stories of the week.

	Nov. 21, 2007 New Polls, Primary Dates Turn Up Heat in '08 Race With new polls showing a tightening race in Iowa and New Hampshire confirming a Jan. 8 primary date, the 2008 presidential election is gaining new traction. Judy Woodruff discusses the latest news from the campaigns with Washington Post political reporter Dan Balz.

	Nov. 21, 2007 N.H. Settles on Jan. 8 Primary Date After months of hand-wringing, New Hampshire officials announced Wednesday they would hold the first-in-the-nation presidential primary on Jan. 8, five days after Iowa's leadoff caucuses.

	Nov. 16, 2007 Democrats Square-Off in Vegas Debate; U.S. Envoy Puts Pressure on Pakistan Democratic candidates debated their policy views in heated exchanges in Thursday's Las Vegas debate and political turmoil engulfed Pakistan, straining its relations with the United States. Analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks look at the week's news.

	Nov. 16, 2007 Nevada Voters Weigh Democratic Debate Democratic presidential hopefuls exchanged their most overt attacks yet in a Thursday night debate at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. In the last of the NewsHour's Big Picture reports from Las Vegas, a panel of Nevada voters discuss the debate and the 2008 election.

	Nov. 16, 2007 Great 'Western' Debate Takes an Unexpected Turn in Vegas Las Vegas lit up last night in a way it never has before: with POLITICS. Seven big-name candidates swooped into town, bringing with them their traveling road shows -- otherwise known as the fight for the Democratic Party's nomination for president.

	Nov. 15, 2007 Las Vegas Races to Expand Social Services Amid Growth Boom In the next Big Picture election report from Las Vegas, the NewsHour looks at how the Nevada city's recent population increase has strained school and health care systems and local residents and leaders discuss how the burden on social services is impacting their views on the 2008 election.

	Nov. 15, 2007 Voices from Vegas As part of the NewsHour's Big Picture reporting trip, Las Vegas residents were asked about their views on local issues and what matters most in the 2008 election. Our Voices from Vegas begin with Dawn Barraclough who is the public relations specialist at Springs Preserve.

	Nov. 15, 2007 Vegas Political Activists Chart Their Own Paths The population of the Las Vegas metropolitan area is 1.7 million and climbing daily -- and to look at all the high-rise hotels that have sprung up in the middle of the desert, it meets the definition of a big city.

	Nov. 14, 2007 Immigrants Form Key Part of Las Vegas Economy Polls show that immigration is the number one issue for Republicans in the 2008 election; but it may not help them very much in Nevada.

	Nov. 13, 2007 Economic Issues Weigh on Minds of Las Vegas Voters For years, Las Vegas has been one of the fastest-growing cities in the country. In the latest Big Picture report, local business leaders discuss the role economic issues are playing in the 2008 presidential campaign.

	Nov. 13, 2007 What it Takes to Create the 'Big Picture' When I returned to my Las Vegas hotel room late Monday afternoon I realized this is an ideal opportunity to remind everyone these stories are a team effort and what I, and other correspondents, do, is just the tip of the iceberg.

	Nov. 12, 2007 Early Caucus Dates Bring Nevada into Focus for 2008 Election In the first of its Big Picture election series, the NewsHour reports from Las Vegas, where immigration, economic growth and urban development are top voter concerns. After a look at the Las Vegas political scene, local columnist Jon Ralston discusses how voters are reacting to the state's early caucus schedule.

	Nov. 12, 2007 Immigration Shapes Las Vegas' Political, Economic Growth Although Las Vegas is internationally known as an entertainment capital, job growth has spurred a population and development boom in the city. As part of the Big Picture election series, Ray Suarez looks at the changing demographics of the city's residents.

	Nov. 12, 2007 A Complex Electorate Fills Voter Rolls in Las Vegas In all the years I've covered American politics, it's fair to say Nevada's gotten short shrift. Its two best-known cities -- Las Vegas and Reno -- are recognized for activities other than their voter turnout operations.

	Nov. 9, 2007 Shields, Brooks Consider Mukasey Vote, Kerik Indictment Michael Mukasey was sworn in as Attorney General on Friday after a divided Senate confirmation vote and former New York police commissioner Bernard Kerik pleaded not guilty to charges of corruption. Analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the week's news.

	Nov. 9, 2007 2008 Campaign Ads Saturate the Air Waves in Iowa As the 2008 presidential primary season draws closer, candidates are pouring money into television ads to court voters in key states. A political advertising analyst and an Iowa broadcaster discuss the ads and how much the campaigns are spending on them.

