The Note's Sneak Peek

May 5-7, 2007—, 2007 -- We get some politics -- Friday Night Lights style -- when former Sen. Fred Thompson R-Tenn., tells a gathering of conservatives "where the country is and where it can be" at an 11:30 pm ET Lincoln Club dinner in Newport Beach, Calif. The timing of Thompson's speech -- coming on the heels of last night's GOP debate -- seems made for weekend tv news shows -- the dark horse, would-be candidate takes the stage and perhaps attempts to answer the call of some conservatives who are dissatisfied with the current Republican presidential field. LINK

The man who continues to try and box out Sen. Clinton and Sen. Obama on their left over Iraq, former Sen. John Edwards D-N.C., sits down with ABC's George Stephanopoulos for an exclusive interview on ABC's "This Week," airing Sunday. Rep. Tom Tancredo R-Colo., -- after a less than stellar debate performance last night -- also appears on the program.

Pomp and circumstance is always hard to avoid on the campaign trail. On Saturday, three '08ers deliver commencement speeches in politically significant locations. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., heads to key battleground state Ohio for Wilberforce's graduation at 3:00 pm ET. Former Gov. Mitt Romney R-Mass., makes his way to Pat Roberton's Regent University in Virginia Beach, VA for a 9:30 am ET commencement ceremony -- no JFK-esque speech about his religion is expected when he addresses the largely Christian evangelical audience, and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani talks up his national security credentials to the South Carolina Corps of Cadets Class of 2007 in Charleston at 9:30 am ET. LINK

Sen. Clinton's rescheduled 8:00 am ET speech to the National Conference of Black Mayors' in Baton Rouge, La., comes just a few hours before Sen. Barack Obama D-Ill., makes 1:30 pm ET remarks.

Later in the day, Obama will be in New Orleans, where he holds a 4:15 pm ET press availability at Capdau Charter School.

Clinton ends her day with a a 5:00 pm ET campaign event at John Jay High School with in Cleveland -- for her first of two back-to-back Buckeye State weekends.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., holds a 1:00 pm ET town hall meeting at the McKinley Arts & Culture Center in Reno, Nevada, and attends an 8:30 pm ET fundraising reception at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Gov. Bill Richardson, D-N.M., is in New Hampshire with a 2:30 pm ET address to the New Hampshire AFL-CIO Convention in North Conway at the Red Jacket Resort, followed by a 5:30 pm ET house party in Barrington, and another at 7:15 pm ET in Rollinsford.

Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., is in Iowa this weekend. On Saturday, he holds a 10:00 am ET kitchen table discussion at Laura's Restaurant and Dairy Bar in Burlington, a 1:00 pm ET Cinco de Mayo celebration at Ron-De-Voo Park in West Liberty, a 2:15 pm ET town hall meeting on energy at the Hoover House in West Branch, and finally a 5:15 pm ET meet and greet at Strawberry Farm Bed & Breakfast in Muscatine.

Gov. Mike Huckabee, R-Ark., is in New Hampshire and holds a 7:30 am ET meeting with Board members of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Seacoast at the Gateway Restaurant and runs in the 3rd Annual Seven Hills Road Race at 8:30 am ET, both in Somersworth. He then holds a 12:15 pm ET lunch with members of the press at the TD BankNorth Building in Concord, followed by a series of private fundraisers.

Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., campaigns in Iowa with an 11:30 am ET town hall meeting on Iraq at the Ankeny Area Historical Society and a 2:30 pm ET house party in Hampton. He then delivers a 5:30 pm ET address to the Broadcast News Association at the Best Western Holiday Lodge in Clear Lake, followed by an 8:00 pm ET town hall at Borealis Gourmet Ice Cream Palace in Mason City.

Former Gov. Tommy Thompson, R-Wis., eats his way through Iowa with a series of campaign meals, beginning with a 10:00 am ET breakfast at Aroma's Coffee House in Charles City, a 12:00 pm ET lunch at Chicago Dawg in Mason City, and another lunch at 2:00 pm ET at Bill's Family Foods in Forest City. One can only assume more eating will take place when he holds a 5:00 pm ET town hall meeting at Mabe's Pizza in Cresco, and a 7:00 pm ET town hall at Mulligan Grill's Pub in Waukon.

Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., addresses the 9:30 am ET "Believing Prayer Seminar" in Davenport, Iowa, attends the Tulip Festival in Pella, and attends an afternoon student rally at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas.

On Sunday, Sen. Clinton attends a fundraising brunch in Carmel, Indiana, and then it's on to Iowa for a 3:30 pm ET town hall meeting at Lewis Central Middle School in Council Bluffs and a visit with local residents at the Montgomery County Historical Society Atrium in Red Oak.

Not conceding the "will he or won't he" spotlight to Fred Thompson, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich R-Ga., appears on CBS's "Face the Nation," as he prepares for a 15-city book tour.

Also on Sunday, Sen. Biden attends a 12:30 pm ET fundraiser in Waterloo, Iowa, followed by a 3:30 pm ET town hall meeting at the Dancing Lions Dance Hall in Oelwein, and another at 6:30 pm ET at the Longbranch Hotel in Cedar Rapids.

Elizabeth Edwards appears on the Discovery Channel's live Town Hall meeting "Living with Cancer," hosted by Ted Koppel, and featuring Lance Armstrong. The show airs at 8:00 pm ET from the Discovery Channel's headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Continuing his wooing of New Hampshirites, Gov. Richardson takes a 1:00 pm ET tour of the Public Service New Hampshire Northern Wood Power Project, followed by a 2:30 pm ET keynote address at the Annual Rockingham County Democrats Clambake at the Elks Lodge, both in Portsmouth. He then attends two house parties, at 5:30 pm ET in Salem and at 7:30 pm ET in Hudson.

On Royal Monday, President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush participate in a 10:50 am ET arrival ceremony for Queen Elizabeth II on the South Lawn of the White House, followed by an 8:10 pm ET state dinner following a photo op in the Grand Foyer, and they cap off the evening with 9:55 pm ET entertainment in the East Room. LINK

Mayor Giuliani will be in Washington for an 8:15 pm ET address to the Heritage Foundation at their "President's Club Meeting" held at the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center in Washington, DC.

Sen. Obama delivers a noon ET economic policy speech before the Detroit Economic Club in Detroit, Michigan. Meanwhile, Michelle Obama attends a 12:30 pm ET house party in Windham, New Hampshire, and a 2:30 pm ET meet and greet at the Old Town Hall in Bedford.

After a 12:30 pm ET keynote address to the 5th annual Graduates Luncheon of the Leader of Council of Mercy Home for Boys Club at Chicago Hilton and Towers, Sen. Clinton does some coin raising in Sen. Obama's backyard when she attends a 6:00 pm ET cocktail reception thrown by Illinois Lawyers for Hillary at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago, Illinois.

Sen. McCain holds town hall meetings in Iowa, beginning at 9:45 am ET at the Machine Shed Restaurant in Davenport, the Rendezvous Restaurant at 12:30 pm ET in Muscatine, and a 6:15 pm ET meeting at the North Liberty Community Center in North Liberty.