The Note's Sneak Peek

 

Share

0

Coming up Thursday evening: at 6:30 pm ET on "World News with Charles Gibson," ABC News' Brian Ross looks at the relationship between former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani's consulting firm and OxyContin, the pharmaceutical company that pled guilty Thursday to charges it "misled doctors and patients."

For a preview, check out ABCNews.com's "The Blotter": LINK

". . . Giuliani personally met with the head of the DEA when the DEA's drug diversion office began a criminal investigation into the company," report the ABCNews trio of Ross, Richard Esposito, and R. Schwartz.

At 7:10 pm ET Thursday, President Bush's speaks at an RNC gala at the DC Armory which will raise $10.5 million for party coffers.

Earlier Thursday, Bush said he was willing to work with Congress to include benchmarks for the performance of the Iraqi government in a war spending bill.

Bush's comments prompted Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., to tell Radio Iowa's Kay Henderson in a phone interview Thursday that Bush's seeming embrace of benchmarks is "quite a move on his part" and evidence that the president's Wednesday meeting with a group of moderate Republicans had an impact on him. "That's what I've been saying now for weeks," said Clinton, "that on our own the Democrats cannot force or require this president to change course in Iraq but when the Republicans start to bail out on him and tell him that he has to change his policy, then he will start to listen and apparently he has gotten the message because he went over to the Pentagon this morning and made it clear that he was going to at least consider benchmarks. We're not sure exactly what that means, but that's quite a move on his part." Out in Chicago, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., talks to press at 7:30 pm ET.

ABC News

Blue team presidential candidates make the... View Full Caption

Blue team presidential candidates make the rounds in Iowa ahead of their big day in Des Moines, Sunday, when they face off at the democratic debate sponsored by ABC and the Iowa Democratic Party. Close

The Race to 2008: Republican Debate Watch Video

Obama Gets Secret Service Protection Watch Video

Stephanopoulos: Obama's Secret Service Watch Video

As for Friday . . .

Giuliani makes 9:30 am ET remarks at the Houston Baptist University.

These will be his first public remarks since The New York Times' Adam Nagourney and Marc Santora wrote that Giuliani is planning to offer "a forthright affirmation of his support for abortion rights" while de-emphasizing the early states in favor of the mega states which vote Feb. 5.

Chuck Laudner, the executive director of Iowa's Republican Party, reacted to the New York Times story by telling ABC News that he sees it -- more than anything else -- as an effort on the part of Giuliani's campaign to lower expectations in the state which holds the first nominating contest.

"Everywhere you go you are running into Giuliani staffers," said Laudner in an effort to underscore the efforts Giuliani has made in Iowa thus far.

McCain is in Washington, DC, with no public events.

Rep. Tom Tancredo R-Colo., whom Iowa's Laudner calls "a sleeper," holds a 7:00 pm ET town hall meeting in Cedar Rapids.

On the Democratic side, the International Association of Fire Fighters hears from four more Democratic '08ers in New Hampshire on Friday.

Sens. Chris Dodd D-Conn., leads off at 11:45 am ET followed by Sen. Joe Biden D-Del., at 11:00 am ET, Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., at 11:45 am ET, and former Sen. John Edwards at 6:00 pm ET. (The fire fighters heard from Gov. Bill Richardson, D-N.M., Thursday).

Obama will talk to the New Hampshire fire fighters by phone because he will be in Iowa.

While in the Hawkeye State, Obama sits down Friday with ABC News' George Stephanopoulos for his first Sunday show interview since getting into the presidential race.