	Nov. 9, 2007 Las Vegas Looks Ahead as Growth Boom Hits a Bump While the population and job boom Las Vegas has enjoyed in recent years slowed in 2007, several big hotel and condo projects being constructed on the city's famous "Strip" signal that the city's growth explosion may see a future resurgence.

	Nov. 8, 2007 GOP Punishes Five States for Early Voting Contests Officials from the Republican Party announced Thursday that the states of New Hampshire, Florida, South Carolina, Michigan and Wyoming will lose half of their delegates at the Republican National Convention next year for scheduling early primaries.

	Nov. 7, 2007 Candidate Endorsements Start Shaping Conservatives' Role in '08 Race Christian conservative leader Pat Robertson endorsed former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani Wednesday, while Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., endorsed the bid of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. Two religious leaders assess the role of the conservative movement in the 2008 election.

	Nov. 2, 2007 Mukasey Questioned on Torture, Clinton Attacked by Opposition This week, lawmakers questioned Attorney General-nominee Michael Mukasey's stance on torture tactics and Democratic presidential hopefuls stepped up attacks on front-runner Sen. Hillary Clinton. Analysts Mark Shields and Rich Lowry discuss the week's developments.



	OCTOBER Oct. 31, 2007 Democratic Contenders for President Attack Front-runner Clinton in Debate Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., fielded tough criticism from other contenders for the Democratic presidential nomination on Tuesday in an MSNBC-hosted debate. Two political journalists provide insight on the shift in tone in the primary race.

	Oct. 26, 2007 California Wildfire Response Compared to Katrina; U.S. Imposes Sanctions on Iran The government's response to the California wildfires evoked comparisons with Hurricane Katrina, while the United States imposed new sanctions against Iran. Analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the week's news.

	Oct. 22, 2007 GOP Hopefuls Tout Conservative Stances, Take Aim at Clinton in Debate GOP candidates vying for their party's nomination met Sunday for a debate in Florida, where they promoted their conservative credentials and took aim at the record of Democratic hopeful Sen. Hillary Clinton. Political reporters assess the Republicans' performance.

	Oct. 19, 2007 McCain Details Views on the Iraq War, Drive for the White House In the latest in a series of in-depth interviews with the 2008 presidential hopefuls, Republican Arizona Sen. John McCain explains his views on the Iraq war, national security and why his credentials and experience make him a contender for the White House.

	Oct. 19, 2007 Shields, Brooks Assess Primary Shuffle, Mukasey Hearings Attorney-General nominee Michael Mukasey faced tough questions on torture in his confirmation hearings this week, and speculation grew over the potential for a December New Hampshire primary. Political analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks give their take on the week's political news.

	Oct. 18, 2007 President Bush Faces Waning Political Capital in Final Year As President Bush approaches his final year in office, he faces lame-duck status with a Democrat-controlled Congress poised to block his agenda. Editorial page editors from around the country assess the president's strengths and weaknesses.

	Oct. 12, 2007 Paul Envisions Smaller Government, Less Global Intervention As part of an ongoing series of in-depth interviews with presidential candidates, Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, explains his vision of limited government, decreased U.S. intervention in conflicts abroad and details his stance as an anti-war Republican.

	Oct. 12, 2007 Gore Earns Nobel Nod; Thompson Debuts with Debate Performance Among the week's news, former Vice President Al Gore won the Nobel Peace Prize for his climate change work and former Sen. Fred Thompson, R-Tenn., debuted in his first presidential debate. Analysts David Brooks and E.J. Dionne discuss the week's political stories.

	Oct. 11, 2007 Former President Carter Reflects on His New Book, Recent Trip to Darfur Former President Jimmy Carter was in the news again this week with his new book, "Beyond the White House," and a recent trip to the Darfur region of Sudan. He discusses his impressions of Darfur and themes in his new book.

	Oct. 10, 2007 Edwards Reflects on Campaign Deja Vu, Plight of the Middle Class As part of an ongoing series of in-depth interviews with presidential candidates, former Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C. explains his views on the Iraq war, the status of the middle class in America, and running for president for a second time.

	Oct. 10, 2007 Democrats Withdraw from Michigan Primary Five Democratic candidates chose to withdraw their names from the Michigan primary ballot in another round of the calendar shuffle that pits allegiance to national party rules against voters in states grappling for more nominating influence.

	Oct. 10, 2007 Party Strategists Discuss Campaign Fundraising Republican and Democratic presidential hopefuls have recently released fund-raising numbers and the data has held some surprises. With the race on for campaign cash, the intricacies of fund raising and how candidates seek out backers remain hot topics. Our guests answered your questions.

	Oct. 5, 2007 Huckabee Gives His Take on Conservatism, Faith and Iraq As part of an ongoing series of in-depth interviews with presidential candidates, former Arkansas Republican Gov. Mike Huckabee explains his approach to Iraq, immigration, the importance of faith in his life, his conservatism and his personal struggle with weight loss.

	Oct. 5, 2007 Shields and Brooks Look at Detention Policy, Election Race Lawmakers lashed out over secret memos on interrogation tactics, and presidential hopefuls reported fund raising figures this week. NewsHour political analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss these issues and other political news of the week.

	Oct. 4, 2007 Kucinich Details His Views on Iraq War, Health Care Reform In a series of interviews with presidential candidates, Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, talks about his track record of voting against the Iraq war as well as his take on domestic issues such as health care and abortion.

	Oct. 1, 2007 Gravel Discusses Campaign Funding, Relations with Iran Former Alaska Senator and Democratic presidential hopeful Mike Gravel talks about his campaign fundraising, U.S. relations with Iran and details his personal and political background in the newest in a series of in-depth interviews with the 2008 presidential candidates.



	SEPTEMBER Sept. 27, 2007 Democrats Sound Off on Iraq Democrats debated Iraq scenarios and health care policy at Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H., on Wednesday at an MSNBC forum moderated by Tim Russert.

	Sept. 26, 2007 Hunter Outlines Iraq Strategy, Immigration Plan In the newest in a series of interviews with presidential candidates, Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., details his ideas for handling illegal immigration in the United States and discusses how his experiences as a veteran shape his views on Iraq war policy.

	Sept. 24, 2007 Richardson Advocates Full Iraq Troop Withdrawal In the next in a series of presidential candidate interviews, Gov. Bill Richardson, D-N.M., details his plan for pulling U.S. troops from Iraq and discusses the need for diplomacy in the Middle East, among other issues.

	Sept. 21, 2007 Democrats Debate Health Care; Senate Weighs Iraq Measures As Democrats debated health care policy Thursday night, the Senate hit a snag on the defense authorization bill. Analysts Mark Shields and Rich Lowry discuss the week's political news.

	Sept. 20, 2007 Brownback Discusses Stance on Iraq, Family Values In the first in a series of presidential candidate interviews, Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., talks about his stance on the Iraq war and the importance of rebuilding family values in America.

	Sept. 20, 2007 Hsu Charged with Campaign Finance Violations Democratic fund-raiser Norman Hsu was indicted Thursday on charges of campaign finance violation and business fraud. Experts consider the role of "bundlers" like Hsu and how campaigns vet their contributions.

	Sept. 20, 2007 President Bush Accuses Democrats of Politicizing SCHIP President Bush on Thursday promised to veto a Democratic-backed bill that would expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program, accusing congressional Democrats of playing politics with the legislation.

	Sept. 17, 2007 Presidential Candidate Clinton Unveils Health Care Plan Presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., unveiled her health care plan Monday. The plan would aim to insure all Americans. NewsHour health correspondent Susan Dentzer and a political reporter discuss Clinton's proposal.

	Sept. 13, 2007 Citing Security Gains, President Supports Limited Troop Withdrawal Saying additional U.S. soldiers have created more stability in Iraq and allowed some political progress, President Bush Thursday endorsed a phased withdrawal of troops to pre-surge levels by next summer, a move dismissed by Democrats as inadequate.

	Sept. 13, 2007 Relationships of Presidents and Generals Discussed The NewsHour takes a look at the history of presidential relationships with key generals. A foreign policy expert and a professor discuss some of the nations' most important commander-in-chief and general teams.

	Sept. 6, 2007 GOP Candidates Debate Iraq as Thompson Enters Race While his rivals for the Republican Party nomination debated Iraq and immigration in New Hampshire Wednesday night, former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson made his entry into the presidential race official from talk show host Jay Leno's couch.

	Sept. 5, 2007 White House Chief of Staff Discusses Iraq War, Vacancies President Bush's chief of staff Joshua Bolten talks about the impact of high-level vacancies in the administration as well as the president's view on recent developments in the Iraq war.

	Sept. 3, 2007 President Bush Delivers Prospect of Troop Cut in Iraq In an unannounced trip to Iraq, President Bush said U.S. troops could start to leave the country if security continues to improve as it has in the Anbar Province. Military correspondent Michael Gordon talks about the president's meetings with Iraqi leaders and an upcoming report to Congress.



	AUGUST Aug. 27, 2007 DNC Moves to Stop Primary Frontloading The Democratic National Committee moved over the weekend to penalize Florida for moving up its primary date to Jan. 29 -- a violation of DNC rules that prohibit states from holding nominating polls before Feb. 5.

	Aug. 23, 2007 Candidates Ratchet Up Political Game in Iowa Presidential candidates descended upon Iowa in mid-August to compete in the Republican straw poll, participate in a Democratic debate and hobnob with voters at the state fair, all ahead of the key state's first-in-the-nation caucus. Iowa Public Radio followed the candidates through the state fair in Des Moines.

	Aug. 22, 2007 Michigan, Arizona Set to Move Up Primary Dates Arizona announced plans Wednesday to move its presidential primary to Feb. 5, and Michigan's Senate voted to move up its date to Jan. 15. Regional editors discuss the reasons for advancing the dates.

	Aug. 21, 2007 Fred Thompson Still Testing Presidential Waters Republican Fred Thompson's unofficial campaign for president has gotten considerable attention as he works to garner support. A political reporter talks about Thompson's likely run and how it might affect the overall race.

	Aug. 20, 2007 Democratic Candidates Battle for Iowa's Support Democratic presidential hopefuls gathered for another debate Sunday, this time in the critical caucus state of Iowa to discuss Iraq, political experience and their electability on ABC's "This Week."

	Aug. 20, 2007 Border Issues Loom over North American Summit Although economic cooperation and the war on terror topped the agenda of President Bush's two-day summit with the leaders of Canada and Mexico, debate over the direction of the U.S. border security policy continues to play a large role in the discussions.

	Aug. 17, 2007 Presidential Aide Rove to Exit; Federal Reserve Takes Action White House deputy chief of staff Karl Rove announced his resignation, while the Federal Reserve took its most decisive action yet to help an uncertain economy. Political analysts David Brooks and Harold Meyerson discuss the week's top stories.

	Aug. 16, 2007 Candidate Spouses Serve as Partners on Campaign Trail Presidential candidate spouses such as Elizabeth Edwards and Ann Romney have been fixtures on the campaign trail, providing support and reaching out to voters. A political science professor and a journalist discuss the changing role of spouses.

	Aug. 14, 2007 Kucinich Takes Long-shot Status in Stride Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich, arguably the most liberal Democratic candidate for president, has continued his long-shot mission to grab the nomination that he mounted in 2004, with past setbacks doing little to slow his campaign or curb his confidence.

	Aug. 13, 2007 Presidential Adviser Rove to Leave Post Karl Rove, deputy chief of staff to President Bush and one of his closest advisers, announced Monday that he will resign at the end of August. A former presidential adviser and a political journalist discuss Rove's legacy.

	Aug. 13, 2007 Thompson Drops Out of Race After Poor Showing in Iowa Poll One day after a disappointing sixth-place finish in the Ames, Iowa straw poll Saturday, former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson dropped out of the race for the Republican presidential nomination, slightly narrowing a crowded GOP field.

	Aug. 11, 2007 Romney Scores Symbolic Win in Iowa Straw Poll Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney scored a largely symbolic, yet critical victory in Saturday's Iowa GOP straw poll, beating a field of lesser known candidates in the first test of the governor's organizational ability.

	Aug. 10, 2007 Grassroots Campaigning Still Key in Iowa's Caucus Battleground As the presidential nominating process has evolved, voters in early primary and caucus states have grown accustomed to meeting candidates in living rooms and coffee shops -- intimate settings that facilitate personal connections.

	Aug. 9, 2007 South Carolina Primary Move Puts Election Calendar in Flux South Carolina officially moved up its primary presidential election to Jan. 19 on Thursday. New Hampshire and Iowa may soon move their primaries even earlier to preserve their first-in-the-nation status. Political analysts discuss how these changes may affect the election.

	Aug. 8, 2007 Obama, Clinton Openly Spar at AFL-CIO Forum Seven of the Democratic presidential candidates debated again Tuesday night in Chicago at the AFL-CIO-sponsored forum that turned into the most spirited meeting yet. The NewsHour reports on the debate's highlights and what they mean for the race to the White House.



	JULY July 24, 2007 Democrats Face Voter Questions in New Format Democratic presidential hopefuls fielded questions directly from the voters Monday in a debate sponsored by CNN and the video sharing Web site YouTube. A reporter and political analyst discuss the candidates' answers and new debate format.

	July 19, 2007 Candidates Find Top Dollars in Bottom-up Online Campaigns As the 2008 presidential campaign becomes known as the Internet election, candidates who are successful at building online communities are tapping into millions of dollars in donations.

	July 17, 2007 Social Web Sites Emerge as Way to Generate Supporters, Funds Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and long-shot Republican Rep. Ron Paul of Texas may not be leading in national polls, but their use of social networking Web sites tops their presidential rivals.

	July 13, 2007 Lady Bird Johnson's Life, Interests Remembered Lady Bird Johnson died Wednesday at her home in Austin, Texas. Historian Michael Beschloss describes her life and special projects during her husband Lyndon Johnson's presidency, including environmental preservation.

	July 11, 2007 Former First Lady Johnson Dies at 94 Lady Bird Johnson, wife of former President Johnson, died of natural causes Wednesday at her home in Austin, Texas. She was 94. The NewsHour reports on the former first lady's life and environmental legacy.

	July 11, 2007 Analysts Discuss McCain Campaign's Woes The presidential campaign of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., has suffered some setbacks over the last few weeks with a low second-quarter fund-raising performance and the resignation of two top strategists. Two political reporters assess the state of the campaign.

	July 10, 2007 Top McCain Team Out as Campaign Purge Continues Arizona Sen. John McCain's campaign manager Terry Nelson and chief strategist John Weaver issued their resignations Tuesday from the Republican presidential candidate's campaign.

	July 4, 2007 New Book Details History of Presidential Courage Historian Michael Beschloss discusses his book, "Presidential Courage: Brave Leaders and How They Changed America 1789-1989," which delves into how presidents arrived at decisions during difficult times.

	July 4, 2007 Experts Discuss Global Democracy Journalists, international policy experts and a former Bush administration official talk about the spread of democracy around the world and in particular President Bush's plans to promote democracy.

	July 3, 2007 Libby Prison Commutation Elicits Anger, Applause President Bush refused to rule out a pardon for I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby Tuesday, the day after he commuted the former aide's prison term, evoking emotions from both sides of the aisle. Two experts give their views.

	July 2, 2007 With Two Top GOP Candidates Out, Role of Iowa Straw Poll Remains Cloudy After two major Republican presidential candidates announced they would forgo Iowa's straw poll in August, political pundits questioned the event's relevance, while other campaigns seized the opportunity to gain greater visibility by attending.



	JUNE June 29, 2007 Court Rulings Draw Fire; Senate Derails Immigration Bill Again Politicians on both sides of the aisle reacted to a series of close Supreme Court decisions, while a controversial immigration bill died in the Senate. Political analysts Mark Shields and Rich Lowry discuss these developments.

	June 28, 2007 Experts Analyze Bush's Refusal to Release Subpoenaed Documents The White House invoked executive privilege Thursday when it refused to release documents relating to the firing of nine federal prosecutors. The NewsHour talks with two former government officials, Doug Kmiec and Bruce Fein, about the controversy.

	June 27, 2007 Cheney Role in Bush Administration Draws Fire Vice President Dick Cheney has wielded an unprecedented amount of power in his office, as a series in the Washington Post this week has revealed. The author of that series, as well as a Cheney critic and defender, assess the vice president's legacy.

	June 22, 2007 Liberal Groups Banking on Social Issues Garnering Votes While Iraq tops the list of concerns for most Democrats, organizations championing social agendas are hoping cultural issues such as abortion and gay rights will gain traction among voters and help shape the strategies of the party's presidential hopefuls.

	June 22, 2007 Senate Passes Energy Bill; Clinton Spoofs 'Sopranos' The Senate passed an energy bill Thursday, while Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., released an online video spoofing the "The Sopranos." Mark Shields and Rich Lowry discuss the week's political news.

	June 20, 2007 Bloomberg Leaves GOP, Denies Presidential Rumors New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said this week he is leaving the Republican Party to become an independent, fueling speculation that he plans to run for president in 2008. A political reporter discusses the move.

	June 15, 2007 Judge Denies Libby Request; Reid Criticizes Military Leadership A federal judge ruled that I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby cannot delay his prison sentence while he appeals his conviction, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said he had lost confidence in Gen. Peter Pace. NewsHour analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss these and other headlines.

	June 12, 2007 Early Media Coverage Focuses on Horse Race Despite the fact that the first primary voters will not cast a ballot for another seven months, the bulk of the unparalleled presidential campaign coverage has focused on the so-called "horse race" stories, rather than the issues.

	June 8, 2007 Presidential Candidates Use Web to Boost Campaigns Presidential candidates are strengthening their campaign Web sites to increase outreach to voters. The NewsHour reports on how former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and other presidential hopefuls are using the Internet.

	June 8, 2007 Extended Interview: Expert Analyzes Online Campaign Strategies Political analyst and professor Mike Cornfield discusses the online strategies that campaigns are using for the upcoming presidential election.

	June 6, 2007 Republicans Tackle Immigration in New Hampshire Debate Republican presidential hopefuls met in New Hampshire Tuesday to define their positions on issues including immigration, faith and the war on terror. A political reporter looks at how the candidates performed.

	June 4, 2007 Democrats Debate Iraq, Health Care in New Hampshire In the next round of debates for the 2008 Democratic presidential hopefuls, candidates outlined their opinions on Iraq and the war on terror, as well as health care and the crisis in Darfur. A political reporter discusses the debate.

	June 1, 2007 President Offers Climate Change Plan; Immigration Debate Swirls President Bush proposed a plan to reduce global carbon emissions, while the debate over a new immigration bill continued around the country. Political analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks assess these developments and the week's other political events.

	June 1, 2007 Cultural Conservatives Give Top GOP Candidates Tepid Reviews Evangelicals and other social conservatives have yet to throw their support behind one presidential candidate, and many are finding themselves dissatisfied with their party's earlier front-runners.



	MAY May 31, 2007 President Bush Urges Nations to Set Emissions Targets President Bush, in a counter-offer to European leaders, said Thursday that 15 nations with the world's largest economies should set common targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions by the end of 2008.

	May 24, 2007 President Bush Links War in Iraq to War on Terrorism President Bush told reporters Thursday that if U.S. troops are pulled out of Iraq, terrorists would bring their fight to American soil. Two terrorism analysts discuss the president's stance.

	May 21, 2007 Historian Discusses Book on President Nixon, Henry Kissinger Historian Robert Dallek, author of "Partners in Power: Nixon and Kissinger," discusses his work and comparisons between the Iraq and Vietnam wars.

	May 17, 2007 New Book Details History of Presidential Courage Historian Michael Beschloss discusses his book, "Presidential Courage: Brave Leaders and How They Changed America 1789-1989," which delves into how presidents arrived at decisions during difficult times.

	May 17, 2007 Prime Minister Blair, President Bush Defend Stance on Iraq War Outgoing British Prime Minister Tony Blair and President Bush met at the White House Thursday, where they held a press conference and defended their decision to go to war in Iraq.

	May 11, 2007 Unions Look to Wield Clout in Frontloaded Democratic Primaries With prominent union-friendly states such as Nevada and California moving up their primaries in the 2008 presidential race, organized labor hopes to only increase its traditional influence in the Democratic nomination process.

	May 9, 2007 Economic Conservatives Hunt for Likeminded Candidate While the Iraq war continues to dominate the current political debate, Republican candidates are jockeying to position themselves as the true fiscal conservative in the race. The question is whether voters are satisfied with what they are hearing.

	May 4, 2007 California Democrats Speak Out on Candidates The California Democratic Party held its state convention in San Diego April 27-29, giving the party's 2008 presidential candidates the opportunity to make their case in the Golden State.

	May 2, 2007 Colombian's Visit Prompts Debate Colombian President Alvaro Uribe began a three-day campaign in the United States Wednesday seeking more military and drug-fighting aid as well as a free-trade deal with the U.S.. Two experts on Colombia politics take your questions.



	APRIL April 30, 2007 Former CIA Director Tenet's Memoir Sparks Controversy Former CIA Director George Tenet's new memoir has drawn criticism from administration officials over his account of events leading up to the Iraq war. A former senator and an ex-CIA officer discuss the assertions in the book.

	April 27, 2007 Democratic Anti-war Voting Bloc Grows as Diverse Groups Join Cause Long-time peace advocates, joined by some military personnel and their families, are strengthening the anti-Iraq-war movement, which is gaining traction in the general public and producing a valuable voting bloc for Democrats in 2008.

	April 18, 2007 U.S. Warns of New Sanctions Against Sudan if Darfur Violence Continues President Bush said Wednesday the United States would seek to tighten economic sanctions and impose new ones on the Sudanese government if it does not take firm steps to end the fighting in Darfur.

	April 13, 2007 Pentagon Extends Military Tours; McCain Defends War Policy The Pentagon announced that it will extend tours of U.S. servicemen to 15 months, while Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., defended his support of the Iraq war. Analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss these and other developments.

	April 11, 2007 First Virtual Town Hall Engages Voters Through Internet Using Internet technology to advance voter participation in the 2008 election, seven Democratic candidates participated in a "virtual town hall" Tuesday night to answer questions about the war on Iraq.

	April 10, 2007 President, Congress Spar over Iraq War Funding President Bush continued to press the Democratic-led Congress to fund the war in Iraq without setting a timetable for troop withdrawal. NewsHour historians compare the current situation with past clashes over war powers.

	April 3, 2007 President Bush Challenges Democrats on Iraq War Funding President Bush rebuked Democrats at a news conference Tuesday on their inclusion of a troop withdrawal timeline in an Iraq war funding bill. Sens. Jack Reed, D-R.I., and Richard Shelby, R-Ala., debate the president's remarks.

	April 2, 2007 Congress, White House Compete for Control of War Policy The constitutional battle between Congress and President Bush over Iraq war policy continued Monday. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., threatened to cut off funding for the war if the president vetoes a spending bill that includes a timetable for withdrawal.

	April 2, 2007 Republican Tancredo Officially Enters White House Race Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., announced Monday morning that he is seeking the 2008 Republican presidential nomination, citing his dissatisfaction with the way other presidential contenders are handling the illegal immigration issue.



	MARCH March 30, 2007 Senate Debates Iraq, While Presidential Contenders Shift in Polls The Senate passed an Iraq war funding bill with a timetable for troop withdrawal this week, while former Sen. Fred Thompson considers a presidential run. Analysts Mark Shields and Rich Lowry discuss these developments.

	March 28, 2007 Former National Security Adviser Assesses Post-Cold War Presidents Zbigniew Brzezinski, a former national security adviser and author, discusses the successes and failures of the last three presidents as laid out in his new book.

	March 23, 2007 Debates Continue in Congress over Iraq, Attorney Firings Political analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the House bill passed on Friday requiring the withdrawal of U.S. combat forces from Iraq by the fall of 2008 and the constitutional showdown between the president and Congress over the firing of U.S. attorneys.

	March 21, 2007 House Panel Authorizes Subpoenas for Bush Aides A House panel Wednesday approved subpoenas for Bush administration officials, including Karl Rove, Harriet Miers and Kyle Sampson, in the investigation into the firings of eight U.S. attorneys, but held off issuing them in hopes of avoiding a constitutional confrontation with the White House.

	March 19, 2007 President Bush Seeks Patience as Iraq War Enters Fifth Year On the anniversary of the Iraq invasion, President Bush called for patience, Democrats urged a U.S. redeployment and protesters took to the streets from Washington to California. Two experts react to the president's comments and the political battle over what to do next.

	March 14, 2007 President Supports Gonzales Despite Calls for Resignation President Bush reasserted his confidence in Alberto Gonzales Wednesday, amid calls for the attorney general to resign over the firing of eight U.S. attorneys. Legal analysts discuss the implications for Gonzales.

	March 8, 2007 President Bush Hopes to Re-energize Relations in Latin America President Bush arrived in Brazil on Thursday, the first stop on a five-country tour of Latin America aimed at improving U.S. standing in the region. Margaret Warner speaks with analysts about trip and the obstacles the president faces.

	March 6, 2007 Libby Convicted of Perjury, Obstruction of Justice Jurors in the trial of former White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby delivered guilty verdicts on four of five counts of perjury and obstruction of justice Tuesday, following a four-year investigation into the leak of a CIA agent's identity.

	March 1, 2007 Historian Arthur Schlesinger Jr. Passes at Age 89 Pulitzer prize-winning historian Arthur Schlesinger Jr., who died at 89, authored texts on American democracy and the presidency. The NewsHour reports on his life and his influence.



	FEBRUARY Feb. 19, 2007 Controversy Arises Over President Bush's Proposed Archive Site President Bush has proposed to build an archive and public policy center at Southern Methodist University, an announcement that has been received with mixed reviews. Ray Suarez talks with historians about the politics of building presidential libraries.

	Feb. 16, 2007 Analysts Weigh War Resolutions, Presidential Race NewsHour political analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the congressional debate over President Bush's strategy in Iraq and the latest in the 2008 race for the White House.

	Feb. 14, 2007 President Bush Discusses Iraq Security, Iran President Bush held an hour-long press conference Wednesday that covered Iraq and his domestic agenda. The NewsHour presents excerpts.

	Feb. 12, 2007 Essayist Reflects on the Life of Former President Lincoln On the day celebrating former president Abraham Lincoln's birthday, NewsHour guest essayist Julia Keller reflects on the puzzle of the man and the president.

	Feb. 12, 2007 Presidential Race Off to Early Start The presidential primary races show diverse candidates polling high. The NewsHour reports on the issues of race and gender in the 2008 presidential election.

	Feb. 12, 2007 Diverse Candidates Aim to Transcend Race, Gender The presidential primary races show diverse candidates polling high. The NewsHour reports on the issues of race and gender in the 2008 presidential election.

	Feb. 9, 2007 Senate Delays Resolution Vote; Giuliani Enters Presidential Race The Senate delayed a vote on a proposed resolution opposing President Bush's Iraq plan, while former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani entered the 2008 presidential race. Analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss these and other political stories.



	JANUARY Jan. 24, 2007 Congress Reacts to State of the Union Address President Bush delivered his annual State of the Union address on Tuesday, hoping to garner support for his new Iraq strategy and proposing new domestic initiatives. NewsHour reports on Congress' reaction and response one day after the address.

	Jan. 23, 2007 President Says 'America Must Not Fail in Iraq'; Stresses Domestic Goals President Bush, in his State of the Union address Tuesday, urged Congress to support his decision to add 21,500 American troops in Iraq and proposed plans to reduce gasoline consumption by 20 percent by 2017 and expand health care coverage.

	Jan. 23, 2007 Sen. Webb Offers the Democratic Response to the State of the Union In his response to President Bush's State of the Union address, Sen. James Webb, D-Va., outlines his party's response, stressing the need to help the middle class through fairer tax policies and criticizing the president's handling of the war in Iraq. The following is the full text of his remarks.

	Jan. 23, 2007 Former Speechwriters Describe State of Union Drafting Process President Bush's team of writers have been working hard to finish the final draft of the State of the Union address. Ray Suarez talks with two former Presidential speechwriters about the process of crafting a State of the Union address.

	Jan. 23, 2007 President Bush Delivers State of the Union Address President Bush, facing historically low support in opinion polls, focused largely on domestic issues, urging Congress to renew education reforms and expand health insurance coverage. The president also called for patience in Iraq and a continued effort to combat terrorism. The following is the text of the president's address.

	Jan. 23, 2007 Analysts React to President's State of the Union Address Analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks comment on the civility the new Democratic Congress extended President Bush during his 2007 State of the Union address and say the two sides may find common ground on immigration and other issues.

	Jan. 23, 2007 Analysts Assess Democratic Response to President Bush Columnists Mark Shields and David Brooks comment on Sen. Jim Webb's response to the president's speech, saying he forcefully argued that when the Democrats disagree with Mr. Bush they will confront him, especially on economic and foreign policy matters.

	Jan. 22, 2007 Number of 2008 Presidential Candidates Continues to Grow Three more candidates - New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback and former Gov. Bill Richardson - formally launched their presidential campaigns last weekend, adding their names to an expanding list of candidates vying for the presidency in 2008. Two journalists discuss the rationale behind early announcements.

	Jan. 17, 2007 Secret Court to Monitor Surveillance Program The Justice Department said Wednesday a secret but independent panel of federal judges will oversee the government's controversial domestic spying program.

	Jan. 16, 2007 President Owes Public More Information, Analysts Say While satisfied with President Bush's reasons as to why success in Iraq is crucial, the president still needs to convince those skeptical of the new strategy that it will work, political analysts David Brooks and Mark Shields say.

	Jan. 16, 2007 President Bush Defends Decision to Send Additional Troops to Iraq In an extensive NewsHour interview, President Bush discusses the recent execution of Saddam Hussein, his reasons behind sending more troops to Iraq, faltering public support for the war and how he defines "success" for the military operation.

	Jan. 12, 2007 President Bush's Iraq Speech Overshadows New Congress President Bush's plan to increase the size of the U.S. military effort in Iraq came during Congress' first week under new leadership. Political analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the impact of the new strategy and the early progress of the new Congress.

	Jan. 10, 2007 President Bush Outlines New Strategy for Iraq Asking Americans for their patience, sacrifice and resolve, President Bush laid out a new plan Wednesday night for U.S. military strategy in Iraq.

	Jan. 10, 2007 President Bush Prepares for Speech on Evolving Iraq Policy The administration is preparing to announce changes to its Iraq plan, including a increase in U.S. military presence by 20,000 troops. Analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks talk about the evolving U.S. policy in Iraq in advance of President Bush's address to the nation.

	Jan. 3, 2007 Former President Ford Returns Home to Michigan for Final Farewell Former President Ford's final memorial service was held at an Episcopal Church in Grand Rapids, Mich., Wednesday. The NewsHour offers excerpts of the eulogies as he was laid to rest.

	Jan. 2, 2007 Former President Ford Laid to Rest Former President Ford's body arrived in Grand Rapids, Mich., Tuesday following a state funeral held at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. Political analysts reflect on the life of the former president.

	Jan. 2, 2007 Dignitaries Reflect on Former President Ford at Funeral Dignitaries spoke of former President Ford at a funeral service Tuesday at the Washington National Cathedral. The NewsHour presents extended excerpts.

	Jan. 1, 2007 Solemn Ceremonies Mark Passing of a President President Bush joined thousands of others who paid their final respects to former President Gerald Ford, whose body laid in state in the Capitol rotunda. The NewsHour reports on the ceremonies and remembrances, including Tuesday's state funeral in Washington, D.C.